Friday, May 2, 2008

I Love Pasta


Here is one of my favorite pasta salad recipes. I think it began as my attempt to recreate a dish I had enjoyed somewhere, but for the life of me I can't remember where. Anywhay, I've been making this one for years, and leftovers never last more than a day in my house.


Gemelli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Artichokes and Oil-Cured Olives

1 lb. gemelli pasta (rotini would be fine here, too)
1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in olive oil
3/4 cup oil-cured black olives, pitted and chopped
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp. sugar

salt and pepper

Cook pasta in salted, boiling water until al dente. Drain artichokes and set aside. Drain sun-dried tomatoes and slice into slivers. Pit olives and cut in half.

Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sugar to make dressing.

Drain cooked pasta. Combine in bowl with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and oil-cured olives. Pour dressing over all and add salt and pepper to taste.




I realize that oil-cured black olives are probably an acquired taste. I have to admit that I am the only one in my family who eats them -- the rest of my family picks them out. But I think they make the dish. Anyway, try it, I think you'll like it!



*********


Today is the first day of our semi-annual Visiting Nurse's Rummage Sale -- a gigantic sale filled with great things. I'm practically salivating at the thought of it. My friend, Robin, and I plan to go this morning at opening time. Wish us luck!
Another Note: Kacey, at Wine on the Keyboard, is running her Photo of the Month contest for April. If you get a chance, go on over and see all the great entries -- they are beautiful!














23 comments:

  1. Mary, did you make enough of that salad for company? I love those olives ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning, Mary. Your salad sound delicious. I make a similar one, but I have never added the olives. I put a some shaved parmigiano reggiano on mime. I will have to try the olives and the sugar. I'm sure that puts a completely different spin on the salad. Thanks for sharing.

    Good luck at the sale. I hope you share pictures of your finds.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You must be so excited to go to the sale. Don't you just love those annual events...something about the anticipation. My big annual event is the Providence Preservation Home Tour, June 7th this year. I can't wait for that or to see your goodies from today.

    Is Robin still moving?

    Janet

    ReplyDelete
  4. A friend gave me that recipe several years ago, but hers adds seeded tomatoes (I substituted grape tomatoes) and shredded chicken. The chicken soaks up all that balsamic dressing and is fantastic.

    Hope you get great stuff at your sale!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well you may be salivating over that sale, but I am over that pasta dish! YUM :)

    Have a beautiful day Mary...
    hugs,
    rue

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yummmmmm! I can't wait to try it! Thanks for sharing! The sugar is a great addition to the sun dried tomatoes...

    Smiles,
    Amanda:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Mary,

    The recipe sounds yummy. But I think I like the dish better! Beautiful!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I really love your blog...and I TOO love pasta! Thanks for the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do hope you'll be sharing your fabulous bargains/finds with us! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mary that pasta dish sounds so yummy. Good luck at the sale.It sounds like a good one, enjoy, Janie

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have saved your recipe in case I forget where I saw it. ;o) Looks great! Love your blog BTW

    ReplyDelete
  12. That looks so yummy. I love pasta salad too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That salad recipe looks delicious and I will have to try it. Have fun today at the Rummage Sale. Pick up a few more flower prints for framing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Mary
    I thank you cordially for this good Pasta prescription. Also I am the only one in our family, those the small olives like - all the same whether black or green...hmmm :-)
    I wish the one beautiful May weekend, and a good sales of this exhibition.
    Take care
    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mary

    Good luck shopping and the pasta recipe looks lucious...I am thinking Memorial day!

    :0)
    Tara

    ReplyDelete
  16. Any thing with olives has to be good! Your pasta salad looks yummy!
    Hugs,
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  17. Someone should write an ode to pasta! I could give up meat but leave me my pasta any day! Good luck on the sale. Can't wait to see your treasures.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh, that looks like a great pasta salad recipe. We have one we use regularly, but this one looks quite different. I'll definitely be trying it. Are oil cured olives similar to kalamata olives (which we love)? Thanks for the recipe - beautiful photo, too!...Donna

    ReplyDelete
  19. Donna, Kalamata olives would be great in this, too!
    xoxo,
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  20. This looks like a great recipe and I will be giving it a try for sure - I LOVE oil cured olives!

    ReplyDelete
  21. The photos are wonderful this month on the photo of the month contest, aren't they? They take my breath away.

    Hey, and weirdly enough, I'm craving pasta. Must go see if I have the ingredients for this.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gonna try this one!! I could eat pasta everyday!!

    xo
    Becky

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh how good does that look!?
    I will have to try this...love ALL the ingredients!

    Love,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!