Cheese-pasta Salad

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 8 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese (specialty cheese) or 8 ounces smoked gouda cheese (specialty cheese) or 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese (specialty cheese)
• 2 medium celery ribs
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen green pea
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaf
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Recipe

• 1 bring 2 1/2 quarts of unsalted water to a boil. cook the pasta until form to tender, about 10 - 12 minutes. drain into colander; rinse under cold water.
• 2 meanwhile, cut the cheese into 1/4 inch cubes and place into 3 qt or larger serving bowl. cut celery into bite size pieces. add to the bowl.
• 3 cut the cherry tomatoes in half; add to bowl.
• 4 rinse the peas under cool water. drain and add to bowl.
• 5 chop basil and add to bowl.
• 6 shake the colander to remove as much water as possible from pasta. add pasta to bowl.
• 7 add olive oil, mayonnaise and lemon juice. sprinkle garlic powder, salt and pepper evenly over the bowl.
• 8 stir gently to mix well.
• 9 serve at room temperature, or refrigerate until ready to serve.