Sunshine in a Bowl: Caprese Pasta Salad
Ummmm so…
It snowed here in Michigan. Yup. On Halloween. We all know that when it snows on Halloween that it is a bad sign of how things will end up being for the winter. And for that I have this to say:
One thing I miss about summer is being able to walk outside and pick a tomato off the vine. Then, adding some fresh mozzarella and some olive oil. I love a good caprese salad. Generally this time of year you can catch me heading to the local market for bags of dry beans. I tend to want warm comfort food. This year I am going to try to do things a little differently. This year I want to create comfort foods that are a bit more healthier like my Chicken Pot Pie Soup. I know some folks have issues with white pasta and I can’t say that I blame them. Nothing nutritional about it. It’s just a lot of empty calories.
It’s also not good for someone like me who battles the bulge and PCOS which causes insulin resistance. That basically means in order for me to lose weight, I have to eat like a diabetic would eat keeping track of sugars, bad carbs and the glycemic index/load. I’ve tried whole grain pasta and whole wheat pasta. While I don’t mind them, my family doesn’t really care for the taste too much. Then I tried Ronzoni. We’ve had their whole wheat, but for this recipe I used the Smart Taste which has extra fiber. My local Kroger often puts them on sale so I can get them for about a $1. I have tried the Garden Delight which is pretty good with a tomato based sauce. But the Smart Taste is white pasta. It does taste just a little different from regular white pasta, but not a whole lot. My thought is you are just tasting that extra fiber 😉 It wasn’t enough for hubs to notice to that is a win in my books.
Just so you know, this isn’t a sponsored posts, just pure excitement that I found a bit healthier option in the pasta department.
What I really love about this meal is that it gives me the warm sun on my tomatoes mixed with cheese in the cool weather days. I take the warm pasta, add cold tomatoes, cheese and olives to it for a less than 30 minute meal. Plus, its extremely budget friendly. It’s my little summer sunshine in a bowl.
What’s a summer food you are starting to miss? Do you think there is a way you could enjoy it in the fall?
Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 box Rotini Pasta
- 1 can black olives drained and sliced
- 1 container of cherry tomato sliced in half
- 1 container Ciliegine cherry size mozzarella cheese balls
- Italian dressing or extra virgin olive oil and Italian seasoning
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according as directed on packaging.
- Drain and rinse with cool water.
- In a large bowl add pasta and all ingredients.
- Toss.
- Serve immediately.
It snowed here in MA yesterday. It was just a dusting, but it’s way too early for that nonsense if you ask me.
It snowed on Halloween here. Folks were not impressed. LOL
I love fresh fruit all year long, but I froze a TON of blueberries so I’m hoping to get lots of months from them. I didn’t get enough of everything else though.
We already had snow since September so you’re just catching up. As for summer foods I miss, I would have to say my fruits, especially watermelons.
I know this probably sounds nuts to you, but I did walk the dog in “feels-like” 33 degrees over the weekend. (And I live in FLORIDA) That was cold enough for me LOL This dish looks great! I shared it on my Facebook page 🙂
This looks so fresh and amazingly delicious. Pasta is my weakness but this seems healthy enough.
Your pasta dish looks fantastic. I am like you. In order to lose weight I need to watch my sugar. However, I can’t give up carbs entirely. I just had pizza last night! 😉
I tried so hard. I did keto/atkins for about a year. It took me a while but I realized I can still have a little pasta now and then.
Love that jacket. 😉 And this salad looks excellent. (I’d do mine without olives, because I’m not a fan of olives, but the rest of it is ALL ME.)
I am so tempted to buy it!
haha!! What’s holding you back?? I hate winter, except for a week or two. I need summer dishes all. year. round!
What a beautiful pasta salad. i picked my last tomato off the vine today. I hope it turns red as it’s green as can be.
That looks really good! Yumm I may make this next week, its simple yet will please everyone!
It was supposed to snow here on Saturday but we only got rain. Great recipe!
Before I say anything else I have to say I love that jumper!
That dish sounds delicious – easy to munch on after a long dark day.
Nice. I like black olives. They are so yummy.
I know everyone does not want winter, however if you can keep the snow until at least Sunday I would appreciate it. We are moving and would like to do it without the snow. After that – send it ALL to me as this is my first real winter!! I make a similar salad, never put pasta in it – I will have to try that.
That pasta salad looks delicious! I love Caprese! The summer fruit I really miss is watermelon!
I love caprese… but I haven’t tried it in a salad. I’m going to miss potato salad.
I miss the fresh strawberries from the farmers market. I love all the great fall foods as well; Squash is one of my favorites.
That look just great! We all love pasta’s here.
I love pasta salads like this and eat them quite a bit. Especially like you said when I can walk out my door and pick a tomato. I love that sweatshirt by the way. Even here in SC while we haven’t had snow it has been really cold and snowed a couple miles up the road. Yuck!
I really think I need that sweatshirt! And this salad. Shirt and salad please! 🙂
That looks so yummy and refreshing as well. I’ll be adding it to my *must cook* list 🙂
Now that looks absolutely delicious!
I am starting to miss burgers on the grill and fresh squash, zucchini and corn on the cob. Thanks for this refreshing salad.
Fist, I just have to say that the hoodie is HILARIOUS! Secondly, that caprese salad looks divine. I’ve always been a big fan of this dish.
I miss the fresh fruits during the winter. You can still get some but they just aren’t the same. This pasta salad sounds so good! Thanks for sharing!
I have PCOS and arthritis so I avoid pasta and love that you gave some ideas for other sources. Thank you for that!
The snow storm on Halloween about done me in. I’m so ready to move to the south…permanently. I miss all the fresh fruits and veggies the I enjoy during the summer. No more zucchini lasagna or fresh made berry pie. sigh…. I dont think I’m ready for snow & cold yet 🙁
This looks so good! Pasta salads I for sure miss and BBQ. Oh how I miss BBQ! Yum
I like warm pasta mixed with cooler items too. It’s a nice burst when you bite to have the different temps.
I love that sweatshirt I need that. That caprese pasta salad looks amazing your are seriously making me hungry.
Summer or fall, I’d take your caprese pasta salad anytime.
That pasta came out great! I am sure it was yummy!
Oh my goodness, you are making me hungry!!! I want some for breakfast!
I love pasta. This is a great dish.
I harvested the last of the tomatoes the other day and think they would make a great salad. I’ll be making this tonight for the family
That bowl would make me happy too! I love anything pasta!
The Caprese pasta salad looks amazing! I think I have everything needed to make it already, thanks!
I’m all for eating summer food during colder months & I’ll have to add this pasta salad to my list. I can’t promise it’ll be eaten as many times as ice cream, but seeing as how I love pasta salads, it’ll still be up there. And, uh, LOVE that shirt. Must. Get.
I miss all of the fresh veggies already. I wish we had the all year round. Thanks for the yummy recipe.
I love caprese anything. This dish looks yummy!
That sweatshirt is too funny!
I would love this pasta salad! That sweatshirt is so funny!
I love Caprese salad myself! It is such a classic bunch of flavors that go together so well!
Oh how I miss the snow. But I do agree a bit to early. Love pasta bowls tha looks yum.
We’d happily take some of that excess precipitation headed your way here in California.
The salad sounds scrumptious.
Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays.
i adore Caprese – ANYTHING! So excited to have you back hosting with us on TYSH! HUGS
And. . . I’m featuring this one this week – Welcome Back! HUGS
Thank you! I am glad to be back!
I was so excited to make this. Can’t wait to make it again.
It such a wonderful salad for a vegetarian like myself 🙂
Look colorful and inviting