HG's Picnic-Perfect Pasta Salad

When this big bowl of Italian-style pasta salad is unveiled at your next BBQ or picnic, you'll be the only one who knows that it's low in calories. This recipe ROCKS...

Ingredients:
Salad
6 oz. (about 2 cups) uncooked rotini pasta with at least 4g fiber per 2-oz. serving
1 zucchini, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large cucumber, chopped
1 cup artichoke hearts packed in water, drained and chopped
1/2 cup roasted red peppers packed in water, drained and chopped
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1/4 cup sliced black olives

Dressing
1/3 cup fat-free Italian dressing
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained, patted dry, finely chopped

Optional: salt and black pepper

Directions:
Prepare pasta according to package instructions. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.

Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix until blended. Set aside.

Add all remaining salad ingredients to the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until completely chilled.

If you like, season to taste with salt and black pepper. Enjoy!

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

Pasta Salad, Average

Survey the spread at your neighbor's next backyard BBQ, and you're likely to see the usual suspects: the platter of assorted fatty meats, the mayo-laden potato salad, the big bowl of greasy chips brought by that friend of yours who doesn't cook... All are obviously bad choices. But then you spy a colorful dish of corkscrew pasta without creamy dressing that's studded with the occasional vegetable or two. Could that be the safe side dish you've been looking for?! Nope. Sure, there's no telltale creamy coating, but it's still PASTA salad -- packed with carby, calorie-dense noodles and tossed in an oily dressing. Of course, if the mysterious pasta-salad maker is an HG fan, you could be in luck -- our recipe is guilt-free and includes a flavor-packed Italian dressing and a ton of very tasty veggies. Maybe at the next BBQ, YOU can be that mysterious side-dish chef...