this is a great--CHEAP--hot weather recipe!

Heat Wave Pasta
Main Dish for 4/Side Dish for 6-8

1 pound tri-colored rotini, elbows or small shells, cooked al dente (firm)--
rinse in cold water and drain and chill

1 pound Hillshire Farm-style Kielbasa--
thaw and cook for 4 minutes on HIGH in microwave then chop into bite sized pieces and cool

1 large can of diced tomatoes well drained (pressed)--save juice for other recipes!

1 can black olives--crush with your fingers if desired (makes your hands soft!)

1 cup favorite salad dressing--Italian, French/Tomato, Ranch, Green Goddess, Vidalia Onion, Bleu Cheese, etc

1/2 cup balsamic or red wine vinegar

1/2 cup bacon bits

optional- dried fruits like cranberries, cherries or golden raisins or sun-dried tomatoes or dried peppers in oil

Toss all ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate for atleast 2 hours before you eat it.
Serve with chilled baked beans and carrot/celery/cucumber sticks and iced tea or lemonade!
(The new Bush's Grillin' Beans are yummy!) Don't forget watermelon or sherbet for dessert!

Sounds so yummy, I love eating Pasta a lot and i will definitely try it.

I just tried this; my family loved it. This is a great dish to serve at your Fourth of July BBQ.

This does sound like a great recipe, I'm going to give it a try. You forgot to add in a fresh tall glass of iced tea, or Southern Sweet Tea!

Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor

Agreed, Southern Sweet Tea would go fantastic with this!!