Pasta Salad

farfalle-penne
Originally uploaded by m_m_mnemonic.

Shellie and I decided to go out and make something decent for dinner tonight. So the recipe went something like this.

The Best Pasta Salad
Recipe courtesy Jamie Oliver
11 ounces (310 grams) small shell-shaped pasta
3 cloves garlic
9 ounces (225 grams) yellow cherry tomatoes
9 ounces (225 grams) red cherry tomatoes
1/2 cucumber
1 handful black olives, pitted
2 tablespoons fresh chives
I handful fresh basil
7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the pasta and garlic, and simmer for about 5 minutes or until al dente, and drain.
Put the garlic to one side for the dressing. Put the pasta in a bowl.
Cut the tomatoes, cucumber, and black olives into small pieces, about half the size of the pasta, and place in the round metal container. Roughly chop the herbs and place these in the container.
Using a fork mash the cooked garlic cloves on the board with a little salt, add to the salad.
Add the oil, vinegar, and seasoning.
We also added grilled chicken and provolone and turned it into a meal.

Another note, I just read that a University of Missouri football player died with no trauma noted. There is no known cause of death which makes it even scarier. It sort of makes the profession of athletic training a little scary, because what is someone to do. How do you cover a sport when something like this happens. There are always the unknown causes of death, but when you link this with the Northwestern case that was just recently resolved it makes it even scarier. A mother whose son died playing football was just paid millions by the university... what a scary situation.
Also local legend in more ways than one, Brad Lohaus, was charged with assaulting his baby's mamma. An interesting read.