italian pasta salad

Ingredients

• SALAD:
• 12 - 15 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 12 kalamata olives. pitted and sliced
• 1/8 cup pepperoncini pepper rings, rough chopped
• 3 - 4 slices sweet bell pepper, chopped small (orange, red or yellow)
• 12 - 15 slices pepperoni, quartered or cut in 1/6
• 3 mozzarella string cheese sticks, sliced into coins
• 3 large fresh basil leaves, chiffonade or chopped
• 6 ounces tri-colored rotini (or your favorite salad pasta)
• 3 - 4 tablespoons prepared italian dressing (bottled or homemade, *see recipe below)
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh chives
• *HOMEMADE ITALIAN DRESSING:
• 1/2 cup olive oil, extra virgin
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground mustard
• 2 tablespoons asiago cheese, finely grated
• 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 3/4 teaspoon dry parsley flakes
• 3/4 teaspoon dry basil flakes
• 1/8 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small paprika
• 1 small onion powder
• 1 pinch fine pink himalayan salt or sea salt