Emma' Favorite Summer Pasta Salad

This little girl of mine has been begging me for days to make this salad.  We call it Grandma Garner's Pasta Salad since that's where the recipe came from, but for blogging purposes it is now officially called "Emma's Pasta Loveliness".  This pasta salad has made numerous appearances at the cabin in Bear Naked Lake.  Actually it's a summertime staple there.  With warm slices of Asiago Sourdough to go with it, it's the perfect meal.  By putting chicken in it, it becomes a main dish salad.  Did I tell you about the chicken?  It is very uncharacteristic for my mother, but she fries the chicken chunks in butter!  Bless her heart!  We all know everything tastes better with butter, but my mom is trying to save all of our hearts most of the time, so for her to fry means this salad is awesome!!  (Sorry- I revert back to the 80's every once in a while.)

I hope you enjoy one of our fams summertime favorites.  Buttered chicken and all!

Emma's Pasta Loveliness

1 lb. cooked bow tie pasta

1 red pepper chopped

1 yellow pepper chopped

1 orange pepper chopped

sliced olives

cucumbers

green onions

black beans rinsed and drained

or whatever combination of veggies you have on hand

chicken breast chunked up and fried in a little olive oil and butter

salt and pepper

Dressing

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. vinegar

1 T. balsamic vinegar

1 t. salt

1 t. pepper

Bring all ingredients to a boil and immediately pull off heat.  When the mixture has cooled add 1 c. vegetable oil.  Shake until combined and pour over pasta salad ingredients.  Top with shredded Parmesan Cheese.  You can eat the salad cold or hot.  It's good both ways.