The Resourceful, Crafty Mom: Italian Ranch Pasta Salad

Wow I can't believe its Thursday night already! This week has flown by so fast but in a mostly good way. My oldest started karate this past Monday and absolutely loves it! This is the first sport like thing he has ever done and so far he is asking me everyday when its time to go back. (He goes twice a week.) It's right during naptime for my youngest, Tucker, so my father in law comes to the house while Jonah and I go. It's been really nice to have one on one time with Jonah and he is really doing well at it. He is listening so well and it gives me a sense of how I hope he will do in school.

My big handsome boy in his karate uniform.

Jonah excited on his way to his first karate class. Jeremy and I both got to take him so that made it really special!

Jonah after his karate class. LOL He usually passes out on the way home then eats so much for dinner. I guess it wears him out!

Summer is fully upon us and we are loving it! I am not lookingforward to the extreme heat that is coming since I am pregnant, but I really do love summer. Once summer comes, I start wanting cool stuff to eat for lunch or dinner. One of my favorite dishes is cold pasta salad. I love just the plain boxed classic or italian version. It is so vercital that you can eat it just as it is or add extra things to it like cooked chicken, cucumbers, tomatoes, small mozarella cheese balls, or feta cheese.

Tonight I was cooking, I had a good bit of leftover triple colored rigatoni pasta leftover from another dish I was making. I decided to make some italian pasta salad but realized I only had 1/4 cup of italian dressing left. In my pantry, I had an extra packet of ranch powdered dressing mix. I usually keep these on hand for seasoning things and a few of my favorite recipes calls for it. So I thought I would mix the two with some oil and see how it turned out. It turned out excellent! Now its one of my favorites!

(I just put this together really quick so that's why the ingredients picture is empty containers.)

Here's the recipe:

Italian Ranch Pasta Salad
12 oz box of tri-colored rotini
1 packet ranch salad dressing and dip mix
1/2 cup italain dressing
1/2 cup vegetable or any oil

Cook your pasta according to the box directions. Drain. Rinse with cold water. In a bowl, mix together the packet of Ranch dressing, italian dressing, and oil. Place the rinsed cold pasta in the bowl and mix it all together. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or until ready to serve. Store leftovers in the fridge. Enjoy!

I'm off to clean the kitchen! Have a wonderful night!