I was inspired to make pasta salad the other day, but unfortunately was out of town at the time, so I was delayed a few days. What a miserable time waiting it was, but I guess the results were worth it.

Basically I followed Joe's recipe. I used cheddar and colby jack cheese, deli sliced ham and turkey, and a plethora of veggies which seems to be where a pasta salad really sings its tune. We used mushrooms, cucumber, celery, carrots, and sun-dried tomatoes (which I made myself). I tossed it all together with a vinegarette of the tomato-infused olive oil and white wine vinegar, spiked with basil and mustard power. I also cracked some pepper over the top. So delicious. I served it with a slice of ham sauted in butter.