Everybody's Working For the Memorial Day Weekend!

I have been waiting for this weekend since, well, Labor Day.  I always love getting away, especially down the Cape, but to have a long - hopefully sun filled - weekend is the best reward after a horribly long winter.  Right now is the best time because the whole summer lays in front of us... hmmmm, what will happen?  Something always does!

For the past 8 months I have been day-dreaming of morning coffee outside, the beach, beach reads (list to follow), beers on the beach as the sun starts to set, outside showers (life changing if you haven't had one), gin and tonics on the patio, oysters, shrimp cocktail, peel-and-eat shrimp, grilled shrimp (alright, chill out Bubba) and of course looking at all the stars.  This city dwelling lady does not see many stars unless I leave the city.  Down the Cape, it's not unusual to see shooting stars.  Last year I even saw a comet - cray-zay.  I love the Chatham and I love our house, but I also love going to see other areas too... there are so many nooks and cranies on Cape Cod, you could drive around forever.  Sometimes, when I am not in a rush, I drive home on Rt. 6A which is more scenic and has cute shops and places to stop for lunch.

Tonight, I am trying to pack, which apparently consists of me writing for Blooming Horizon and doing laundry.  So, I thought - instead of folding and packing - this would be the perfect time to share my ultra-secret pasta salad recipe!!  The good thing with this recipe is you can't really mess it up, you can tweak any of the ingredients based on your taste/preference and it's really not that bad for you!

Lizzie's Pasta Salad

1 box elbow pasta, boiled per directions and cooled
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 medium-sized red onion (tweak to your liking)
1/2 jar green olives with pimentos, cut each olive in half
3/4 cup chopped cheddar cheese
8 oz. Ken's Light Italian salad dressing (more or less as needed)
Salt and fresh pepper

Boil the pasta and once it's cooled, mix everything together.  Don't mix if the pasta is still hot, it will soak up the dressing too much and get a little sticky.  Start off with less, you can always add more dressing, salt or pepper.  Then I always make my sister be my sous-chef for the taste test, which is mostly just an excuse for us to eat... but still, necessary for ingredient adjustments.  We make this all the time for dinner and always have leftovers for the beach the next day!

I am praying for safe, fun and sunny weekend!  Look for me back here in tears on Monday night...

Happy Memorial Day!

Love, Lizzie