It’s midnight. I’m tired. I meant to write something both witty and introspective but my energy has fled along with the hours and I be sleepy. So here’s a quickie for you!

When I make friends, I usually tend to keep them, with the exception of a few. I wish them all well and some of them I’d like to chat with again, but, well, there are usually reasons we drifted apart. Sort of like ex-boyfriends, I guess!

One of the friends I wouldn’t mind touching base with again is the person I got this recipe from. When I was at university, I had a friend who went to live with her sister in Calgary for a summer. She worked at a café and brought back this recipe for pasta salad. It’s super-easy and very delicious. Whenever I’ve served it, I’ve had positive reviews.

By the way, this is the first of a new series:  Salads I Have Known and Loved! Because I eat a lot of salad. Every day for lunch. (I have IBS and need my fibre. TMI? Meh, it’s my blog, I get to blather!)

I usually serve this pasta salad on top of a bed of lettuce. More fibre, fewer calories, and more nutrients!

Let’s get started!

Café Style Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad

• 2 cups pasta
• 1 head broccoli
• 1 cup feta cheese
• 1 red pepper
• 1/2 cup three-cheese ranch dressing

Boil pasta. While pasta is cooking, chop up broccoli, and toss in pasta pot for the last two to three minutes of cooking. Drain broccoli and pasta and let cool. When cool, add in chopped red pepper, crumbled feta cheese, and ranch dressing. Toss and serve. If refrigerating and serving in a few hours or next day, add extra dressing just before serving, as the pasta absorbs it.

Pro Tip: When cooking pasta, if you add a drizzle of olive oil to the water, it’s less likely to boil over.

Easy, tasty, and healthy! Except perhaps for the ranch dressing, but that’s ok, everything in moderation, right? I will say, the salad is best with a full-fat Three-Cheese Ranch Dressing, as opposed to a low-fat one, so keep that in mind!

I’ve packed some for my lunch tomorrow (on top of lettuce, of course!) and now I’m off to bed! Maybe. Or maybe more recipe stuff. Hmm. Tempting!

Next Post: More Salad. Less Waste.