Sun Dried Tomato & Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Warmer weather is (finally!!!) here so that means it's time for cookouts and spending time in the great outdoors soaking up some vitamin D.  This is a great, quick, different pasta salad to enjoy this summer.  I made it for the first time at Easter and have just been looking for reasons to make it again.  Jason is in an annual Memorial Day golf outing today and there's always a cookout afterwards.  Perfect reason to whip this up.  Now hopefully I don't finish it off before it's time to leave.....

Sun Dried Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

1 box rotini pasta

8 oz fresh mozzarella

1 small package (about 3.5oz) sun dried tomatoes

1 large handful arugula (about 3-4 oz)

Sun Dried Tomato & Basil Vinaigrette*

Directions:

1.  Cook pasta according to directions.  Drain and rinse with cool water.  

2.  While pasta is cooking, cut mozzarella and tomatoes (reserve two tomatoes for the vinaigrette) into bite sized pieces.

3.  In a large bowl combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella and arugula.  Drizzle the dressing over and toss to combine.  Refrigerate, serve or leave out at room temperature.  Enjoy!

*Because the pasta will absorb a lot of the dressing, you may want to double the vinaigrette recipe.