Spinach, Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad

From the Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals, page 123. I found my copy at Costco for $14.99

All the recipes are 5 ingredient, 15 minutes!

This one is a perfectly yummy combination for hot summer days. Great Italian vinaigrette recipe, too. While fresh herbs would be best, I made do with dried (eyeballing it) and it was probably just as tasty.

Ingredients --

2 1/2 cups multigrain rotini pasta...2 cups grape tomatoes...6 ounces baby spinach...4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed.

Dressing - 1/4 cup red wine vinegar...2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leafed parsley...1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or basil...2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil...1/4 teaspoon salt...1/4 teaspoon black pepper...2 garlic cloves, minced.

Cook pasta according to directions, omitting salt and fat. Rinse with cold water and drain. Combine dressing ingredients and stir with a whisk. Combine dressing and tomatoes in a large bowl. Add pasta and spinach, toss well and top with cheese.

4 servings - serving size is 1 1/2 cups salad, 2 tablespoons dressing.

As you can see, it is easy to substitute and play with the ingredients - bow tie for rotini, regular tomatoes for grape tomatoes, dried herbs for fresh. Even use bottled fat-free Italian dressing.