Sun-Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad

Yes, I know.  I have not posted in a week! A whole week! I have been quite under the weather.  No, I did not take any time off of work, so there is really no excuse as to why I haven't blogged in a while, but when I get home from work, all I want to do is rest and relax.  T has been in charge of meals this week, and he even gets brownie points for making me some chicken soup! I am still not feeling 100%, but we are making some delicious tailgating foods for the Florida/Georgia game this weekend.  I have to share them with you! We came to Jacksonville for the weekend, and its always fun to have a tailgating party for the football games, even if it is in the comfort of your home with the TV's blaring.

Sun-Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked pasta of your choice (we used rotini, but bow-tie, penne, anything would work great)

1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

1/2 fresh basil leaves, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 oz. goat cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
6 tablespoons starchy cooking liquid (water from cooked pasta)
1 tablespoon good balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  Cook the pasta to the directions on the back of the box.  Make sure to save the water, as it will create a starchy cooking liquid that will later be added back into this dish.

2.  Drain the pasta when finished, and place in a bowl.

3.  Add the sun-dried tomatoes.

4.  Add the basil and garlic.

5. Add the goat cheese.

6. Mix well.

7.  Add the starchy cooking liquid to the pasta dish.

8.  Add the parmesan cheese.

9.  Mix well.

10. Add the balsamic vinegar and mix well.

11.  You can put this in the refrigerator for later, but actually we realized that it was the best when we ate it right after mixing the ingredients together.  The other people that we had over for dinner loved it cold, but it is just based on your preference. Enjoy!

Until next time...

-A