While my family was visiting our cousins for July 4th weekend, our cousin “K” made this great tortellini salad. It was a huge hit with my daughter and my husband. Perfect for a picnic or bbq!  The recipe was part of a collection of  recipes from family and friends that she and her mom put together to create a family recipe book as a holiday gift for her sister. The recipe is called “Aunt Shirley’s Pasta Salad” created by an Aunt of a friend of “K’s” sister.

Ingredients for Salad

• 1lb of tortellini (I used tri-color because that is what I had)
• 4 chopped tomatoes ( I used 1 pint of grape tomatoes cut in half)
• 1 8-10 oz package of frozen chopped spinach
• 1/2 lb grated Jarlsberg cheese
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper to taste

Ingredients for Dressing

• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tablespoon chopped garlic

Directions

1. Cook tortellini according to package and drain
2. Combine tortellini, tomatoes, spinach, cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well
3. Put dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until mixture becomes a consistency of a mayonnaise.
4. Pour over salad and mix well.
5. Chill in refrigerator for at least 1/2 day