veggie pasta salad for a crowd, for Geri's son's funeral

Pasta salad for 40  

3 lb pasta tubes (ziti,rigatoni, penne,etc) 

mozzarella  block to cube

red onion

sweet onion

2 zucchini 

1-2 heads fresh garlic 

2 lb cherry tomatoes

spinach? 

oregano (from the garden)

handful arugula (from the garden)  

3 oz basil fresh 

parsley 2-3 bunches 

capers 

fresh lemon juice 

olive oil

salt

wine vinegar 

chili flakes 

onion powder

garlic powder to taste 

make: 

boil salted water. 

add the pasta and cook till el dente. 

make the dressing at the same time to add in warm dressing/ warm pasta. 

dressing: 

in a large pan add 1 cup olive oil, add the onions to cook first. then zucchini - let it start to carmelize with the onions

next add the red chili flakes to taste, garlic, oregano, and sliced tomatoes. 

cook for a few minutes on low to get all the flavors into the oil 

remove from heat and add in the wine vinegar, fresh basil. 

toss the remaining ingredients in. 

once the pasta is done cooking remove it from the water and toss with a bit of olive oil and salt then mix the dressing/veggies into it. 

let it cool before adding in the cubed cheese.