savory sunday // tomato and herb pasta salad

Today I'm going to show you one of our favorite pasta salads. This one is, again, adapted from our favorite chef Jamie Oliver. It's perfect in the summer when the tomatoes are ripe and the herbs are plentiful, and it's great to bring to cookouts or potlucks because it makes at least 10 servings (also, it doesn't have enough protein to serve as a main course, fyi). And, again, this is a perfect side salad for those who are mayonnaise averse. Whoever you people are (other than my husband).So let's begin! Here's what you'll need:• About 8 oz of small shell pasta• 3 cloves of garlic• 12 oz. cherry tomatoes• 1/2 of a cucumber• 1 handful pitted black olives• 1 1/2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese (or to taste)• 1 handful fresh basil• 1 handful fresh chives (or more if you love it like me)• 7 tbsp olive oil• 4 tbsp white wine vinegar• salt and pepper to tasteFirst, bring a pot of water to boil and then add the pasta and the garlic cloves. It's ok to leave the skin on! You want to cook the pasta al dente, so just follow the package instructions.While that's cooking, you want to dice up your tomatoes, cucumber (we remove the seeds to keep the excess liquid to a minimum) and olives.Next you want to dice up your cheese and your herbs. Sometimes I can find fresh mozzarella in teeny tiny balls and I don't need to cut it up. Not this time though...Mix all that stuff in a bowl! Yum! And by now your pasta should be done cooking, so run that under some cold water and pull out the garlic cloves.You want to squeeze the cloves out of the skin (let them cool a little first though so you don't burn your fingers). Then you mash the cloves with a fork.Then you mix the garlic, the oil and the vinegar (and salt and pepper) to make the dressing. Stir up the salad and stir in the dressing. YUM.And there you have it!A serving of this pasta is about 230 calories.Ok! Now for something WAY less healthy and far more decadent. I found this recipe for nutella swirled rolls with a coffee sugar glaze and I sure don't have the patience to make it but sweet Jesus, someone needs to. I say it's YOU! (And please bring me some.)