The 4th of July will be here before too long.  If you are looking for some cool salad or grilling recipes, stay tuned here to TaraCooks.com. I’ve got quite a few new recipes to post. BLT Ranch Pasta Salad is a new summer time favorite at our house. It is the perfect salad to compliment a back yard barbeque or it can stand alone as a lunch meal for many light eaters.  And for the Gluten Free diners in your life, make this recipe with your favorite gluten free pasta.

• 8 oz bow tie, elbow, or other small pasta (can use any gluten free variety for GF diners) cooked, drained, and cooled
• 1 small head of green, red, or iceburg lettuce (leaves washed and dried, then cut into very small pieces)
• 8-12 strips cooked nitrate free bacon – crumbled
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 medium seeded tomatoes chopped
• 1-2 cups Home Made Herbal Ranch Dressing (more or less to suit your taste)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse pasta and let pasta cool.  While pasta cools, prepare bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and shred cheese if needed.   I find it works best to place all ingredients in separate Zip-Lock bags until close to meal time.  Then each ingredient can be poured into a large serving bowl and tossed together.  Although bottled dressing could be used, fresh home made dressing is tastier.  Pour dressing over assembled salad starting with 1 cup.  Add more if you prefer a thicker coating of dressing on your salad.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

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