Pizza Salad - Recipe

This is a great recipe if your family loves pizza! Serve it with bread and they'll love it. The great thing is that you can serve it hot as a main dish or cold as a salad. We liked it both ways!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked spiral pasta or any other shape
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese (not the dry kind)
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes or sliced cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup (4 ounces) cubed cheddar cheese (or colby is good)
• 1 cup (4 ounces) cubed mozzrella cheese
• 1/2 cup red onions or sweet Vidalia onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni (about 1-1/2 ounces)
• sliced or whole black olives 
•  1/2 cup sweet green pepper, sweet red pepper or both, chopped
• Optional - garlic powder or fresh garlic (chopped), onion powder, sweet basil, sliced or diced banana peppers

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, Parmesan cheese, vinegar, oregano, salt, garlic powder and pepper; shake well.
• While pasta is cooking, place pepperoni on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed, in a 425º oven and cook till crisp, about 10-15 minutes. It will be crisp (like bacon) after you take it out and drain on a paper towel. Wait till right before serving to add crisp pepperoni.
• Drain pasta; rinse in cold water. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Add pasta. Pour dressing over all; toss to coat. Serve warm as a main dish. If you want it cold  refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Yield: 7 servings