Food: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

I love Salads and I have a handful of salad recipes that have been past down from my mom that I just love, but I want more.  Pintrest is flooded with salad recipes and so I thought it would be fun to try a new one every week.  My experience with Pintrest recipes has been a good one.  Most of the recipes I have tried are really good, so good my children and picky husband like them.  I'm hoping that the salad recipes are just as good.

Today I tried a recipe claimed as the "Best Salad Ever".  You can find it through this link http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-grape-pasta-salad-50400000115388/

Three of my children and I really liked the recipe.  In fact, I put leftovers in their lunches.  If you have ever had the broccoli slaw salad sold at local groceries stores the dressing made in this recipe has the same taste which is yummy.  I was a little worried because I usually don't like grapes in salads, but I thought the grapes added a wonderful taste; though cranberries would be a great substitute.

I did not have bacon on hand and bacon would add a yummy touch to the salad but not necessary.

 

 It Makes about 11 cups of salad and has:
356 calories per cup
54 carbs per cup
(this does not include bacon)

 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 (16-oz.) package farfalle (bow-tie) pasta                
1 pound fresh broccoli                

1 cup mayonnaise                               

1/3 cup sugar                

1/3 cup diced red onion                

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

 

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1 teaspoon salt

2 cups seedless red grapes, halved                

8 cooked bacon slices, crumbled                

 

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Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.

2. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

3. Meanwhile, cut broccoli florets from stems, and separate florets into small pieces using tip of a paring knife. Peel away tough outer layer of stems, and finely chop stems.

4. Whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add broccoli, hot cooked pasta, and grapes, and stir to coat. Cover and chill 3 hours. Stir bacon and pecans into salad just before serving.