Marinated Cheese Appetizer Pasta Salad

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, crumbles
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 dash salt (to taste)
• 1 dash black pepper (to taste)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup wine vinegar
• 1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons minced green onions
• 3 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 (16 ounce) box gemelli pasta

Recipe

• 1 cut cream cheese into 1/4 inch cubes.
• 2 make the marinade by combining sugar, basil, salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, pimento, parsley, onion and garlic in a mason jar with a tight lid.
• 3 add cubed cream cheese to the jar - shake well - place in refrigerator overnight.
• 4 fix pasta according to direction on package the day you wish to serve it. drain well and lightly coat with extra virgin oil. refrigerate until completely chilled.
• 5 shake marinade up, and pour into chilled pasta. add package of crumbled cheddar cheese - mix gently, but well.
• 6 refrigerate unused portion - if it seems to have dried out later, use just a little wine vinegar to moisten it up.