Colorful Pasta Salad

Colorful Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• One 12- ounce package tricolor spiral pasta
• One 16- ounce can pitted ripe olives, drained and cut in half
• One 14- ounce can cut green beans, drained
• One 14- ounce can wax beans, drained
• One 15- ounce can dark kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 11⁄4 cups finely chopped red onions
• 13⁄4 cups (about 4 medium) chopped Roma tomatoes
• 1⁄2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 2⁄3 cup sugar
• 3⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1⁄2 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. 
2. Drain in a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool quickly. 
3. Shake to drain excess liquid. 
4. Place in a very large bowl.
5. Add the olives, beans, onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper to the pasta; mix well.
6. Combine the sugar, vinegar, oil, salt, and black pepper in a jar with a lid. 
7. Close tightly and shake vigorously to blend.
8. Pour over the salad and toss gently. 
9. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend.