Easy
   Gourmet Dinners

Cobb Pasta Salad

          Preparation and cooking time:   25 minutes
     This is not a traditional pasta salad. With lots of vegetables and big chunks of ham, cheese and egg, no one will mistake this for a small side dish.  I didn't thoroughly cool the beans.  As I wanted them to retain a bit of warmth I just rinsed lightly.

6oz ham thick slice    from the deli counter        6oz (175gr)   
4oz green beans   I used flat Italian beans       4oz (115gr)
1/2 cup firm cheese, Cheddar, Colby         2oz (60gr)
2 eggs, hard-boiled           130gr, 4.6oz
1 avocado          225gr, 8oz
1/2 red or orange bell pepper          80gr, 2.8oz
1 tomato or 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes           90gr, 3.2oz
10 - 12 basil leaves
1 1/4 cup pasta, bite-size, fusilli, elbow,           113gr, 4oz
White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Cook pasta according to package directions.  When done, drain.
Boil eggs. 
Top and tail beans...cut off the ends.  Cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths (4cm) Bring a medium saucepan half full of water to a boil over high heat.  Add beans and blanch for 4 minutes.  Remove, drain, rinse with cold water and set aside. 
Slice pepper, about 1/4" thick (.5cm) then cut slices in half.  Slice ham or turkey and cheese into large, bite-size chunks.  Slice large tomato into wedges or cut cherry tomatoes in half.  Cut avocado into large chunks. When eggs are done, cool, peel and cut into chunks.  Tear large basil leaves in half.  Make vinaigrette.
To assemble:  Put drained pasta in a large bowl and add vinaigrette.  Toss well to combine.  Add ham, peppers, tomato and beans, toss well.  Add cheese, egg, basil and avocado.  Stir gently, just to combine.  Serve.

White Balsamic Vinaigrette                                                     Time: 5 minutes

1 tbs Dijon-style mustard          15gr, .5oz
2 tbs white Balsamic vinegar          32gr, 1.2oz
3 tbs olive oil - the good stuff        40.5gr, 1.40.5oz

Whisk vinegar,and mustard.  Slowly whisk in oil and whisk until it emulsifies.

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Nutrition Information        White Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe serves 2            Entire Recipe / per serving Calories:   391 / 195.5 Total Carbohydrates:  6 / 3           Dietary Fiber:  .6 / .3 Total Fat:  41 / 20.5          Saturated Fat:  5.5 / 2.75 Cholesterol:  0 / 0 Protein:  .8 / .4 Calcium:  17 / 8.5 Sodium:  179 / 89.5

Nutrition Information        Complete Salad with Dressing Recipe serves 2            Entire Recipe / per serving Calories:  1938 / 969 Total Carbohydrates:  127 / 63.5           Dietary Fiber: 31 / 15.5 Total Fat: 126 / 63          Saturated Fat: 33 / 16.5 Cholesterol:  714 / 357 Protein:  83 / 41.5 Calcium:  1103 / 551.5 Sodium:  3048 / 1524

General Technical Details and Disclaimer:

Measurements in this color are actual measurements used for calculation.  If there are no values the nutritional numbers were simply too small.

I try to be accurate, but I do not guarantee it.  I use 'grams' as the unit of weight; with an approximate conversion to ounces.

My information comes from my own digital, computerized scale and the USDA Nutrient Data Library: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/