By Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service

A holiday weekend is coming up! Here’s a quick and easy dinner for the weekend, or anytime. It’s based on an antipasto platter that usually contains cured meats, olives, cheese, assorted pickles and vegetables. Thinking of these ingredients, I created a quick and easy pasta salad. You can use other cured meats and vegetables that you like. Use this recipe as a guide for quantities. The salad can be made a day ahead. Refrigerate it and bring to room temperature before serving.

To buy:

Staples: olive oil, salt and black peppercorns

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

1/4 lb. corkscrew pasta (about 1 1/4 cups)

1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 lb. sliced lean deli ham, cut into 1/2-inch squares

1/4 lb. sliced reduced-sodium smoked turkey breast, cut into 1/2-inch squares

1/4 cup black pitted olives, about 6

1 cup sliced canned or jar roasted red peppers

1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini

1 tomato cut into cubes (about 1 cup)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp. fresh basil leaves

Bring large saucepan three quarter filled with water to boiling. Add the pasta and boil 8 minutes. Remove 2 Tbsp. of the pasta water to a large bowl. Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Mix well. Drain the pasta and add to the bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the ham, smoked turkey breast, olives, roasted peppers, pepperoncini and tomatoes. Toss all ingredients together. Divide in half and spoon onto two dinner plates. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and basil on top.

Yield: 2 servings.

Per serving: 538 calories (31% from fat), 18.4 g fat (4.3 g saturated, 7.9 g monounsaturated), 51 mg cholesterol, 35.8 g protein, 55.1 g carbohydrates, 5.4 g fiber, 889 mg sodium.

Linda Gassenheimer is the author of over 30 cookbooks, including her newest, “The 12-Week Diabetes Cookbook.” Listen to Linda on www.WDNA.org and all major podcast sites. Email her at Linda@DinnerInMinutes.com.

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