OKAY .... SO I'M NOT EMERIL

 

Every year in August I travel to Florida to attend the NATIONAL REPTILE BREEDERS EXPO.  For the past dozen years or so, it has been held in Daytona Beach.  I always combine my trip with a visit with my Mother who lives in Florida.  Kind of a "Two-Fer" trip.

 

 

 The hotel I stay at is the Daytona Hilton - Ocean Walk. It's a very nice facility, with all the high-end amenities you might expect.  It's right on the beach, the rooms I get all have king size beds & the fitness facility is open 24 hours a day.

The buffet breakfast is great.  My stay at the Hilton is also the only time of  the year when I eat a BIG BREAKFAST, including items I "normally" do not eat; scrambled eggs/fried potatoes/HUGE biscuits ... along with sausage.  YUM !!

I very seldom eat out at restaurants or fast food places.  When I do eat out, it's usually with friends & we have Chinese or Tex-Mex food.  I like to cook at home & very seldom eat any kind of meat.  There is some chicken in my freezer, but I better check to see if there is any "freezer burn", since the packages have been in there quite a while.

Recently on FACEBOOK, I posted a picture of a large bowl of Ranch Pasta Salad I had made.  Several friends wanted the "recipe" (as if there was such a thing), so I decided to provide some details on how I make the salad & since I have not posted on my blog in some time, I thought I would provide information at both sources.

BILL'S BIG BAMBOO RANCH PASTA SALAD

 SALAD CONTENTS:  Found in several places in my home ...

 The pantry

 

Storage jars 

 

 The refrigerator

 

PREPARATION:  Ingredients found & included are: Onions [green & sweet], White Shoepeg Corn, Water Chestnuts, Bell Pepper, Black Olives & Broccoli. There are numerous varieties of Ranch Dressing, including reduced fat.  Pick one you like.  [The bottle shown is a "spicy" variety.]  Any pasta size/shape will do.  NOTE: The tomatoes in the photograph are for another meal.

 There are other items in the pantry which can be included.  It just depends on the desired outcome.

Drain & chop the items other than the corn & broccoli. The corn doesn't need it & the broccoli I like to "blanch" a bit before including it in the mix.

 COOKING: Cook the pasta per the standard directions

 Just before the pasta is ready to take off the heat, I put in the broccoli to "soften" it a bit. [I love broccoli, but I don't like the feeling I'm in the South yard, eating rough weeds & bushes.]

 I rinse off the pasta to cool it down a bit & stop the cooking process.

THE FINAL STEP:  Everything is ready to be combined in one bowl.  Salt & pepper to taste.

The finished product ... ready to be served, with plenty available for "left-overs".  [Two spoons; one for stirring;one for "sampling".]

ENJOY !!