Recipe(tried): Brickyard 500 Picnic - Italian Sausages, Peppers and Onions on the Grill, Pea Salad, Pasta Salad, Mocha Angel Food Cake

Well, Gina, you motivated me to post what we're having for dinner today. Here in Indy today the Brickyard 500 is being run. My husband and a group of his friends all head out to the track, and after dinner several people are coming over for dinner. It's hot here, and it's supposed to rain later today, but right now it's sunny and gorgeous outside. I'm planning a barbecue, and I hope the weather holds up! I made almost everything already, because I enjoy my free day! We're having grilled Italian sausages, Pea Salad, Pasta Salad, an assortment of chips and dips, and a jazzed up angel food cake. Some other people are bringing dishes, but I don't know what they're bringing yet....it's always a yummy surprise! Here are the recipes:

Italian Sausages on the Grill
Italian sausages
An assortment of peppers---red, yellow, green
Onions
An assortment of mustards and condiments
Crusty rolls

Cut the peppers into inch thick chunks. Slice the onions into thick rings. Brush with olive oil and grill.
Grill the sausages, and serve on rolls with grilled onions and peppers, mustards and condiments.

Pea Salad
2 (10 oz.) pkgs frozen peas, thawed
1/2 lb. cheddar cheese, cubed
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup minced onion
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 TBSP milk
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. hot Tabasco sauce

Combine the peas, cheese, celery, and onion in serving bowl.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayo, milk, mustard, and seasonings. Mix till smooth. Refrigerate.
Right before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss to coat.

Pasta Salad
2 cups pasta (rotini, shells, etc.)
1 stick pepperoni, sliced
1/4 lb. salami, sliced
1/4 lb. cotto salami, sliced
1/4 lb. bologna, sliced
1/4 lb. cheddar cheese, cubed
1/4 lb. Provolone cheese, cubed
1/4 lb. mozzarella cheese, cubed
1/2 cup green olives, sliced
1/2 cup black olives, sliced
1/4 cup Greek olives, sliced
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup red peppers, diced
1 cup green peppers, diced
1 cup chopped zucchini
3/4 cup Italian salad dressing

Cook pasta according to pkg. directions, drain and cool.
Combine all ingredients in a super large bowl, and toss with dressing.
Refrigerate several hours before serving.
This makes a HUGE amount of pasta salad, but it is so good!

Mocha Angel Food Cake
1-1/3 cups cold milk
1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding
1 TBSP. instant coffee granules
1 (8 oz.) carton Cool Whip
1 prepared angel food cake (I buy mine from Sam's Club--their angel food cakes are out of this world)
2 Heath candy bars, chopped (I use whatever candy bars I have. I have used Snickers, Three Musketeers, Rolos, and Hershey bars -- anything works!)

Combine milk, pudding mix, and coffee granules in a mixing bowl. Beat on low speed for 2 min. until thick. Fold in half of the Cool Whip.
Cut cake in half horizontally. Spread half of the pudding mixture on the bottom half of the cake. Put the top half of the cake on top of the filling. Fold the rest of the Cool Whip into the remaining pudding mixture. Frost the sides and top of the cake. Sprinkle with the chopped candy bars. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
(I have also made this in a 9X13 pan. What I did was tear the angel food cake into pieces and put in the 9X13 pan. Then I poured the filling on the top, sprinkled with the chopped candy bars, and spread that with the rest of the Cool Whip. It was good that way, too.)

Hope you all have a great Sunday!
Joansy