Recipe: Easy Seafood Pasta Salad (using ranch dressing, olives and chiles)

EASY SEAFOOD PASTA SALAD

"Every time we have a potluck, I get a lot of requests for this salad. It has been a favorite of my friends and family for years, and doesn't take a lot of time either."

1 lb package good quality pasta (rotini or shells works best)
1 cup frozen peas, blanched
2 or 3 green onions, chopped, stems and all (optional)
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles (do not drain)
1 (4 oz) can sliced olives, drained
About 2 cups ranch salad dressing
1 lb package imitation crab meat, broken into small bite-size pieces
1 (8 oz) package frozen salad shrimp (popcorn size) (or 1 can shrimp, drained)

Cook the pasta till done; drain.

A quick and easy way to blanch the peas is to put them in the bottom of a colander and them dumped the cooked pasta on top to drain it. Then run cold water over the pasta and peas in the colander until it is cool. Let sit for a few minutes to make sure all excess water is drained out.

Meanwhile, in a big bowl, mix green onion, chiles and olives together. Pour in the ranch salad dressing and stir it all together. Add the mock crab meat and the shrimp. Now dump in the pasta and peas and stir it all together. Refrigerate.

This salad is BEST when left refrigerated overnight, all the flavors blend in together and it is very tasty!!

Source: rec.food.cooking/Sandy n ne/1999