Does anyone else feel compelled to feed people? Aside from my obvious need to share pictures of what I eat on the internet, I just want to shove my food in people’s faces. It’s to the extreme that I don’t feel right showing up anywhere without food in my hands. If people are coming to my house, it’s even worse. “Oh hey Kelly, I brought this side dish” — oh that’s cool, I have all 4 eating surfaces sufficiently covered in finger foods, desserts, cocktails, and dips (let’s not even talk about the actual dinner), but go ahead and make space. 
Last weekend, I agreed to let my friend Emily throw her husband a graduation party at my house. We were wrapping up our paver patio (whyyyy is it taking so long?) and I wanted to show it off, but Josh had one stipulation: that I let Emily actually do the planning, the food making, everything. I could clean the house, drag out chairs for a bonfire, but that’s pretty much it. I’m happy to say that I reigned myself in pretty well. I still made a big batch of a mixed drink to share and at the last minute I decided to throw together this pasta salad. So glad I did, because it’s the best pasta salad I’ve ever had. 
The secret in this bad boy? Yogurt. I love the tang! I actually added a little bit of sweetness from agave to make it mildly reminiscent of mayo and not freak people out. Then I added the flavors of Italian dressing and Ranch dressing to make it absolutely irresistible. Oh, plus veggies. So many veggies. Because I didn’t originally plan on making pasta salad, I grabbed a bottle of organic Tuscan Italian salad dressing at the store to use. If that bothers you or if you have the time, homemade would work just as well.
Tagged with: Egg Free • Gluten Free • Nut Free • Party Food • Side Dish • Soy Free • Vegetarian
I definitely feel compelled to feed people! Compelled to fill ’em with sugar. 😉
And this looks great! I don’t like dressing or veggies but my husband does so this one is getting bookmarked. 🙂
This so made me giggle! Haha! Yes – story of my life! I had a huge dinner party a couple of nights ago, and I mean HUGE. Some of my friends weren’t yet aware of how big I actually banquet – they left feeling as if they would never, ever eat again. Even the guys. What use is lovingly made food which you can’t throw at people?!
I love your blog! <3
xo Tash
I love the sound of the dressing in this pasta salad, and it’s so full of veggies that it’s healthy, too! This would be a perfect summer side dish!
I’m the same way! Sometimes I say I am like a grandmother, always telling other people to eat the food I’ve made. 🙂 The pasta salad looks great too!
Glad I’m not the only one! I definitely channel my grandmother. I remember her walking to each person at family gatherings telling everyone to eat more and offering to fill their plates for them a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) time haha.