Beauty and the Beet Pasta Salad

This "recipe" comes courtesy of my old high school pal, Pam. Although, none of the girls in our "gang" never seemed to have a proclivity for cooking when we were in school, we now, no matter our chosen professions, have all been domesticated to some degree or another. This shows itself when we gather for our yearly retreat and each one of us either brings a dish or makes something upon arrival (see Beignet There, Done That). So Pam is no exception, and although her pesto is delicious, I have chosen this pasta salad to post. She claims that there is no real recipe - she makes it up as she goes. I have to say, this is often the best way to cook. Follow what you love, experiment, occasionally fail, and ultimately land a few great dishes that impress even the harshest critics (i.e., high school girlfriends). She uses bow tie pasta, olives, feta, beets and most surprisingly, pepperoncini - which gave it a bit of a kick, one I didn't expect but thoroughly enjoyed. And, although I am not a big beet fan (although a huge Beat, as in English, fan) I liked it.

Beauty and the Beat, the seminal 1982 album from the best girl band ever - The Go-Gos. Part of an orginal crowd, this band featured five singing and instrument playing females - an anomoly at the time. With cute outfits and bouncy tunes, they were a formula made for a one-hit-wonder, yet these ladies managed hit after hit after hit with catchy tunes like "Our Lips are Sealed" ,We Got the Beat" and "Can't Stop the World". They even successfully followed with a second album "Vacation" featuring the hit of the same name and waterskiing music videos have never been the same. Alas, sex, drugs and new wave music proved to be the end for our fivesome, as Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin went on to solo careers and rehab. But, proving good friends and can't stay away forever, they have reunited, cooked up some new tunes and are currently touring.


The Recipe, according to Pam:

16oz bow tie pasta
one half can/jar calamata olives
 1 1/2 blocks feta (which seems like alot, but Pam is a very generous person)
 one half can/jar pepperoncini
 1/ 2 cup red onion, chopped
 one half can/jar shoe string beets
 bottled vinegar and oil style greek dressing
 dash of garlic powder
 dash of dill weed (dill weed, LOL)
 splat of mayo (and Pam does SPLAT! her mayo)
 fresh ground black pepper


Chop it, boil it, crumble it, pour it, mix it. enjoy.