Getting back into the swing of things around here, means getting back into the routine of cooking. Cruise ship life has really spoiled us. 😉 Around this time of year, during the summer season, we always love making cold pasta salad.  It’s one of the easiest things to whip up before a big week ahead and is perfect for lunch or as a side dish for dinner. Plus, its nice and refreshing with a big glass of iced tea.  Growing up, our families would always make this for BBQs or anytime we had an outdoor party. It’s become such a summer staple and something we enjoy doing together. There are so many different variations on this recipe, but here’s a look at how we like to make it.

What you’ll need:

-1 lb of pasta — we like to use farfalle or fusilli
-baby spinach
-black olives
-olive oil
-1/2 red onion
-red wine vinegar
-roasted red peppers
-fresh mozzarella balls
-parmasean-romano blend grated cheese
-cherry tomatoes
-black pepper

It’s a pretty easy recipe to throw together, so much so that it feels a little funny to write out instructions, but here we go…
1. Boil pasta till al-dente. After draining, put in the fridge for an hour or so to chill.
2. In a large bowl mix in baby spinach, sliced red onion, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers and black olives with a little olive oil.
3. Now add in your pasta! Mix with more olive oil and red wine vinegar.  Top with as much black pepper and grated cheese until your heart’s content! Mix again, then serve and enjoy!

 Speaking of summer staples, we’ve been pretty obsessed with Banana Republic’s summer styles lately. We’re pretty casual with our day-to-day looks, especially around this time of year in AZ, so shorts (that look like skirts) and tailored button downs are great for staying comfy and cool, while still feeling pulled together and polished. We were both never really shorts people before moving to the desert, but hey there are just some things you gotta go with, so you don’t feel like you’re about to melt. This blue striped tee (for her) and effortless button down (for him), would be perfect for a 4th of July cook out, with some pasta salad, of course! 😉 Scroll through below to see some of our current favorites from Banana Republic. They’re currently having a 50% off sale, which is a pretty nice deal too.

Summer favorites:

We are also SO glad to finally be enjoying this table in our new place.  If you follow along with us on Instagram, you may have read a little about the story behind it here.  It was hand-made by our dear friends Leah & Matt from Tremaine Ranch. They are both so talented and sweet. If you are looking for a custom piece, definitely check them out. 🙂

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 Thank you to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help support this blog.