Groovy 'Who Brought That' Pasta Salad

I'm a middle child, so I have a need to stand out. This pasta salads fills that need, in both presentation and taste. This is the potluck show stopper that will have everyone asking 'Who brought that pasta salad?!'

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 453 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 drops green food coloring
• 5 drops red food coloring
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 5 drops yellow food coloring
• ½ green bell pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, grated
• ¾ cup cider vinegar
• ½ cup water, divided
• 5 drops blue food coloring
• 4 carrots, grated
• 1 pound tri-color rotini pasta
• 3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain and rinse under cold water.

Step 2

Put 2 tablespoons water in each of 4 resealable plastic bags; add red food coloring to a bag. Add green food coloring to second bag. Add blue food coloring to third bag. Add yellow food coloring to fourth bag.

Step 3

Divide rotini among the four bags; squeeze bag to evenly color rotini. Set aside to allow color to saturate, about 10 minutes. Transfer pasta to a large bowl.

Step 4

Whisk sugar, vinegar, oil, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper together in a bowl until sugar is dissolved into dressing.

Step 5

Mix onion, green bell pepper, and carrots into pasta. Drizzle dressing over pasta mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate until flavors blend, at least 2 hours.