Creamy Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 2 cups uncooked rotini or penne pasta.
02 - 1 cup summer sausage, diced.
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved.
04 - 1 cup diced cucumber.
05 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced.
06 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives (optional).
07 - 1/2 cup red onion, diced.
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a cheese blend of your choice).
09 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional).
10 - 1 cup mayonnaise.
11 - 1/2 cup sour cream.
12 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard.
13 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar).
14 - 1 tablespoon honey.
15 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
16 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
17 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano.
18 - Salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions:

01 - Boil the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, diced summer sausage, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives (if using), red onion, and shredded cheddar cheese.
04 - Pour the creamy dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld and the salad to chill.
06 - Serve chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.

Notes:

01 - Prep Time: 15 minutes.
02 - Cooking Time: 10 minutes.
03 - Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes (including chilling).
04 - Servings: 6-8 servings.