Carolyn's Pasta Salad

this was a hit at the bbq. Everyone I know does the typical pasta salad with black olives & tomatoes, but the artichokes, REAL bacon bits, Vermont cheese and green olives were a hit! I like trying new things.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12

Ingredients

• 2 (12 ounce) boxes tri-color spiral pasta
• 2  cucumbers, diced
• 1 (6 ounce) jar artichoke hearts, with juice
• 1 (3 ounce) jar bacon bits
• 1 (10 ounce) jar  pimento-stuffed green olives (slice these)
• 6  ounces cheddar cheese (small cubed)
• 1 (16 ounce) bottle  of cheap  Italian salad dressing (store brand)

Directions

1. cook up noodles until soft & tender, rinse & cool down til' almost cold. cut up all the remaining ingredients into small pea-size pieces. mix all ingredients into large bowl with cooled-down noodles, then serve.
2. (optional: I used the artichoke juice from the jar when mixing it in w/ the salad dressing).