Dried Fruit Pasta Salad

Taken from Food Network Canada with slight adjustments.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 (375 g) package  rotini noodles
• 1  cup swiss cheese, diced
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped  dried apricot
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped dates
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced  almonds, optional
• 1  unpeeled apple, cubed
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped raw  Baby Spinach or 1⁄4 cup  romain lettuce
•  of fresh mint (to garnish) (optional)
•  vinaigrette
• 1⁄3 cup  orange juice
• 1⁄3 cup olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup rice vinegar
• 1  teaspoon orange zest
• 1  tablespoon liquid honey

Directions

1. In a saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes.
2. Combine pasta, apricots, dates, almonds, apples, spinach and Swiss cheese. Add vinaigrette to the pasta salad and mix well.
3. Serve garnished with fresh mint if desired.
4. To make the vinaigrette, whisk together in a bowl orange juice, olive oil, rice vinegar, orange zest and honey.