This easy to assemble and serve salad we had often during my early years.

You likely have your own favorite pasta salad that your family loves.

As soon as I start putting the ingredients together, my kitchen takes on the distinct aroma of boiling water and pasta that signals “comfort food” for many of us.

I remember walking in from school and this being on the counter in the kitchen in my grandmother’s big glass bowl.

She had an old sterling salad set (a treasure in my own kitchen now) in the figural pattern , Versailles by Gorham, that she used to serve the salad. These oversized, turn of the century American silver pieces were covered in Greek mythology images.

I was fascinated by the art work on the handles and learned later that each type of implement had a different scene.

The seemingly mundane act of sitting down to eat a simple salad after school gave me a lifelong passion for silver and all that it entails. If you love silver, or are just curious, look up this pattern; it is beautiful.

We often ate this salad with asparagus quiche which makes the perfect late summer meal. I will share the asparagus quiche recipe in a later column.

Pasta Salad with Artichokes & Carrots

1 box of cork screw pasta

2 large carrots sliced in thin rounds

2 medium zucchini sliced thin

Cook all of this together in salted water with a small amount of vinegar, lemon or lime juice until the pasta is done.

Drain and place all of the above in a large plastic container with a lid.

Add a jar of whole artichoke hearts sliced in quarters and the brine from the jar.

If you like artichokes, add two jars.

Add 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper

Add 1/4 cup white wine vinegar

Add 1/3 cup olive or walnut oil

Mix and sit in the counter to serve in 30 minutes at room temp or, after 30 minutes, place in the fridge to chill for several hours.

Serve on lettuce leaves in a large bowl, garnishing with sliced cherry tomatoes

Please use your large silver serving pieces. The Gorham Co. must have known that beautiful silver makes food taste better.