Italian Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• Kosher salt
• 1 lb any short cut pasta
• 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 English cucumber, diced
• 1 cup diced ham
• 1 bell pepper (any color), seeded and diced
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• 1 (2.25 oz) can sliced black olives, drained
• 1 (8 oz) bottle Italian dressing
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• Ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and spread it evenly on a sheet pan. Place the sheet pan in the freezer for 10 minutes to cool the pasta. Do not rinse the pasta as it rinses the salted flavoring away.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, ham, bell pepper, onion, olives, salad dressing, Parmesan, paprika, and black pepper to taste and toss well. Gently toss in the pasta. Serve immediately or store in the fridge until ready to serve.