Please help a novice make a cold pasta salad!

[singingsixpence82]

I'm going to a hen weekend on Friday and we've all been asked to bring a dish and a bottle to cover two meals we'll eat in (dinner Friday night, lunch Saturday). I don't really do cooking in any proper capacity and only cook or prepare food once every year or two under normal circumstances (live off fruit, veg, bread and tinned soup and fish mostly) so have no idea what I'm doing. I thought I'd make a cold pesto pasta salad using a jar or two of pesto and adding some cherry tomatoes and toasted pine nuts for a homemade feel as this sounds like it can't be too hard but are there any pit falls I need to watch out for? When should I make it? If I make it this evening will the pasta go soggy? Should I make it tomorrow before we set off? Are there any other disasters that might befall my salad? Thanks!

[Groovee]

Boil some pasta

Fry some mushrooms in a frying pan add some pesto and some water from the pasta. Drain pasta and add to the mushrooms and pesto and cool. Add some Parmesan sprinkled over the top.

[singingsixpence82]

Is there a right or wrong time to do this at Groove? Will the pasta go soggy if I do it tonight? It's for Saturday lunch time but I probably will have to make it before setting off tomorrow.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

I would make the pasta and mix through pesto tonight then add the toms and nuts at the last minute. Keep the pasta in the fridge overnight. Easy peasy!

[singingsixpence82]

Thank you atleast!

[harridan50]

Google jamie oliver best pasta salad. Foolproof boil pasta with garlic add pepper,olives etc

[YelloDraw]

I would suggest running the cooked pasta under cold water once it is done - stops it overcooking whilst cooling and going mushy.

Then mix in the pesto. Then just before serving mix in the toms and the pine nuts. Scatter a few basil leaves.