Pasta Salad with Ham, Peas and Celery 

Total time: 25 minutes
      I love creamy pasta salads - made with lots of mayonnaise.  Unfortunately, my good sense tells me that it's not the most healthy way to enjoy summer.  Using a bit of Greek or plain yogurt stretches the mayonnaise while still keeping the flavor.

 Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups (4.2oz, 125gr) pasta
• 8oz (240gr) ham  a thick slice from the deli
• 1 cup frozen peas (3oz, 90gr)
• 1/2 bell pepper, red or orange
• 1 medium carrot
• 2 - 3 ribs celery (about 1 cup, sliced)
• 10 Greek or black olives
• Creamy Dressing:
• 4 tbs Greek or plain yogurt
• 2 tbs mayonnaise
• 2 tbs yellow or ball park mustard (French's)
• 2 tbs salad olive oil

 Instructions:

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Peel and chop carrot.
• Chop pepper.
• Slice celery.
• Put frozen peas in a strainer and run hot tap water over them until they are thawed, about 1 minute.
• Cut ham into bite-size pieces.  
• Pit olives if needed, and cut in half.
• Mix all ingredients for salad (except dressing) in a large bowl. 
• When the pasta is done, drain, rinse lightly in cool water. 
• Add to bowl. 
• Add as much of the dressing as suits your taste; Stir and eat.
• Creamy Dressing:
• Whisk all ingredients together.  It will be quite thick.