Pasta Salad: 50 Favourite Recipes is a collection of original recipes, as well as those from family and friends. The book is unique in that it elevates pasta salad from an uninspired, routine concoction to a delicious event. The book is written for the multitasking cook, in that the directions are simple and clearly worded and the techniques are explained in the front of the book so there is no repetition. The book presents a standard dish in an updated and creative way. For those who like to cook ahead, or need to bring along a dish to an event, it will be particularly useful. There are master recipes for many of the ingredients that are used frequently, such as mayonnaise, vinaigrette, and the blanching of vegetables. Pasta salad is an inexpensive dish and adaptable for many occasions. The book includes chapters featuring pasta with vegetables, as well as meat, poultry and seafood, plus illustrations of the many types of pasta available. The recipes are preceded by interesting and amusing anecdotes drawn from the author's travels and life in New England.