The following seasonal recipe was furnished by food enthusiast and guest writer Rose Smith.

Hello, summer – when the food is light, fresh, relaxed and, hopefully, easy.

Fresh produce is readily available and, if you’re like me, fresh herbs are growing right outside your back door. If not, head to a local farm market for veggies and remember why we call New Jersey the Garden State.

Simplicity is essential. When I’m having a crowd, I don’t like being tied up in the kitchen. A good idea is to prepare and refrigerate as much as possible ahead of time.

This chilled pasta salad fits the bill. In fact, I think it is even more flavorful the next day.