I Am Doing A Food Tech Competition On Friday, And My Challenge Is To Make The Best Pasta Salad

[Megan81201]

What I need help with is I want to sprinkle a herb on top as a garnish but I don't know what to have as I am not a girl who knows about herbs due to being a 12 year olds girl
My ingredients are:
Ham
Cheese
Pepper
Onion
Cucumber
Mayonaise
But I need help with the herbs? So what herb shall i put on top of my pasta salad to win?

[DTCwordfan]

Why don't you go to your local supermarket, explain what you are doing to the store manager and say that you don't know your herbs. He/she may give you a wee tasting so you can learn..it's some local publicity for them if you do well.....

[pastafreak]

DT...what supermarket do you go to? Most of the staff are clueless about things like that....or they are here...

Megan...I'd advise chives also,but whatever you choose-use fresh. Dried herbs can taste quite harsh...that's why we cook them. Good luck with the competition.

[ducksie]

I think it's a good question from megan81201 and while a lot of answers are very good, one must remember her age and a lot of 12yr olds don't like strong flavours, that's how I came to suggest parsley, basil is a taste I'm sure she will be familiar with from other italian dishes- spag bol and the like, I think as she has to eat it herself it wouldn't be a good idea to put on an herb with too much of a flavour that her palate is not yet accustomed to and she may just gag on some herbs that can be quite strong for her young tastebuds.

[Clanad]

Living as I do in the western U.S., I wouldn't be surprised if our young cook isn't an American also, since the ZIP code matching the numerals in her sign in name is that of Salida, Colorado... a small town way up in a valley of the Colorado Rockies, west of Colorado Springs... I bet she's a top skier as well as a budding chef!

[DTCwordfan]

Hence seeing the manager, pasta......

[pastafreak]

Maybe DT. Though I go into my local sainsburys several times a week...and I wouldn't know who the manager is. I might be missing out on something ;-)

[ducksie]

You're so observant Clanad :)

[DTCwordfan]

A CIA agent, ducksie... :-I

[ducksie]

so it seems Dt, I was out making a coffee, sorry in delay replying

[EcclesCake]

Whatever you do and assuming you need to provide a recipe to support your dish check your spelling for mayo.