This recipe idea is a variation of the tomato and basil pasta salad with the addition of sausage and Parmesan cheese. The sausage and cheese make this dish a little more kid-friendly, but you can skip the tomato if you want, since not all kids like raw tomatoes. The idea is that a pasta salad, dressed up any way you like, is fabulous for kids' birthdays and school parties. It's an exciting and healthy change from pizza — kids love pasta too! You can make your pasta salad with the best ingredients and the perfect pasta from Italy. 

I made this version for my daughter's birthday party. The night before, I cooked the pasta and chopped the sausage and tomatoes. The next morning, I tossed everything together with olive oil, Parmesan, basil, salt, and pepper. It was ready in minutes, and it got devoured in no time. The parents loved it too!