Pasta Salad - Warm for Winter

When I think of Pasta Salad I think of BBQs during the Summer, cold and crisp and awesome during the height of the heat.  
This one, with the "salad" moniker sounds really interesting for winter.  

Yield: 4
Serving Size: 2 cups

Ingredients

• 3/4 tsp. coarse kosher salt, divided
• 1 lb. bow-tie pasta
• 1 small head radicchio, shredded
• 1 small fennel bulb, sliced thin
• 2 pears, peeled, cored, and chopped, ¼" pieces
• 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped, ¼" pieces
• 1/4 cup, plus 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup toasted walnuts
• ½ cup bleu cheese crumbles

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Add water to the pasta maker maximum fill line. 
3. Stir in ½ tsp. of the salt and pasta. 
4. Microwave on high power 8 minutes. 
5. Remove from microwave; drain, set aside.
6. Meanwhile, on the UltraPro Oven Plate, arrange radicchio, fennel, pears, and parsnips in a single layer. 
7. Drizzle with 1 tbsp. of the olive oil; sprinkle with salt. 
8. Microwave on high power 3 minutes. 
9. Remove from microwave. 
10. Place UltraPro pan in oven. 
11. Bake 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. 
12. Remove from oven; set aside.
13. In a large bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, garlic, and remaining salt. 
14. Stir in pasta, vegetables, and walnuts; top with bleu cheese. 
15. Serve warm.