| Pasta salads are a great way to make a quick meal | | | | half) |
| any day of the week. In the time it takes to cook the | | | | - ½ cup low-fat mayonnaise or low-fat plain |
| pasta you can prepare your additional ingredients and | | | | yogurt |
| serve your meal in no time. | | | | - 1 clove of garlic - (minced) |
| These easy pasta recipes are simple to make with | | | | Instructions: |
| just a few ingredients and are flavorful ideas for when | | | | - In a bowl, combine the pasta, tomatoes and olives. |
| you want a simple and fast meal. Each of these | | | | - In a smaller bowl, combine the mayonnaise or yogurt |
| recipes will make approximately two servings. | | | | with the garlic and stir to combine. |
| You will also find some simple serving suggestions for | | | | - Add the garlic mixture to the salad ingredients and |
| each pasta salad to make meal planning a breeze. | | | | toss well. |
| Broccoli Pasta Salad | | | | Quick Meal Ideas: |
| - 1 cup cooked whole-grain rotini pasta | | | | Quick Pasta Meal: |
| - 2 cups broccoli florets - (cut into bite-size pieces and | | | | For an easy and quick meal idea, try serving this pasta |
| steamed lightly if desired) | | | | salad with a bowl of black bean soup. |
| - ½ cup canned, drained mandarin orange | | | | Salad Meal: |
| segments - (reserve juice from oranges) | | | | Serve salad on a bed of romaine lettuce and baby |
| - ½ cup bottled honey Dijon dressing | | | | spinach leaves along with sweet and sour pickles or dill |
| - 1 tablespoon (or as desired) of reserved juice from | | | | pickles. |
| oranges | | | | Optional Additions: |
| - 2 tablespoon sliced almonds | | | | * Add some roughly chopped fresh basil. |
| Instructions: | | | | * Add some extra vegetables like sliced green bell |
| - Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss well. | | | | peppers and/or marinated artichoke hearts. |
| Adjust dressing to taste, if needed. | | | | ______________ |
| Quick Meal Ideas: | | | | Easy Pesto Pasta Salad |
| Pasta and Seafood: | | | | - 3 cups cooked whole-grain rotelle pasta |
| Combine shelled, cooked shrimp with some chopped | | | | - 1 ½ cups red bell pepper - (diced) |
| tomato, celery and cilantro with a squeeze of lemon | | | | - 1 hard cooked egg - (chopped) |
| juice and serve along with this easy salad. | | | | - ½ cup prepared basil pesto or sun-dried |
| Quick Pasta Meal: | | | | tomato pesto |
| Make a simple presentation of this quick pasta salad | | | | Instructions: |
| by serving it on a bed of mixed salad greens along | | | | - In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well. |
| with sliced and toasted French bread spread with olive | | | | Quick Meal Ideas: |
| tapenade. | | | | Quick Pasta Meal: |
| Optional Additions: | | | | Serve salad along with thinly sliced smoked salmon |
| * Add crumbled cooked bacon, or some canned, | | | | layered on tomato slices and drizzled with some fresh |
| drained and flaked tuna or browned and cubed | | | | squeezed lemon juice. |
| tempeh. | | | | Salad Meal: |
| ______________ | | | | For an easy meal, try serving salad with steamed |
| Creamy Garlic Pasta Salad | | | | broccoli and mushrooms tossed with olive oil, lemon |
| - 2 cups cooked whole-grain penne pasta | | | | juice and salt and pepper. |
| - 1 cup cherry tomatoes - (cut tomatoes in half) | | | | Optional Additions: |
| - ½ cup pitted kalamata olives - (cut each olive in | | | | * Add some capers and/or oil-cured olives. |