Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Meal in Less Than 30 Minutes - pasta salad

When I'm rushed for lunch, I want something fast but filling. So, I like to throw together a pasta salad as a side dish for dinner and make enough to get me through several lunches. No exact measurements here. Just use as much or as little as you like.

Rotini.

Pasta (I like tri-color rotini for visual appeal but you can use any kind of pasta)
Chopped green onions or chopped red onions
Chopped green and/or red peppers
Cherry or grape tomatoes sliced in half or quartered
Sliced Pepperoni (I usually quarter it, too) or you could substitute chopped ham or bacon
Sliced black olives and/or any other veggies of your choice (broccoli, celery, shredded or grated carrots)
Shredded or cubed cheeses of your choice.
Your favorite Italian dressing (or whatever dressing you like. Be creative).

Cook the pasta, toss everything together, chill and you have a side dish for dinner and a filling lunch with the leftovers.

What's your favorite go-to fast lunch or dinner dish?

Best Wishes,

6 comments:

Mary Preston said...

Whenever I cook I make extra - Lasagna & Beef curry for example. I freeze up portions & lunch is sorted. I have to label everything because the deep freeze is always full of containers. It's a great system.

marypres@gmail.com

Colleen said...

Alot of times I use leftovers for lunch... last week I made homemade mac & cheese... I enjoy tuna with cold pasta...
gee, I have to think of what I want for lunch soon for today! :)

Myrna Mackenzie said...

Mary, I wish I had more freezer space! I bought a new bottom freezer refrigerator, and I really like it, but the freezer is pretty small. No space for an extra, either. Maybe someday...

Myrna Mackenzie said...

Colleen, I love having leftovers (made extra mostaccioli last night, just so we could have it again for lunch or dinner one night when I didn't want to cook). I'm one of those leave it until the last minute cooks, which causes a lot of rushing around some days. But I did plan for this week, and homemade mac & cheese is on the menu for tomorrow night!

Virginia C said...

Thanks for the recipe--it's the same way that I make my "Pizza Pasta Salad". It's good : )

"Tender Bites" Chicken & Pasta

1 (approx. 25 oz) bag frozen chicken tenders
1 (16 0z) pkg rotini pasta
1 (45 oz) jar chunky garden-style pasta sauce
grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Bake chicken tenders per package directions. Cook pasta until done "al dente". Heat pasta sauce. On a large serving platter, top cooked pasta with chicken tenders and cover with sauce. Sprinkle grated Parmesan generously over all. Serve with garlic bread and a green salad.

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

Myrna Mackenzie said...

Thanks, Virginia! I was just looking for something new to make (have to jazz things up now and then to keep us all from getting bored).