There are many new prepackaged food items popping up
with the busy person's lifestyle in mind. Take for example
cooked chicken. You see packages of this either in cubes
or cut up into chunks all ready to be tossed into a salad
or entree. I've seen the same for ham, other pre-cooked
meats and even vegetables and common ingredients and
this is such a convenient idea. Here's a great restaurant-
style cold pasta salad with Southwestern-style dressing,
corn, peppers and fresh cilantro, and of course cooked
chicken. Now that's some fast food I can dig into.

Note: This recipe does need to chill out in the fridge
for at least a few hours before enjoying so plan ahead.

Enjoy! Marzee

Marzee Email Me


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RECIPE: SANTA FE PASTA SALAD

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INGREDIENTS:
1 16-ounce package bowtie pasta
4-5 quarts water

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup cooked yellow corn kernels
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped green onion
2 tablespoons diced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced green bell pepper
1 chicken breast fillet, cooked and diced

Dressing:
1 1/4 cups V-8 juice
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Prepare the pasta by bringing 4-5 quarts of water to a
rolling boil in a large saucepan. Add pasta to the pan,
and when water begins to boil again, cook for 8-11 minutes.
Pasta should be al dente, or mostly tender but with a slight
toughness in the middle. Whisk all of the dressing
ingredients together in a small bowl. Cover and chill the
dressing until you're ready to use it. When pasta is done,
pour it into a large bowl. Add the dressing, then toss. Add
the remaining ingredients to the pasta, and toss until
combined. Cover and chill for several hours before serving.

Yield: 8 Servings
Category: Pasta, Salads

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A little Planning Ahead Saves Time:

To speed up food prep, chop, shred or grate similar
ingredients for recipes at the same time. Wrap with
foil or zip bags and refrigerate.

Prepare ahead and freeze:

* Spaghetti Sauce: Make a large pot of sauce and freeze
in several small containers. Defrost only what you need.

* Soups: For cold nights when you want a quick, hot meal!

* Cookie dough: So you'll have some on hand to make a
fresh batch of cookies for unexpected guests.