Monday, August 1, 2011

Healthy Food Series: Kids Love Pasta Salad

About a year ago, I was going through a hard time in the kitchen where it didn't matter what I made, or how good it was, someone in the house complained about it. So, I made up this recipe in my efforts to get out of my cooking "slump". This is one of my all time favorite summer dishes to make because it is quick and easy, is loaded with a ton of great veggies, is hearty enough for my husband to eat it as a meal with a glass of milk, and everyone in my family likes it... a lot! My four year old has told me on more than one occasion, "This is my favorite food, better than pizza." Anyway, I hope you like it!

Keep it healthy!
Kristin

Salad:

1/2 package high-fiber whole wheat noodles any medium sized shape
2 cups frozen peas
1/2 a red, orange or yellow bell pepper
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
(add more veggies that your kids like)
4 oz feta cheese well crumbled
20 (or so)kalamata olives chopped
chopped walnuts

Vinaigrette:
1/2 tsp each dried basil and oregano
pinch of garlic granules (or powder)
2 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
5 Tbsp Olive oil*
plenty of salt and pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions, drain and put back in the cooking pot. Meanwhile make the vinaigrette and set aside until the noodles are done then pour over noodles. Add the peas and mix until the noodles cool off a bit. Then chop and add the rest of your veggies, olives and cheese. You can serve it right away, but it does taste better after the flavors have a chance to meld for an hour or so in the fridge. Taste to check for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed. Dish it up and top with nuts right before serving. Complete your protiens with a glass of milk and enjoy. :) YUM!

*{I know this sounds like a lot of oil, but the salad needs it to keep the vinegar from destroying the pasta and it really doesn't taste greasy, I promise... and I could go on with the fat isn't bad thing, but you all watched Dr. Lustig's video... right?} ;)

2 comments:

  1. That sounds a delicious recipe: would love to try it, but my disabled husband - for whom I have to prepare fresh, healthy food 24/7 can't stand pasta ("tasteless" - no matter how much sauce, olive oil and or herbs I use!).

    Think the idea of the hair accessories are wonderful and those shown in Screaming Sardine's blog one are splendid. But...how do you keep the blinking things on when you have tons of very fine hair? In the days when I, too, used to use them (too many to mention here) they never stayed in for more than 30 mins. and my mother despaired! Have the more modern creations got a better stick-on factor?

    If you've time, please have a look-see at my blog www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.com. I'm intending to follow you, and hope that you'll do the same to me! Intend to pass by you shop too - mine is at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com.

    All the best. Isobel

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  2. Thanks for your great comment Isobel!

    That's ok, just substitute lettuce or cooked beans for the pasta and cut back a bit on the oil by 1/2 since the beans and lettuce don't need it to protect them from the vinegar. :)

    On to the bows... All of the bows I mount to alligator clips come with non-slip grips which help tremendously, but will still slip eventually with superfine hair and a heavy bow. I would suggest either sticking to mini-bows, headbands, or if you really like larger bows, stick the alligator clip through a small section of a ponytail between the rounds of elastic. Snap clips are another option if you are still finding that alligator clips are just not holding. All of these suggestions are available in my shop except for the mini bows which I should be able to start listing in my Etsy shop this week. If you don't see something, or would like me to change up a bow for you, send me a convo and we'll work together to meet your needs.

    I'll be stopping by your blog later today. Kristin

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