Friday, April 9, 2010

Easy Pasta Salad, BAoK, Charleston Meet up

First off, thank you all for letting me know your hopes/aspirations for the next five years. Sounds like a lot of you have some big plans!! As for me, five years from now, I'd love to be generally healthy & happy, have A kid, and still be spending tons of times with Josh & Frank.

I love making up pasta salads because they make for a filling meal, you can make them ahead of time (in fact they taste much better if they have more time to set in the fridge), and you can always switch up the ingredients based on what you have on hand. You can make them with or without meat. I placed ham in this recipe for Josh’s salad since my parents had given him some to take home after our Easter dinner. For a vegetarian substitute, I used chickpeas for my own version

Simple Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
  • ¼ box pasta (any shape will do)
  • Cooked/cubed meat or beans (recommend chickpeas)
  • 1 can artichoke hearts, quartered
  • Other leftover veggies- I used Brussels sprouts
  • Cubed cheese- I used mozzarella
  • 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Salt & Pepper or other desired spices
  • Parmesan cheese to top

Directions:
Cook pasta according to directions on box. Drain and let cool. In a large bowl, mix together olive oil, lemon juice, S&P/spices. Add in pasta, meat/beans, vegetables and cheese and toss to coat. Cover and place in fridge until you’re ready to serve. If you’d like, top with Parmesan cheese.

Josh’s salad:



I’m glad the weekend is approaching. What are you up to this weekend? My plans are sort of up in the air. Teaching attack today, step Saturday, otherwise??

Also, have you participated in BAoK??? If so, shoot me an email letting me know what you did. My first BAoK recipient, the awesome Melissa, received her package. I sent out a second box on Wednesday. I will be doing a recap post soon to talk about some of the other BAoK going on.

Any other Charleston area readers or foodie bloggers out there? Interested in a meet up? Email me at Itzyskitchen at gmail dot com.

47 comments:

CaSaundraLeigh said...

Pasta salads really are an ideal food--especially in the summer, they are so easy to make in big batches and haul around. Hope your week went well and your weekend goes even better :-)

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

I love pasta salads, too! SO versatile. Have a great weekend. ;)

Heather said...

Pasta salad is the perfect summer food! I can't wait for the weather to warm up here in Cleveland!

My big plan for the weekend is running 20 miles tomorrow - depending on how that goes, I may be laid up for the rest of the weekend! :)

Lauren said...

You know I would be jumping on the chance to meet you!!! If only I lived closer than a 9 hour drive! :(

Have a great weekend babe!

Molly said...

Pasta salad reminds me of my mom - it's her favorite dish! Yours looks yummy!

Unknown said...

Nice BAoK package..that stuff is delish! Pasta salad looks delish also!

Enjoy the weekend!

xoxo

Lindsay @ http://pancakesnpajamas.blogspot.com/ said...

I think your pasta salad will be my dinner for tonight! It looks amazing! Can't wait for the meet up!

Pining for Pinterest said...

I wish I lived in Charleston! When I am out there I will let you know :) I wanted to take the kids for the summer to the beach. We are only about 4 hours away!

Jessica said...

Great salad. I love pasta, but never make a cold pasta salad. I don't know why. Looks great! Have a good weekend.

Britt said...

Love fun pasta salads! I often do a pasta salad and a quinoa salad at parties (friend w/Celiacs), but I should do them more often just to enoy!!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!!!

Stephanie @cookinfanatic said...

Love pasta salads, such a great way to "use up what ya got!" Have a great Friday :)

Ana said...

I missed the BAoK post since I was in Ecuador... what an awesome idea!!!! You're just too sweet girl!!

For the weekend some plans are still up in the air, however, I foresee a lot of Golf watching and I might be going to Disney!!

iamronel said...

i love it..thanks for the recipe..:)

Christina said...

i love pasta salads too! i agree with you on the flavors setting in while in the fridge. i always use extra "sauce" bc the pasta sucks so much up...and i reaaaaally can't wait to see if there are any lurkers out there!! hehe

Holly said...

I love pasta salads, especially in the summer. I haven't had one since probably last summer! And I love the idea to add chickpeas. Definitely going to try that!

Hope you have a great weekend, girl!

Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather said...

Your are so sweet sending out those packages! Pasta salads are amazing and yes, they get so much better after sitting in the fridge for a while. Hope you have a fun weekend girl!

Anonymous said...

I LOVEEE pasta salads because they're great cold (straight from the fridge after a big night out) or lightly warmed (a light lunch so you can have dessert)!

Deva (Voracious Vorilee) said...

Pasta salads are wonderful, I don't make them often though. I think my favorite grain-based salad is the chickpea quinoa pilaf from Veganomicon - it's soo good and great in so many different ways!

Tiffany said...

mmm i'm going to make a pasta salad now so i can bring it to school and work for lunches and dinners -- so easy and portable! and you're so sweet sending bloggers packages!

unfortunately my weekends until the beginning of May will be stuffed to the brim with schoolwork... yikes!

i hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) said...

Yum pasta salad with chickpeas is one of my favorite things! I love making a greek pasta salad with cucumbers, olives, tomatoes and feta cheese. YUM!

Lazaro Cooks said...

Great dish to take to the beach!

Jessie (Vegan-minded) said...

That pasta salad looks great! Awesome BAoK package too. Enjoy your weekend! :)

Katie said...

Pasta with chickpeas is so good! One of my faves has broc and tons of lemon.

Lucky BAoKer! I've been getting my green smoothie on lately, too.

Have a fabulous weekend, Erica!

Anonymous said...

hey gorgeous chica!
LOVE your quick and easy DELICIOUS meal ideas! awesome act of kindness goin' on in this post! I wish I lived closer for a meet up! hehe!
have a fabulous weekend girlie!
xoxo!

homecookedem said...

I love making pasta salads, especially in the summer!! My mom makes some amazing ones. Yours looks wonderful!! :)

~M~ said...

Yum, I love pasta salad! It is the perfect thing to bring on a picnic :)

Jenna said...

I always crave cold pasta salads in the summertime. They are usually so light and refreshing!

The Blonde Duck said...

Can you believe I've never had pasta salad? For shame!

madeleine said...

love, love, love your blog sweetie!!! Can't wait to meet-up in CHS soon. Keep up these great posts!! Pasta salad is the best-- this looks great:O) XO

tam said...

I bet she was smiling all day what a fab gift! x x

Dawn (HealthySDLiving) said...

Wish I didn't live so far away--not so many bloggers out here!

Julie said...

i've had your page open for like 4 minutes but i'm in the middle of the big housewives fight so hold on a sec...

okay i'm back! hahaha wow team bethenny all the way bab-ay

i never even asked you team beth or jill. you better choose bethenny

gah! i wish the post office had better hours.

Krista said...

Pasta salads, without mayo, are great for picnics. At least, I always think of that type of salad as "summer food". LOL!

No real plans this weekend and that's OK. We've had a busy winter so the break is nice.

Have a great on, Erica!

Janetha @ meals + moves said...

pasta salads rule. i cant wait for BBQing just for the salads alone! have a great weekend, beautiful!

Jessica said...

Okay, so I have the Amazing Grass wheat grass and it is really not very tasty to me. I have only tried it in "shot" form mixed with some orange juice. I need some good ideas to mask the taste, do you have any??

Bridget said...

I was just thinking about pasta salads lately! Such a great idea for lunches. I should put that on the list this week :)
That's a pretty sweet BAoK gift!! So awesome of you!
I wish I could come to the meet up!!

Anonymous said...

Love pasta salad :) I was planning on making one this weekend...yum.

I wish I was in Charlston! Hehe, it's on my bucket list as a place to visit. One day!

Have a great weekend!

teresa said...

oh yummy! what a great looking salad!

Kerstin said...

Pasta salad with chickpeas sounds so yummy and perfect for a potluck!

Kitchen Butterfly said...

A kid....worry not, many more may follow :-). Love pasta salads too!

Zesty Cook said...

I will never turn down a pasta salad.... perfect in the summer and for left overs.

Kathleen said...

Pasta salad is an all time favorite. Your recipe looks really yummy.

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

I would LOVE a meeetup with you girl! When I lived in Myrtle all those yrs, I so wanted to meet some healthy-minded awesome women...and didnt really have much success...fried bacon and grits was more like it :) Cant wait to see if you find anyone for a blogger meetup!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Love amazing grass! Wish I could meet you in Charleston! a trip would be so nice
Katherine

Holly said...

i have a FABULOUS BAoK brewing - i will let you know as soon as it comes to fruition :)

Miz said...

ready? Ive never eaten pasta salad :)
I need to find a 'dressing' id like as (waitforit)Ive never eaten salad dressing either.

I know.
Im a quirky one and it has ZERO to do with health...

Andrea @ CanYouStayForDinner.com said...

Deeeelicious pasta salad! I love that summery feel of dishes like this! Such a perfect and easy meal, too!

Have a wonderful Monday, love!