I don’t know about you, but I think lunch is the most boring meal of the day. I am always looking for a little inspiration beyond “deli meat or peanut butter?” So let me share one of my favorite go-to lunches. It’s easy to make, loaded with vegetables, and my kids love it. Best of all, it can be made ahead of time and chilled, so when you walk through the door at 12:30 and everyone’s cranky and starving you can say, “There’s pasta salad in the fridge!”
HOORAY!
Here is the super-simple method:
1. Choose your ingredients. My family likes:
- grilled chicken
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- red bell pepper
- carrots
- kidney beans
- avocado
- asparagus spears
- grape or cherry tomatoes
(sometimes I put all of this in, and sometimes I just use what I’ve got)
These are some other things you might like:
- mushrooms
- olives
- artichokes
- black beans
2. While you boil the noodles (I use tri-color rotini), set a steam tray over the pot and lightly steam the crunchy vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, asparagas, and carrots.)
3. Once you’ve drained the noodles, return them to the large pot and throw in the steamed vegetables. Add the beans, grilled chicken, avocado, and any other uncooked vegetables (bell pepper, olives, mushrooms, tomatoes…etc.)
4. Toss with your favorite Italian dressing. I either use Olive Garden dressing (bought from Sam’s Club), or Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix, which you can buy at any local grocery store. It comes with a glass jar that tells you how much water, vinegar, and oil to add. Very delicious.
5. Chill and serve.
Bon appétit!
Loving My Lot 