Chicken and Pasta Salad

Spent last weekend in the trees.  Literally the cutest little treehouse - ever. 🌳

Our two bedroom treehouse was pretty amazing but so were some of these other treehouses that were also available to rent.⬇️

There's just something calming and peaceful about being in the woods - especially when I don't have to sleep on the ground.🤣🛌 It's even better when you have friends who do all the leg work to find great treehouse weekend getaways and invite you to come along.  

Our beautiful treehouse rental was the perfect spot to rest after a day of hiking in Smoky Mountain National Park.  We also used it as a home base to do a little refueling.  Hearty breakfasts and energy boosting pasta dinners are a must when one spends a weekend hiking the trails. 🍳🍝

There are times when grocery shopping on vacation is unavoidable.  It's not my favorite thing to do on vacation but sometimes - it's just practical.  But on our trip to Gaitlinburg - I was able to pack all of the food and supplies that we needed for the weekend in a cooler so I didn't have to spend my vacation time in the grocery store. 

I packed chicken and Pasta Salad for our mid-day meal on our second day in the woods.  It's got lots of lean protein and a healthy dose of fresh vegetables.  Fresh tomatoes and basil add lots of fresh flavor to this yummy salad drizzled with the most delicious honey vinaigrette that you've ever tasted.  Best of all, its good warm OR cold so you can enjoy it while hiking in the woods or serve it to guests at your kitchen table.

Chicken and Pasta Salad
Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Pasta Salad:
1 pound whole grain penne pasta
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled and diced
​6 strips turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
2 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes
3 green onions, sliced
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Whisk together dressing ingredients. 

​Cook pasta to al dente.  Drain. 

​Add the cooked chicken, bacon, tomatoes, green onions, Parmesan cheese, and basil.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.  OR pack the dressing separately and dress just before serving.  

Ciao!

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