My Story in Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect

Pasta Salad with Chicken

8/4/2019

7 Comments

 
Picture
​Around here, summer is an all out sprint.  In our house, there's nothing leisurely or remotely relaxing about summer.  What can I say?  It's so fleeting that I feel compelled to make the most out of every single moment.  Fall is a time for rest and rejuvenation but right now, I'm trying to soak in all that this beautiful season has to offer.  I'm running into August at full velocity --- and wearing myself out in the process. 😂

I thought that my summer pace would slow down when my kids got older and I didn't have to worry about keeping them occupied and stimulated while they were out of school for the summer.  I planned all sorts of fun activities for the kids but I always seemed to tire myself out long before they ever showed any signs of fatigue.  😂 Even when they were responsible for occupying their own time - I always had to keep my eyes and ears open.  😳  (If you've got curious, inquisitive kids - you know what I mean.) 😂  Supervising kids isn't always a physical task but no parent would disagree that raising kids is the most mentally challenging job in the world.  ​
Picture
Summer is also the time when I channel my inner Clark Griswold and plan epic road trips with my family.  After all, summer wouldn't be complete without our annual 15 hour car ride to Ohio.  🚗  #forcedfamilybondingtime 

We've actually spent a considerable part of our summer on the road and away from the house this summer.  It's been a great way for me to soak up all that summer has to offer but it hasn't been a great way for me to maintain healthy eating habits.  Why couldn't I just crave celery like I do twizzlers in the car?  Now that we're back home for at least a few weeks, it's time for this family to get back on track with our healthy eating.  

This Pasta Salad with Chicken is a perfect summer dish because I can make it in the morning and it's ready whenever I'm hungry.  It's also a perfect meal to pack up and take to the beach or the park.  It's not the normal mayonnaise based gloppy, supermarket pasta salad that you're used to.  This is a fresh, healthy protein packed pasta salad that your whole family will love.  Even my daughter, who is adamantly opposed to olives, gobbled up her entire bowl of pasta salad.
Picture
Pasta Salad with Chicken
3 boneless chicken breasts
5 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon anchovy paste
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
10 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
1/2 cup pepperocini, chopped
6 ounces penne or fusilli
​8 ounces green beans, cut into 2" lengths
2 cups baby spinach (optional)
Picture
Picture
Bring 2 c. water to a boil.  Add 2 T. salt and chicken.  Cover and simmer until cooked through.  Remove and let rest.  
Discard cooking liquid.  Add 4 quarts water and 1 T. salt to pot.  Bring to a boil.  Add pasta and cook 12 minutes.  
Picture
Picture
Add green beans to pasta and boil 5 minutes longer. 
Drain beans and pasta and place in cold water. 
Picture
Picture
Whisk together oil, vinegar, anchovy paste, garlic and pepper flakes.  
Add tomatoes, olives and pepperocini.  
Picture
Picture
Add pasta to dressing.  
Cut chicken into 1" cubes and add to pasta.
Picture
Add spinach and season with salt and pepper.  (I completely forgot to add the spinach.) 😬
Picture
The kids in my neighborhood went back to school last week but I'm in complete denial about the fact that we've reached the end of our summer.  My youngest child has one more week at home before she moves back to her apartment at college so here's to making the most of the next 168 hours!!

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
7 Comments
custom essays service link
9/4/2019 08:15:26 pm

A pasta for my family to love and eat for the upcoming birthday celebrations. I will prepare the needed sauce and meats and I will read the steps carefully so that the recipe that will be made will be delicious and one of a kind. The visitors will be happy to share the meal with us and if they have some extra food then they will be the one who will give some food to us. It is a matter of give and take and that is the power of being kind to other people.

Reply
The Undoing Nicole Kidman Green Coat link
11/3/2020 02:01:28 am

Thanks for your effort you did a great job and keep on sharing more articles like this one.

Reply
harley quinn hoodies link
11/24/2020 02:10:04 am

i wanted to thank you for this great read!! i definitely enjoying every little bit of it i have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.

Reply
Gap Brown Sweatshirt link
3/26/2022 06:08:34 am




Thanks for sharing your precious time to create this post, it's so informative, and the content makes the post more interesting. really appreciated. <a href="https://www.jacketsjunction.com/product/brown-gap-hoodie/">Gap Brown Sweatshirt</a>

Reply
Heber link
10/14/2022 03:32:02 am

I read your post and was quite impressed with it. You continue to post in this manner. Thank you for providing this information
The Black Leather Jacket is a labor of love and devotion by artisans. We were really skilled Craftsmen. The stitching process's quality is maintained by quality inspectors.

Reply
Women leather jacket link
1/10/2023 04:59:50 am

thanks for post. Are Womens Leather Jackets in style?Womens Leather Jackets are an ever-fashionable item that are especially trending now. They especially made a comeback after the fall/winter 2022 runway season, where Womens Leather Jackets are one of the hottest trends of the season.

Reply
8 Ball Jacket link
2/1/2023 09:33:36 am

This is a fantastic article with high-quality content and correct information.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Like my page on facebook.

    Follow me on Instagram


    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Categories

    All
    30 Minute Meals
    30-minute-meals
    Big Green Egg Recipes
    Chocolate
    Christmas Classics
    Comfort Foods
    Crock Pot Meals
    Fall Favorites
    Healthy-choices
    Healthy-choices
    My Favorites
    Springtime Treats
    St Patrick's Day Goodies
    Summertime Specialties
    Thanksgiving Classics
    Valentine Treats
    Vegetarian
    Winter Warm Ups

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect