Tomato-Pesto Pasta Salad

This recipe is so easy, it's almost embarrassing, but easy and fast is the best way to go when it comes to cooking for me.



Ingredients:

• 1 packet pesto mix {you could easily substitute for fresh pesto sauce or from a jar}

• 1 package noodles {I used half a box of whole wheat rotini and half a box of bow-tie}

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• fresh basil
• 1 TBS white vinegar

How To:

• Prepare your pesto according to directions {I used McCormack's brand and I believe it called for water and olive oil}
• Boil noodles according to instructions
• Once noodles are cooked, let them chill in the fridge for a little while
• Slice cherry tomatoes in half
• Put noodles in serving dish and add your tomatoes, basil and cheese {for this salad to taste good you really need fresh basil and the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, I wouldn't substitute}
• Pour your pesto sauce over the salad along with your vinegar and stir together
• Let it chill in the fridge until serving, it is best served as a cold salad

Now wasn't that easy! You could also add chicken to the salad, or basically anything you want, but this was how I made mine, and it was pretty tasty!

Meat Marinade

I am finally getting around to the post for the cooks challenge: chicken cuisine. For 8 years now, I have this go to recipe for a meat marinade. I love it because its not only delicious, but it's convenient because I always have the ingredients on hand. My favorite way to use it is for kabobs. Peppers are in season so I picked one up in every color. I paired it with a spinach salad. What a healthy and divine dinner.

Meat Marinade:

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. soy sauce

ginger or garlic

Marinate for at least 4 hours (important if you want moist chicken). Grill on the barbie or do what I do, and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Happy and Healthy Eats!