Simple Kitchen: Easy pasta

By Errin Stevenson

June 20, 2008 | Pasta is a great side dish, main dish or just a snack during the afternoon or evening hours. Served with warm bread, it is always an easy hit!

An easy and simple pasta salad for the summer and one of my favorites is the Italian Garden Rotini. This pasta salad is great to serve with a main dish or while your husband is on the grill. It is quick, healthy and one that tastes great with just about anything! Here is the simple recipe:

Italian Garden Rotini

1 16 oz. package of garden rotini, cooked and drained
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
2 roma tomatoes, washed and diced
1 can of olives, drained and cut in half, not lengthwise
1 tub of feta cheese
1 16 oz. fat-free or light Kraft zesty Italian dressing

In a large pan, cook the garden rotini. Make sure you do not ever over cook pasta. If you do, start over because it will ruin the rest of your ingredients. Once cooked, drain pasta and put in bowl then set in the refrigerator. Cut up your vegetables. Once pasta has cooked, add vegetables and cheese to the pasta. Mix well. Then pour the dressing on top of your mixture. You do not have to use all the dressing. I usually use one-half to two-thirds of the bottle. Mix and enjoy!

If you want pasta for your main dish, you are in luck! Kristine Robinson, author of Character in Cooking, has a wonderful pasta recipe. All you need is a slow cooker, a couple of minutes to throw it in, and a party to serve.

Fabulous Chicken and Pasta

1 lb. chicken breast tenders
2 cans cream of chicken soup
8 oz. cream cheese (you can use fat-free)
1 package Good Seasons dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 package bow tie pasta

In a greased crockpot, add chicken, soup and cream cheese. Sprinkle with Italian salad dressing mix. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve over cooked bowtie pasta.

These pastas are great and I know you will love them!

MS
MS