Pine Nut Pasta Salad

1 pound shaped pasta cooked a few minutes shy of al dente
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives pitted and cut in half
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup pine nuts toasted
6 oz package of feta
1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
1 diced red or orange bell pepper

dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
3-5 cloves of garlic minced
ground pepper to taste

cool pasta. Mix salad ingredients together top with dressing toss and chill

Mandarin Bowtie Pasta Salad

Ingredients
16 oz bowtie pasta

Dressing:
1 cup oil *veggie or canola*
2/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2/3 cup white wine vinegar
6 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper


10 oz fresh spinach
6 oz craisins
3- 11oz cans mandarin oranges (drained)
2- 8 oz cans water chesnuts (drained)
1/2 cup fresh parsley- chopped
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 bunch green onions- chopped
6 oz honey roasted peanuts
2 cups cooked chicken cut to sm. pieces

Directions

Cook pasta according to directions, then chill. Mix dressing and add to pasta and marinate for atleast 2 hours. Mix remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Toss with pasta and dressing right before serving.

This is a large recipe great for parties or showers.

Apple Walnut Salad

We have been eating this salad as a side dish with dinner several times a week since I first tried it a couple months ago! I'm still not sick of it! It is SO, SO good....especially with the variety of apples available this time of year. We prefer HONEYCRISP! Enjoy!

spring mix salad (from the bag)

crumbled blue (or feta) cheese

walnut halves, toasted (350 degrees for 5-7 minutes)

red apples, in bite size pieces

red onion, thin slices

Dressing:

1/3 c. olive oil

1/4 c. sugar

3 TBSP white wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. ground mustard

1/2 tsp. celery seed

*Whisk all together. Pour on dressing just before serving.

You can add as little or as much of the salad ingredients as you like. The dressing is enough for a salad that serves about 6 people.