Chicken Pasta Salad

1 (16 ounce) package corkscrew pasta

1 (8 ounce) bottle light Italian dressing

1 pound baked chicken breast, cubed

1 small onion, diced (optional)

1 cup diced green bell pepper

1 cup diced tomato

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Cook the pasta in boiling water, until the pasta has cooked through but is still firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain. Combine the pasta and the Italian dressing in a large bowl. Add the diced chicken breast, onion, bell pepper, and tomato; stir until well combined. Cover, and chill 2 hours or overnight.

Mexican Pasta Salad

3/4 lb ground beef

1/2 - 1/3 cup chopped onion
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
3/4 cup water
8 oz rotini pasta
2 tomatoes, chopped
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup sliced black olives
1 avocado, peeled and cubed
1- 1 1/2 cups taco sauce
2-3 cup shredded lettuce


In large skillet brown ground beef and onion; drain off excess fat; add seasoning mix and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook rotini according to package directions. Add remaining ingredients, stir gently. Serve hot or cold. When serving cold, add shredded lettuce just prior to serving.

Screwy Noodle Pasta Salad

1 12-oz. pkg. spirals

1 can olives, sliced or halved (Save the olive juice!)

¼ cup olive juice

1 cup Parmesan cheese 

¼ cup oil

1 t. lemon juice

1 t sugar or 2 t. honey

1 T. vinegar

1 small carrot, grated

Fresh broccoli ~ a few florets chopped up

½ cup mayonnaise

[Optional: diced chicken]

   

Boil spirals, drain, cool with cold water. Mix all ingredients from olive juice to mayo. Add spirals, olives and chicken (if using.) Mix lightly so spirals aren’t crushed. Add salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and Mrs. Dash to taste. 

Cauliflower Broccoli Raisin Salad

2 1/4 cups fresh cauliflower florets

2 1/4 cups fresh broccoli florets
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons Bacon Bits
1/2 cup  mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar

In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, broccoli, onion, raisins, and bacon bits. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar substitute. Pour mayonnaise mixture over vegetable mixture. Mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Gently stir again just before serving.

Coloring Cards: Creative Expressions

I bought these boxes of inspirational cards last July when my husband and I were on our Silver Anniversary trip in Pennsylvania. They were $3.99 for each box at Walmart, with 44 cards per box. The box that I'm working on coloring is called, Creative Expressions.  I had 4 boxes of card and this is the 2nd box that I've worked on. I've colored 15 cards from this box so far and got 29 to go.

They come packed in a sturdy, portable lidded box.

44 Biblically Inspired Coloring Cards
Box Size: 4 1/4" (w) x 3 1/4" (h) x 1 3/8" (d)
Card size: 4 1/4" (w) x 3 1/4" (h)
One-Side Printed Extra-Heavy Card Stock
Not Size Suitable as Postcard Mailing

 









To Calm and Inspire

Double Crunch Apple Salad

1 large golden or green apple, cut in bite size pieces

1 large red apple, cut in bite size pieces
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks, drained
1 cup miniature marshmallows
2/3 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup nuts
1 small container of cool whip

Toss apples with lemon juice and add the rest of the ingredients. If you don't have any cool whip or want a more savory salad, substitute the cool whip with 1/4 cup mayo and 2 tablespoons each of celery and raisins.