I hope you are doing well during this time of quarantine. It’s had us pretty much at home for the most part. Even though I routinely cook a lot, it sure seems like I’ve more than doubled that lately. I can’t imagine how it must be with a house full of kiddos!
We recently switched so that our midday meal is our heartiest which is working out well for us. Our evening meals usually consist of a cheese and fruit board or something quite light. We’ve ordered out a few times, but it’s just the same as dining out in the restaurant, is it?
Fortunately, my pantry stays pretty well stocked with dry goods — beans, pastas, flours — so I’ve really drawn from that and our freezer. I’ve made a few trips to the grocery for fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement what we had on hand, but I’ve not had any major grocery outings for the most part. I’m really focusing on using up what I already have instead of trekking to the store on a daily basis.
Quarantine cooking seems to have taken on a life of its own, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing how some of the professionals have pulled together tasty meals from what they had on hand.
That’s rather how this salad came about. When I was asked to participate in a feature on quarantine cooking for THV11, I decided not only did it need to be a dish that could be easily prepared, but it also needed to be something that you could most likely make without making a trip to the store.
Simple Summer Pasta Salad with Cannellini Beans was born! Talk about easy! And it’s really tasty y’all.
I think you’ll enjoy it best after a few hours of chill time in the refrigerator. It’s great to have on hand for those suppers on the patio or deck, picnics or parties. It will keep very well for several days in the refrigerator.
You could even add additional vegetables, such as cut fresh green beans from the garden. Just throw those in with the pasts as it cooks. I also think fresh spring peas, summer squash, cherry tomatoes or even cucumbers would be nice added in raw. You could add in chicken, shrimp or ham if you’d like. It’s definitely flexible.
What creative quarantine dishes have you been preparing? I’d love for you to share.
Just keep it simple!
Simple Summer Pasta Salad
Notes
*If you don't have the boxed pasta salad on hand, substitute other pasta such as rotini, macaroni, etc. Add about 3/4 cup bottled Italian dressing to replace the dressing mix in the package.
Ingredients
- 1 box Betty Crocker Classic Suddenly Pasta Salad*
- 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1/3 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1/2 stalk celery, finely diced, optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Flat leaf parsley, as garnish, optional
Instructions
- Prepare pasta salad according to package directions but only cooking approximately 10 minutes so the pasta stays firm.
- Cook carrot, bell pepper and celery with the pasta. Drain thoroughly.
- Drain and rinse cannellini beans.
- Prepare salad dressing included with pasta box.
- In a large bowl, mix prepared pasta mixture and beans. Pour in prepared dressing and stir well to combine.
- Garnish with freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley and chill.
Nutrition Facts
Simple Summer Pasta Salad
Serves: 4
| Amount Per Serving: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 554.26 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 2.14 g | 3.1% | |
| Saturated Fat 0.42 g | 0% | |
| Trans Fat 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol 0.0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium 588.29 mg | 24.5% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 109.95 g | 36.3% | |
| Dietary Fiber 9.71 g | 36% | |
| Sugars 4.56 g | ||
| Protein 22.91 g | ||
| Vitamin A | Vitamin C | |
| Calcium | Iron | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Dining With Debbie
