Pasta Salad

I am always on the look out for  kids' lunch ideas. Because, all of us moms know it...by the time they get to eat their lunch, the hot lunch isn't cold, the sandwich is all soggy and many different things the food can morph in a few hours. So this pasta recipe is great. It holds well on a cold winter day.

I put the ingredients my kid likes. The one thing YOU can add to this is pepperoni and it will be a meat pasta salad

Pasta Salad (Pasta with pizza ingredients)

Pizza pasta salad

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup fun shaped pasta cooked according to the package directions ( I got presents, Christmas tree, shooting stars pasta)...I wish I had taken a better picture...but we were running late for the school bus
2. handful of olives, 
3. handful of cherry tomatoes
4. 1/4 cup corn
5. 1/4 cup finely chopped onions + celery + carrots
6. 1 tablespoon each of mayo+ sour cream + relish
7. 1 teaspoon each of  mustard, olive oil
8. dash of pepper
9. 2 slices of your favorite cheese or from a block (I used provolone)

Cook and drain the paste according to package instructions. In the last 2 minutes add the corn to the boiling water. Drain and mix with olive oil so that the pasta do not stick to each other.

Mix all the ingredients of #6 and #7 well. 

Mix everything together and add the pepper and enjoy

 

Orzo With Shrimp Salad

The kids were having break from the school and I decided to take them for a picnic. And of course picnic calls for some picnic food to be packed in a hurry. I made this delicious salad with orzo pasta and shrimp. It was great and packed with so many textures and flavors, it was super yummy

Orzo Pasta with Shrimp Salad

Orzo pasta with Shrimp

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup tri colored orzo pasta
2. 1 cup medium or small shrimp are better
3. 2 teaspoons olive oil
4. 1 medium large tomato chopped
5. 1/4 cup chopped red onion
6. 1 big or 2 small garlic pods chopped fine
7. 1/2 teaspoon salt
8. 1/4 teaspoon pepper
9. 1/4 cup chopped pickles, fresh or frozen corn (thawed)
10. 1/4-1/3 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
11. 1/4  cup small cubed paneer (optional)
12. 1/4cup dill weed

Boil with pasta according to the package directions.

In a pan heat the oil and fry the shrimp 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and fry 1 more minute. Drain and add the onions and bell pepper and paneer if using into the same pan and stir well. Cut the heat. Add all the ingredients to the pan and mix well. Enjoy warm or at room temperature