Thursday, February 27, 2014

Chicken Pasta Salad

My daughter Amy just called to ask where this recipe was and I realized I had not posted it yet.  There are several versions of this recipe, but this one comes from Annalisa Glenn, and it is yummy!

Hearty Chicken Pasta Salad
1 pkg bowtie pasta
1 pkg spiral pasta
4 cups diced cooked chicken (or use 2 cans of canned chicken)
1 1/2 cups grapes
1 1/2 cups cashews
1 large can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Optional:  chopped celery, craisins, pineapple (depends on what your family will eat)
1 bottle Kraft Coleslaw Dressing 16 oz

Cook pasta according to package, cool and then add the following:
Chicken, grapes, cashews, and oranges.  Stir in 1 bottle of Kraft Coleslaw (16 oz) dressing, 1/2 cup mayo, and a little salt.  You can add celery, craisins, pineapple, whatever your family likes.  This makes a lot for a big group.  For a small family, cut recipe in half.

My friend Dana Day is also a good cook, and here is her version of the same salad:
Chicken Pasta Salad:
1 cup Kraft Cole Slaw Dressing
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste
2 stalks celery ribs, chopped fine
1 can water chestnuts, chopped
1 Tbsp grated onion
1 can crushed pineapple (14 oz) drained, squeeze out all the juice
1 cup red seedless grapes, sliced
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
Make up the dressing and mix all of this together and best to chill overnight. Sooo yummy. 

And now for the spiritual thought:
I had the opportunity to teach the RS lesson Sunday, so I will share the scripture 1 Nephi 8 :30 talking about the vision of the tree of life
". . . .he saw other multitudes pressing forward: and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree"

The key word here is continually.  We must never let go of the "word of God" , of the truth.  No matter what darkness comes our way, we must continually go to church, pray, read our scriptures, learn, help others, be found doing good.  That is how we are saved and get to enjoy the desirable fruit!