pasta salad

This is great for a picnic to the park on a hot day. Got the recipe out of taste of home magazine.

1 pkg (12oz) tricolor spiral pasta (I used wacky mac)
2C cubed part-skim mozzarella cheese (I used colby jack and some pepper jack)
2C cubed cooked chicken (I used terriyake and pineapple sausges instead, 2 of them)
1 lrg green pepper chopped
1 lrg sweet red pepper, chopped
1 C sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cans (2 1/4 oz each) sliced ripe olives, drained
6 green onions (i used red instead, and about 1/2C maybe)
1 pkg sliced pepperoni, halved (used turkeyroni, and only about 1/2pkg)
1/2C vegetable oil (Canola oil)
1/3C red wine vinegar ( i used red wine vinegar infused with pomegrant)
1 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt (omitted, had plenty of salt already)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Cook pasta according to directions. rinse with cold water and drain well. Place in large serving bowl, combine all meat and veggies.
Mix together seasonings, canola oil, and red wine vinegar. pour over salad and toss. refrigerate until serving.
Makes a lot!

veggie ham Rice n cheese casserole

I found this recipe for Veggie Mac n cheese in my taste of home magazine and I thought i would make something of it. I cooked up some Brown Rice, I had some ham in the frig and some broccoli in the freezer that i cooked up.

I used the cheese sauce recipe from the magazine. This was really good and went quick at dinner time.

2 cups cooked brown rice

~1 1/2 C broccoli cooked if its frozen

1/2 Red Pepper cut into pieces

1/2 C corn

1/2 C ham

1T butter

1/4C flour

1C milk

1C chicken broth, low sodium I believe i used veggie broth

3C shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 dijon mustard I used spicey brown mustard

pepper

paprika

cook rice according to directions, cook broccoli according to directions

mix broccoli, peppers, & rice

place in 8x8 SPRAYED baking dish after cooked and drained

melt butter sprinkle in flour until blended gradually add in milk and broth. Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheese and mustard, add pepper. Pour over rice, and veggies sprinkle some cheese and paprika

Bake uncovered @ 350* for 15-20 minutes or until heated thru.