Summertime Eats

During the summer, we eat a lot of pasta salad. It is easy to make a big batch once in the week and use it for a couple of days. That way we can stay outside and play late into the evening and know we have something cold and ready waiting in the fridge.

There are many "recipes" we like, but our all-time favorite is an Asian-inspired salad I discovered while trying to use leftovers. A few friends and family have been asking for the recipe, but I never really sat down to write it. I decided it was time. Especially since we have been eating it all week and *still* aren't sick of it!

Ahhh-hi Crunch Pasta Salad

~1 lb whole wheat pasta (spaghetti has a lo mein type result, fusilli are also great...whatever you have on hand works really!)
~1 6oz package tuna (canned will also work but I prefer the taste of the packets)
~1 bag of cole slaw mix or cabbage or 1/2 head of cabbage, shredded
~1 cup (plus) organic edamame (still frozen is fine!)
~1 can water chestnuts (optional)
~1/4 c chopped green onions (optional)
~clementine slices (or mandarin oranges) and almonds (sliced) for garnish

Dressing
*I originally used Kraft's Light Asian Toasted Sesame for this, but then made my own one day and decided I liked it better. You choose!

~1/2 c organic soy sauce
~1/2 c rice or red wine vinegar
~1/3 c honey
~1/3 c tahini (you could use peanut oil or sesame oil instead, but the tahini makes it creamy and delicious!)
~1 T fresh grated ginger (only use a little if you are using the ground stuff in the jar)
~1-2 cloves garlic

Cook pasta. You can do it, I know you can.
Add frozen edamame and toss to cool. In a really big bowl, add pasta, cabbage, water chestnuts and tuna. Toss with dressing to your liking.

To serve, top with clementine slices and almonds. Enjoy!

For the munchkins: Nathan loves this salad, but if you have a picky eater (kid or husband), add a little melted nut or seed butter (just spoon a bit of it onto the lid and throw in the micro for about 30 seconds--or less if you don't have to keep yours in the fridge). Drizzle it over the top of their salad and stir a bit. We do this for Nathan for a treat or if he is having a growth spurt and he has already eaten everything else in the fridge/pantry. Yum!

Nutritional information based on about 1 1/3 c salad without garnish and about 80% of the dressing added. To be honest, it never lasts 8 servings because we always munch on it for snacks, etc. We really love this stuff!