Quick and Easy Pasta Salad

Here's how to turn leftovers into something new and delicious - Quick and Easy Pasta Salad! Made this one up on the fly tonight, after coming home from baseball and a full day with the kids. I quickly stopped by the store on the way home and created a list of ingredients to add to the leftover cooked pasta in the fridge.

As with many of our recipes, experiment with the flavors you love best!

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked whole wheat pasta (we used spiral pasta tonight)
1 6 oz. can black olives, sliced
1 diced red bell pepper
2 sliced scallions
2-3 T. prepared balsamic vinaigrette dressing (or make your own with 1 T. each olive oil and balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste)
1 1/2 cups cooked diced chicken or tofu (rotisserie chicken is an easy shortcut)
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

try throwing in 1/2 c. chopped cherry tomatoes and/or artichoke hearts, too
extra delicious if you add fresh herbs like basil from your garden....

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and serve. Best if the flavors can marinate together for about 1/2-1 hour in the refrigerator before serving.

Enjoy with fresh baguettes, butter and happy children!