Pasta salad?

[merigayle]

My neighbor is on hospice care as of Sunday and I volunteered for a meal for Thursday. I am not going to cook meat for them, but they need no cheese and I was going to do a baked ziti or lasagna (i doubt they would like tofu cheese!) and was thinking a pasta salad would be nice. Any easy ideas?

[triciaflower]

You could do a pasta salad with tuna.  No cooking of meat necessary.


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[rocketgirl]

There are a ton of recipes out there.  You could just leave out the cheese that many of them have as long as it's well-seasoned.

[merigayle]

Can someone just give me a version that has no meat in it? Their son is vegetarian. I would put chickpeas in it. I just do not know what to use as the "dressing" part.

[merigayle]

I also may be lazy and buy something prepared at Wegmans tomorrow night 

[radial]

I also may be lazy and buy something prepared at Wegmans tomorrow night 

I've heard that people sometimes do that.  They even go so far as to put in their own bowl so it looks home-made!

[triciaflower]

Oh I misunderstood! I thought you wanted it to have meat but you didn't want to cook it.

I don't have a recipe but the one I make generally has:

Rotini noodles cooked al dente
Blanched veggies such as:
Broccoli, red pepper, green pepper.
Raw veggies: red onion or shallots, zucchini, corn

You really can do no wrong here.

I do a simple dressing with a bit of mayo, vinegar or lemon juice, fresh parley and other herbs such as sage, salt and pepper or just a bottled Italian dressing.

I think a can of drained chickpeas would be a great addition.


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[merigayle]

Thanks! Will keep you posted, may just peruse Wegmans tomorrow during DD's gymnastics and go from there. I signed up for a night next week too.

[rocketgirl]

Can someone just give me a version that has no meat in it? Their son is vegetarian. I would put chickpeas in it. I just do not know what to use as the "dressing" part.

olive oil and a bunch of Italian seasoning.  Do pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, olives, maybe some artichoke, a little finely chopped onion...

I do this a lot, and I'm sure it's fine over cold veggie rotini.  Just leave out the cheese and make a little extra dressing.  I don't typically have fresh basil so use the stuff in the spice jar.  Use a little less mustard than the recipe says or it's too much.  I left off link:  http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cherry-tomato-asparagus-salad

[merigayle]

COuld i use a bottle of Italian dressing?

[rocketgirl]

COuld i use a bottle of Italian dressing?

Probably.  But add more basil.  The dressing won't be quite seasoned enough to stand up to the absorbing properties of pasta.

[merigayle]

Probably.  But add more basil.  The dressing won't be quite seasoned enough to stand up to the absorbing properties of pasta.

Thanks! If I do not do it this week, probably next week. I will have more free time then. The other people that said what they are bringing are bringing such heavy foods-- briskets, roast beefs, etc.

[triciaflower]

olive oil and a bunch of Italian seasoning.  Do pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, olives, maybe some artichoke, a little finely chopped onion...

Tomatoes and olives and artichokes! Yes!! You can get the marinated ones and use the liquid to add more flavor.


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[caribougrrl]

there's an old pasta salad without mayo thread that might be helpful too

[merigayle]

there's an old pasta salad without mayo thread that might be helpful too

thanks!

[blue sleep]

Just read an article on another site.  Some look really good...

http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/06/bean-whole-grain-salad-recipes.html

[merigayle]

Just read an article on another site.  Some look really good...

http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/06/bean-whole-grain-salad-recipes.html

Thanks!

[rocketgirl]

Someone posted this Pioneer Woman pasta salad recipe once.  It was AMAZING.  But it also had expensive ingredients and was a pain in the ass to make and was one of two times I ever used the blender received as a wedding gift (which I no longer own based on almost never using it per the space it took up).  So I didn't suggest that one as something quick and easy.  It was tasty though.  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/fourth-of-july-week-sundried-tomato-pasta-salad/

[merigayle]

Someone posted this Pioneer Woman pasta salad recipe once.  It was AMAZING.  But it also had expensive ingredients and was a pain in the ass to make and was one of two times I ever used the blender received as a wedding gift (which I no longer own based on almost never using it per the space it took up).  So I didn't suggest that one as something quick and easy.  It was tasty though.  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/fourth-of-july-week-sundried-tomato-pasta-salad/

That looks interesting, but i hate olives, LOL!

[diablita]

Thanks! If I do not do it this week, probably next week. I will have more free time then. The other people that said what they are bringing are bringing such heavy foods-- briskets, roast beefs, etc.

Heavy foods tend to be comforting, so I understand that. 

Will your food be eaten by the patient as well as the family?  If so, I might actually avoid a vinegar-based dish and opt for something more neutral.