Tag: carrots

Good Eats!

Chicken Pasta

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This is one I got from a friend several years ago and I’ve made it tons of times since then.  I know what you might be thinking – grapes, really?  Yes, it may sound weird, but the grapes are a necessity!  :)

INGREDIENTS

  • skinless, boneless chicken
  • penne pasta (rigatoni works well too)
  • cucumber, diced
  • red seedless grapes, halved
  • carrots (I prefer shredded)
  • cheddar cheese, cubed
  • Italian dressing

I don’t really measure anything here – usually about 3-4 pieces of chicken and half a box of pasta… the rest will depend on your tastes.

PREPARATION

Boil pasta until cooked, rinse with cold water and cool.  Cut up chicken into bite size pieces and cook until no longer pink.   After chicken & pasta are cooled, mix with remaining ingredients.

Good Eats!

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

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Inspired by the Vietnamese chicken salad rolls @ Pei Wei, I decided to try to make my own.  I started with some ideas taken from an AllRecipes.com.  Working with the rice paper took some getting used to.  You have to be very careful not to fill them up too much and not to rip them when you are rolling them up.  By the fourth one, I had a rhythm to it.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 package of cubed tofu, drained
  • rice wrappers
  • 1/2 package dried rice noodles
  • 1/2 cup bean sprouts
  • carrots, shredded
  • peanuts
  • Thai sesame lime dressing, to taste

PREPARATION

Prepare the rice noodles by placing them in a bowl of hot water until soft (about 3 minutes).  Drain and mix with all other ingredients except for the rice wrappers.  Place one rice wrapper flat in hot water (casserole dishes work well).  Remove and lie flat on paper towels then blot dry until pliable.  Spoon mixture onto wrapper, fold in both ends and roll up.  I served this with a peanut satay dipping sauce (store-bought).

Source:  Allrecipes.com