Ham, Green Bean, Cherry Tomato Pasta Salad
Fresh Strawberries with Yogurt and Mint
Cooking time: 25 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
I love summer salads. Almost anything can go into them, they're usually a bit on the light side and easy to prepare. As long as we have a bit of yogurt left... Why not a bowl of strawberries for dessert?
Ham, Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Pasta Salad
Total time: 25 minutes
I love cold ham in salads of any type and beans with basil is always a hit. Here, it all comes together with a lower fat/calorie dressing of half mayonnaise and half Greek Yogurt.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups (4.1oz, 125gr) pasta, bite-size - fusilli, rigatoni, penne
- 1 tbs olive oil, for salads
- 9oz (270gr) deli-style (baked) ham
- 6oz (180gr) green beans
- 1/2 cup (3oz, 90gr) cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup (2oz, 60gr) mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup (2oz, 60gr) plain or Greek yogurt
- 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 1 tbs lemon juice
- 2 tbs fresh chives, snipped
- 2 tbs fresh basil, snipped
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse in cold water and toss with olive oil.
- Top and tail beans, cut into 1 inch lengths.
- Fill a medium saucepan 2/3 full of water and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add beans and blanch for 3 minutes.
- While the beans cook fill a large bowl or pan 3/4 full of cold water.
- When the beans are done, drain and dump into the cold water. Swirl around until cool then drain and set aside.
- Snip herbs.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
- Cut ham into inch squares (or cubes depending on how thick) - or larger if you prefer.
- In small bowl whisk mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard and lemon juice.
- Put pasta, ham, beans, herbs and tomatoes in large salad bowl.
- Add mayonnaise dressing and toss lightly to combine - a tongs works well. Serve.
Fresh Strawberries with Yogurt and Mint
Total time: 10 minutes
A bit of sugar and Greek Yogurt is wonderful with fresh strawberries.... and ever so much healthier than cream. If you have fresh mint - that will finish it just right!
Ingredients:
- 1 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries
- 1 tbs sugar optional
- 4oz (120gr) Greek yogurt
- 1 tbs fresh mint, snipped
Instructions:
- Rinse strawberries.
- With your fingers, pull the stem end and leaves off.
- Cut in half or quarters if very large.
- Put into a medium bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Stir gently.
- Add yogurt and snipped mint and stir gently.
- Spoon into 2 small dishes and serve.
Cooking Schedule:
25 minutes for menu
Assemble all ingredients and utensils
Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives,
large pot and colander for pasta, medium saucepan,
medium bowl, small bowl, whisk, pasta bowl
Put water on high heat for pasta
Put water on high heat for beans
Top, tail beans, cut
Prepare cold water for beans
Blanch beans
Drain, plunge into cold water, drain
Start to cook pasta |
Snip all herbs
Cut tomatoes in half
Cut ham
Make dressing
Stem strawberries, put in bowl
Sprinkle with sugar, set aside
Pause while stuff cooks
Drain pasta, put in bowl
Add remaining ingredients to salad, toss to combine
Serve pasta salad
Done?
Add yogurt, mint, to strawberries, stir gently, serve |