Yesterday was like really… I have to go back to work? Blah. I drove in with a bajillion other people in awful traffic. Grrr. It did give me time to eat yogurt, shazam three songs, update my facebook status, check my email (and write a couple back) and locate my work badge. Sigh. I worked until lunch, then headed out for 3.5 miles with Stacy/Sue. We chatted, and I got an exciting phone call from my buddy Mary – she got a job!!! (she was laid off a few months ago – sad) I’m so happy for her! Then it was back to work… then back to the gym for another 3 miles (read Karin Slaughter’s Blindsighted – SO good). After 6.5 miles it was time to head home to whip up a new recipe, a variation of Cooking Light’s Pizza Pasta Salad for 2!
2 oz. uncooked rotini pasta
3 oz. artichoke hearts (from jar), drained
1.5 oz. turkey pepperoni
1 oz. fat-free feta cheese
1 oz. fat-free mozzarella cheese
10 grape tomatoes, quartered
4 oz. roasted red peppers (from jar), drained
¼ cup Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing (I used newman’s)
2 basil leaves, minced
1/8 tsp pepper
Optional: ½ cup mushrooms; ¼ cup green pepper; ¼ onion diced
Cook pasta; drain, rinse with cold water and place in bowl #1. In bowl #2, combine artichoke hearts, pepperoni, cheese and tomatoes. Stir in salad dressing, basil and pepper. Place roasted red pepper in blender; process until smooth. Add pepper mixture to pasta/bowl #1. Stir. Add pasta mixture to artichoke mixture and toss well. In bowl #3, combine lettuce, mushrooms, onions and green peppers. Toss. Add artichoke/pasta mixture to bowl #3. Toss well! Serve with pita (1 pita smeared with 1 tsp olive oil and sprinkled with rosemary and kosher salt baked for 5 minutes at 450 degrees). Nutritional Information: 450 calories, 61 carbs, 13 fat grams and 26 protein grams (with pita). For You Low-Carbers: Without pita: 370 calories, 49 carbs, 11 fat grams and 26 protein grams. Without noodles AND pita: 270 calories, 28 carbs, 10 far grams and 22 protein grams.
Yes, I’m the only person on earth who can make a salad with almost as many carbs as my fried rice recipe!! Haha I knew the noodles would push it over but didn’t realize how all of those veggies would add up – who knew??! Anyway – we loved it! Super filling and fabulous, definitely hit the spot. Can’t wait to make another salad and try more salad dressings. Speaking of – the dressing was GREAT – I’m a fan – I want more ASAP.
This is my first attempt at buying a salad dressing that’s not fat-free- wow – the fat is TRES worth it! After dinner me and Austin watched Veronica Mars, got in bed and caught up on Weeds. CRAZY. I love
Anywho, I leave you with a vitally important life or death question: are any of you watching ‘Make it or Break it’? I am (I know, shocker) – and I absolutely love it! 
It’s like The Hills but with talent in the mountains (takes place in
Tomorrow I’ll review Blindsighted and post (yes, again, shocker) another new recipe: Pulled Chicken Sandwiches! Off to celebrate Mary's job, her boyfriend's promotion and their upcoming move this Saturday (therefore a send off to their beloved 1414 - the house they've been at!).
