Tortellini and Feta Salad

I hadn't made this salad for awhile so I whipped it up for dinner. It tastes light and good for those summer nights when you just don't want to heat up the house. Tonight I matched this salad with turkey italian sausage and a healthy serving of salad.

2 pkg dry Ronzini spinach tortellini
1 pkg of grape tomatoes (each tomato cut in half)
1 can of sliced black olives
1 pkg sliced fresh mushrooms, washed
1/2 cup fresh basil diced
1 pkg (6 oz) crumbled feta

Dressing:
Mix together

1/2 c olive oil
1 c rice vinegar
2 tsp garlic powder

Cook the tortellini until firm but still al dente. Rinse with cold water. Mix feta, basil, olives, mushrooms, & tomatoes. Add dressing and carefully stir pulling from the bottom to the top to thoroughly coat the salad. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or more to let the flavors marry.

chinese chicken salad--our favorite version

Tamela's Chinese Chicken Salad
from: Laurie


Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes Ready In: 25 Minutes
Yields: 16 servings


INGREDIENTS:
4 skinless, boneless chicken
breast halves
1 (16 ounce) package coleslaw
mix..or 1 head of white cabbage finely chopped
4 (3 ounce) packages oriental
flavored ramen noodles,
crushed, seasoning packet
2 T coarsely chopped cilantro
2 bunches green onions finely choppedreserved
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1/2 cup corn oil
1/2 tsp sesame seed oil
1/2 cup rice garlic vinegar
2 T soy sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 c water
4 packets artificial sweetener
3 T toasted sesame seed (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
1.Saute chicken in a large skillet until well browned. Place coleslaw in a large bowl, add chicken, cilantro, green onions and set aside (or refrigerate if not serving soon).
2.Break up ramen noodles into a small bowl; add peanuts and set aside.
3.In a small bowl combine the corn oil, sesame seed oil, vinegar, garlic, ramen seasoning packets and artificial sweetener. Mix well and pour 1/2 on top of the salad and thoroughly mix. The other half set aside until ready to serve.
4.When you arrive at your destination, add noodle mixture and dressing mixture to large chicken/coleslaw bowl and stir together. Serve with a smile! Take a bow 'cause this stuff is good.

This is wonderful the next day and the next!

the sauce is a great salad dressing anytime

This was given to me by a very special friend. Tamela started as a volunteer at my work and she is bright, funny, and she has an absolute brilliance within her and she is so multidimensional! As we were working one day she said that she was making this for her family and the next day she brought her version of the salad. I was sold and when I made it for my family it is one of those things that is on our list of favorites.

This is great for picnics and potlucks. Cheap and yummy, too!

Chinese Chicken Salad