Heart Salad

Heart Salad
By: Megan Flom

Ingredients:

• 1 box of dry pasta (curly pasta is recommended, but any shape will do)
• Chicken breast (fresh or already cooked)
• 1 large can of medium black olives
• 1 large can of baby corn (in water)
• 1 large can of hearts of palm (in water)
• 1 large can of artichoke hearts (in water)
• 1 small jar of artichoke hearts (in oil) – only if you are a real artichoke lover!
• 1 plastic box of uncut feta cheese (it’s fresher this way, but you’ll only use about half) OR 1 plastic box of crumbled feta cheese
• Fresh veggies of your choice – broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, etc. (best if shredded)
• Olive oil, as needed
• Balsamic vinegar, as needed
• Herbs (i.e., garlic salt, pepper, dill), as needed
• Plain yogurt, sour cream, and/or ranch dressing, as needed
• 1 bag of fresh baby spinach or Romaine hearts (in produce dept.)

Procedure:

1. Cook pasta on stove as per instructions on packaging. DO NOT OVERCOOK.
2. Dump in colander when pasta is al dente (a little firm). Then, rinse pasta with cold water and sprinkle with olive oil. Set pasta in refrigerator to cool.
3. Cook chicken by boiling in chicken broth (or other favorite method). Set chicken in refrigerator to cool.
4. Drain olives, baby corn, hearts of palm, and artichokes (in water).
5. Chop feta cheese into small cubes (if needed).
6. Prepare veggies as needed. Fresh broccoli may need to be blanched in boiling water for a minute or so just to soften it.
7. In a large bowl, combine the following ingredients: pasta, chicken, olives, baby corn, hearts of palm, artichokes (in water + whole jar with oil), # feta cheese, and veggies.
8. Add oil, vinegar, and something creamy (plain yogurt, sour cream, and/or ranch dressing) in small doses while mixing until you achieve the desired result (feel free to taste as you go).
9. Add herbs and spices to taste.
10. Refrigerate over night or for a few hours (so that things can marinate); toss every so often.
11. Serve over a bed of fresh spinach or Romaine hearts. YUM!
12. Provide extra “dressing” for guests who prefer a wetter pasta salad.

How to know if you did it right?

• You made a mess (dirty shirt, drippings on the floor, etc.)
• You laughed a lot
• You are full because of so much tasting
• You kept adding ingredients until you made enough for all your friends