Tag Archives: Pasta salad

Healthy Start to the New Year

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So many people always make that “I’m gonna be healthier this year” New Year’s resolution, so I thought I’d give y’all a little push in the right direction, because we all know I will be posting many cookie, cupcakes, and brownie recipes soon. So here are some recipes on more of the health[ier] side.

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1. Lighter Cajun Chicken Pasta

2. BL(S)T Pasta Salad

3. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

4. Veggie Lasagna

5. Healthy Pumpkin Streusel Bread

6. Healthy Baby Pumpkin Breads

7. Super Secret Cookie Dough

8. Fiesta Quinoa Salad

9. Low-Fat Banana Bread

10. One-Ingredient Creamy Dreamy Ice Cream

11. High Protein Energy Balls

12. Mexican Flair Wraps

13. Broccoli Cheddar Soup

14. Triple Chocolate Black Bean Brownies

15. Southwest Chicken Salad

Random Fact of the Day: Israel’s Dead Sea is 1,312 feet below sea level.

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BL(S)T Pasta Salad

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Oh my goodness, does it ever seem like life is like zooming by like a train and your just trying to chase it down and jump on?

That’s kind of how I feel right now. I feel old. I’m in high school and feel old. Can you imagine how I’ll feel when I’m like actually old?! I can’t believe I’m going to be a senior in the Fall. I feel like I was just playing with my barbies and American Girl Dolls with my sister last week.

I was teaching a class of swim lessons last week and I actually really liked the kids I had. (Shoutout to Julie!) I actually sorta had a tiny taste of how she feels when she switches what grade level she teaches. I’m totally used to teaching the 3 and 4 year old how to walk in the water and blow bubbles and be cute and all….and then all of a sudden I was shoved in front of a bunch of big bad 8 and 9 year olds!!

I was seriously intimidated.

And then for some reason they thought I was some form of a rock star/celebrity because I was a high school girl. They were immediately obsessed with me. To be honest, it was slightly awesome. They all wanted the same swimsuit as me (a plain blue one piece…?), same earrings, same hairstyle, it was crazy. On the last day they all had their moms take pictures with me and I felt like I was on the red carpet or something! They were adorable and hugged me nonstop. It actually made me even consider going into a teaching career when I get older….but I don’t want to totally base my choice off of a two week swim class. So we’ll just see ;)

Anyways, I made some pasta salad. Pretty darn tasty and great for the summer! This would be a perfect thing to make and bring to any 4th of July BBQs you all may be attending next week!!!

BL(S)T Pasta Salad

(adapted from Skinny Taste)

about 2 1/2 cups pasta (I used Penne)

5 slices of bacon

1 cup chopped tomatoes (I used canned, diced tomatoes because it was easy and in the house. I believe this would be equal to about 2 or 3 large fresh tomatoes)

3 Tablespoons mayonnaise

salt and pepper to taste

2 1/4 cups fresh, washed baby spinach

  1. Prepare bacon as desired. I baked mine in the oven at 400 degrees F in a baking pan for about 8-10 minutes or until crispy. When bacon is done cooking, drain and pat with paper towel. Crumble into small pieces.
  2. While bacon is cooking, cook pasta according to directions on box. Meanwhile, prepare tomatoes and place them in a bowl with the mayo and combine them with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. When pasta is done cooking, drain well and rinse with cool water to cool it down. Combine pasta with tomatoes and spinach and mix well. Toss in bacon right before serving. I made mine the day ahead, covered with plastic wrap, then mixed in the bacon right before we ate. Enjoy! Store leftovers in air tight container in the fridge.

Random Fact of the Day: Wrestler Andre the Giant set the world record for the most alcohol consumed, he drank 156 beers in a single sitting.

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Week in Review (4/30-5/4)

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Hey there! Another week in the life of Beautiful Disasters has come and gone, once again. Let’s review!

Monday I shared with you guys my April Secret Recipe Club post! I loved hosting my blog this month and the recipe I made, Cinnamon Pull Apart Bubble Bread, was absolutely incredible. So yummy and delicious! Obviously you can hardly ever go wrong with cinnamon and sugar. ;)

Wednesday I finally proved that I have an ounce of self control and was able to put the spoon down and actually BAKE with cookie butter! I made some cookie butter cookies that are absolutely cookilicious. It’s a word.

Thursday I had a soccer game, so our team took the bus all the way there. Got there. Saw lightning. Waited about a half hour. Then they decided to reschedule the game. Seriously one of the most annoying things you can do to a soccer player right there. So much wasted time! Anyways, I really just felt like I needed to do something when I got home. Wanna know what I did? Biked 13 miles on the exercise bike. Now I don’t know about you but that A FREAKING TON to me! It felt great though. I’ve been thinking about doing a triathlon this summer, and if I want to do it, I know I’m going to have to be able to bike a lot more than 13 miles!

Friday I showed you guys a tasty pasta salad recipe. Only recently have I discovered my love for pasta salad. It’s perfect!! Refreshing, delicious, light, yet starchy. Tasty, tasty, tasty! Friday was quite the busy day for me. This is what went down…I went to school (of course!), then I had two meetings for soccer, got my nails done for prom after waiting an hour and a half in the nail salon, then I got my spray tan for prom after waiting a little bit there, too, then I finally got home around 8. I’d like to clear one thing up, I AM NOT the tanning type! This is like the first time I have ever gotten one, but I have a yellow dress so I felt like you kind of need to look tan for that. Plus, I have some pretty funky tan lines from soccer.

Today I have PROM!! WOHOOOO! So excited :) I have a game this morning though which is a wiiittle bit inconvenient, but hey, it’s keeping this interesting. I will just be running around ALL DAY today. Then, of course, everybody always does something the following day, so we’re going to 6 Flags Great America. Can’t even remember the last time I went to Six Flags, but I’m a sucker for roller coasters, so I’m super excited!! I’ll post pictures for you all next week

Random Fact of the Day: Philematology is the scientific study of kissing.

P.S. Feliz Cinco de mayo!

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PaStA SaLaD

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So you may have noticed the change that has gone on around here since Easter/Lent being over. Treats and desserts galore.

I finally decided to make something that is acceptable for a meal, again. I decided to give pasta salad a go.

Now whenever I think of pasta salad I think of summertime and graduation parties. I happen to miss summertime really bad right now. I am beyond ready for summer.

However, I am not always a fan of the graduation parties. They can be fun for the first couple, then they just kind of become a thing where you get free food. It’s always the same people doing the same thing.

I should add something in here and that is that I’m pretty sure I have never ever had pasta salad at my house. Weird. I don’t know why. I mean, I’ve obviously ate it before…but we have like never actually made it. So here we go. Pasta salad. Pretty much one of the easiest, most adaptable recipes under the sun. Add what you want, take out the icky stuff, and you have bowl of yum. Hop onto the summer dreaming train and make some pasta salad ;)

Pasta Salad

(serves 4)

2 cups pasta (I used rotini, bow tie would be great as well)

2 teaspoons vinigarette-style salad dressing

2 teaspoons creamy (maybe ranch) style dressing

1 cup broccoli florets, cooked

1 cup corn, cooked

1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup onions, chopped

1/4 cup fresh thyme

  1. Cook pasta according to directions, al dente. Drain pasta when done and let dry on paper towels while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
  2. Combine the two types of salad dressing in a small bowl.
  3. Chop all veggies you will be using, make sure broccoli and corn are cooked (steamed). Place chopped onions, chopped celery, black beans, broccoli, corn, thyme, and pasta into a large bowl. Pour salad dressing mixture over top. Incorporate all ingredients together. If serving cold, place in fridge for up to an hour.

Random Fact of the Day: The Rolling Stones have had four of the top ten highest grossing North American tours since 1985.

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