If I’m going to be honest, I’ll let you know that I used to hate pasta salad. I like pasta. I like salad. But the two together and cold just never did much for me. Plus, pasta salads always seemed like they were overloaded with dressing… and I’m a dressing gal, I am. But, salads soaked in dressing? Ick.

It was only recently I discovered you can make a really great pasta salad, with flavors you’ll enjoy, without the standard “box mixes”. Now, I truly look forward to events where pasta salad is served.

The recipe I created today was part of a challenge for Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken. Imagine picnicking in the park…what recipe would you take that included Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken?

I immediately knew that I wanted to toss together some of my favorite flavors and create a delicious pasta salad. Honey Mustard Dressing, garden fresh vegetables and Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken with our favorite bow tie pasta. This is a pasta salad worth making room for on your plate. We all know potlucks have some pretty awesome food… and you sometimes have to be very strategic your first go around because you never know what’s going to be gone if you want seconds. This should make sense… save room on your plate for this pasta salad the first time around. It’s worth it. It’s delicious. It’s pasta salad, done my way and I love it! Enjoy!

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Honey Mustard Chicken & Veggie Pasta Salad

This creamy pasta salad has a sweet and tangy flavor. A definite favorite for picnics and potlucks!

Ingredients

• 1 box 1 pound Bow Tie Pasta, cooked
• 1 cup light mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 orange bell pepper seeded and chopped
• 1 to mato seeded and chopped
• 1 12.5 oz can Swanson White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast drained and finely chopped

Instructions

• Place cooked pasta in a large serving bowl.
• In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, prepared mustard, sugar, onion, honey, salt, pepper and oil. Whisk together until creamy and smooth.
• Pour desired amount over pasta. (If you like a lot of dressing, use the whole batch. We used a little over half of the dressing for a not so heavy dressing laden salad.)
• Add chopped pepper, tomato and chicken to the pasta mixture. Toss until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Swanson. All opinions expressed are my own.

The post Recipe: Honey Mustard Chicken & Veggie Pasta Salad appeared first on Dine and Dish.

When was the last time you have been on a picnic? Not just grabbing a bucket of food at the closest fast food restaurant then heading to the park, but a real picnic… where you pack a basket, lay out a blanket under the trees, and eat a nice, slow meal together enjoying both food and nature?

This year in honor of the wonderful Earth we share, The Nature Conservancy is encouraging all of us to eat out – pack your picnic basket and enjoy lunch or dinner outside. I have teamed together with some of my blogging friends for a Virtual Picnic for the Planet. We’ve shared some of our favorite picnic recipes so that you, too, can plan the perfect Earth Day picnic.

White Peach Sangria might not be the perfect family picnic beverage, but I was thinking how nice it would be to have a picnic dinner party with some of our favorite friends. Wouldn’t that be fun? For a picnic party with friends, this flavorful, fruity cocktail is the ideal beverage to pack.

So, lay out your blanket and get your picnic started. Pack your virtual picnic basket with all of the goodies my friends have cooked up, or create your own picnic meal. Whatever you do, get out there today and enjoy your family, friends and our beautiful planet!

Simple Bites | Pressed Sandwiches
My Baking Addiction | Mixed Berry Cheesecakes in a Jar
Bluebonnets & Brownies | Nanny’s Potato Salad
Gourmande in the Kitchen | Honey Ginger Lemonade
Dine & Dish | Sangria
Add A Pinch | Herbed Tortellini Salad
Bakers Royale | Fruit Recipe Roundup
Three Many Cooks | Black and White Caviar
Food for My Family | Homemade Potato Chips and Avocado Ranch Dip
Sugarcrafter |Apple Hand Pies
Tickled Red | Tangy Potato Salad
What’s Cooking with Kids | Kale Chips
Confessions of a Cookbook Queen | Mini Lemonade Cakes
TidyMom | Picnic Pies in a Jar

Recipe: White Peach Sangria (perfected by FoodIncs on AllRecipes.com)

• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry white wine (I used a rose Pinot Noir instead)
• 3/4 cup peach flavored vodka
• 6 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 pound white peaches, pitted and sliced
• 3/4 cup seedless red grapes, halved
• 3/4 cup seedless green grapes, halved

1. In a large pitcher, combine dry white wine, peach vodka, lemonade concentrate and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add sliced peaches, red and green grapes.
2. Refrigerate sangria until well chilled, at least 2 hours, or overnight to blend flavors. Serve over ice, and use a slotted spoon to include sliced peaches and grapes with each serving.

The post Virtual Picnic For the Planet {Recipe: White Peach Sangria} appeared first on Dine and Dish.