The Home Front
Back to school season is here, which means you’re probably out shopping for your child’s school supplies and seeking out new clothes for their first day of school photos. You’ve bought the cute backpack, the colorful set of pens, and the stylish lunchbox to prepare them to return to the classroom. But when your mornings are hectic and you’re just trying to get out the door, what food do you pack in their lunchbox? We’ve all thrown together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or shoved in a Lunchable. However, it doesn’t always have to be those items. There are other delicious and quick options out there.
When my twin girls were in school, they were obsessed with my pesto pasta salad. They enjoyed it so much that I would bring some to their tennis tournaments, and I was surprised at how many girls on the team couldn’t get enough of it! Several moms asked for the recipe because not only did their kids love it, but it takes minimal time and effort to make. Once kids get past the fact that the pasta is green, they fall in love with the pesto flavor. Here is my pesto pasta salad recipe and directions.
Ingredients:
1 box (or 1 pound) rotini or corkscrew pasta
2 TB extra virgin olive oil
1 cup basil pesto (or more to taste)
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1 cup feta cheese (or more to taste)
Cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2-3 cups cooked chicken, chopped (optional)
Instructions:
Place cooked, chopped, seasoned chicken into a medium sized bowl (optional). Boil pasta until firm to the tooth. Drain pasta and toss with extra virgin olive oil; place pasta in bowl with chicken. Add basil pesto to the pasta and chicken, stirring well (add more pesto to taste). Add feta and cherry tomatoes. Stir in Italian dressing; use just enough to give pasta a bit of moisture.
This pasta salad is filling and easy to pack in a lunchbox. If made without chicken, then it’s safe to keep unrefrigerated for longer periods of time, which makes it even easier to take on the go. If your family enjoys this recipe, then I also highly recommend my chicken pesto pizza recipe, which can be made ahead of time. I hope your little ones have a blessed time returning to school!
-Jamie Tarence
