If there's one thing you take away from this post, it's this: Pasta+Water+Whatever you want=some really tasty summer lunches and dinners.
With so many students staying away from home this summer, the Georgetown Foodie is going to reel out some new posts called "Simply 7." Our goal is to give college students basic recipes that require 7 ingredients or less (excluding some basics like salt and pepper or olive oil)!
All of you in a high heat/humidity climate for the summer know the sluggish feeling of not wanting to do anything but sit on a stoop sipping iced tea or go out for happy hour. And for those of you staying in DC for internships, jobs, and the usual debauchery, I bet you're not enjoying the combination of heat, the need to cook (so you don't go broke), and the fleeting feeling of nausea when you think "I don't have anything edible in my kitchen for lunch except oatmeal?" I mean, college students are definitely equipped to handle the pressures of 4am study sessions, 10pm meetings, and the random late night draw of solo cups and flashing lights; but when it comes to cooking, we can be sort of clueless. So here we are at The Georgetown Foodie/Nightly Noms trying to satisfy your late night munchies and give you a mini education in the world of culinary creativity!
Ask almost any college kid what the go to meal is when you 1. don't have time, 2. need something fast, and 3. just don't give a flying... uh fish? The response: Pasta. I mean any kid with common sense can boil water (if you can't, click here immediately)
For all of you out there that go to the same Kraft Mac'n'Cheese, Ramen noodles, and Barilla Whole Wheat Penne.... PAUSE for a minute. You can still pick up that box of inexpensive, tasty pasta, but we're going to give you some alternatives to that package of "cheese" you find with your Scooby Doo shaped mac. Pasta salads are a quick fix for hunger and a fast and easy way to make a lot of food that'll last you a a few good meals. The basic equation for pasta salad is simple. There's so much room for creativity, you'll never risk boredom with a week straight of mac'n'cheese. So here's one recipe and pictures* that use 7 ingredients for a string of meals that'll last you through a summer as a solo cook! Click the links for some of the specific ingredients, many that can be used for both this pasta salad and pizzas.
Basic Pasta Salad Equation: Pasta+Protein (meat/cheese)+Veggies+Seasoning
Mediterranean Summer Pasta Salad
7 Ingredients (measurements are approximations, so use as much or as little as you want!)
-Pasta, anything from Tortellini to Penne (cooked, just follow the instructions on the box for al dente and add a dash of salt)
-Sun Dried or Cherry Tomatoes (chopped, use a bit of oil from sun dried tomatoes instead of regular)
-Feta Cheese (small cubes, approx 1/2 cup), or any cheese you have on hand
-Canned Chicken
 |
| Some Feta! |
-Red Bell Pepper (diced)
-Cucumber (diced)
-Seasonings (olive oil, salt, pepper, etc)
Method
1. Place cooked pasta in large container, add a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking and dryness
2. Chop up or cube your other ingredients
3. Add a protein
4. Mix in seasonings
5. Taste/edit to perfection
Some other fun additions:
-Celery
-Carrots
-Chopped Walnuts or Sliced Almonds (Trader Joe's)
-Dried Cranberries
-Lemon/Lime Zest
-Cayenne pepper
-Curry Powder
One of the best things about pasta salads is that they're versatile and can be tweaked as you go. If you aren't in love with the taste starting off, try adding a little something else, like a squeeze of lemon, or a tablespoon of salad dressing to get to the desired flavor! Most pasta salads can be stored up to a week depending on the ingredients, so you'll have some go to meals for a while. Also, you can always opt to heat up your pasta in the microwave for a different taste, or bake it with some cheese on top!
*note-pictures shown depict a pasta salad with more than 7 ingredients, but I've listed the basic 7 in the recipe.
Happy Nomming,
-Georgetown Foodie
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