Once again, I started with one of those Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad mixes; this time I used Bacon and Ranch. I also cooked the pasta just 10 minutes instead of the 12 minutes they suggest. Al dente pasta is much healthier, and mushy pasta in a salad just doesn't appeal to me in any kind of appetizing way!
Now comes the good part, all the added stuff: chopped bell peppers, grated carrots, chopped black olives, grated Tillamook cheddar (I live near Tillamook), chunked up chicken breast and some extra bacon.
For the chicken, I like to use the frozen Foster Farms Chicken Breast Grilled Strips. You can thaw just what you need in the microwave, and if you have a Costco nearby, they sell large packages much cheaper than the small packages that grocery stores sell. In fact, I use this chicken in a lot of different dishes. It's really good quality and so convenient to use. For the bacon, I also take the easy route and use the already cooked real bacon bits. In the summer I hate to heat up the kitchen any more than I have to.
I made the dressing in the box according to the directions, but then I added some extra ranch dressing (I use lite, but not fat-free), and a little milk to make it creamier. Just wing it here!
So there you have it. QED! :)
Andrea, it's not food. It's art! ;) Fun post!
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