I was totally going to post a WIAW this morning. Then, yesterday happened and I didn’t take any pictures of my food. Okay, I lied – I took a picture of the recipe I’m about to share with you. I use the term recipe pretty loosely here as well. It’s not so much a recipe as it is an easy summer side (or meal!) to put together in less than 30 minutes.
The other day, the Husband and I were discussing our days. He just can’t even fathom how we’re going to handle having two little ones with our crazy lives. Thankfully I’m pretty confident we’ll do juuuuust fine. 
Plus, I’m pretty much the queen of getting the dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Just call me Rachel Ray – or don’t. Have you all ever made any of her meals? They do NOT take 30 minutes. Never.
One of my favorite parts about the upcoming warmer weather is summer food. I love cold foods in the summer time – salads, smoothies, overnight oats, and ice cream being the front runners. Last week I had an intense craving for pasta salad, but I didn’t want to run out to the store that night. Instead, I let the anticipation take over. I had been anticipating this pasta salad for almost a full week when I finally got to eat some last night. Deeelicious.
Simple Summer Pasta Salad (serves 4 as a side)
- 1/2 bag brown rice pasta (I used rotini)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 rib of celery, diced
- 1/4 red pepper, diced
- 1-2 carrots, shaved with a vegetable peeler
- 2 cups broccoli, chopped
- Trader Joe’s Tuscan Italian dressing
There’s really no method to this. All I did was cook the pasta per the directions on the package, drained it, added the veggies, and the salad dressing. I eyeballed the dressing too so I have no idea how much I used. I just put on enough to coat the pasta. If I wanted to make this a meal, I would add some beans to it next time.
It definitely hit the spot!
Question: What is your favorite summer food?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Really random question…well kind of but not really! Which brand of brown rice pasta do you buy? I usually go for spelt but I’m trying to cut out wheat entirely at the moment and the brown rice pasta we have here in Ireland is very sticky and gloopy. I know they have a few on iHerb…
I love a good fruit salad!!!
Summery salads and BBQs. And mojitos. Those count, right?
mmm this does look tasty for the summer! i love all fresh vegetables in the summer… love stocking up at the farmer’s market!
This recipe sounds great! I think that I would roasted the broccoli first, though, because for some reason I am just not much of a fan of it raw. This is so perfect for Summer
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My favorite summer food is italian ices
What. Is. This. A RECIPE??!? Haha I tease, so glad to see you putting up recipes again!
RIGHT?!?!? Who am I?
Pasta salads, watermelon, and sangria (<— does that count?!) Happy teacher appreciation week!
I love to make simple summer salads like this! I have never tried the Trader Joe’s Italian Dressing — I will have to get on that!
I love this pasta idea! I am a big fan of the farmers market once the weather is nice, grilling is the best and the melons are incredible.
Love cold pasta salads with pesto in the summer! This one looks easy and delish….my kind of recipe!!
You can’t go wrong with a pasta salad during the summer. I think I’m going to make this over the weekend. Thanks for sharing it.
Pasta salad reminds me of music festivals in the park growing up! We would always bring a bunch of different ones to eat while laying on blankets in the grass. I think my favorite summer time food would have to be Klondike ice cream bars. Nothing screams summer more to me than eating one of those by the pool (and having it drip all over you).
Summer pasta salads are the best. I love making pasta salads wayyy in advance. It means no prep at dinnertime, and the dish only gets better as it sits! Win-win!
I love pasta salad! My favorite summer food is ice cream!!!
My mom used to make this for my sister and I all the time growing up, and now I make something similar when I’m out of ideas for dinner. So yummy and quick!
This would be perfect for a picnic! Which is perfect timing because we have a trip planned for the dog park on Sunday!
I love pasta salad! We usually get in a routine in the summer of making a big batch on the weekends and eating it for lunch all week. Summertime cooking is SO much easier/faster than in the winter! Bring on all the fresh veggies
This looks great! It’s only 8:30 and I just had my breakfast but I really wish I could have this right now
That looks amazing!!! Would be a great thing to take on my Mother’s Day picnic
Looks delicious! I’ve made cold pasta salad with GF pasta before too, have you noticed that it doesn’t quite taste as good the next day? I can’t really explain it, but something about it usually doesn’t work the same as normal wheat pasta. Just wondering if I’m crazy or not haha
haha yeah it’s not quite the same - it almost hardens up a little bit if that makes sense.
Simple dishes in the summer are the greatest. I love that you used italian dressing for this pasta salad! My favorite meal in the summer is guacamole with vegetables sauteed with a ton of garlic and lime juice. I could probably just go with the bowl of huac, though!
Ooh this looks delicious. Having kids will definitely change things, but you seem like you’ll know exactly what you’re doing!
Rhubarb and assparagus. Yummmmmmmmy.