Chicken Caeser Pasta Salad

After spending 12 nights on a Fred Olson cruise to cross the Arctic Circle and eating absolutely wonderful food non-stop, I never expected to be instantly inspired when I saw a recipe posted on my Facebook page.  This was from Yummly.com  and consisted of pasta, cheese and cold chicken.  Quick and easy, maybe not as quick as walking into a buffet, but it was pretty fast!  Here is the link to the original blog showing this amazing and delicious recipe:  Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.

Alan and I just got home this morning and are really, really tired.  This seems odd since we only drove to the Edinburgh area, not a long haul flight!  But I imagine it was the sleep deprivation more than anything!  When you travel to Norway this time of year, with the long days and non-existent nights, sleep just does not happen.  Here is the link to my blog about our cruise to the Arctic Circle:  Crossing the Arctic Circle

I didn't follow this recipe completely, mainly because I couldn't find the right lettuce.  I also picked up the wrong cheese and only noticed that when I edited the picture to add in this post!  So I imagine anything goes in this salad and I would suggest only using the ingredients and numbers as a guide!  

The original post does not state how many this recipe serves, but Alan had 3 servings, I had 2 and there are at least two bowl fulls left!  One would have actually been enough, but we are going into a bit of food withdrawal following the eating binge of being on a cruise, or at least that is our excuse! 

I have supplied what I believe is Yummly's ingredient list with my changes and suggestions included!   I have tried to find the original person who posted this recipe and it appears to be under Everyday Dishes & DIY, but the address is Yummly's.  Very difficult to ensure I have given the correct person credit for this wonderful salad!  

I also did not convert the measurements into Imperial because, this is really just a salad and anything goes with a salad!  Just use your imagination and taste buds and it will be perfect! 

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad   

adapted from a recipe found on the Yummy webpage                                        

Ingredients:

• 1 lb penne pasta
  
• 2 tsp salt*
• 1 cup Caesar dressing (I used one entire small bottle from the fresh produce section)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ tsp garlic granules
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 bag lettuce, of any sort (I know it should be Romaine for a Caesar Salad, but I used Seasonal Four Leaf Salad and it was amazing)  Tear the lettuce leaves into smaller sizes
• 1 punnet cherry or plum tomatoes (cut in half)
• ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese**
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• salt to taste

*I really hate to add salt and could not bring myself to put this much salt into the pasta even though I had measured it out.  I put in just over half of what was called for.

**In error, I purchased Vegetarian Hard Cheese and, as I said earlier, I never noticed!  It did seem not quite as hard as it should have, but it tasted just the same! 

Add pasta to a pot of boiling water.  The recipe says to add salt to prevent sticking, but I don't believe this actually makes a difference.  Cook pasta according to directions on package until tender but still slightly firm, or as my Dad would have said "Al Dente"! Drain paste and then  rinse under cold water to cool pasta and stop cooking. Set aside to drain completely.

While waiting for the pasta to be ready, find a very large bowl that the salad with be served in.   Add the Caesar dressing, Worcestershire sauce, garlic granules and lemon juice.  Stir.

Add torn lettuce, tomatoes, Parmesan, black pepper and then the well-drained pasta.  Stir until ingredients are well coated.

Add chicken then either stir again to distribute chicken evenly through salad or serve the chicken on top of the salad for a more aesthetic appearance.  If necessary, season to taste, although I think it was perfect just the way it was!   Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve. 

In trying to find a quote to end this blog, I was reminded of a something that actually happened to Alan and me when we were dating. If you can call him flying 3,000 miles or so from Scotland to Atlanta, GA a "date"!  One of those weird conversations about Worcestershire Sauce folks have, including all the strange pronunciations.  That night I took Alan to a comedy club, no idea what it was called.  One of the stand ups started talking about going into the fridge late at night for a snack and picking up a condiment bottle - 

 "What's this here sauce?  What's this here sauce?"

It was funny anyway but perfectly followed our afternoon conversation!  

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad  

adapted from the Yummy website:                                         

Ingredients:

• 1 lb penne pasta or any pasta will do
• 2 tsp salt*
• 1 cup Caesar dressing (I used one entire small bottle from the fresh produce section)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ tsp garlic granules
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 bag lettuce, of any sort (I know it should be Romaine for a Caesar Salad, but I used Seasonal Four Leaf Salad and it was amazing)  Tear the lettuce leaves into smaller sizes
• 1 punnet cherry or plum tomatoes (cut in half)
• ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese**
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• salt to taste

*I really hate to add salt and could not bring myself to put this much salt into the pasta even though I had measured it out.  I put in just over half of what was called for.

**In error, I purchased Vegetarian Hard Cheese and, as I said earlier, I never noticed!  It did seem not quite as hard as it should have, but it tasted just the same! 

Add pasta to a pot of boiling water.  The recipe says to add salt to prevent sticking, but I don't believe this actually makes a difference.  Cook pasta according to directions on package until tender but still slightly firm, or as my Dad would have said "Al Dente"! Drain paste and then  rinse under cold water to cool pasta and stop cooking. Set aside to drain completely.

While waiting for the pasta to be ready, find a very large bowl that the salad with be served in.   Add the Caesar dressing, Worcestershire sauce, garlic granules and lemon juice.  Stir.  
After the ingredients for the dressing are thoroughly combined, all the lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, pepper and pasta.  Stir again until everything is well coated.

Add chicken then either stir again to distribute chicken evenly through salad or serve the chicken on top of the salad for a more aesthetic appearance.  If necessary, season to taste, although I think it was perfect just the way it was!   Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve. 

Thanks again to http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Chicken-Caesar-pasta-salad-1121120  for providing the inspiration for my first food blog in a while and also a wonderful dinner last night!