Southwestern Pasta Salad {CIC)

This month's crazy ingredient challenge is black beans and mayonnaise.  Southwestern Pasta Salad uses both with a little heat in every beat.

Southwestern Pasta Salad

Each month our facebook group pick two ingredients to use in a recipe.  Sometimes the ingredients mesh together well, sometimes not so easy.  This month black beans and mayonnaise were the winners.  

Mayonnaise made me think of pasta salad and it was easy to add black beans to the mix.  I did want to have a little heat to my salad and BINGO, as I was shopping I found chipolte sauce.  This sauce worked perfectly and you could add as much as you want, depending on how much heat you want in each bite.  

Ingredients:

1 lb Radiotore Pasta cooked

1 bag Bird's Eye Southwestern Corn

1 can 15 oz Black Beans

1 pint Grape Tomatoes

1 cup Shredded Cheese 

for dressing:

1/3 cup Mayonnaise

1/3 cup Sour Cream

3 tsp Chipotle Sauce (I used La Costena) *

Directions:

Cook pasta as directed and cool.

In small bowl mix mayonnaise, sour cream and chipotle sauce together.

Once pasta is cool, add Bird's Eye Southwestern Corn, Black Beans, Tomatoes.  Mix together.

Stir in dressing.

Mix in shredded Cheese.

Chill and Serve.

An InLinkz Link-up

Coconut Pesto Pasta with Chicken #CIC

Can you believe that it is just about the end of July already?  Where has the time and the summer gone?  This recipe is perfect for summer as it is easy to make, doesn't take to long and won't heat up your kitchen.... So to me, who doesn't have a/c that is perfect.

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party ~ Use your Noodle

I missed last week's party but am back for this week.  I hope that you enjoyed the Potato Party last week, there were lots of  great links.  This week's party is all about noodles...

Taco Filled Shells

I found this recipe on facebook.  Not sure where or who's page that I found it on.  All I did was read the recipe and made it from memory.  So if it is yours please let me know.

I made these last week when  my sisters and nephews came to visit.  It was a great success.  I was given 2 thumbs up for it from one of my nephews and he also said I was the "best cook every".

Pasta with Italian Sausage, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Veggies

I was lucky enough to win Carrie's Experimental Kitchen Cookbook from Carrie's Experimental Kitchen and I love it.  I have been following Carrie on Facebook for a long time, so know that her recipes are wonderful.  This cookbook has recipes with ingredients that most people would have in their kitchen.  I had some sun-dried tomatoes that I bought a while back and even though I love them in recipes, I hadn't ever cooked with them myself.  I found this recipe for Rotini with Sweet Italian Sausage, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Vegetables and know that I wanted to make it.  Although I had the sun-dried tomatoes, I didn't have everything that it called for so I had to do some improvising and this is what I came up with.

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Pasta with Italian Sausage, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Vegetables

adapted from Rotini with Sweet Italian Sausage, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Vegetables

2 cup shell pasta (or any type)

2 links Italian Sausage- I used Johnsonville

2 tbsp olive oil

1 small zucchini sliced

1/2 cup sundried tomatoes

1/2 cup mini peppers sliced

1/2 cup onions diced

1 clove diced

1 tsp rosemary

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup water with chicken flavoured maggi cube dissolved in water

Tillamook smoked black pepper white cheddar cheese - about 1/4 cup or so

Cook pasta, drain and set aside.  

Cook sausage with small amount of oil over medium high heat.  Cool and slice in 1/4 inch slices, set aside.

In pan heat oil on medium heat, add tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, onions, garlic and rosemary.  Saute until vegetables start to soften.  Add sausage.  

Add white wine vinegar and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Add cooked pasta and cheese and chicken broth.  Mix until well combined.

Enjoy!

Hubby isn't really keen on pasta dishes so it wasn't a favorite of his but I loved it and it was even better the next day. This would be great with whatever vegetables you would have on hand.  I can't wait to make other recipes from this cookbook.