Creamy Dijon Bacon Pasta Salad Food

MACARONI SALAD WITH BACON, PEAS, AND CREAMY DIJON DRESSING

Steps:

• To prepare dressing, combine first 9 ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Cover and chill.
• To prepare salad, cook pasta according to package directions.
• Add peas during the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain; rinse with cold water. Drain.
• Combine pea/ pasta mixture, bell pepper, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Toss pasta mixture with half of dressing. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Toss salad with remaining dressing, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon; serve immediately.

CREAMY PASTA SALAD WITH BACON AND PEAS

Steps:

• Boil the pasta until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water until cool.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Then crumble or chop into small pieces.
• Combine the pasta with the bacon, carrots, peas, onions, mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon zest and juice in a large bowl and toss until coated and fully mixed together. Season generously with a pinch of salt and give another toss.
• Garnish with the parsley leaves if using. Cover and chill the pasta salad for about an hour.

DIJON CHICKEN AND PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Empty Pasta mix into 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of boiling water. Gently boil uncovered about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Drain pasta; rinse with cold water. Shake to drain well.
• Stir together Seasoning mix, oil, water and mustard in large bowl. Stir in pasta-vegetable mixture. Stir in chicken. Toss with Parmesan Topping. Refrigerate any remaining salad.

CREAMY BACON & TOMATO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water following pack instructions. Drain and run under cold water until completely cool.
• Meanwhile, mix the yogurt, mustard, honey, garlic, lemon zest, olive oil and some seasoning together in a large bowl. Toss the cooked pasta with the dressing, tomatoes, spinach and basil. Keep chilled until ready to serve, then crumble over the bacon.

CREAMY MUSHROOM, BACON AND SPINACH PASTA - LOW FAT

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
• Spray a pan with olive oil spray and sauté finely chopped onion, capsicum, bacon and garlic.
• When soft add mushrooms and as much or as little chilli as you like.
• Cook until soft.
• Put pasta into boiling water and bring back to the boil.
• Cook to your liking.
• Add dijon mustard and evaporated milk to the onion mix.
• Stir to combine and heat very gently until pasta is ready.
• If you like a'wetter' sauce add a small amount of the pasta cooking water to the onion/milk mixture.
• Place washed spinach leaves into a colander.
• When ready drain the pasta over the spinach.
• This will wilt the spinach- the only'cooking' it needs.
• Add the pasta/spinach mix to the sauce.
• Stir to combine.
• Serve topped with freshly ground black pepper and parmesan cheese if desired.
• **Note: In Australia, on the Weight Watchers points plan, WW bacon is 1/2 a point for 3 slices and the small tin (185ml) of carnation brand light and creamy evaporated milk is 3 points.