Make Ahead
Winter Fruit Pasta Salad
Prep Time: 20 Minutes Start to Finish: 50 Minutes 8 servings
- Pasta Salad
- 1 cup uncooked small pasta shells (4 oz)
- 1 medium crisp red apple (such as Braeburn, Cortland or Gala), chopped (1¼ cups)
- 1 medium pear, chopped (1¼ cups)
- 4 medium green onions, chopped (¼ cup)
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- Dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
- 3 tablespoons orange marmalade
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
1 Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
2 In large glass or plastic bowl, mix pasta, apple, pear, onions, pecans and cranberries. In small bowl, mix dressing ingredients; stir into pasta mixture.
3 Cover; refrigerate at least 30 minutes until chilled.
1 Serving: Calories 210; Total Fat 10g (Saturated Fat 1.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 190mg; Total Carbohydrate 28g (Dietary Fiber 3g); Protein 3g Exchanges: 1 Starch, ½ Fruit, ½ Other Carbohydrate, 2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2
Make-Ahead Magic You can prep parts of this recipe up to 24 hours in advance if you like. Cook and drain the pasta as directed, and toss with a teaspoon or two of vegetable oil; cover and refrigerate. Mix the dressing ingredients; cover and refrigerate until you are ready to put the salad together.
Festive Touch Consider the “pastabilities”! Instead of small shells, use fun holiday pasta shapes such as trees, stars, bells or ornaments.
Make Ahead, Quick Fix
Strawberry-Marshmallow Fruit Dip
Prep Time: 15 Minutes Start to Finish: 1 Hour 15 Minutes 15 servings
- 4 oz (from 8-oz package) ⅓-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
- 1 cup marshmallow creme
- 1 container (6 oz) fat-free Greek strawberry yogurt
- ½ cup chopped strawberries
- 15 whole strawberries, cut lengthwise in half
- 30 pieces cut-up melon
- 30 grapes
1 In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, marshmallow creme, yogurt and chopped strawberries with electric mixer on high speed until smooth.
2 Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour. Serve dip with fruit.
1 Serving (2 Tablespoons Dip and 6 Pieces Fruit): Calories 60; Total Fat 1g (Saturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 50mg; Total Carbohydrate 12g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 1g Exchanges: ½ Fruit, ½ Other Carbohydrate Carbohydrate Choices: 1
Make-Ahead Magic You can make the dip up to 24 hours ahead; cover and refrigerate. Stir before serving.
