Cashew Chicken and Pasta Salad
A pasta salad filled with crunchy vegetables like celery, green pepper and onions, sweetened with a quick and easy dressing you are bound to whip up in less than three minutes flat, and topped with grapes and cashews and savory chunks of roasted chicken. Perfect for lunch or dinner.
Savor every bite.
I have big dreams yet I have big fears. I doubt my abilities. I fear what other people think. I feel uncomfortable with putting out the real me. I compare myself to others all the time.
I wasn’t always this way. Or maybe I always have been. Yet I’m afraid I’m not alone. Behind every face is a struggle.
The dad who held the door for me and my kids has cancer.
The man on the corner holding the sign was hoping for gas money.
The high school student who is her own guardian because her parents have kicked her out of the house.
I have been witness to each of these situations over the past two days. And I can’t seem to get these things out of my head. My struggles don’t seem comparable. But there’s no struggle scale. So who am I to say.
Instead, I’m savoring. The little moments. The big moments. Smiling on purpose. Choosing joy.
Creating the recipe to a nourishing life. I hope you are too.
Struggling leads me to savoring. Seeing the bigger picture, seeing what’s really important. Seeing that every day matters. I’m also trying to do these every day to lead me to more savoring.
- Ask God before Google
- Open my Faith book before Facebook
- Remodel my heart before my cart (living on purpose and with intention trumps being obsessed with food)
Maybe these things will help you too. Simple phrases that belong in the nourishing life recipe.
Plus a simple recipe to savor. Cashew Chicken and Pasta Salad. Courtesy of my aunt, Peggy. Every family get together includes this salad, and it is full of all the things I love…nuts, pasta, grapes, crunchiness, savory and sweet. I spent one day with my aunt as a senior in high school 19 years ago at the clinic where she worked as a dietitian. That one day of job shadowing changed everything (after all I thought I wanted to be an accountant!). I’ve discovered I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I’m grateful.
Cashew Chicken and Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 8 oz dry orzo pasta
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion
- 1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper
- 1 cup finely diced celery
- 1 cup cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup halved grapes
- 3/4 cup cashews
Dressing
- 1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vinegar
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse in cool water and drain again. Add onion, pepper, celery, turkey and grapes. Stir in cashews.
- Mix dressing ingredients in separate bowl with a whisk. Toss with salad ingredients.
My dietitian friends have created their favorite recipes including nuts, I hope you visit a few!
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You write so beautifully, it is a nice feeling when you know you are doing the thing you are born todo. I’ve dreamed about being a dietitian ever since I found out the profession existed. Wouldn’t change it for the world. Helping people eat better and feel confident in their food choices without fearing food is a wonderful gift to give people.
I’ll have to try out this recipes too! 🙂
Gabrielle,
Your words are so kind. Thank you! You and I must be kindred spirits despite being on opposite sides of the world. I appreciate you!
Jen
Powerfull Post my friend. Nice recipe and photos too! xoxo
Hi Diane!
So lovely to hear from you again – it was so great to catch up with you in Nashville. Your words are so kind, thank you for taking a look. Can’t wait to catch up again soon!
Love those daily goals you set for yourself. I think I might try to add those to my morning vocabulary as well. And this chicken salad to my meal plan! 🙂
Thanks Emily! I appreciate you stopping by and reading this post. I hope you find the goals and the recipe as helpful and tasty as I have! Nourishing too 🙂
Very meaningful post and the recipe looks delicious. I don’t eat meat, but I do eat seafood. What would you recommend I use instead of chicken? Shrimp?
Thank you Beth, I am grateful for your visit. And yes, you could use tuna or salmon in the recipe – or even shrimp! All would be delicious.
What a beautiful post. I love how your words flow gently and lovingly. I’d love to try the recipe above. Thank you so much for posting.