• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

July 21, 2011

Make Ahead Summer Recipe…Greek Pasta Salad

DSC_0502-1_edited-1
I love serving pasta salads in the summer.  They are the perfect meal for those long hot days when you’ve spent the afternoon at the pool or lake and the thought of coming home and standing in front of a stove is unbearable.  If you are like I am, and always on the hunt for fabulous recipes, then you need to look no further than our friend Val at Val So Cal!  She creates the most amazing dishes and drinks and desserts along with mouthwatering photographs.  Even better, she is as sweet as those lovely desserts she makes!
Her Greek Pasta Salad was no exception! I loved the Mediterranean flavors of this dish and it was so easy to prepare it in the morning and come in that evening to dinner, and the icing on the cake..or the tomato on the top…it photographs beautifully!

My favorite combination… good food and getting to photograph it! My family loved it too, since it was served cold they didn’t have to sit around waiting for dinner while I snapped 30 pictures of the same dish. 😉

Greek-Pasta-salad-2

                                                             
Greek Pasta Salad– created by Valerie from Val So Cal


Ingredients:
   
1 package pasta – your choice

1/4 cup olive oil
one yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups of mushrooms, sliced (optional)
4 chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 (14 oz.) jar  or can of artichokes in water, chopped
2 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup white wine ( optional)
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
the juice of one lemon
8 oz. feta cheese
handful of cherry tomatoes, halved.
salt and pepper


Directions:

Cook pasta and set aside. Meanwhile in a skillet heat olive oil on med-high heat. Cook chicken until cooked through and set aside. In the same skillet add onion and garlic and sauté for 5 min and then add mushrooms (if you choose to use) and cook until mushrooms have color. Add in artichokes to skillet and heat through.        
Mix white wine, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and spices. Mix well and add to the pasta. Top with Feta cheese and tomatoes.

Greek-Pasta-Salad-1
Give this fabulous dish a try for an easy and delicious summer meal and make sure to visit Val for even more wonderful recipes! 
Thanks for joining me for dinner…at the picket fence!
signature
This post is partying at:

Modern Country Style: Summer Loving Link Party

21 Comments Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Tweaking the Traditional
Next Post: Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 24! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ashley says

    July 20, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    o man this looks amazing!

    Reply
  2. Honey at 2805 says

    July 20, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    I love pasta salads too! This one looks and sounds cool n refrshingfo this hot summer!

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth says

    July 20, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    This looks delicious! Great for a hot summer day!

    Reply
  4. Kristin says

    July 20, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    I’ve been on the lookout for a pasta salad for my next party and this is it! Thanks for sharing, and for the beautiful photos!!

    Reply
  5. Coley says

    July 20, 2011 at 8:37 PM

    MmMm! Delish

    Reply
  6. Pam @ OurAdventuresInHomeImprovement says

    July 20, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    It looks delicious! Thanks for sharing.

    Pam

    Reply
  7. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    July 20, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    Heather this looks AMAZING!! I’m trying this tomorrow, thanks for sharing it with us! Martina

    Reply
  8. Liz says

    July 21, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    I am officially starving now, thank you! 😉 I will be sure to make that this weekend, YUM-O!! Thanks so much for sharing! XO ~Liz

    Reply
  9. Gina says

    July 21, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    Oh yum! Looks like the perfect meal in this crazy heat & humidity.

    Reply
  10. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    July 21, 2011 at 1:00 AM

    I will have to try this, Heather. Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply
  11. Haniela says

    July 21, 2011 at 2:58 AM

    Now this looks absolutely amazing, I love dishes like this, totally my style. Fresh and refreshing. love everything about it.
    DELICIOUS!!!

    Reply
  12. Shelia says

    July 21, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    This looks so delicious! 🙂
    Looks like a wonderful summer dinner!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  13. SavannahGranny says

    July 21, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    Looks delish. Kudos to Val and thanks for sharing Heather. Ginger 🙂

    Reply
  14. Tina says

    July 21, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    This looks so good! I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  15. Pink Overalls @DIY Home Staging says

    July 21, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    I like Greek salads too. Unlike some salads, they taste better if made ahead of time.

    Your recipe is an improvement over the ones I make. It has more ingredients (like artichokes and mushrooms), so I will definitely try it.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  16. Catie says

    July 21, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    Hi Heather, This looks SOO good! I’d eat it right now for lunch. We love greek salad at our house. I’ll have to give this a try. Thanks for sharing. Oh, you’re pictures are fabulous! : ) ~ Catie

    Reply
  17. Val says

    July 21, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Boy, doesn’t that look FABULOUS!!! Thank you for making this dish…I’m thrilled and honored!! You gals make me happy, always.

    Reply
  18. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    July 21, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    This looks incredible…and so fresh. I love a cold, fresh meal in the hot weather. Your pics are awesome too…

    Reply
  19. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    August 24, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    Oooh, yummy! You can link up as many times you like if they’re as yummy as the two you linked today! Big fat Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmms heading your way! – Can you hear me?!!

    Thank you so much for linking up today to my Summer Loving party.

    Sarahx

    Reply
  20. evie @ brown paper packages says

    August 24, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Oh YUM. I think I’m gonna have to give this one a try this week…sound like a perfect summer dish. mmmm!!

    Reply
  21. GLENDA CHILDERS says

    August 27, 2011 at 2:57 AM

    What a beautiful summer salad.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

Grandma’s Banana Bread

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022
  • Vintage Inspired Hot Cocoa Bar November 21, 2022
  • Autumn Home Decor Tour October 7, 2022
  • Built In Shelving Makeover in Family Room August 31, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence