Pesto Pasta Salad - Serve it Hot or Cold!!

This summer has actually managed to break previous weather records, it has been so, so, SO HOT. As a result, every time my boyfriend and I go to eat dinner, all we want is ice cream cause it's cold. So I fumbled together a cold pasta treat that serves as an entire meal!

Ingredients:
1) Two (2) twelve (12) ounce boxes whole wheat penne pasta -- 2520cal
2) One (1) 8 ounce jar of pesto -- 920cal
3) One (1) cup spaghetti sauce -- 140cal
4) Twelve (12) ounces of fresh broccoli -- 45cal
5) Sixteen (16) ounces fresh mozzarella -- 640cal
6) Twelve (12) ounces skinless chicken breasts -- 330cal
7) Three (3) tablespoons minced garlic -- 15cal
8) Lemon juice -- 0cal

Directions:
1) Cook the penne pasta as directed, rinse thoroughly with cold water afterward to prevent sticking.
2) Steam broccoli for as long as you like (I did it for 20 minutes)
3) Puree steamed broccoli (optional)
4) In a large bowl, mash up the fresh mozzarella (I used a pastry blender) until you have desired consistency
5) Add spaghetti sauce, pureed broccoli and pesto to the mozzarella. Stir well
6) Cut chicken breasts into bite sizes (optional, you can skip this and cut up the chicken after cooking if you prefer)
7) Mix diced chicken, minced garlic and lemon juice in another bowl/container and let sit for about five minutes
8) Grill chicken. Add spices to your liking (I used oregano, basil, and lemon pepper)
9) Add chicken to the mix in the large bowl, stir thoroughly.
10) Add penne pasta and make sure you mix it all up really well!! :bigsmile:

Total calories: 4610

Makes Twelve (12) Servings of about 385 calories each!!! Plus, each serving has more than one full serving of veggies in it!

Hope you enjoy!