Super Summer Side Dishes

What is the best part of summer?  Playing with the kids in the pool?  Vacation?  For our house, it is usually getting to grill for dinner.  No major work and yum, yum, yum.  But what to serve on the side?  Here are some simple side dishes to go with the great grilled masterpieces!

Simple Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
1 pound Rotini pasta
1 jar Italian dressing (we use Ken's Northern Italian Light)

Choose an assortment of veggies from the following list:
1 can jumbo olives
1 can artichoke hearts
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup diced zucchini
1 chopped red pepper
1 cup chopped mozzarella

Boil noodles.  Drain and cool.  Add an assortment of chopped vegetable from the list above.  Mix well.  Add half bottle of Italian dressing.  Chill salad.  When you are ready to serve, add the remaining Italian dressing.


Green Goody 
Ingredients:
1 small tub whipped topping
1 15 oz can of crushed pineapple
1/2 bag small marshmallows
1 box pistachio pudding

Mix all ingredients in bowl.  Chill.  To make a diabetic version (also VERY low fat), I use light whipped topping and sugar free pudding.


Orzo and Grilled Veggies
Ingredients:
1 lb of orzo, cooked
Assortment of chopped veggies (we like asparagus, red peppers, squash, fresh green beans, onions)
Italian Dressing

Grill veggies using olive oil.  Mix into cooked orzo.  Add Italian dressing to taste.

Enjoy! --Jess