WELCOME to SUMMER...PASTA SALAD(GRILLED VEG&MEAT)

I LOVE May...its the month where we..who live in Canada....can start to garden and bring out ALL the OUTDOOR stuff....my NEW living room is AVAILABLE for me to enjoy. We live in a nice house...but there are times with three kids and a Hubby..you JUST need to find your own space...and our back deck is an addition to our home..if only for the Summer months. There I can escape in the early mornings with my MUGS of coffee or in the afternoon to sneak a chapter in of a book that I am currently reading, or in the early evening...relaxing with my Hubby...chatting about the day and glancing about the gardens(where my mind runs off, with the many possibilities or even planning the next years treats). BUT on a DAY like TODAY where the temperature...with the humidity is 39...its time to hibernate indoors...close the windows, pull down the blinds and try not to use extra power...like lights and stoves and ovens....its TIME TO BBQ ALL MEALS!!! (if possible)

And on a day like today...where its only HOT today...tomorrow should be back to normal.....I'm trying NOT to use the air conditioning...and so, at 2:31pm its still only 24 in house....so MAYBE I'll make it!! Perhaps too we will lose a pound or so in sweat..nothing wrong with that...I have Weddings to attend to in the next few months...and lately I've been indulging in PC's IceCream Shoppe Flavours.....OK, just the one FLAVOUR...Peanut Butter and Chocolate...OMG...delish!! I've been skipping LUNCH to BALANCE things out...shhhhh!!!

With the Summer weather, I try to BBQ daily(if I can)...I LOVE the BBQ taste...FOOD just tastes better when its been BBQ'd...and BONUS...less dishes!! Tonight's menu is quite simple....although I might add, I have to cook pasta(slight hiccup...when I'm against using the STOVE in this HEAT!) But the way I beat that, is that early in the morning, I come up with the meal plan for that day....and try to cook it then....when its still COOL outside.....cause by the afternoon...its too HOT to do anything! So with the pasta already chilled and in the fridge...I grab peppers, red onions, mushrooms and frozen chicken breasts(skinless/boneless). Chicken goes on first...then on the other burner, I add my veg(all washed and sliced in half and drizzled with Olive Oil and Sea Salt) and let it all cook. I usually take the veg off when its al dente and let it rest in a bowl. With chicken...I am overly cautious...and usually leave it on too long...but as long as there are no pink juices...we are good! I let it all rest and slightly cool down to handle...then slice it all(lengthwise) and throw it  in with the pasta. I do have a dressing too...light....a few glubs of olive oil, a good handful of basil(chopped) and some Sea Salt and a quick grind of Pepper....mix everything and then top the salad(that's in individual bowls) with FRESHLY GRATED Parmesan Reg. Cheese!! AWESOME!!!

All sliced waiting for the pasta!

At first I cooked Bow Tie Pasta...but while draining it, the lid slipped and it all went into the sink...so I reached for the next available pasta...rigatoni, it the was bottom of the bag! Hence the broken bits! BUT still tasty!!

The thing with this SALAD...it can be whatever you have in YOUR KITCHEN....whatever pasta shape you like...whatever vegetables YOU like....even the meat can vary!! I've done it once with a steak...it made the steak stretch and feed a family of 5.....so anything is possible!!

That's the thing with cooking....you never know what you will create when NOT using a recipe....just grab your favourite flavours...whatever you have on hand....and just create!!!

Cheers!!!