Inaugural Post & Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

I'm so excited to make my inaugural post!  I was laying on my couch, reading about Rachel Cooks' Pancake Party and it dawned on me... I can be a food blogger too!  I've been wanting to compile kid-friendly recipes from my Las Madres Working Moms 2009 group.  I was already going to take the e-way out and compile via Google Docs and then send it out as a PDF.  Why not put it in a blog?

I'm always reading food blogs and sending recipes to my mom and MIL...  If I just post it here, it'll just be my little online recipe box.  I'm so jazzed about this!  I guess we'll see if my stamina and enthusiasm continues after a week, huh?  I'm going to give it 30 days (inspired by Matt Cutts - a great 3 minute TED Talk).  I think I can, I think I can!

So here's what we had for dinner tonight.  A super fresh, light, and easy pasta salad.  I had picked up some grape tomatoes, a seedless cucumber, 3 ears of corn, some lemons, and a red bell pepper.  I've seen/heard/read about making an easy vinaigrette with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil but since I really dislike mustard, I've avoided trying it.  For whatever reason, I got brave and interested to try it tonight and it was good!  Oh and by the way, feel free to add whatever veggies you prefer - this is just what I had on hand.  Adding chicken, ham, or some other protein totally works too.

Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1 lb package of pasta (any shape)
3-4 c veggies - cut in bite size pieces - I used a cup each of cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and corn, plus a red bell pepper
1 c protein (optional, but chicken or black beans are nice)
1 lemon
1/4 c olive oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and run under cold water.
2. Make vinaigrette.  Whisk together juice of 1 lemon, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, and about 1/8 tsp each of garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  (Note: You can substitute fresh garlic for the garlic powder but I think powder has a milder taste for kids.  Also, I left out pepper since my son finds it "too spicy".)  Whisk in 1/4 c of olive oil.
3. Wash and cut veggies to bite size pieces.
4. Toss pasta, veggies, and protein (optional), with the vinaigrette.  Chill at least 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!