[Vickie]

Here's a nice "bring along" dish if you have any Memorial Day parties to attend. This was from the WW newsletter. I can't tell you how my Niece serving Core pasta salad has saved me at many a party. You can tweak this as much as you like. I think my Niece adds a bit of regular yellow mustard for some flavor. I like to add hard boiled eggs. With the leftovers, I throw in some tuna for a great lunch.

Memorial Day Pasta Salad

2 cup dry whole-wheat elbow macaroni
1 medium stalk celery, diced
1 small sweet red pepper(s), chopped
1/2 cup cooked frozen peas and carrots
3 medium scallion(s), chopped
1/2 cup Kraft Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese, or other brand
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1/4 cup dill pickle(s), sliced
1/4 tsp onion powder

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain again. Combine cooked pasta, celery, pepper, peas and carrots, scallion and cheese in a large mixing bowl.

To make dressing, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle and onion powder in a small bowl. Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss lightly to coat. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

[MAlex]

This sounds so yummy!

[Katpo]

Here are a few more things from an email this morning:

Now that the weather's warming up, it's easier than ever to stick to TurnAround™. You're not tempted by heavy pasta dishes or fancy holiday desserts; you just want to get outside and enjoy life.

Even better, produce abounds this time of year, which makes following the Core Plan even simpler. In fact, the Core Plan allows you to eat better than anyone on the beach. No more gummy sandwiches and greasy fries — you're eating crisp, fresh produce and lean meats. Just don't forget the cardinal rule of the Core Plan: stop when you're satisfied; eat when you're hungry. Bored in the car? Sing to a CD instead of snacking. And don't forget to bring kites for the beach.

Get Packing
Here are some of our favorite Core-friendly picnic ideas:

Cornmeal-crusted oven-fried chicken breast halves
Cold, sliced, marinated London broil (cooked lean sirloin beef or lean beef round)
Beef satay with a dip of reduced-sodium soy sauce and rice vinegar or fat-free Ranch dressing
A salad of canned water-packed tuna, white beans, and cherry tomatoes dressed with lemon juice and fresh sage
An enriched whole-wheat pasta salad with baked salmon, yellow bell pepper strips, and dill, dressed with fat-free plain yogurt
Whole cold steamed lobster and crabs
Hard-cooked eggs with a pinch of sea salt or a splash of Worcestershire sauce
A chopped vegetable salad with a fat-free mayonnaise, ground cumin, and lime juice dressing
Cool, refreshing gazpacho
A salad of tomato wedges, fat-free mozzarella, and chopped basil
Ratatouille in lettuce cups.

Can't Stand the Heat?
Or to make it even easier, we often pick up premade foods like:

Rotisserie chicken with the skin removed
Whole pieces of fast-food fried chicken with the skin and coating removed
Precooked cocktail shrimp with store-bought cocktail sauce
Precooked, pre-cracked Jonah crab claws
In-store roasted roast beef with soy-cheese singles
In-store roasted skinless turkey breast
Packaged cole slaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots) tossed with fat-free Ranch dressing
Fresh sashimi made at our local supermarket
Vegetate
The best place to shop for summery veggies? The salad bar at our local supermarket. Why buy a whole head of celery when they've got individual stalks cut up for you? Or try:

Carrot sticks
Sliced radishes
Cherry tomatoes
Broccoli florets
Kidney beans
Chickpeas
Accompaniments
Want a condiment? We like to bring along:

Lemon and lime wedges for spritzing
Ketchup
Dijon, stone-ground, or Cajun-style mustard
Oil-free marinated artichoke hearts
Fat-free chipotle, black-bean, or peach salsa
Salsa verde
Taco sauce
Cocktail sauce
Fat-free salad dressings
Packaged sauerkraut
Crunchy kosher dill pickles, spears, or slices
Sweet Endings
For dessert, we suggest:

Grapes
Strawberries
Raspberries
Cherries
Nectarines
Peaches
Apricots
Watermelon
If you want something creamy with that dessert, try fat-free plain yogurt flavored up with vanilla extract and Splenda.

What's left to get for our summer picnic? Nothing but a few diet sodas, unsweetened fruit-flavored seltzers, or herbal iced teas. And then we're off to the beach. And staying on plan!

[Monkeypoodle]

Vickie -

Thanks for posting this recipe. It sounds just perfect for summer parties!