Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad

This dish can be served warm or cold and made however spicy or not spicy you want...so experiment with it!

Ingredients
Box of whole wheat rotini
2 packets ranch dressing packets
3 chicken breasts
1 cup mayo ( I like to use the olive oil blend )
Buffalo Sauce
Block of cheddar ( or whatever cheese you prefer)

Boil water for noodles and cook al dente
Grill or pan fry the chicken breasts
Mix the mayo and ranch packets together
Let chicken cool down before cutting to keep the juices in
Drain the pasta from the water and run under cold water
Cut the cheese up into cubes
Cut the chicken up and toss in the buffalo sauce (use as much or as little as you like - douse it or leave
         on the dryer side)
Toss the noodles into the may ranch mixture and mix around until coated
Toss the chicken in and mix around       
Mix the cheddar into the dish

Serve cold or warm - both ways are delicious. If you are packing lunches and a microwave is not available this is a great dish to send to break up the every day sandwich :) 

Light (but not light tasting) creamy ranch pasta

This tastes like a really creamy bad for you pasta, but it really isn't. It's cheap to make, easy and something a little different.

Ingredients
Half box of whole wheat spaghetti
Packet of ranch dressing seasoning mix
Cup of skim milk
2 tablespoons margarine

Boil water and add spaghetti for 8-10 minutes depending on how well cooked you like your pasta

While the spaghetti is cooking put the milk and margarine in a sauce pan and start to heat over medium low heat

Whisk in the ranch packet and continue to stir as the mixture simmers

When the spaghetti is done drain the excess water and mix the noodles into the sauce

Let the noodles sit in the sauce for about 10 minutes and stir occasionally

Add salt and pepper to taste and serve