Chicken Pasta Salad

I love a good pasta salad!  I especially love that you can make them so many different ways.  This is one of my go-to recipes:

-1 lb. bowtie pasta

-about 1 cup of roughly diced/shredded rotisserie chicken breast

-1/2 red onion, thinly sliced and cut in half

-1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced and cut in half

-1 bundle of small asparagus (just cut the top pieces)

-about 1 cup mozzarella cheese (grated or diced into small pieces)

-a few basil leaves, chopped

-balsamic vinegar, enough to coat (about 1/2 cup?)

-good olive oil, enough to coat (about 1/2 cup?)

-salt and pepper, to taste

1.  Cook pasta al dente.  Drain and coat with a little bit of oil so it doesn't stick together.  Put pasta in a large bowl.

2.  Wash and cut all the vegetables.  Add to the pasta. 

3.  Prepare the chicken- you can cut it with a knife or pull it apart with your fingers. Add to the pasta.

4.  Chop basil and add to pasta.

5.  Toss pasta with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Sometimes I just use an Italian dressing or a roasted red pepper Italian dressing too.

6.  Season with salt and pepper.