My Favorite Things Salad

I took my turn for dinner club this week and I decided to make something on the lighter, summery side: salad. It is always a gamble to make a recipe that you have never tried before, especially when you are serving it to two other families besides your own. I got lucky this time because the salad we ate was FANTASTIC - not because of anything I did, but because it is packed full of so many of my favorite things! How can you go wrong with toasted pine nuts, dried cranberries, grilled chicken, and arugula I ask?! It got such rave reviews that I thought I'd better post it here. And hence, no pictures 'cause the salad was gone in a flash. Enjoy!

PS - the recipe came from our dear little elementary school cookbook. I think my OBGyn's husband submitted it. Isn't it lovely that I will think of her every time I make it?

Grilled Chicken and Orzo Salad
(AKA: My Favorite Things Salad)

1 1/2 lbs. chicken grilled and chopped (I seasoned my meat with salt and Mrs. Dash)
1 pkg. orzo pasta, cooked and rinsed
1 bag baby arugula
2 (2.25 oz.) pkgs. pine nuts, toasted
1 pkg. dried cranberries
1/2 C fresh chopped basil
6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Mix the cooked and rinsed pasta with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. In a large bowl mix the chopped chicken with the pine nuts, cranberries, feta, and basil (I used my hands). Mix in the orzo and then gently fold in the arugula. Refrigerate until chilled and serve.

Notes: This salad works for kids cause it is easy to pick out the big green leaves and just eat the pasta and chicken. At least that is what my kids did. And just a reminder, this salad is really light - not heavily dressed at all - no vinegar. But still out of this world. Really, it is. Change any of the quantities in the salad to suit you and it will still be perfect.

Another Random Note: While I was preparing this salad I looked out into the backyard and found my two older boys on the trampoline with our two chickens. How hilarious. I really should have snapped a picture of that before I ordered AAH, our resident chicken handler, to put the girls back in their coop!