Since the weather really is warming up a little, and the sun IS shining, I am beginning to feel like spring may actually be here. In honor of that, we are barbecuing tonight, and I am making the very best pasta salad in the world. The recipe is from Menus For Moms, and I just gotta share because it is simply fantastic. This recipe makes a HUGE bowl and it is sufficient as a meal:

Chicken Grape Pasta Salad

• 5 cups chicken (about 3 breasts), cooked and cubed from freezer
•  2 cups grape halves
• 2 cups chopped lettuce
• 12-16 oz. pkg. spiral pasta, cooked and drained
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced and quartered
• 3 green onions, diced (optional- we use them)

Toss together in a bowl.

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar (I sometimes use plain white vinegar if that’s all I have)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. dried chopped onion
• 1 tsp. lemon juice (I actually use 2 tsp.)
• 1 Tbsp. parsley

Mix all ingredients in a sealable container and shake well. Pour over the salad and mix in.
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I LOVE this salad, my kids LOVE this salad, and everyone who has eaten it with our family has loved it. It has a very unique blend of flavors which make it irresistable. Too hot to cook? Ya gotta try it! At the very least, today it is making me feel more like SPRING.