Just love this pasta salad. LAtely I’ve also been mixing in a bag of mixed greens, it adds some great color and stretches the recipe even more! Enjoy!

CHICKEN CHERRY PASTA SALAD

1 T vegetable oil

2.25 lbs chicken chunks (4 cups)

Cook chicken chunks and cool.

(I usually use canned chicken these days or the frozen cooked chunks, but fresh is really good too, depends on how much time you want to spend.)

1 16 oz pkg. Penne pasta

¾ cup diced celery

¾ cup chopped red onion

1 (5 oz) pkg dried cherries (I use craisins, less expensive)

1 ¼ c Miracle Whip Light

1 ¼ c Poppy seed dressing (usually equals one bottle)

1 ½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

1 cup toasted slivered almonds

Cook pasta, rinse with cold water. Combine Chicken, pasta, celery, onion and craisins/cherries

Separately mix mayo, poppy seed dressing, S & P. Fold 1 ¾ cups dressing into salad. Reserve ¾ cup to moisten salad with later.

Top or serve with toasted almonds (don’t skip this, it’s the best part!!)