Picnic #SundaySupper...Featuring Layered Mason Jar Pasta Salad for Two

Texas Summers are long...and extremely hot. Luckily, April and May are pretty much perfect for al fresco dining. The weather is already starting to get warm around here, but evenings are still pretty with nice breezes – perfect weather for an impromptu picnic dinner! This week, #SundaySupper bloggers are sharing our favorite picnic foods. Our host is T.R. from Gluten-Free Crumbley. To me, Spring means enjoying lighter foods with fresh seasonal produce. Enter my Layered Mason Jar Pasta Salad for Two. It's a snap to assemble, and it's easily portable!

Simply layer your favorite ingredients in a large Mason jar, then store your personalized creation in the fridge until you’re ready to head outdoors for your picnic. I especially love that this pasta salad can be customized according to your tastes – or to use whatever is on hand in the kitchen on a given day. I layered store-bought lime vinaigrette, high-fiber penne pasta, Spring veggies, cubes of sharp cheddar, and boiled eggs in my jar. Then, I sealed and refrigerated the jar overnight. When ready to serve, simply give it a shake and pour into a serving bowl. As an added bonus, the colorful layers are so pretty to look at. The key is to layer as follows: dressing, veggies, pasta, and protein.

Layered Mason Jar Pasta Salad for Two

adapted from various sources

Ingredients (makes two generous servings):

• 4 tbs. vinaigrette of your choice – I used a store-bought lime vinaigrette
• 3/4 cup peeled and chopped cucumber
• 3/4 cup corn kernels
• 3/4 cup chopped Roma tomato
• 2 sliced green onions combined with 1/4 cup chopped purple onion
• 2 cups cooked penne pasta
• 2 boiled eggs, chopped
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, cut into bite-size cubes

Directions:

Step 1: Add the vinaigrette to the bottom of a large Mason jar. Layer the cucumber, corn kernels, and tomato.

Step 2: Layer the chopped onions, cooled penne pasta, boiled eggs, and cheddar. Seal the jar and refrigerate for at least 4 hours – but you can assemble and refrigerate up to 3 days ahead.

Step 3: To serve, give the pasta salad a good shake to disperse the dressing. Pour the contents of the jar into a serving bowl and toss to combine all of the ingredients.

Too simple...and so flavorful! This colorful pasta salad is a snap to put together, and it’s perfectly portable for Spring picnics. To round out our picnic menu, I picked up a roasted chicken from the deli -- along with chocolate chip cookies and fresh strawberries for dessert. Iced tea is a traditional Southern picnic beverage that would work great here. I hope you give my Layered Mason Jar Pasta Salad for Two a try, subbing in your favorite veggies and protein.

Be sure to check out all of the great picnic recipes that the #SundaySupper crew is sharing this week – whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered!

Appetizers:

• Caprese Skewers by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Crisp Cucumber Salsa with Southwest Chipotle Dipping Chips by Momma's Meals
• French Onion Dip, with Greek Yogurt by Casa de Crews
• Heart Shaped Pretzels with Pink Salt by Dandelion Greens
• Mediterranean Spiced Hummus by Take A Bite Out of Boca
• Pepperoni Pinwheels by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Watermelon Salad Skewers by annaDishes

Beverages:

• Blackberry Lemonade by The Redhead Baker
• Blueberry Mojito Mocktails by NeighborFood
• Grandma's Stuff by Jane's Adventures in Dinner
• Minty Cardinal Punch by Food Lust People Love
• Pineapple Ginger Lemonade Spiked with Turmeric by Sue's Nutrition Buzz
• Sangria Punch by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Strawberry Lemonade by Noshing With The Nolands

Main Dishes:

• Avocado Sriracha Egg Salad by Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
• Barbecue Ranch Quinoa Chicken Salad by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Boneless Chicken Wings by Nosh My Way
• Burger Ice Cream by Brunch with Joy
• Chicken Salad Sliders by Life Tastes Good
• Southern Style Chicken Salad by Recipe for Perfection
• Spanish tortilla by Caroline's Cooking

Sides:

• Broccoli & Tomato Pasta Salad by Flour On My Face
• Buffalo Macaroni Salad by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Couscous Veggie Salad by Cooking Chat
• Fully Loaded Baked Potato Salad by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
• Granola Salad by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Greek Style Asparagus Salad by Curious Cuisiniere
• No Mayo Slaw with Poppyseed Dressing by Palatable Pastime
• Spiralized Beet and Goat Cheese Salad by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Sweet and Tangy Green Apple Slaw by Simply Healthy Family
• Uncle Dave's Potato Salad by Runner's Tales

Soups and Salads:

• Barley and Rice Salad by Family Foodie
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Dried Cranberries by Food Done Light
• Nicoise Salad by Gaila - The Petit Gourmet
• Smoked Turkey Salad by Our Good Life
• Spinach Salad with Apples & Pecans in an Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette by Carrie's Experimental Kitchen
• Spring Couscous Primavera by No Spoon Necessary
• Strawberry Fool by Cookin' Mimi

Desserts:

• Bacon-Bulleit Brownies by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Coca Cola Cake by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Earth Day Cupcakes by Savory Experiments
• Gluten Free Cookie Bars by Gluten Free Crumbley
• Lemon Lime Pound Cake by Vintage Kitchen
• Lemon Yuzu Cookies by NinjaBaker.com
• Mini Lemon Chess Pies by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
• No-Bake Cookie Butter Chex Mix Bars by Wallflour Girl
• Peanut Butter Bars by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Peanut Butter Carob Bars by Pies and Plots
• Sourdough Chunk Cookies by What Smells So Good?

Be sure to join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter this evening! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly Twitter chat starts at 7:00 pm ET/6:00 CST. Be sure to follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get even more great Sunday Supper Recipes, simply visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

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