Ahh, Summer! Even though it has been raining and storming like crazy here in Charleston lately, I have been able to sneak a few beach days in between class and work. Aside from relaxing during these months, I know that I'm not the only one that enjoys low maintenance, light, and refreshing foods to enjoy during these heat-filled days.

When it's just too hot to cook, I stick with easy pasta salads for lunch or dinner. They come together quickly and often taste better the next day. They're also pretty little fuss and are super delicious! Honestly, I just used what I had on hand for this salad and you should do the same. This recipe is a great way to clean out the veggie bin in your fridge and use up leftovers.

There are a few steps to this recipe if you're starting everything from scratch and not using leftovers; mostly prep but it's fairly simple. The chicken breasts should be cooked and cubed up prior to making the salad. Season them how you like! And the chickpeas should be toasted for a nice change of texture for the pasta. To do this, you can add them to a dry frying pan and quickly toast them up.

Also, depending on the vegetables, you could either add them raw or quickly sautéed. I wanted a little bit of both, so I cooked the yellow squash and zucchini, while leaving the tomatoes and celery raw for extra crunch. This recipe is a loose guideline, so as long as you have pasta on hand, a few pantry staples, and some fresh vegetables, you're all set!

Summer Pasta Salad

Serves: 4

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 can of chickpeas, drained and lightly toasted

1 small yellow squash, cut into chunks and sautéed

1 small zucchini, cut into chunks and sautéed

1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved

2 stalks celery, cut on a bias

1/2 box orzo pasta, cooked and drained

Kosher salt

Black pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

Red wine vinegar

Juice of 1 lemon

In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients together and mix well. The seasonings, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lemon juice should all be added to your taste. Make it how you like it! Let chill for at least 1 hour in the fridge for all of the flavors to come together. Serve and enjoy!

¡Buen provecho!