Festive Cajun Chicken Pasta

This dish was put together in a matter of minutes using the Ratty's spicy Tastes of the World Cajun chicken pasta, tater tots, corn salad, steamed peas, white beans from the salad bar, and mixed greens. The spicy pasta sauce provides a nice flavor contrast to the salty crunch tater tots and sweet corn and peas. As a cheesy Food Network host would say, "It's a flavor party in your mouth!"

Festive Cajun Chicken Pasta

1 serving of Tastes of the World Cajun Chicken Pasta (or any pasta with spicy sauce)

1/4 cup steamed green peas

1/4 cup corn salad

1 Tbsp white beans

4 tater tots, broken in half

mixed salad greens for garnish

1. Mix in with the pasta the peas, corn, beans, and tater tots.

2. Garnish with greens and enjoy!

Luck of the Irish Veggies and Corned Beef

Fortune shines upon those who eat a rainbow of veggies with their protein!

Luck of the Irish Veggies and Corned Beef

broccoli, microwaved with water and garlic infused olive oil for 2 min

herbed slice carrots

baby tomatoes

sliced corned beef

irish soda bread

Arrange food on plate and enjoy!

Adela's Lucky Green Jello Sundae

Thank you, Adela, for letting me "kidnap" your jello to snap this photo! To anyone who has yet to experience the magical combination of green jello and Ratty soft serve, please give this lovely concoction a try the next time you're lucky enough to find green jello at the end of the bistro line.

Adela's Lucky Green Jello Sundae

1 serving of green jello

vanilla soft serve ice cream

shamrock sprinkles

Assemble, enjoy, and savor the luck of the jello.

St Patty's Day Cupcake

St. Patty's Day Cupcake

1 white cupcake

cream cheese

shamrock and sugar sprinkles

Spread cream cheese generously on cupcake and decorate with sprinkles!

Purple Green and Orange Pork Spareribs

Thanks to daylight savings, the Ratty was flooded with sunlight at dinnertime last Sunday and I couldn't resist pulling out my camera. In honor of the colorful-eating theme of National Nutrition Month, this "recipe" is really not a recipe at all but a modest tribute to the beautiful colors that veggies can add to one's plate.

Purple Green and Orange Pork Spareribs

Arrange steamed peas and mushrooms, cucumber, braised purple cabbage, baked sweet potatoes, and tangy pork spareribs on a plate and enjoy.

Fruity Caprese Salad

March is National Nutrition Month! This year's theme is Eat Right with Color: http://www.eatright.org/nnm/.

In honor of the month, we've amped up the color spectrum on a typically tri-colored classic: caprese salad. Still infused with its lovely basil/mozz/tomato flavor combo, this new take on the traditional favorite is packed with even more antioxidants and those flu-fighting vitamins.

Fruity Caprese Salad

baby spinach

1/2 tangerine, peeled with segments sliced in half

2 basil olive oil infused mozzarella balls (from the Ratty's caprese salad)

3-4 cherry tomatoes (from caprese salad)

3-4 sliced peaches (salad bar)

2-3 roasted beets, sliced thinly

Toss everything together and enjoy! If there happens to be basil infused olive oil at the salad bar, feel free to drizzle it over the salad.

Rhode Island Chicken Salad with Broccoli

We love the Ratty's Rhode Island Chicken Salad because it has juicy grapes, crisp fresh apples, plump raisins, large chunks of chicken and creamy mayo. One way to stretch the flavor of chicken salad is to include steamed broccoli florets and sliced mushrooms, and to serve it with crisp lettuce and tomato slices.

Rhode Island Chicken Salad with Broccoli

a small handful of raw broccoli and mushrooms

1 serving of Rhode Island Chicken Salad

1 leaf of fresh lettuce

2 slices tomato

1. Place broccoli and mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with a plate, and steam on high power in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until veggies are just cooked.

2. Carefully remove the plate and add the steamed veggies to the chicken salad, mixing to distribute evenly.

3. Serve with lettuce and tomato.