For me, a picnic is not a picnic without pasta salad. Lately, I’ve been adding kale and sunflower nuts to everything. The kale has become an inside joke here at the house between my husband and I because he hates it. OK, maybe hate is a strong word. . . but he definitely does not prefer kale and probably would be happier if I did not throw it into everything.
Too bad. I’m the one cooking.
Plus, it’s a good way to get vitamins A, C, and K. Did you know kale is one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet? It can do wonders for your health, and eating super-nutritious kale on a regular basis may also provide significant health benefits, including cancer protection and lowered cholesterol.
Kale is a 
Kale Pasta Salad for a Picnic #SundaySupper
Ingredients
- ½ lb Rotini pasta
- 2 medium cucumbers; peeled and chopped
- 1-2 heaping cups kale; chopped I'm using Organic Tuscan Kale here
- ½ red bell pepper; chopped
- ½ yellow bell pepper; chopped
- ½ orange bell pepper; chopped
- 1 stalk celery; chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives; chopped
- 1/2 cup Spanish olives; chopped
- ½ red onion; chopped
- 1 cup salad dressing: mixture of balsamic vinaigrette + your fave creamy italian dressing use store bought dressing or homemade + more if needed
- 1/2 cup sunflower nuts; roasted no salt
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions and cook to al dente. Rinse and allow to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cooled pasta with all of the chopped veggies. Pour in the salad dressing, sprinkle on the sunflower nuts and mix again. Serve immediately.
We’re celebrating a picnic Sunday Supper hosted by Katy from Happy Baking Days! So, pull out your picnic blanket and get comfortable. . we have a ton of great recipes down below. Hope you enjoy!
Salads and Slaws:
- Bacon Ranch Potato Salad from Juanita’s Cocina
- Caprese Spinach Salad from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Chicken Chopped Salad from Table for Seven
- Cold Pea Salad from Shockingly Delicious
- Creamy Potato Salad with Roasted Pears, Cilantro and Romano Cheese from Gourmet Drizzles
- German Potato Salad from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Hawaiian Cole Slaw from Curious Cuisiniere
- Italian Chopped Salad from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Kale Pasta Salad from Hip Foodie Mom
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Mizeria (Polish Cucumber Salad) from From Fast Food to Fresh Food
- PA Dutch Pepper Cabbage from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pineapple Slaw from I Run For Wine
- Spaghetti Salad from Country Girl in the Village
- Tortellini Pasta Salad from Supper for a Steal
Sandwiches and Mains:
- Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwich from Momma’s Meals
- Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese, and Tomato Sandwich from Magnolia Days
- Grilled Bratwurst and Onion Open-Face Sandwiches from The Urban Mrs
- Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Green Goddess Sauce from Foxes Love Lemons
- Herbs-Garlic and Parmesan Croissants from Basic N Delicious
- Indian Spiced Chicken Drumsticks from Soni’s Food
- Japanese Picnic Bento Box from The Ninja Baker
- Mini Chicken Salad, Avocado and Cheese Subs from Big Bear’s Wife
- Moroccan Fried Chicken from MarocMama
- Pepper, Spinach and Goat’s Cheese Quiche from Happy Baking Days
- Picnic Basket Buttermilk Fried Chicken from Noshing with the Nolands
- Salmon in a Jar from Healthy. Delicious.
- Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Spam Musubi fromKimchi Mom
Desserts:
- Apricot Oat Nut Bars from Pies and Plots
- Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treat Pops from In The Kitchen With KP
- Cocoa Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Fruit Salad from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Fruit Salad with Honey Port Drizzle from Family Foodie
- Loaded Butterscotch Bars from Vintage Kitchen
- Nathan’s Cookies from What Smells So Good?
- Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treat Truffles from Chocolate Moosey
- Shandy Popsicles With Raspberries from Ruffles & Truffles
- Texas Sheet Cake with Pecan Frosting from Food Lust People Love
- Triple Chocolate Punch Bowl Cake from Neighborfood
Drinks:
- Fresh Limeade with Chia Seeds from girlichef
- Pineapple Sangria from Growing Up Gabel
- Strawberry Basil Lemonade from The Messy Baker Blog
- Strawberry Lemonade from Gotta Get Baked
- Top 10 Wines for Picnic #SundaySupper from ENOFYLZ Wine blog
- Watermelon Agua Fresca from Daily Dish Recipes
Join us on Twitter! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share all of our picnic recipes. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. To join in, just follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets. You can also check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement
I’m excited about the Food & Wine Conference sponsored by Sunday Supper! It’s being held July 19th – 21st in beautiful, sunny Orlando, FL. It’s a must for food bloggers. Check it out by clicking here → Food & Wine Conference
