Labor Day is coming up. To me, it represents the last hurrah of the summer. It represents Texas-style cookouts, friendship, and the beginning of fall weather. I have so many great memories of times with friends when we all pot luck our favorite dishes and have some laughs alongside the grill. Three-day weekends are so good for that! Such a care-free feeling! I have just the pasta dish for you to take to your next cookout, and it couldn’t be easier to make.
The idea of “cookouts” have become something wholly different for me since we moved to Texas six years ago. They are an essentially Texan experience (don’t ever confuse a “cookout” with a “BBQ” like many of my Californian peers). Someone is always in charge of the grill, local brew is always on the menu, and every guest has a signature dish that we all look forward to. These experiences are one of the things that I think Texas does better than other states. Another thing Texas does better? Groceries and grocery prices! I remember being blown away my first several shopping trips at both the prices and the quality of the local brands. One of the local brands I fell immediately in love with is Skinner® pasta. You just can’t beat the price when combined with the quality. As quintessentially Texas as a cookout, everyone – family, friends, kids – loves Skinner.
In honor of Friendship Month, Skinner pasta is celebrating how it brings Texan friends and family together with a sweepstakes! Enter the #HowdySkinnerSweepstakes by Wednesday, September 6th for a chance to win great prizes, like a getaway for two to the Houston Marriott Marquis, a Care.com membership (plus $500 to cover household, babysitting or pet care services), and a year’s supply of Skinner pasta for you and a friend! Even the prizes are friendly!
For this three-day weekend cookout, I decided to make a pasta salad. You know at Fab Everyday I am all about easy and saving time, so this recipe is perfect for busy lives… with only five ingredients! Speaking of easy and saving time, have you tried grocery delivery yet? If not, then now’s the time to try, as Skinner has partnered with Instacart to offer free delivery (or $5 off the total grocery bill) for customers in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio with a minimum purchase of $35 and the purchase of one Skinner pasta product!
So now that Skinner, Instacart, and I have made it easier for you to pull together a great dish for your next cookout, here’s the recipe for my Creamy Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad (only five ingredients!). I know; I had you at bacon. But this creamy dressing is to-die-for!
Creamy Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
- Skinner® Garden Style Twirls pasta (12 oz. package)
- 10 strips of bacon
- 1 cup three-cheese ranch dressing
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 avocadoes, cubed
Directions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and allow to cool to room temperature.
- While pasta is cooking, fry bacon until crisp, but not burnt.
- Once bacon has cooled enough to handle, crumble it, and set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta with dressing until evenly distributed.
- Mix in bacon, tomatoes, and avocados.
- Serve and enjoy!
If you can’t find three-cheese ranch dressing, you can substitute other ranch dressings with cheese. The dressing is what makes this both so easy and so tasty!
Don’t forget to pin this one for later; you never know when you’ll need this quick and easy recipe! It’s perfect for any pot luck, a weekend lunch, or even a quick side dish for any meal. And don’t forget to visit HowdySkinner.com by September 6th for the chance to win one of the “Howdy Skinner Sweepstakes” prizes!
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