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Simple Salad Inspirations

(Family Features) - Get a jumpstart on the salad season this year by thinking outside the refrigerator lettuce crisper.

Convenient, full of flavor, canned bean salads are just the ticket to quick meal solutions. Either READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad is delicious chilled and served as a quick side dish. The combination of green, wax and kidney beans marinated in a sweet-vinegary dressing will rival homemade - really! And the four bean variety features chickpeas in addition to the other three beans.

Let your imagination inspire new spur-of-the-moment salad combinations. Keep a can of 3 bean salad in the pantry or refrigerator and team it with:

cubes of cooked ham and mozzarella cheese;
red bell pepper strips, sliced cucumber and sliced green onion; or
cooked corn, cooked shrimp and chopped red bell pepper.

If you have a day when time is a bit more flexible, try this Savory Bean & Pasta Salad. It makes a great side dish for the family and also as a potluck offering. The colorful medley of prepared bean salad, pasta, grape tomatoes and cubed provolone cheese accented with garlic and oregano takes on an Italian accent. It's as simple as stirring together all of the ingredients and chilling until serving time.

Want more recipes? Receive a free copy of the Simple & Versatile Bean Salads recipe card by sending a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to:

Seneca Foods Fulfillment
3732 South Main Street
Marion, NY 14505

Or visit www.SenecaFoods.com to order. Get inspired this salad season! It's easier than you ever imagined.

Savory Bean and Pasta Salad

1 can (15 ounces) READ 3 Bean Salad, undrained
3 cups cooked medium shell or corkscrew pasta
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved (all red or mixed red and yellow)
3/4 cup 1/2-inch cubes provolone cheese (3-1/2 ounces)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Stir all ingredients together in large bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Adjust seasoning as desired.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Nutrition information per serving: 218 calories; 8.6 g protein; 41 g carbohydrate; 5 g fat; 577 mg sodium; 11 mg cholesterol; 2.8 g dietary fiber; 1.7 mg iron; 339 IU Vitamin A; 165 mg calcium.

SOURCE: READ Bean Salads (Seneca Foods)