Hello! I apologize for the lack of posting lately. Our new little Lueckemeyer is due May 26th, but according to the doc it could be any day now. Getting things ready in time is definitely harder the second time around, I have quickly discovered. We are so excited to meet her, however, and I absolutely cannot wait for big brother to meet his little sister!

May has been busy with 3 other birthdays ( and getting ready to add a 4th to this month) and upcoming Mother’s Day, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share another family favorite, my Grandmama’s Seafood Pasta Salad – a refreshingly light dish that is so simple to whip up and could really please your Mama on her special day. I also made it recently for my best friend’s baby shower and my Mama made it for my baby shower a few weeks ago. So needless to say, it’s pretty popular around here.

This recipe calls for crab as it’s protein source, but if you’re like me and don’t always have the pocket book or luxury of spending hours cracking expensive crab to get that tiny bit of meat, imitation crab works wonderfully well. Imitation crab, also known as Surimi in Japanese, is made of fish (often pollock) and tastes remarkably similar, but way less expensive and convenient to use. It is a good source of protein and low fat, with a drawback of it being higher in sodium (watch portion size if this is a concern). Real crab is actually naturally higher on the sodium side too, but all in moderation and part of a varied diet as dietitians love to say. This recipe serves a batch for 6, but I always end up at least doubling it because it is a hit at parties and makes for some delicious left-overs.

Seafood Pasta Salad                                                                    Serves about 6

In case you were wondering what McCormick’s Salad Supreme Seasoning looks like..

Ingredients:
1 16 oz bag Rotini or corkscrew pasta
1 – 2 16 oz packages of imitation crab meat (depending on how crabby you like it..)
1 6 oz can black olives, drained and sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 16 oz bottle zesty Italian dressing
shredded Parmesan cheese, to taste
McCormick’s Salad Supreme Seasoning, to taste

Directions:
1) Cook noodles per package instructions. Rinse with cold water when done.
2) Combine noodles, crab meat, olives, celery, and the entire bottle of zesty italian
3) Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and Salad Supreme Seasoning as desired
4) Toss well. Chill overnight and it’s ready to go!

I sure am looking forward to becoming a Mama of two…can’t really think of a better Mother’s Day gift. To all Mama’s out there (including mine), thank you for your unconditional love and care, and for holding the most important job in the entire world. I hope you get showered with love (and this pasta salad) on Sunday!

A side note to clients. I am about to go on maternity leave, but will resume seeing clients on July 5. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to get in the books for July, or if you need an appointment sooner I will see how I can best refer you. If you are needing help with weight loss or diabetes management, you are in luck. Check out https://food4success.com/product/carbohydrate-counting-made-easy-recorded/ for access to my online class on Carbohydrate Counting, an easy way to manage portion control without being on a “diet.”

Until next time!
~Elissa