Prawn and Crab Pasta Salad

PRAWN AND CRAB PASTA SALAD WITH CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

Great dish to make for summer BBQs and the vegetables I use can easily be substituted for what you prefer or have on hand in your fridge

INGREDIENTS

500gm packet of Pasta

2 packets of Prawns

200gm crab meat

1 Green capsicum

1 Red Capsicum

1 Red onion

1 Can of corn

3 stalks of celery Chives for garnish or spring onion for extra flavour

CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

1/3 c. olive or salad oil

1/3 c. lemon juice

1/3 c. wine vinegar (if you don't have white wine any white is ok but you'll need to add sugar or honey so it wont be as tart)

1/2 tsp. salt

Dash of white pepper

1/2 tsp. of mustard

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. garlic powder ( can use cloves just strain after so no one bites a big clump of garlic

Method

Vinaigrette;

1. Mix all vinaigrette ingredients into a bowl and allow to rest for at least half hour then pour into a bottle and leave refrigerated until ready to add to the pasta salad Pasta Salad

2. Prepare pasta according to packet directions Set aside and allow to cool running cold water adding a little olive oil will stop the pasta sticking as it cools

3. Chop vegetables cube style slice celery thinly and add all the vegetables to the cooled pasta salad bowl

4. Chop crab meat to bite size and half prawns and add to the salad

5. Mix half the vinaigrette into the salad and leave to chill in the fridge add the rest of the vinaigrette just before serving and don't forget to toss the salad

5. Add chopped chives to the dish for garnish

I met Alex while still in high school so have followed his rugby career since before he decided to make it his profession and have only ever known my weekends with Alex to also mean rugby! We moved to Wellington after High school and he was actually preparing for Police College when an opportunity to sign with the Wellington Hurricanes came about and so changed the course of the next couple years he played New Zealand 7s and when the time came to negotiate to re sign for rugby in New Zealand another opportunity presented itself and playing rugby in France sounded interesting.

So at the age of 22 & 23 we made the decision to move to France and what was only suppose to be a 2 year O.E (overseas experience) and play some rugby has turned into over 6years living in France buying 2 homes in France 3 dogs 3 lizards and 2 snakes! Safe to say we've made France our home away from home and we love it. Alex has played for Top14 teams Bourgoin, Montpellier and now Castres.

I always say that life in France is bitter sweet it's amazing being so close to so many different countries cultures languages and their food exploring has become a great past time but there are those days when nothing compares to your home, your family and the support network that it brings. I always try to advise other expats who live here to find French family! Friends who end up like family who are outside of rugby are a great asset it's the best way to really integrate into life in France and easily learn the language. No longer working a 9-5 job has meant finding new hobbies I love to refurbish old furniture draw paint sew and all things DIY which thrills Alex having all my half finished projects around the place as one can imagine.

Creating so many friendships here in France over the years inside and outside of rugby mean a lot of last minute get togethers for lunch and dinner in which case I reach for some quick easy never fail last minute dishes so here are 3 that are super easy.