Every month I give a recipe that reflects our monthly menu promotion, this month we featured our NEW Summer Tropics Menu. With a very exciting and flavorful menu we thought we would share a great pasta salad that you can make at home perfect for any summer BBQ and party!

Our Penne Pasta with Chicken is surrounded with carrots, cucumbers, celery, and chicken tossed in our refreshing Citrus Vinaigrette accented with subtle flavors of ginger and cilantro. We hope it is a great addition to your main dishes at home!

Penne Pasta w/ Chicken in a Citrus Vinaigrette

(Low-Fat)

CHICKEN PIECES:

½ lb. ½” diced chicken pieces                           Cook chicken in 325 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes.  Cut into ½” pieces.

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COOKING PASTA:

12 cups water                                                            In a pot, bring water and salt to a full boil. Add pasta and

1 tablespoon table salt                                          cook for approximately 10 minutes in boiling water

1 ¼ lbs. penne rigate pasta                                 until al dente (soft, but still firm). Immediately strain pasta

2 tablespoons canola oil                                       and flash cool in cold water. Drain water completely.

Coat pasta with oil to prevent sticking.

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VINAIGRETTE:

6 tablespoons soy sauce                                     Combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk thoroughly to

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar                        combine.

4 tablespoons water

3 tablespoons canola oil

3 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons Korean teriyaki sauce

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 ½ tablespoons orange juice concentrate

1 ½ tablespoons chili garlic sauce

1 tablespoon finely minced ginger

1 tablespoon finely minced orange zest

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ASSEMBLY:

2 cups shredded carrots                                                        Combine ingredients and mix to evenly coat with dressing.

1 cup quartered – ¼” diced cucumbers                          Allow to marinate for 2 hours. Season to taste with salt and

1 cup ¼” diced celery                                                             pepper.

½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro

Vinaigrette

cooked penne rigate pasta

cooked chicken pieces

Yields approximately 12 cups

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Thirsty?  We are trying something new!! Check out what our Del Mar/Carmel Valley Souplantation just got in! The Coca-Cola Freestyle.  A single fountain beverage machine that dispenses over 100 flavors! Whether you like carbonated drinks such as Caffeine-Free Diet Vanilla Coke or Dasani Sensations flavored water, or if you prefer non-carbonated drinks instead, like Minute Maid Raspberry Lemonade or Powerade Zero Lime, we’ve got just the drink for you – all included in our unlimited beverage price.  Come dine with us and try some new flavors to complement your meal, or stop in and grab a beverage to-go.  You’ll have 106 flavors to choose from. Thirsty yet?

Be one of the first to experience The Freestyle. There are less than 100 of them worldwide. Our Del Mar location is located at 3804 Valley Centre Drive 92130.  Check out this link for more info on the Freestyle: www.facebook.com/cocacolafreestyle

We’re  doing a six-month test period at the Del Mar Souplantation to see how guests enjoy the drink options that Coca-Cola Freestyle offers them. Here’s a quick list of all the refreshing options!
Coca-Cola

• Coca-Cola
• Cherry Coke
• Coke with Lime
• Vanilla Coke
• Raspberry Coke
• Orange Coke

Diet Coke

• Diet Coke
• Diet Cherry Coke
• Diet Coke with Lime
• Diet Vanilla Coke
• Raspberry Diet Coke
• Orange Diet Coke

Coca-Cola Zero

• Coca-Cola Zero
• Vanilla Coke Zero
• Cherry Coke Zero

Caffeine-Free Diet Coke

• Caffeine-free Diet Cherry Coke
• Caffeine-free Diet Coke
• Caffeine-free Diet Coke with Lime
• Caffeine-free Diet Coke with Orange
• Caffeine-free Diet Raspberry Coke
• Caffeine-free Diet Vanilla Coke

Sprite

• Sprite
• Sprite with Cherry
• Sprite with Grape
• Sprite with Peach
• Sprite with Raspberry
• Sprite with Strawberry

Sprite Zero

• Sprite Zero
• Sprite Zero with Cherry
• Sprite Zero with Grape
• Sprite Zero with Peach
• Sprite Zero with Raspberry
• Sprite Zero with Strawberry

Vault

• Vault
• Vault Red Blitz
• Grape Vault
• Orange Vault
• Peach Vault

Barq’s

• Barq’s
• Diet Barq’s

Pibb

• Pibb Xtra
• Pibb Zero

Dasani

• Dasani with Cherry
• Dasani with Grape
• Dasani with Lemon
• Dasani with Lime
• Dasani with Orange
• Dasani with Peach
• Dasani with Raspberry
• Dasani with Strawberry

Dasani Sensations

• Dasani Sensations – Cherry
• Dasani Sensations – Grape
• Dasani Sensations – Lemon
• Dasani Sensations – Lime
• Dasani Sensations – Orange
• Dasani Sensations – Peach
• Dasani Sensations – Raspberry
• Dasani Sensations – Strawberry

Fanta

• Fanta Cherry
• Fanta Fruit Punch
• Fanta Grape
• Fanta Lime
• Fanta Orange
• Fanta Peach
• Fanta Raspberry
• Fanta Strawberry

Fanta Zero

• Fanta Zero Cherry
• Fanta Zero Fruit Punch
• Fanta Zero Grape
• Fanta Zero Lime
• Fanta Zero Orange
• Fanta Zero Peach
• Fanta Zero Raspberry
• Fanta Zero Strawberry

Hi-C

• Hi-C Cherry
• Hi-C Fruit Punch
• Hi-C Grape
• Hi-C Orange
• Hi-C Raspberry
• Hi-C Strawberry

Minute Maid

• Minute Maid Cherry Lemonade
• Minute Maid Lemonade
• Minute Maid Light Cherry Lemonade
• Minute Maid Light Lemonade
• Minute Maid Light Orange Lemonade
• Minute Maid Light Raspberry Lemonade
• Minute Maid Light Strawberry Lemonade
• Minute Maid Orange Lemonade
• Minute Maid Raspberry Lemonade
• Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade

Powerade

• Powerade ION4 Fruit Punch
• Powerade ION4 Grape
• Powerade ION4 Lemon
• Powerade ION4 Lime
• Powerade ION4 Orange
• Powerade ION4 Raspberry
• Powerade ION4 Cherry
• Powerade ION4 Strawberry

Powerade Zero

• Powerade Zero Cherry
• Powerade Zero Fruit Punch
• Powerade Zero Grape
• Powerade Zero Lemon
• Powerade Zero Lime
• Powerade Zero Orange
• Powerade Zero Raspberry
• Powerade Zero Strawberry

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Berries signify summer and rightfully so, as the warmer months are the peak harvest for these fruits. It’s no wonder why we have June as Berry month!! In celebration of our menu, we’re giving away TWO sets of 10 complimentary meal passes to Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes to some lucky blog readers.

Enter by doing any of the following:

• Reply to this post listing three types of berries
• Reply to this post and tell us your favorite menu item during our Berry Month

Contest ends 6/13 at midnight.  Two winners will be randomly selected. Winners will be announced June 14, 2010

ADDED BONUS FOR TWITTER FOLLOWERS! Follow @Souplantation and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the message below and sending out as your tweet.

I love Berry Month @souplantation – Free Meal #giveaway – random winner gets 6 FREE meal passes. RT to win!

One random twitter follower will win 6 free meal passes. Winner announced June 14, 2010.

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This year at Souplantation / Sweet Tomatoes we are launching a new monthly menu promotion for June. In past years we have dedicated a month to Strawberries, but this year we decided to incorporate all Berry Good items into one delicious month that has all things berry related.

Below is our Berry Good menu for June, we hope you enjoy what we have put together this month:

June 1 – June 15

Strawberry Fields Tossed Salad – Vegetarian – strawberries, raisins, crisp carrots & sweet red onions, caramelized walnuts in a strawberry balsamic dressing

Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Our FAMOUS Wild Maine Blueberry Muffins

Strawberry Buttermilk Muffins

Sweet Strawberry Butter (NEW)

Sugar Free Strawberry Mousse – only 40 calories per half cup serving

Strawberry Apple Cobbler (after 4 PM)

Triple Berry Green Tea (NEW)

Strawberry Gelatin

June 17 -28

Cherry Balsamic Blue Tossed Salad (NEW) – Vegetarian – We toss our crispiest romaine lettuce with real blue cheese crumbles, toasted walnuts, red onions & dried cherries

Cherry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Cherry Nut Muffin

Fat Free Fruit Medley Muffin

Sugar Free Triple Berry Mousse – only 40 calories per half cup serving

Cherry Apple Cobbler

Cherry Gelatin

plus, Our FAMOUS Wild Maine Blueberry Muffins

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Home Sweet Home. Back to where the first Souplantation was ever created!! In 1978, Souplantation opened its doors in San Diego and now we have 115 locations in 15 states. WOW!

I’m going to the new Encinitas Souplantation, just opened in March, I’ll be at 109 North El Camino Real from 4:00- 6:00 p.m.

I am also going to make my way to the 1st Souplantation at 6171 Mission Gorge Ave from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Yesterday I made my way to some of the Sunny San Diego sites. here are some photos from my latest travels.

Dont forget to bring a flyer to help out the Boys & Girls Clubs. http://www.souplantation.com/images/roadtrip/flyers/san-diego.pdf

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I had an awesome weekend making it down the coast from the Bay to Los Angeles. I took so many photos here at all the famous sites.

Look mom, look at me!! I’m in Hollywood!! I’m famous!!

I tried to take a photo myself but my arms are so short… at least you see the Chinese Mann Theater.

Can I get my own star? Or can they give stars to the best restaurants? If so they need two stars, one for Souplantion and one for Sweet Tomatoes… well, I guess we don’t need to be so greedy, the two restaurants can share a star since we are the exact same restaurant.

Don’t forget to visit any Los Angeles Souplanation location on may 24 and bring a flyer from this link and help benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs. http://www.souplantation.com/images/roadtrip/flyers/la.pdf

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I love the Bay area!! The Golden Gate Bridge is my favorite color, bright red.. just like me.

I loved watching all the cars go by on the bridge. I wonder  what they will eat for lunch? There is no Sweet Tomatoes in the city. I hope there is one day so I can come back soon, this city has so much!

What TV show does this remind you of?? I’ll give you a hint, Danny Tanner, Uncle Jesse and Joey.

I had to get in all the good sites before I made my way down to the some of our locations in the Bay. I’ll be at the Sweet Tomatoes below at these times:

Downtown San Jose – 625 Coleman Dr              4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Fremont   – 39370 Paseo Padre Pkwy                   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Pleasanton  – 4501 Hopyard Rd.                            7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Come by Sweet Tomatoes today with a flyer for the Boys & Girls Clubs and eat dinner with me. I hope to see you there. Print a flyer here  http://souplantation.com/images/roadtrip/flyers/bay-area.pdf

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Yesterday I went to Multnomah Falls, the 2^nd tallest year round waterfall in the US.  It was hard to get this shot but a nearby tourist was able to get me… can you see me on the bridge?

I wish the waterfall was full of strawberry lemonade from Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes. Could you imagine???? The water travels 620 feet down from Larch Mountain.

The fundraisers are a success for Boys and Girls Clubs. Please come by the locations near you for the rest of the month to help support. Flyers are found at http://www.souplantation.com/roadtrip

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If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

I’ll soon find out. I am exploring the wilderness up here in Oregon and making my way to Clackamas tonight for some scrumptious Orange Creamsicle Lava Cake! YUM!!

I’ve been waiting all month for this. We only have Orange lava cake for a week, and then we get to have Carrot Cake Lava Cake, my favorite!! Hope to see you tonight. Print the flyer to help the Boys & Girls Clubs and meet me. http://souplantation.com/images/roadtrip/flyers/pacific-northwest.pdf

I’ll be at the Clackamas, OR Sweet Tomatoes from 12 pm – 3 pm and the Vancouver, WA Sweet Tomatoes from 5:00- 8:00 p.m.

If you take a picture with me and post it to my blog, I’ll send you a free meal pass for the next time you go to Sweet Tomatoes.

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On Wednesday I made it to some of the Phoenix Sweet Tomatoes and had a great time!! I cant wait to see any pictures people put on my blog. I had a free day so I made my way to the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. It was amazing!!

Can you see me?

It was good to have some peace and quiet. I had a chance to sit at the Grand Canyon and really think.

Looking around, I wondered how many tomatoes it would take to fill this canyon. I can’t even imagine how many tomatoes… maybe the amount that we serve in one year at Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes? Who knows!! Would we count just tomatoes or anything created with our tomatoes like pasta sauce, creamy tomato soup or the Tomato Parmesan Vegetable soup (just had it last night at Sweet Tomatoes in Arrowhead and it was amazing).

After long hours of pondering tomato sizes and shapes I went down to touch the Colorado River. I pondered white water rafting but there were no life vests that would fit me.

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