Asian-inspired Pasta Salad

Several people have taught me how to cook.  While I was in college, I had the opportunity to learn from a wonderful woman named Barb, who decided to teach a cooking class at the church I attended.  The class was a great experience.  I had fun cooking with my friends, I was introduced to new foods (like quinoa), and got some rather practical advice and recipes.  One of the first things (if not THE first) we made was pasta salad.  Pasta salad is a great thing to start with.  It's pretty fast and easy, and as Barb demonstrated, more flexible than you would think.  Barb had us make three versions of pasta salad, using different dressings to impart different flavors: Italian-, Greek-, and Asian-inspired.  Here's my take on the latter, prepared for a large group:


Asian-Inspired Pasta Salad
1 box penne pasta (or any pasta you like, really)
Chicken pieces (whole bird, breasts, whatever floats your boat)
Carrots, julienned (slivered)
Celery Sticks, chopped
Snow Peas, chopped
Peanuts
Green Onion (Scallion, Spring Onion, whatever you want to call it), chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
1/2 C Soy Sauce
1/3 C Sesame Oil
1 tsp Ground Ginger
3 Tbsp Peanut Butter
Pepper
Sesame Seeds

Begin by cooking the pasta-- boil it, drain it, and give it a cold water rinse to prevent it from sticking to itself too badly.  While that's boiling, cook the chicken:  Trim and discard any non-yummy bits off, and chop the chicken into bite-size pieces.  Sprinkle Salt, Pepper, Ground Ginger, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder over the meat.  Cook in a pan with ~1 Tbsp oil until just browned, stirring regularly.  When finished, set aside to cool.  This is the point where I actually start my vegetable prepping.

In a large bowl, combine the pasta, chicken, carrots, celery, snow peas, peanuts, and green onions.  (Yes, I realize I have not included numbers or measurements.  In this case it really is a matter of preference and not much else.)

In a smaller bowl, combine the garlic, soy sauce, oil, ginger, and peanut butter.  Whisk or beat together, and season to taste with pepper.  Check seasoning, and adjust as you see fit.  (And this doubles, halves, or otherwise adjusts quite easily.)  Pour over the pasta mixture, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and stir around.  Allow to sit for a few hours for optimal flavor, stirring occasionally.  Serve cold.