Mediterranean Chicken-Pasta Salad

1 can each:  artichokes, red olives rinsed and drained
1c    chopped celery heart

1/3   sweet pepper - orange, green, red, yellow,
        purple - sliced

4      green onions - sliced

2T   lemon zest ~ optional

1/2t  Zoe's Kitchen 'Spice Of Life' -
        or any good Italian seasoning

1-1/2c  dry pasta - cooked after previous ingredients
        are assembled

1-1/2c  cooked chicken - cubed

~ Other Options:  capers, pimentos, garbanzo beans,
                               hearts of palm, etc. . .

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl.  Pour on a little dressing, toss and marinate 15-20 minutes.  Add the pasta - immediately after cooking and draining - while still hot.  The heat draws out all the flavors.  Toss then add chicken, any additional dressing needed and toss lightly again.

Shown here is my Lemon Oil Dressing (recipe on this site).  When making the dressing for this salad, I added one HUGE minced clove of Elephant Garlic   :o)   Chill an hour or so to blend flavors.  Serve as is, or with some grated Italian cheese on top. . .Lin