Recipe spotlight: Beet-all pasta salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked spiral, whole-wheat pasta
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach, shredded
• 1 (12-ounce) jar whole beets (about 1-1/2 cups), cut in half
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon virgin olive oil

Directions

Mix pasta, spinach, beets, onion, and walnuts in a salad bowl.

Combine maple syrup, vinegar, and olive oil in a small jar and shake well. Pour over salad. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until you're ready to eat.

Serves 6

Each serving contains about 123 calories, 4 g protein, 3 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 23 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, and 120 mg sodium.