I’ll admit it: I get in a rut. I find something I like and I eat it over and over again. It’s mindless, but sometimes, all I can handle is easy. Who wants to spend their hard-earned money on something they may not like? I’m trying to be a lot more adventurous with my palate these days, and I’m starting with Nikos® Feta.

I am a HUGE cheese fan. If you can put cheese in it, I probably will, and a lot. But I’m finding that with the zesty flavor of feta, I can achieve that great taste I’m after with less cheese. Less cheese=less calories, which means less time trying to work off my addiction. That’s a winner right there for me!

When I was a kid, the only pasta salad I knew was macaroni salad. Macaroni salad repulsed me, with its icky eggs and weird mayo binder. It didn’t look good. It didn’t smell good. I wanted nothing to do with it. I had no idea there was a great wide world of options out there that didn’t consist of elbow macaroni, canned tuna, hard boiled eggs, and mayonnaise. Thank goodness!

I’m finding that I really love the zip Nikos® Feta adds to pasta salads. Open up your fridge, see what produce you have, and let your mind go a little crazy. Not sure where to start? Then you’ll love this Greek Pasta Salad recipe I developed! It’s reminiscent of Greek salads you’ll get from pizza parlors, but so much better without all that boring iceberg lettuce. Throw some extra Nikos® Feta on top for more zing–it balances everything perfectly.

Not only is Nikos® Feta amazing in pasta salad, but you can add it to your macaroni and cheese, stuff your burgers (mmm… add a little bacon, and that’s just perfect!), sprinkle over some crispy French fries, or in your baked potatoes. The possibilities for flavor acceleration are endless! Especially when you factor in all the flavors you have to choose from: Traditional, Fat Free, Mediterranean, Tomato Basil, and Peppercorn, in wedges and crumble cups to meet all your needs. So many ways to spice up your life! The full line of Mediterranean-style feta cheeses are certified Halal and made with rBGH-free milk, keeping your dining options fresh and healthy with Nikos® Feta!

Just when you think it can’t get any better, then you find out about this awesome giveaway Nikos® Feta has going on during the months of June and July. One lucky contestant will win a seven-day, six-night trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, during the 2015 Hawaii Food & Wine Festival (August 29 – September 13, 2015)!!! The trip package includes:

Roundtrip airfare for Grand Prize Winner and Guest from the
airport nearest the Grand Prize Winner’s residence to Honolulu, Hawaii
Standard hotel accommodations for 6 nights/7 days (double room occupancy)
$500 USD in spending money for the Grand Prize Winner (the “Trip Package”).

The Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of the Grand Prize is $3,500. To enter, visit NikosFeta.com or the “Hawaii Trip” tab on Facebook.com/NikosFeta (desktop only) between June 1 – July 31, 2015, and fill out the entry form. That’s it! It doesn’t get easier than that! Full contest information is available in the Official Rules accessible via either site starting June 1st.

Good luck! I hope one of my readers wins!

Don’t forget to Pin this Greek Pasta Salad to your boards–you’ll want to have this recipe handy for a summer full of quick and easy palate pleasing! And check out Nikos Feta’s Facebook page, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts for more great recipe ideas. It’s good to get out of the rut and have something new in the arsenal!