Friday, September 25, 2015

Pasta Puttanesca

Happy Fall, y'all!

Well, for it being fall, we still are experiencing rather summery weather here in the Mitten. Daytime temps in the mid to upper 70s. Nighttime temps in the 50s. Amazing! This is the epitome of my perfect climate being lived out before my very eyes! And no rain all week, and for the foreseeable future. Too bad it isn't destined to last...

The trees are still green as green can be. Which is very unusual here. Those in the know are predicting quite the color show come mid-October though. I am excited about that.

Five of the six of us have colds, with the parents being the hardest hit. I took a rest day on Tuesday, staying mostly in bed. I did manage to do a bit of SPD work while laid up, so I don't feel helplessly behind.

Our last major race of the season is tomorrow. Fantastic timing. Sigh...I feel like this is deja vu. I had an awful cold the 10 days before our 25k this spring. It really affected my race. But, I am going into this race knowing that it is a race, but that it is also JUST a race. And there will be plenty more. So, it doesn't have to be a personal best. It can just hopefully be run well.

Mere's Wishbone (stuffed black bear) went missing for 5 days. I looked everywhere for that bear. In closets, under couches and beds, in toy boxes, and shoe bins. Behind things. This morning I found him behind BMV's desk. His desk is in a cubby hole that is adjacent to the closet Mere's likes to set up house in. I'm not sure why I didn't see Wishbone when I looked there earlier in the week, but I am very thankful to have seen him there today. She has been carrying her bear around ever since they were reunited.

Art Prize started this week. It is the 7th year running, for this art contest in our city. Close to 2000 works of art are displayed inside and outside various business and church venues in our downtown area. I am looking forward to exploring the pieces with Mr. Hippie and the kids. 

I have a recipe for you today that is quite healthy, and is very colorful.


Isn't that gorgeous?! I love all the colors! Purple, red, green, white, yellow.

So, this is a fresh tasting dish that is meat free. Being the free spirit that I am, I substituted penne pasta for the gemelli, and multi-colored spring mix for the arugula. It was quite fantastic if I say so myself!

All the ingredients are available year round. I think that I will haul this out again in the middle of winter when everything seems so dreary and blah.

Pasta Puttanesca with Arugula
Prep time: 15 minutes, Cook time: 25 minutes, Total time: 28 minutes
16 ounces gemelli or corkscrew pasta
1-1/2 pounds (6 medium) tomatoes
1 shallot
1 garlic clove
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp capers, drained
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp freshly grated lemon peel
2 bunches (4 oz each) arugula, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves

-Cook pasta according to package directions.
-Chop tomatoes into 1/2” pieces. Place in a large serving bowl.
-Peel and chop garlic and shallot and add to tomatoes with oil, capers, vinegar, lemon peel, and crushed red pepper. Toss until well mixed.
-Drain pasta and add to the tomatoes, tossing until well coated. Just before serving, add arugula and chopped basil and toss gently until the greens are slightly wilted.

Have a magnificent weekend!