wine night: roasted tomato pasta

Happy Wine Night!

Here's an easy one that you can quickly whip up tonight for a fresh and comforting supper.

I love love love the taste of roasted tomatoes - the sweetness intensifies and the skins burst a little and they are just perfect little bites of freshness.

Which is probably why I love this pasta.

As Don Draper would say, "Make it simple, yet significant".

And that's exactly what it is.

Angel hair pasta with roasted tomatoes poured on top with some basil, lemon juice butter, and parm.

As Ina would say, "How easy is that?!"

Make this for your Wine Night tonight!

Roasted Tomato Pasta

Adapted from Ina Garten

Serves:  6

Ingredients:

• 4 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 lb. angel hair pasta
• Bunch of basil leaves (I think I used ~10 large leaves), chiffonade
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (use less if you like less spice)
• 1 T. unsalted butter
• Juice of half a lemon
• 3/4 freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place halved cherry tomatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil and salt and pepper. Toss with your hands to coat.
3. Roast tomatoes for 15 - 20 minutes until skins burst.
4. While tomatoes roast, cook your pasta in a large pot of salted to al dente.  Mine only needed 7 minutes to cook.
5. Drain pasta and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water (you might not need all of this, if any).  Put pasta in a large serving bowl. 
6. Add roasted tomatoes to bowl with pasta.  Be sure to scrape all that good flavorful olive oil in too.
7. Add basil, red pepper flakes, butter, lemon juice and 1/2 cup of Parmesan.
8. Using salad tongs, toss together until thoroughly combined and butter has melted.  If the pasta seems too dry, add a tablespoon of the pasta water at a time.  The heat from the pasta and tomatoes will melt the butter and wilt the basil and you end up with a light sauce.
9. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan and serve immediately.

Nutrition: (per serving)

• Calories:  479
• Carbs:  79
• Fat:  13
• Protein:  19

Enjoy!

xoxo,

K

{photos by me}

long weekend recap

Hi there!

Finally I have a minute to share with you the fun I had back home in Kansas on my long weekend.

It was just what I needed - time with family outdoors doing things I love (boating and shopping).

Here are a few (okay sort of a lot) of pictures. 

-----

The one thing I can never seem to fit in before I leave for a trip is a manicure.

Thankfully the new Delta Terminal at LaGuardia has a nail salon in it!

My nails were done in 20 minutes and I let them dry in the long line for "boarding zone 3".

Only cost me three times as much as if I did them at my normal salon.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I arrived Wednesday night late.

My sister picked me up (after replacing her flat tire!) and we headed to Lawrence.

Gave lots of hugs to mom and then went to sleep.

I don't know how some people travel for work so often.

I only took a two hour flight and I was exhausted. #wimp

Thursday I woke up rested to this stunning view.

A little different than the scaffolding and rooftops that I'm used to.

Breakfast was fresh-from-the-oven made cinnamon rolls.

Looks like Mom even uses the recipe from the blog!

Then we met up with my dad for sailing on Clinton Lake.

It was a beautiful day.

I forgot how much I loved being on the water - it relaxes you like nothing else. 

We had a great time with my dad and step-mom.

Dad made a point to wear his Yankees shirt for me. :) 

You do not get more Kansas than a Coors Light in a camo coozie with a neck strap.

I mean...

Just as we were coming in to dock, dad's hat got knocked off by the boom.

Spinning a sailboat in circles to pick up said hat proves to be quite the skills test - and comedic spectacle.

Back at Dad's he gave me a walking tour of his garden.

They are big gardeners and I often get updates on the blooms and vegetables when I call home. :) 

Also, please note the fanciest rain gauge ever.

I'm mostly excited for the tomatoes and peppers they grow - that means homemade salsa in a care package for me!

Saturday mom, Emily and I were up early and ready to shop.

I didn't take nearly enough photos, but that's because we were on the move!

Although, I did manage to capture this...

Yeah, we're that family.

Best part is - we all bought the top.

Saturday ended with the way every shopping trip ends with the three of us - Mexican food.

No picture again.

Too busy chowing down on cheese dip.

(Side note, WHY are there only ~3 places you can get cheese dip in NYC? WHY?! Oh, how I miss it.)

Al arrived late Friday night.

Saturday we had breakfast on the deck with his parents and finished our France planning (they are joining us for a portion of our vacation in July).

I miss eating on decks - and outside in general. 

We met up with friends before our friends' wedding.

Watching Al and our friend Kevin together is hysterical.

Even a short car ride results in them quoting The Godfather and blasting Phil Collins.

Beautiful wedding for our friends Hannah and Matt. Congrats!

Me and my date at the reception.

What. a. stud.

Note the frenchie tie.

Speaking of frenchies, our Lily girl wasn't missing us too much.

She was running around like a crazy dog rabbit back in New York at The Barking Meter's spring event.

Sunday was a travel day.

And the best part of any trip is coming home to the sweetest little pup.

-----

And the only bad part about going home is that I miss everyone so much more now.

And now it's back to the grind.

Oh well, at least it's already Wednesday. :) 

xoxo,

K

{photos by me}

oklahoma

The images are bone-chilling of the devastation in Oklahoma.

Growing up in the Midwest,  tornadoes were less of a thing from the movies, 

but a regular threat at least once a summer.

I vividly recall going to the basement with our emergency radio,

as well as practicing tornado drills in school.

My town was hit by a tornado in 2004, 

but nothing like the colossal damages that we're seeing today.

It breaks my heart to think of all those poor children in that school.

And of the families that lost not only their home, but a loved one.

It will be many months and years before Moore is rebuilt.

Help with the recovery by donating to the Red Cross today. 

And keep Oklahoma in your thoughts and prayers. 

xoxo,

K

{image source. graphic by me}

monday

I'm back from a glorious few days at home and am currently experiencing the joy that is  Monday-after-vacation.

Oye!

I'm catching up on life and will be back with a full recap of our weekend tomorrow. 

In the meantime, dwell on this.

Hang in there today, kids!

xoxo,

K

{image and graphic by me}

thursday finds

I'm writing to you this morning from beautiful Lawrence, Kansas!

Feels so so good to be back home (although the amount that I miss Al and Lily is a bit redic).

Since I'm taking the next two days off work, I'm giving you your Friday Finds a day early. 

Here's what I liked from the web this week.

Enjoy catching up while I'm on the boat with  dad and then a marathon shopping with mom tomorrow. 

-----

This hotel looks neat.

Can't wait to see it once it's finished.

This is awesome!

Def going there when I'm back next weekend.

It seems so romantic to me.

I'm in love with this apartment and her interview.

So chic yet playful.

This made me laugh.

If only they weren't real.

A view on selfies.

Al and I are both huge American Psycho fans (not sure what that says about us),

which is why I shreiked when I read this!

("Because I want to fit in.")

You guys.

Heaven is here on Earth.

In the form of customizable Ferragamo flats.

I mean...j'adore times a million.

-----

Enjoy the rest of your week!

I'll be back Monday with a big recap.

XOXO,

K

P.S. Deep fried guacamole!

{image source}

quinoa egg cups

Have you eaten breakfast yet? 

How about lunch? 

No?

Stop what you're doing and go make these right now.

I've made egg cups / mini-omelets / mini-frittata (whatever you want to call them) before.

They were stellar, but I was looking for a way to pack the most amount of protein into my mornings for the least amount of calories - while still keep tons of flavor. 

Voila! I did it.  

These egg cups get their density from grated zucchini and cooked quinoa.

Add in some cheese and turkey and you've got yourself a tasty little breakfast on the go.

It's really more of a method than a recipe - throw in whatever protein you'd like - Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, ground chicken sausage - you decide.

And as always, feel free to add in more vegetables - red pepper would be fantastic.

These were a huge hit with both Al and me.

I think you'll like them too. 

Quinoa Egg Cups 

 Adapted from:  Iowa Girl Eats

Makes:  36 mini egg cups

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked quinoa (about 3/4 cup uncooked)
• 1 cup  (8 oz.) liquid egg whites
• 1 cup zucchini, shredded
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterrey jack cheese
• 1/2 cup (4 oz.) reduced-sodium deli turkey, diced
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• ½  teaspoon seasoning salt 
• ¼  teaspoon  black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix to combine.
3. Liberally spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray and spoon mixture to the top of each cup.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges of the cups are golden brown.
5. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before removing from the mini muffin tin.
6. Refrigerate leftovers.
7. To reheat, pop in microwave for 30 seconds per every 2 muffins.

Nutrition: (per one mini egg cup)

• Calories:  37
• Carbs:  3
• Fat:  1
• Protein:  4

Enjoy!

xoxo,

K

{photos by me}

wisdom

I wrote half a post last night for you, but then I got le tired. 

I promise I'll finish it for tomorrow. 

Lots to do in life and work as I attempt to cram five days of work into the next two so I can head to Kansas on Wednesday. 

(Perhaps I should have done some laundry last night or Sunday instead of lay on the pallet.)

So, while I take it one task at a time and feel a little frantic, 

let's all just take a moment for some wisdom in the form of the below.  

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

xoxo,
K