This summer, I’ve been trying to come up with easy weeknight dinners that are easy and light. Though I usually feel like we always need a protein rich meal, (read: some sort of meat as the focus), with all the amazing fruits and vegetables in season, I realized that maybe it’s time to give it a rest. Maybe #meatlessmondays are not such a bad idea… especially since Monday comes right after what I call Vitamin Sunday (i.e. Farmer’s Market day).
This past weekend, Peter and I had dinner at a restaurant in LA that we love. Now, let me be clear– it’s been pretty damn near impossible to feel as moved and amazed by food (pasta, in particular) since getting back from our honeymoon to Italy and Greece. But I have to say, we were pleasantly surprised on Saturday night. We ordered the Rigatoni Arcobaleno: Homemade Rigatoni with fresh burrata, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, light tomato sauce and extra virgin olive oil. Now this super simple pasta dish doesn’t sound like much but it was delicious! I think the fact that Peter loved a dish that didn’t have some sort of sausage or Chipotle component, made it all the more enjoyable for me too…. and made me think: I could make this too. I think….
So… for our Monday night meal, I decided to create my own version… and it turned out wonderful and it couldn’t have been easier.
Here’s what I did:
Sliced 8 Zucchinis in half and sliced again in thin wedges. Tossed in a bowl with some olive oil, salt, cracked black pepper, and a little garlic powder. Spread out on a baking sheet and roasted them (tossing a few times) at 375 for about 45 min to an hour.
Package of fresh San Marzano tomatoes. Slice each in half. I also had a handful of cherry tomatoes left over from another meal. Sliced everything in half, tossed in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread on another baking sheet and roasted them (tossed once) at 375 for about 25 min until they looked cooked.
Next, Boiled a bag of pasta! (How’s that for a serious cook). FYI, I opted for GF Brown Rice Penne. My dudes don’t know the diff!
Once everything was out of the oven, I let the veggies cool off and drained the pasta. I added 1 1/2 TBS of salted butter to the pasta as it was sticking together and the pasta we had at the restaurant and a creaminess that I think had to be a little butter. (And let’s be honest, what’s so wrong about a little butter with noodles… or anything for that matter).
Next I added about 3/4 of a 14 oz can of plain tomato sauce to the pasta to coat it slightly. The flavor of the plain sauce with the buttery noodles could have been enough to be honest– but I kept going 😉 I chopped up about a 1/2 cup or so of fresh basil and sprinkled it over the cooked pasta. **Note: Next time, I might actually simmer the sauce and basil in a small pot to get it piping hot and let the basil settle in, before I dump it over the pasta. I think it would coat the pasta better and when I pour in the cheese (see delicious next step below), it would get super soft and gooey.**
I sliced store bought mini bocconcini (mozzarella balls, if you will), into quarters, and poured them into the pasta. They didn’t melt completely, but they definitely got soft.
Finally, I added the roasted veggies and tossed it all together!
Peter and Jonah LOVED this meal. Like, “can I have this for lunch/ take this to work” love. They both snacked on the roasted zucchini that was sitting on the counter too– which I made a mental note of for future snack needs/moments.
While this wasn’t quite the same as our meal at Terroni, or like I said, any of the amazing meals we had on our trip, it was a definitely healthy, weeknight meal success and one that I want to make again soon!
So tell me, what are your go-to meals for the Summer? Share your recipes or links to PINS here!
-
- February 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- September 2018
- May 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- February 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- August 2007
- July 2007
- July 2006
-
zoo ∙ ziploc ∙ zen mommy ∙ You Tube ∙ Yoplait ∙ yoga pants ∙ yoga ∙ Yahoo ∙ XBox 360 ∙ writing ∙ writer's block ∙ wow ∙ worrier ∙ working out ∙ working moms ∙ Working Girl ∙ working from home ∙ work ∙ wordless wednesday ∙ wizard of oz ∙ winning the lotto ∙ wine ∙ Williams Sonoma ∙ whole foods ∙ whole 30 ∙ when harry met sally ∙ Wheels on the Bus ∙ what I'm really thinking ∙ whatever works ∙ Westin Maui ∙ Westin ∙ weeknight meals ∙ weekend trips ∙ weekends ∙ Weeds ∙ wedding prep ∙ wedding photos ∙ wedding invitations ∙ wedding dress ∙ wedding decor ∙ wedding ∙ weather ∙ wardrobe ∙ walks ∙ Wacky ∙ volunteering at school ∙ vocabulary ∙ Virgin Diet ∙ violence ∙ video ∙ Victoria Secret ∙ Viagra ∙ vegetables ∙ valentine's day ∙ vacuum monster ∙ vacation ∙ US Weekly ∙ unwashed hair ∙ Two Brunettes ∙ Twitter ∙ TweetUp ∙ TV's bad for babies ∙ turtles ∙ turning 40 ∙ turning 33 ∙ Turkey Bolognese ∙ Tropical Drinks ∙ trolley ∙ Tricia ∙ tribeswoman tits ∙ traveling ∙ travel ∙ transitions ∙ tragedy ∙ traffic ∙ Trader Joe's ∙ Toys ∙ Tori Spelling ∙ TOMS shoes ∙ Tom Cruise ∙ toilet ∙ To Do Lists ∙ toddlers ∙ Today Show ∙ tired mom ∙ Tiny Prints ∙ Tina Fey ∙ throw up ∙ throwing food ∙ Throwback Thursday ∙ three stooges ∙ this is 40 ∙ third child ∙ Things about me ∙ the secret ∙ therapy ∙ the perfect storm ∙ The Parker ∙ the Oscars ∙ The Naked Chef ∙ the List ∙ the Lakers ∙ The Grove ∙ the final rose ∙ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ∙ The Bachelorette ∙ the bachelor ∙ Thanksgiving ∙ terrible two's ∙ teresa strasser ∙ temper tantrums ∙ telling the truth ∙ television ∙ teenager ∙ technology ∙ teaching manners ∙ taxes ∙ Target ∙ tan ∙ tampon ∙ taking risks ∙ taking a good photo ∙ taiwan-on ∙ Tae Bo ∙ tablescapes ∙ table manners ∙ T-Ko ∙ swing set ∙ swimming class ∙ sweat pants ∙ sushi ∙ survival mode ∙ surgery ∙ sunglasses ∙ summer wardrobe ∙ summer camp ∙ summer activities ∙ summer ∙ Sugar and Charm ∙ style ∙ student loans ∙ strong scents ∙ stress ∙ strangers ∙ storytelling ∙ staying home a Saturday night ∙ staycation ∙ status updates ∙ Starwood Preferred Guest ∙ star wars ∙ starting over ∙ stars they're just like us ∙ st. regis punta mita ∙ sprinkle cookies ∙ Spring cleaning ∙ spring break ∙ Spring ∙ sports control my husband ∙ sports ∙ Spoonful ∙ sponsored posts ∙ sponsored ∙ spokesperson ∙ Splendid ∙ spit up ∙ spa weekend ∙ Spanx ∙ spanks ∙ Spaghetti Squash ∙ spaghetti on the floor ∙ soy-free ∙ So Worth It ∙ soup ∙ soleil moonfrye ∙ soleil moon frye ∙ so happy ∙ Sofya ∙ social media ∙ SNL ∙ snapfish ∙ snacks ∙ snack ideas ∙ sleep training ∙ Sleep ∙ skinny mommy ∙ skincare ∙ skin ∙ silly mom ∙ Signing Times ∙ sick ∙ shopping with a baby ∙ Shopping ∙ shoes ∙ SheStreams ∙ shameless plugs ∙ sexy ∙ Sex and the City ∙ sesame street ∙ separation anxiety ∙ sense of humor ∙ self photos ∙ Self Magazine ∙ secret door ∙ season premieres ∙ searsStyle ∙ Sears ∙ school ∙ saying things you don't mean ∙ saying "No" ∙ Sarah Palin ∙ Sara Bareilles ∙ Santorini ∙ san francisco ∙ Sandy Koufax ∙ samples ∙ Salma Hayak ∙ salad ideas ∙ safety ∙ RSVP ∙ Rosh Hashanah ∙ Rome ∙ romance ∙ Rodan + Fields ∙ Rock N Republic Jeans ∙ Robin Saperstein ∙ road rage ∙ rites of passage ∙ ripped bodies ∙ religion ∙ Red Tricycle ∙ redshirting ∙ recipes ∙ real stories ∙ real men ∙ reality tv ∙ reading ∙ rap ∙ random facts ∙ raising a boy ∙ rain ∙ Raffi ∙ Rachel Zoe Project ∙ quicky ∙ questions ∙ Purim ∙ Project Runway ∙ producer J-Ko ∙ President ∙ Preschool ∙ pregnant ∙ pregnancy ∙ Potty training ∙ post partum ∙ poop ∙ Poolside reading material ∙ pool ∙ play kitchen ∙ playing pretend ∙ Plane ride ∙ placebo pill ∙ pizza ∙ pissed ∙ Piperlime ∙ Pinterest ∙ physical traits ∙ Peter ∙ perfectly disheveled ∙ perfect ankles ∙ Pelvic T's ∙ pediatrician ∙ patience ∙ passover ∙ party themes ∙ party planning ∙ park rules ∙ Parking lot T-Ko ∙ paris ∙ parents ask ∙ parenting experts ∙ parenting ∙ paparrazi ∙ Papa ∙ Palin ∙ paleo ∙ pajamas ∙ painting ∙ P-Touch ∙ orgasm ∙ organization ∙ Oprah ∙ open letters ∙ online videos ∙ Olympics ∙ Olsen Twins ∙ Olly Smoothies ∙ Oliver Blue ∙ Oliver ∙ old photos ∙ old clothes ∙ old broad ∙ Ocean Spray ∙ ocean ∙ obesity ∙ NYU ∙ nutrition ∙ no time ∙ Nordstrom ∙ no more jokes ∙ night time ∙ nice people ∙ new york pastrami sandwiches ∙ New York ∙ new year's resolutions ∙ New Year's Eve ∙ Newton shooting ∙ new home ∙ Never having sex again ∙ neighbors ∙ necklaces ∙ national like yourself day ∙ Nanny ∙ Nana ∙ nails ∙ my voice ∙ my nose ∙ my mom ∙ my life ∙ my dad ∙ my body ∙ mute husbands ∙ music ∙ muffin top ∙ moving ∙ mothers day ∙ Mother in laws ∙ motherhood ∙ morning rituals ∙ Monrow ∙ monkeys ∙ money saving deals ∙ Monday Manners ∙ momversation ∙ mom of three ∙ mom of boys ∙ Momnesia ∙ Mommy Track'd ∙ mommy time ∙ Mommy and Me ∙ Momma's Boy ∙ Mom Logic ∙ mom jeans ∙ mom bloggers ∙ mombloggers ∙ ML Community ∙ Minted ∙ Michelle Obama ∙ Michael Phelps ∙ Michael Buble ∙ mexico ∙ memorial day weekend ∙ Meme ∙ McDonald's ∙ Maui ∙ massages ∙ Martha Stewart ∙ marriage ∙ marc jacobs purse ∙ March Post ∙ manicure ∙ making babies ∙ make up ∙ makeup ∙ makeover ∙ lying ∙ luxury travel ∙ lunch ideas ∙ lululemon ∙ lucy closet ∙ Lucy ∙ Lucky Shops LA ∙ Louis C.K. ∙ loud movies ∙ Lost ∙ losing your wedding ring ∙ losing weight ∙ Los Angeles ∙ looking alike ∙ LiveHealth Online ∙ List God ∙ Lisa Whelchel ∙ Lisa Gache ∙ lights ∙ Lifetime Moms ∙ lifestyle ∙ life lessons ∙ Leisure World ∙ leftovers ∙ Lee Ann Womack ∙ leaving the baby for the first time ∙ Leah Lee Photography ∙ laundry ∙ language ∙ La Mer ∙ Lady Gaga ∙ Ladies Home Journal ∙ labor ∙ labeling your child ∙ Kokomo ∙ Knocked Up ∙ KLEAN ∙ kindergarten ∙ Ketchum PR ∙ Kerry Walsh ∙ kate winslet ∙ Justin Bieber ∙ judaism ∙ Jonah ∙ Joe Flannigan ∙ job opportunities ∙ jewish moms ∙ jessica alba ∙ Jenna Elfman ∙ JC Penney ∙ jazz ∙ Italy ∙ iPhone Apps ∙ iPhone ∙ iPad ∙ interview ∙ instagram ∙ Inauguration ∙ imaginary friends ∙ idiots ∙ hypochondria ∙ hunger ∙ hottest women ∙ hotels ∙ hot dogs and hookers ∙ hot dog ∙ hostess ideas ∙ hospital ∙ horoscope ∙ hormones ∙ honeymoon ∙ honesty ∙ Home Depot ∙ home decor ∙ hollywood bowl ∙ Hollywood ∙ Holidays ∙ holiday cards ∙ Holiday ∙ Holidate ∙ hiking ∙ high school ∙ hersay ∙ Her Say ∙ healthy tips ∙ healthy foods ∙ hawaii ∙ Harvey Karp ∙ harvey fierstein ∙ harry connick jr. ∙ happy chaos ∙ Happiest Baby on the Block ∙ hanukkah ∙ hannukah ∙ Hands-Free ∙ handmedowns ∙ Halloween ∙ Haiti ∙ hair dye ∙ hair do ∙ gun violence ∙ guilt ∙ growing up ∙ grocery shopping ∙ Grey's Anatomy ∙ greece ∙ great gifts ∙ Grand Theft Auto ∙ grandparents ∙ Go To Meals ∙ Got Milk ∙ gorgeous ∙ Goodnight Moon ∙ good luck ∙ good hair ∙ golf ∙ Goldfish ∙ going back to work ∙ goals ∙ gluten-free ∙ GLAD ∙ giving birth ∙ giving back ∙ giveaways ∙ girls night out ∙ Giada De Laurentiis ∙ getting ready for baby ∙ getting organized ∙ getting old ∙ getting married ∙ germs ∙ George Clooney ∙ George Bush ∙ genetics ∙ Gelsons ∙ game night ∙ gambling ∙ FWTFL ∙ funny photos ∙ fun activities for kids ∙ frozen yogurt ∙ Friends ∙ fresh voices ∙ frequent sex ∙ freaks ∙ Four Seasons ∙ fortune ∙ football ∙ Food Network ∙ food karma ∙ Food ∙ flu ∙ flowers ∙ fitness ∙ fish ∙ first words ∙ first haircut ∙ first dentist appointment ∙ firemen ∙ filthy rich: cattle drive ∙ feeling fat ∙ Feed the Children ∙ favorite posts ∙ Father's Day ∙ Faster Way to Fat Loss ∙ fashion ∙ farmers market ∙ family vacation ∙ family time ∙ family pictures ∙ family meals ∙ family finds ∙ family ∙ fall wardrobe ∙ Fall TV ∙ falling in love ∙ Fall Fashion ∙ Fall ∙ Facts of Life ∙ face cream ∙ Facebook ∙ extra income ∙ explaining life and death ∙ Exersaucer ∙ exercise ∙ Example 7 ∙ Everett ∙ eva mendes ∙ etsy ∙ errands ∙ environment ∙ entertaining ∙ engagement ∙ empire waist ∙ emotions ∙ Emily Post ∙ emergencies ∙ embarrassing moments ∙ Elmo ∙ Elle ∙ Elf ∙ Election 2008 ∙ education ∙ Eckhart Tolle ∙ eBay Collections ∙ eBay ∙ eating healthy ∙ eating habits ∙ easy recipes ∙ earth day ∙ early 90's ∙ Dustin Diamond ∙ Duff ∙ Duck ∙ drivers license ∙ drill guns ∙ dresses ∙ dreams ∙ Dr. Bonnie Zucker ∙ douche bags ∙ dorky girl ∙ Don't Forget the Lyrics ∙ domain name ∙ doing lunch ∙ dog ∙ Dodgers ∙ DIY Projects ∙ DIY ∙ divorce ∙ disneyland ∙ Disney ∙ disheveled mommy ∙ discipline ∙ dirty mommy ∙ dinner ∙ digital photos ∙ digital influencers ∙ diet ∙ Diane Mizota ∙ dessert ∙ design ∙ dentist ∙ Deluxe Suite ∙ decorating ∙ daycare ∙ day care ∙ date night ∙ Dart DJ ∙ dance ∙ dairy-free ∙ daddy's in charge ∙ CVS ∙ cute gifts for kids ∙ curly hair ∙ curious george ∙ Crying ∙ crotch ∙ Crocs Cares ∙ Croatian ∙ crazy people ∙ crazy mommy ∙ crafts ∙ CPK ∙ cottonelle ∙ costco ∙ Corey Feldman ∙ cooking ∙ conversations with my son ∙ control freak ∙ constipation ∙ confessions of a shopaholic ∙ Concert ∙ commute to work ∙ comfort food ∙ comfort ∙ college ∙ Coldplay ∙ Coffee Club ∙ coffee ∙ cocktail ∙ club ∙ cleansing ∙ Cleanse ∙ cleaning ∙ clean eating ∙ Citrus Lane ∙ cigarettes ∙ christmas ∙ Christian Louboutin ∙ chris farley ∙ CHLA ∙ Children's Hospital Los Angeles ∙ children's clothing ∙ Children ∙ child care ∙ Chick magnet ∙ chick flicks ∙ chicken recipes ∙ chicago ∙ cheese ∙ cheerios ∙ charity ∙ chaos ∙ chanukah ∙ Channing Tatum ∙ Chandler Bing ∙ champagne ∙ cell phone ∙ celebrity ∙ CBS ∙ car kharma ∙ career ∙ car accident ∙ Canada ∙ California Pizza Kitchen ∙ California Chicken Cafe ∙ busy moms ∙ burnt toast ∙ burning calories ∙ burlap art ∙ burke williams ∙ bucket list ∙ brunch ∙ Brother ∙ brittany murphy ∙ Britney Spears ∙ Bridezilla ∙ Bridal shower ∙ bribery ∙ Breezy Mama ∙ Breastfeeding ∙ branded video ∙ bragging rights ∙ bra ∙ boyfriend ∙ boogers ∙ boobs ∙ Bodice ∙ BlogHer ∙ blog events ∙ blog ∙ bling ∙ blankie ∙ blackberry ∙ birthday ∙ birds ∙ bird poop ∙ Bird ∙ bikini wax ∙ big hoo ha ∙ big boy bed ∙ big bangs ∙ Betsy Brown Braun ∙ best butts ∙ being vain ∙ being smart ∙ being married for years ∙ being kind ∙ being jewish ∙ being happy ∙ being gay ∙ being cool ∙ being a single mom ∙ being a new mom ∙ being a klutz ∙ being a good mommy ∙ being a clutz ∙ behavior ∙ Been There Done that Moms ∙ Beem-Beem ∙ bedtime ∙ becoming a woman ∙ beauty ∙ Beatles ∙ Beach Boys ∙ beach ∙ bathroom ∙ bathing suit season ∙ batch cooking ∙ baseball ∙ barilla ∙ barbara walters ∙ Barack Obama ∙ bangles ∙ balance ∙ baking ∙ bad teeth ∙ bad photos ∙ bad gas ∙ bad drivers ∙ bad dreams ∙ back to school ∙ back seat driver ∙ back fat ∙ bachelor party ∙ bachelorette party ∙ baby weight ∙ baby vocabulary ∙ babysitter ∙ baby shower ∙ baby products ∙ baby einstein ∙ Baby-Ko ∙ baby ∙ Babies R Us ∙ askmen.com ∙ Ash-A-Wee ∙ art ∙ aquanet ∙ Apple ∙ AP English ∙ anxiety ∙ anti-aging ∙ anniversary gifts ∙ anniversary ∙ animal lovers ∙ angry ∙ Anaheim ∙ amusement parks ∙ American Gladiators ∙ Amalfi Coast ∙ after school snacks ∙ adulthood ∙ acts of kindess ∙ activities for kids ∙ acting ∙ Accidentally on Purpose ∙ accessories ∙ acceptance speech ∙ 90210 ∙ 2012 ∙ 2011 ∙ 2009 ∙ 1990's ∙ 1980's ∙ 100 Days of Happy ∙ 60th birthday ∙ 30 Rock ∙ 12 Days of Mommy ∙ #WeAreLucky
