Pasta

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

January 8, 2014 by Erica

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

It is quite the orange week around these parts – food-wise, at least. On Monday we had sweet potato salsa, and today we’re making use of my other favorite orange vegetable, butternut squash. Aaaand Friday will bring more squash! I guess I just can’t get enough.

Will I turn orange by the end of the winter? Most likely.

As an aside, orange is actually one of my least favorite colors (except when it comes to food!), but I briefly considered using it in our wedding when we were planning it for October. Mostly because, in addition to loving orange veggies, I apparently love orange flowers. I will say, though, that changing venues and ending up with a September date was quite a relief. Better weather and no need to have any sort of fall theme! I’m one of those girls who has dreamed about her wedding since she was little (ashamed to admit it), and a fall wedding just wasn’t what I’d envisioned. Nix on the orange!

September is quite far away, of course, and in the meantime I will stuff myself with orange foods. Mmmm.

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Zucchini Almond Pesto

September 11, 2013 by Erica

Zucchini Almond Pesto // Coffee & Quinoa

Reason #66 that I love pesto: You can make it out of just about anything.

Start with garlic, olive oil, parmesan, and some sort of nut, and you’re basically guaranteed a delicious and pesto-y-tasting outcome, no matter where the rest of the ingredient list takes you. It’s magical!

Zucchini Almond Pesto // Coffee & Quinoa

In case you’re wondering, reasons #1-65 that I love pesto involve the taste of garlic, olive oil, parmesan, and nuts, the fact that it can be spread on just about anything, that it reminds me of my childhood, that it’s quick to prepare, etc. etc. etc. Don’t make me list them out one by one!

For this pesto, I was actually considering making some sort of zucchini noodles, but ended up thinking it would be too much trouble. Instead, I opted to roast the zucchini, throw it in the blender with all those other wonderful pesto ingredients, and toss it with regular pasta. Ta-da! A quick and satisfying seasonal pasta dish that doesn’t involve me purchasing some sort of spiralizing equipment.

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Orzo with Zucchini and Sweet Corn

August 14, 2013 by Erica

Orzo with Zucchini and Sweet Corn

I’m just going to say it: I am nowhere near ready for fall.

You might think it’s jumping the gun to start thinking about cooler temperatures when it’s still August (and I couldn’t agree with you more). But if you live in Utah, you know that anticipation for ski season – forget fall altogether – is already mounting by August. (This I will never understand.) And even the non-ski bums around me are starting to mention looking forward to fall boots, colorful leaves, etc.

Stop it! It’s just wrong.

Orzo with Zucchini and Sweet Corn

Though I’ve never been a fan of the very hot weather, I do love all the things that come with summer – most notably sundresses, summer produce, walking out of the house without bundling up, and the lack of impending winter doom. I intend to cling to all of those things for as long as possible and hope I don’t get hypothermia.

So let’s embrace that summer produce while we still can with this orzo recipe: a warm pasta salad-y dish with lots of yummy texture from zucchini matchsticks and corn kernels, not to mention the orzo. It’s all just barely heated up together, so it’s full of bright, fresh flavor in addition to all those great textures.

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Roasted Summer Squash Pasta with Feta and Thyme

August 5, 2013 by Erica

Roasted Summer Squash Pasta with Feta and Thyme

I am happy to report that I’m not yet sick of summer squash.

That might have something to do with being in a squash-free zone (a.k.a. beach vacation) all of last week. Or it might be because my CSA kindly rations the squash, giving me only 2 or 3 each week, which is quite manageable. All you people with green thumbs who harvest tons and tons of summer squash at once… I don’t know how you do it. It’s no wonder my grandma talks of leaving bags of zucchini on unsuspecting neighbors’ porches during the summer time. Hah!

Roasted Summer Squash Pasta with Feta and Thyme

But me, I’m still quite enthusiastic about summer squash, especially roasted up with some other tasty veggies and tossed with pasta, cheese and herbs. Mmmmmm. If I were a zucchini, this is how I’d want to go.

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My Favorite Vegan Pesto

June 10, 2013 by Erica

My Favorite Vegan Pesto

Oh hello. I am currently in the air on my way from North Carolina to Salt Lake. I was supposed to make the trip last night, but there were flight delays. I got dropped off at the airport in North Carolina yesterday and then had to have my sister come back to the airport and get me… and then drive me back again at 4 AM. BOOOO! That was not the plan. Grumpy traveler over here!

Anyway, let’s talk basil pesto! Fresh basil is tied with strawberries for my favorite summertime produce. I wait all year for it, and when June rolls around and I finally get my hands on some, I make as much pesto as possible.

My Favorite Vegan Pesto

If I’m lucky, I can buy a 4-oz container of basil at my grocery store for $4.99. I do a happy dance every time I see that big container of basil! Just on the inside, though. I already look like enough of a crazy person in the store – I consistently grocery shop either 1) right after working out, 2) when ravenously hungry, or 3) both – so I don’t need to be seen doing a disco in the produce section.

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