Inspired by Leah’s beautiful sky photo
A real baby…
My baby…
Growing garden…
You can’t see all of me…but I’m big!
I spy…a green bell pepper!
And my flavor of the week…
Saucer Peach!
Short and stout like me! Petite little mouths can bite into this not-too-juicy/messy peach so easily! And the flavor is peachy without the tart. Mmmm mmmm good!
Can you tell I’ve been enjoying my staycation? 😉
Yesterday I went shopping for work clothes. Boo! Scrubs are no longer in my daily wardrobe. Sad news. Good news — TJ Maxx is wonderful! I was able to get 10 new work-appropriate tops (and maybe a few casual tops…I hope Mr. Prevention doesn’t read my blog today!), 3 pairs of dress slacks, a pair of nice capris, a sundress, and tankini top…without breaking the bank! And shopping on a Monday morning when everyone else is working = glooorious! 😀
Tonight I am making dinner for our friends — a flank steak recipe I’ve been wanting to try for literally over a year! Our friend Kristin sent us the recipe and I’ve been waiting for the right time to make it — with meat-lovers present! Carnivores, tune in tomorrow for more on that!
Last night, however, was another Cooking Light recipe that caught my eye this month. Not hard to do, clearly.
Mr. Prevention headed off to work in Ohio this week and I got stared down and told to, “Eat what we have, Nicole!” ::stink eye::. So moooost of this we had on-hand.
Penne with Pistachio Pesto and White Beans from Cooking Light
8 ounces uncooked whole wheat penne pasta
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup roasted shelled pistachios
6 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped seeded peeled tomato
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 (5-ounce) package arugula
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shredded fresh pecorino Romano cheese
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain.
Combine basil, nuts, and garlic in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil to pan, and swirl to coat. Add basil mixture, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in pasta, tomato, and next 3 ingredients (through beans); cook for 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated, tossing to combine. Remove from heat. Add arugula to pan, and toss to slightly wilt. Toss with arugula. Place about 1 1/4 cups pasta mixture in each of 4 bowls, and top each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese. Yield: 4 servings.
Nutrition Information (per serving): 423 calories; 13.7 g. fat (2.9 g. saturated; 7.4 g. monounsaturated; 2.3 g. polyunsaturated); 613 mg. sodium;
60.2 g. carbohydrate; 12.2 g. fiber; 16.4 g. protein
Result: This was great and came together quickly! Not the best pesto ever, but very good!
Question: Have you ever had a saucer peach? What’s your favorite kind of bean?
P.S. Faith is giving away Girard’s delicious salad dressings to 5 lucky winners! Check it out!
P.P.S. I still need a few more guest posters to help me out during our upcoming move! Email me at [email protected] if you’re interested! Thank you to those who have already emailed!! 😀
Be well,
I love saucer peaches! I call them saturn peaches, but they are by far my favorite peach.
Green beans with A1 steak sauce :). I’m excited for flank steak pics!!
I love that type of peach. I thought they were called doughnut peaches. At least that’s what my grocery store calls them. Apparently, that’s a made-up name! I also *love* the photo of your baby. (The four-legged one, of course.) It’s great.
This pasta recipes sounds awesome! I love the sound of pesto and white beans together. Super yum.
I won’t tell about the tops. But you know…work clothes are always a necessity.
The cucumber & pepper plants look like they are doing great! Sadly I am not a peach girl – ick.
I have to say I would be a little sad about scrubs no longer being in my daily wardrobe 😉
Your garden looks wonderful! And I have a weird obsession with clouds. I’m often photographing them too. The pasta looks delish. I can totally tell you’re rockin’ the camera girl!
Isnt TJ Maxx the best? I love that store 🙂
Dana xo
http://happinessiswithin.wordpress.com/
That recipe looks delicious! Sometimes you just HAVE to go out and buy things you don’t have for a recipe. I’m so guilty of that 🙂
How are your green peppers doing?? Mine keep growing (like… a lot of ’em!), then before they are big enough to pick (only 2 inches big), the bottom turns brown and rotted… it’s heart breaking and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong… 🙁
The sky pics are so relaxing 🙂 And Lily’s mug pic is so smoochable!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a saucer peach…looks delicious!
My favorite bean is the black bean!
The photo of your babys hand is so cute!
Lily is so cute!
Never had that kind of peach!
I have never had that kind of peach!
I am making that recipe on Thursday night except making my own pesto (nut free).
Glad it wasn’t too bad!
Thanks for the linkage!
Wow your garden looks awesome!!
I love how you made dinner with mostly what you had on hand! That’s exactly how I would do it. 🙂
Love this post–your pictures are amazing! I really need to invest in a new camera like yours 🙂 Btw, my mom always reads your posts now because she loves Lily. She said that Lily and my bulldog Bubba should hook up 🙂
Can’t wait to see the flank steak recipe! It’s my ultimate favorite piece of steak.
I love TJ Maxx for some good deals! Sometimes you gotta dig but it is worth it.
The meal looks amazing! I love Cooking Light!
Oh wow, that Penne with Pistachio Pesto and White Beans looks great. I am always looking for a healthy meal to cook for my family. Thanks!
-Court
P.S. You rock at take pics. 🙂
I’ve never had a saucer peach but they look funky, I love it!
Nicole,
The penne recipe sounds delicious and healthy.
Saucer peach is so yummy 🙂
wow your garden is really nice…and pesto looks yummy
I’ve never heard of a saucer peach…very interesting! I was told the same thing this week about our cupboards…we need to eat through what we have! 🙂
Don’t know why but I’ve always called them doughnut peaches?
Your garden is looking great!
Have a fun on your “staycation” 🙂
AWWW your baby, that picture would totally be my desktop background.
What gorgeous pictures…especially the clouds…it gives me hope.
I have had a saucer peach before but not in a long time. Staycations are good. I feel like I am permanently on one with the island and working from home.
I like that you ate your pasta on top of a salad. Way to keep it light but increase the amount of food!
I don’t know if I’ve tried saucer peaches before. And I’m pretty much a fan of all kinds of beans, prepared just about any way!
I love the pictures, they look great. I am in the minority, I am not a peach fan, more a nectarine type, just hate fuzzy… 😛
That recipe looks fabulous! And I love the pics at the beginning 🙂
what a delicious pasta dish! and i love the pic of your baby 🙂
ANYTHING with pesto is a winner in my book! YUM!
I haven’t had a saucer peach, but they sure look tasty! My favorite bean is a tie between kidney and pinto!