Pasta Primavera & Pre-Season Baseball (Baseball Movie Weekend, Too)
I can't wait for tonight. Pre-season baseball is on, I have fresh spring vegetables for Pasta Primavera, and La Crema Pinot Noir.
Oh, did I mention? Last night WGN kicked off a baseball movie weekend. I walked into the bedroom where my husband was folding laundry, but before I could even notice what he was watching, he gave me that look he only gets when watching Field of Dreams and said, "This part of the movie gives me chills." He loves it when Ray travels back in time and catches up with Doc Graham on the street (my Grandpa was just like Doc Graham, yep). I love it when Ray says "I didn't really know until just now." Brevity.
"They're going to be showing baseball movies all weekend long," said my hubby to me. WGN and other stations do this every year during the pre-season. I love having this to count on.
Sunday afternoon a friend and I are hosting a couple shower for my brother-in-law, Leo, and his bride to be, Angie. I'm making my Sonoma Chicken Salad, as well as Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto.
Saturday night just got a lot more enjoyable as I prep these salads for 80 people; Bull Durham is on WGN at 8:30. And it's the edited version, my kids can watch it with me ("Mama, why does he say the baseball is an egg?")...
The cilantro pesto recipe is in my last column on familiesonlinemagazine.com, and the Sonoma Chicken Salad recipe is in my book, but let me share Pasta Primavera with you now.
Enjoy your weekend!
PASTA PRIMAVERA
8 oz. cooked pasta (you choose the type)
2-3 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 tsp. for drizzling
8 oz. broccoli florets
8 oz. cauliflower florets
8 oz. yellow wax beans (green beans are fine, but the yellow ones are so pretty)
8 oz. fresh snow peas (or just peas - if frozen, defrost under running water)
8 oz. diced carrots (julienne is fine too)
8 oz. zucchini, julienned or diced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 bunch Italian parsley or basil, or both, chopped
1 bunch green onion, chopped (red onion makes this dish sharp, just as good as green)
Coarse grain salt and pepper to taste
Add pasta to boiling water.
Steam broccoli, cauliflower and wax beans for about 5 minutes, then drain.
In a separate pan (large enough to hold drained pasta), add olive oil over medium-high heat and sautee garlic for about one minute.
Add peas, carrots, and zucchini to pan.
Sautee vegetables until they soften and begin to brown.
Remove from heat.
When pasta is done, drain and add to pan of sauteed vegetables.
Add broccoli, cauliflower, and beans.
Mix well, add additional 1 tsp. olive oil.
Add lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Top with onion and parsley.
I don't do a cream sauce with my Primavera because I feel it depletes the healthy factor. However, I have been known to add parmesan to this dish when I need something creamy. My husband uses Tabasco in his Primavera. Poached shrimp or diced chicken are the only proteins I'll add to this.
And while I like this dish well enough, roasted vegetables (especially root vegetables) and pasta is about the best eating anybody can do - but cooking all of the vegetables stovetop makes Pasta Primavera quick...that is to say, it's ready during the first inning (unless Maddux is pitching, those innings are quick, too).
Oh, did I mention? Last night WGN kicked off a baseball movie weekend. I walked into the bedroom where my husband was folding laundry, but before I could even notice what he was watching, he gave me that look he only gets when watching Field of Dreams and said, "This part of the movie gives me chills." He loves it when Ray travels back in time and catches up with Doc Graham on the street (my Grandpa was just like Doc Graham, yep). I love it when Ray says "I didn't really know until just now." Brevity.
"They're going to be showing baseball movies all weekend long," said my hubby to me. WGN and other stations do this every year during the pre-season. I love having this to count on.
Sunday afternoon a friend and I are hosting a couple shower for my brother-in-law, Leo, and his bride to be, Angie. I'm making my Sonoma Chicken Salad, as well as Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto.
Saturday night just got a lot more enjoyable as I prep these salads for 80 people; Bull Durham is on WGN at 8:30. And it's the edited version, my kids can watch it with me ("Mama, why does he say the baseball is an egg?")...
The cilantro pesto recipe is in my last column on familiesonlinemagazine.com, and the Sonoma Chicken Salad recipe is in my book, but let me share Pasta Primavera with you now.
Enjoy your weekend!
PASTA PRIMAVERA
8 oz. cooked pasta (you choose the type)
2-3 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 tsp. for drizzling
8 oz. broccoli florets
8 oz. cauliflower florets
8 oz. yellow wax beans (green beans are fine, but the yellow ones are so pretty)
8 oz. fresh snow peas (or just peas - if frozen, defrost under running water)
8 oz. diced carrots (julienne is fine too)
8 oz. zucchini, julienned or diced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 bunch Italian parsley or basil, or both, chopped
1 bunch green onion, chopped (red onion makes this dish sharp, just as good as green)
Coarse grain salt and pepper to taste
Add pasta to boiling water.
Steam broccoli, cauliflower and wax beans for about 5 minutes, then drain.
In a separate pan (large enough to hold drained pasta), add olive oil over medium-high heat and sautee garlic for about one minute.
Add peas, carrots, and zucchini to pan.
Sautee vegetables until they soften and begin to brown.
Remove from heat.
When pasta is done, drain and add to pan of sauteed vegetables.
Add broccoli, cauliflower, and beans.
Mix well, add additional 1 tsp. olive oil.
Add lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Top with onion and parsley.
I don't do a cream sauce with my Primavera because I feel it depletes the healthy factor. However, I have been known to add parmesan to this dish when I need something creamy. My husband uses Tabasco in his Primavera. Poached shrimp or diced chicken are the only proteins I'll add to this.
And while I like this dish well enough, roasted vegetables (especially root vegetables) and pasta is about the best eating anybody can do - but cooking all of the vegetables stovetop makes Pasta Primavera quick...that is to say, it's ready during the first inning (unless Maddux is pitching, those innings are quick, too).
