Pastabilities

When I think of summer food, I usually think of food on the grill, salads, and even just a popsicle for dinner because it often feels like you’re sitting on the sun. Well, I’m going rogue today and sharing some summer pasta ideas for dinner. They’re all fast, all easy, and all have that fresh, summer feel.

Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Asparagus

I think I could make this every week during the summer and not grow tired of it. Don’t skip the fresh basil; it adds a lot to this recipe. Also, I roast the asparagus in the oven when I make this instead of boiling it like she does. When life gives you lemons, you “sell some of your grandma’s jewelry and go clubbin” and then make this pasta.

Next up is Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Food Network, how I love thee; let me count the ways. Normally, those ways do not involve Giada. Her insistence to over-pronunciate Italian foods as if she just hopped off a boat from Sicily, is completely annoying. Giada, you’ve been in America forever. Let’s tone it down.

Anyways, I normally steer away from her. However, this recipe won me over just a tad. It’s summery and delicious. It also comes together in no time.

My final one is Pasta with Roasted Vegetables and Goat Cheese.

I am lame in the fact that I know when spring comes, I can make this, and that makes me happy. Could I make this during December? Yes. I don’t think the pasta police would come after me, but it has a warm weather feel. My tweaks: I add roasted zucchini to the mix. I have never used fennel seeds because I never have them. I’ve also just used dried thyme, and it tastes fine to me. Finally, save a bit of your pasta water in case you need to add it to the final product.

If you’re thinking this post is carb city, and you want no part of it, then I have a solution. When I decided to be high-maintenance and stop eating gluten, I searched for a great pasta substitute. It took some time and patience, but I found the winner, and it’s a low-carb winner.

Does it taste like the real deal? By itself? Not exactly. It does though when prepared with other flavors. (Tip: Don’t cook it as long as the instructions say. I usually do one or two minutes less than it suggests.) Most grocery stores carry it, and you can also get a giant box of it at Costco for a great price. I won’t tell you how many boxes of this I have in my pantry right now, but it rhymes with “plate”. I must have chickpea depletion anxiety disorder. Totally normal.

I hope I gave you a new idea for dinner this week. I just serve all of these with a salad, and it makes for a fast meal. If you need some extra protein, I’m sure grilled chicken would be great with all of them.

Go get your Giada on.