Triple Threat Pasta

Yummmmmm.

Double Yum.

No...This is definitely a Triple Yum!

Now this is what's for dinner around here.

And I don't even like cooking,
so the fact that I whipped this together in less than 30 minutes is even better!
I really wish that I did enjoy cooking,
because I just love eating!
Somehow, baking is just so much more fun for me.
Now, maybe...just maybe, if I continue to have quick successes like this,
my feelings will change about cooking.
Of course any time I add mushrooms, spinach, and garlic into anything,
it's a triple threat.
And I fall in love.
Yes, I fall in love easily when it's just plain delicious.
This is also an easy recipe to modify for vegan,
so now it's just even more fabulous!

Triple Threat Pasta
Ingredients:
1 package of bow-tie pasta
2 cups sliced mushrooms
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 bunch of spinach
2 tablespoons butter or vegan margarine
2 cups milk or vegan substitute
2 tablespoons corn starch or flour
1 cup parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste


Directions:

1. Prepare pasta until it al dente and set aside.

2. Heat a large skillet pan on medium and add 2 tablespoons of butter.

3. Once the butter begins to sizzle, add the sliced mushrooms.  Let them cook down until they soften and change color, then add the finely chopped garlic.  Stir.

4.  Add the milk to the skillet mixture and bring to a low boil.  Add the corn starch and use a whisk for about 3 minutes to thicken the cream sauce.

5. Place the spinach on top of the sauce in the skillet and cover until the spinach begins to wither.  Once it is cooked down, stir to combine all ingredients.

6.  In a large serving bowl, combine the pasta with the cream sauce, then add salt and pepper to taste.

Top with shredded parmesan cheese, then serve immediately while it's warm.

Probably plan for going back for seconds...it's just soooo good.

It's clearly a triple threat of deliciousness

Enjoy!  I know you will!

Perfectly Roasted Rosemary Chickpeas

I've been testing out roasting techniques for chickpeas.

After a couple sad test results, 

I stumbled across this recipe, and it is the best!

No, seriously.  The. Best.

These chickpeas are a perfect healthy snack 

that is packed with delicious protein.

You can pop handfuls of these, 

knowing that you're enjoying something crunchy and delicious.

Perfectly Roasted Rosemary Chickpeas
Recipe modified from The Fountain Avenue Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas)

1 tablespoon olive oil + extra to grease the baking sheet

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

2 tablespoons of freshly chopped rosemary

Directions:

1. Peel the skins off of the garbanzo beans.  It's a little gross popping them out of the outer casing, but it really makes a difference the how crunchy your beans become while roasting.  Removing the casing really makes the beans much more crunchy.

2. Rinse your beans a couple times then lay them out on a couple kitchen towels.  Let the sit out on the towels for at least 30 minutes.  I changed the towel midway to help dry them even more.

3. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and spray the baking sheet with cooking spray.

4. Place the beans in a bowl and add the olive oil, salt, and rosemary. Toss them around the bowl until the beans are coated evenly.

5. Roast the beans at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to roast for 20 more minutes.  Make sure that you stir them every 10 minutes so that the beans don't burn.  You may need to roast them longer to make sure that the beans are crispy all the way through.  

6.  It's difficult, but try not to pop a few in your mouth until they cool down a bit.  I made that mistake and burned my mouth...but it was worth it because it was delicious.  ;) Okay, maybe it wasn't totally worth it. Just wait a couple minutes and then dig in.

Enjoy!

Creamy Roasted Tomato Pasta

This has been a fabulous year for tomatoes!

Seriously, look at how beautiful these are.

Gorgeous.

They just cry out to be something equally beautiful and delicious.

So that is exactly what I made them.

Creamy Roasted Tomato Pasta
Recipe ideas from Food and Wine

Ingredients:
1 package of Bucatini (or any type you'd like.)
Heirloom Tomatoes, enough to fill a baking sheet when cut in half
Garlic cloves
Thyme enough to sprinkled over tomatoes
Basil enough to sprinkle over tomatoes
1 cup milk or cream (or vegan substitute)
2 tablespoons flour
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes with the olive oil, garlic cloves, basil, thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Roast the tomatoes for about an hour, until starting to brown and their skins split.
3. After tomatoes are done, place them in a food processor and pulse a few times.
4. Pour pureed tomatoes into a large sauce pan on medium heat.
5. Add the cream and tbls of flour to the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook over moderate heat, gently crushing the tomatoes, until the cream thickens slightly, about 3 minutes.
6. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the bucatini until al dente; drain.
7. Add the bucatini to the sauce and toss over low heat until the pasta is coated, about 1 minute.  

Then dig in and enjoy!

We Strut Proudly

We are proud to strut.
We strut for all the dogs waiting to find their human.
We strut for the humans who need a furry best friend.
We strut to support Fences For Fido and the amazing work they do.
Actually, we are proud to strut for any animal agency...
because we all work together to bring awareness, education,
and life-changing projects to people around the Pacific Northwest.
And we are proud to be a part of it.


This is one of our favorite events.
It's small enough that it's not overwhelming to Murphy.
He loves to go to dog events.
There are always cool dogs to meet and humans he can trust.
As you know, Murphy is scared of people,
but when he is around people with their dogs he does so well.
He snuggles into humans all around me
and my heart does little flips of joy.

 Little loves from Jeff and Patti...

There's a different feeling at a small event,

like a family get-together.

There are lots of smiles, hugs, and happy sounds.

All of those things make Murphy feel more at ease.

And when Murphy is at ease, so am I.

I was so proud of him for meeting so many people,

and being so polite to everyone that we actually 

skipped out of the walk and went to the river bank.

 I know, I know...

but you see, I like to end every event with Murphy on a good note.

He had done so well, that I didn't want to push my luck for any longer.

So we beached it.

And we loved it.

Nothing makes a Murphy happier than splashing in a HUGE splashy pool. 

Doesn't this make you smile?

If so, maybe you could go over and make a little donation to 

Best Friends Animal Society.

It will go to save more lives like this guy and his cooky best girl friend, IO.

Both were saved due to people giving a little money to help animals.

It's a good life.