Back in the Saddle or Kitchen Again

Since Thanksgiving I can count the number of meals we have eaten at home on one hand. Maybe that is an exaggeration, but it certainly seems like we have been so busy with fun holiday plans that we haven’t had many relaxing dinners at home. While we love the holidays and all the dinners and parties that come with it I was really starting to miss cooking dinner at home for just the two of us. Now that 2008 is here I am back in the saddle or kitchen rather again and loving it.

For the first meal of the year in our kitchen I went with a new to us pasta dish out of Giada’s Everyday Pasta. Russ and I both had a run in with the stomach bug over New Year’s and I’ll spare you the details, but as of now we are still craving simple, plain food – nothing too rich or spicy. We went with Pasta with Tomato and Peas and added grilled chicken to the top. The pasta dish is very simple and uses lots of pantry items and other ingredients that we always have on hand which makes it nice for a night when you don’t feel like going to the grocery store. To make the sauce you cut up the shallots, carrots, and garlic and then sauté them in a little olive oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Once they have softened you add the tomato paste, some of the water from the pasta, and the other seasonings. Once the pasta has finished cooking you add it along with the peas to the sauce and toss.

Giada says it take 15 minutes to make and while I didn’t time it I would guess it takes a little longer than 15 minutes, but it is still very quick and easy meal to prepare. The pasta has great flavor and while it is not anything super special it was perfect for a tasty weeknight dinner. The peas really work well with the subtle tomato flavor. The sauce just coats the pasta which I love instead of an overly saucy dish. Russ loved it and rated it a 10. It makes a ton and while I don’t always think pasta reheats well, we actually both enjoyed the leftovers for lunch the next day.