Daydreams + Pasta
Do you ever have those spells where you just feel really alive? Where you’re ravishing good music and everything tastes better and you’re curious and engaged and people who cut you off in traffic just don’t seem to matter all that much? When you battle wanderlust as you sit paying mundane bills or replying to even more mundane emails? Glimpses of hiking around Big Sur, wandering aimlessly around Nashville, or paddling through Vietnam pop up when you least expect them to? Travel and travel companions and the grand itch of spring when change and possibility seem to linger in the air: that’s where we find ourselves today.
So I thought it’d be appropriate to talk about a simple pasta dish– something I envision eating in a piazza in Rome on the brink of a long spring day. Like today. It’s a meal that’s light yet substantial, made with just a bit of butter and cream, toasted pine nuts, prosciutto, arugula and peas. A dash of salt. A dash of pepper. Bright, inviting, nourishing.
Because with daylight savings time upon us, we all have a little more time to linger and daydream and listen to good music and prepare meals that matter. Meals that bring you to Rome in the late afternoon with a companion to lean on, good conversation and a ravenous appetite. All at once. And while that’s surely not going to happen tomorrow or even next week, this simple meal can perhaps take you there (or somewhere equally dreamy) momentarily. Thank god for that.
The recipe for Springtime Pasta was published on The Kitchn this morning. Find it there.
Healthy Comfort Food
Thai Carrot, Coconut and Cauliflower Soup
People describe raising young kids as a particular season in life. I hadn't heard this until we had a baby, but it brought me a lot of comfort when I'd start to let my mind wander, late at night between feedings, to fears that we'd never travel internationally again or have a sit-down meal in our dining room. Would I ever eat a cardamom bun in Sweden? Soak in Iceland? I loved the heck out of our tiny Oliver, but man what had we done?! Friends would swoop in and reassure us that this was just a season, a blip in the big picture of it all. They promised we'd likely not even remember walking around the house in circles singing made-up songs while eating freezer burritos at odd hours of the day (or night). And it's true.
Oliver is turning two next month, and those all-encompassing baby days feel like a different time, a different Us. In many ways, dare I say it, Toddlerhood actually feels a bit harder. Lately Oliver has become extremely opinionated about what he will and will not wear -- and he enforces these opinions with fervor. Don't get near the kid with a button-down shirt. This week at least. He's obsessed with his rain boots and if it were up to him, he'd keep them on at all times, especially during meals. He insists on ketchup with everything (I created a damn monster), has learned the word "trash" and insists on throwing found items away on his own that really, truly are not trash. I came to pick him up from daycare the other day and he was randomly wearing a bike helmet -- his teacher mentioned he'd had it on most of the day and really, really didn't want to take it off. The kid has FEELINGS. I love that about him, and wouldn't want it any other way. But, man it's also exhausting.
Cheesy Quinoa Cauliflower Bake
I just finished washing out Oliver's lunchbox and laying it out to dry for the weekend. My favorite time of day is (finally) here: the quiet of the evening when I can actually talk to Sam about our day or sit and reflect on my own thoughts after the inevitable dance party or band practice that precedes the bedtime routine lately. Before becoming pregnant for the second time, I'd have had a glass of wine with the back door propped open right about now -- these days though, I have sparkling water or occasionally take a sip from one of Sam's hard ciders. Except now the back door's closed and we even turned on the heat for the first time yesterday. The racing to water the lawn and clean the grill have been replaced by cozier dinners at home and longer baths in the evening. You blink and it's the first day of fall.
Stuffed Shells with Fennel and Radicchio
I'd heard from many friends that buying a house wasn't for the faint of heart. But I always shrugged it off, figuring I probably kept better files or was more organized and, really, how hard could it be? Well, I've started (and stopped) writing this post a good fifteen times which may indicate something. BUT! First thing's first: we bought a house! I think! I'm pretty sure! We're still waiting for some tax transcripts to come through and barring any hiccough with that, we'll be moving out of our beloved craftsman in a few weeks and down the block to a great, brick Tudor house that we wanted the second we laid eyes on it. The only problem: it seemed everyone else in Seattle had also laid eyes on it, and wanted it equally as much. I'm not really sure why the homeowner chose us in the end. Our offer actually wasn't the highest, but apparently there were some issues with a few of them. We wrote a letter introducing ourselves and describing why we'd be the best candidates and why we were so drawn to the house; we have a really wonderful broker who pulled out all the stops, and after sifting through 10 offers and spending a number of hours deliberating, they ended up going with ours. We were at a friend's book event at the time when Sam showed me the text from our broker and I kind of just collapsed into his arms. We were both in ecstatic denial (wait, is this real?! Did we just buy a house?) and celebrated by getting chicken salad and potato salad from the neighborhood grocery store and eating it, dazed, on our living room floor. Potato salad never tasted so good.
Smoky Butternut Squash and Three Bean Chili
If your house is anything like ours, last week wasn't our most inspired in terms of cooking. We're all suffering from the post-election blues -- the sole upside being Oliver's decision to sleep-in until 7 am for the first time in many, many months; I think he's trying to tell us that pulling the covers over our heads and hibernating for awhile is ok. It's half-convincing. For much of the week, instead of cooking, there'd been takeout pizza and canned soup before, at week's end, I decided it was time to pour a glass of wine and get back into the kitchen. I was craving something hearty and comforting that we could eat for a few days. Something that wouldn't remind me too much of Thanksgiving because, frankly, I can't quite gather the steam to start planning for that yet. It was time for a big bowl of chili.
To Talk Porridge
Porridge is not the sexiest of breakfasts, it's true. It doesn't have a stylish name like strata or shakshuka, and it doesn't have perfectly domed tops like your favorite fruity muffin. It doesn't crumble into delightful bits like a good scone nor does it fall into buttery shards like a well-made croissant. But when you wake up and it's 17 degrees outside (as it has been, give or take a few, for the last week), there's nothing that satisfies like a bowl of porridge or oatmeal. It's warm and hearty and can be made sweet or savory with any number of toppings. The problem? Over the years, it's gotten a bad rap as gluey or gummy or just downright boring or dutiful -- and it's because not everyone knows the secrets to making a great pot of warm morning cereal. So let's talk porridge (also: my cookbook comes out this month! So let's take a peek inside, shall we?)
kamran siddiqi
I spend my Friday's daydreaming and listening to good music while I eat my heart out. I'm definitely bookmarking your recipe because- this definitely has to be Friday's lunch! Great post! :)
Nicole
I'm with you,this time of year totally gives me the travel bug. Although I work for a University, so the only time I can really take off is in the summer. I look forward to school getting out as much as the students do!
I am dreaming of Charleston and Savannah at the end of May.
Andrea
Mouth. Watering. You've inspired me.
Anna
I definitely feel that longing for travel and new places. This time last year I was visiting San Francisco, so I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I'm always simultaneously scheming how to travel more and how to find a place to settle into and call home.
El
Beautifully written post. I love travel (minus the airlines). The dish looks amazing too.
Molly
What a day for a daydream. Custom made for a daydream boy. Wonderful post conjuring up stories from distant lands. And a delicious sounding dish, to boot!
Stefania
Una buona ricetta per la pasta e deliziose foto, ciao ☺
Denise | Chez Danisse
Some of my favorite ingredients -- yum.
Chez Us
This is one of my favorite ways to make a quick pasta dish. The only thing I would do differently is use your pasta machine that is sitting on my kitchen floor. :)
Mary
I second Stefania.
Dana
Days like these are the ones to savour.
Jamie
Ah, isn't food so much more than just...food? The taste, smell, texture are all wrapped up in dreams and memories, emotions and sentiments and you've stated it exactly. And great dish! Simple really is the best!
Sprinzette @ Ginger and Almonds
ooh, yum. Looks like just what I need right now.
Jill
a great birthday post yay!
Danielle
Pasta in Rome, pho in Vietnam, roasted pig in Bali....ahhhhh, you've infected me with your wanderlust!! ;)
tinytearoom
this is an excellent dish for those lazy days and I wouldn't feel like I ate junk food. Lovely photos btw :)
Zazuza
a lovely idea! I can tell you, I can perform better day-dreaming when i'm accompanied by good food ;)
A Canadian Foodie
What a great mood created by your story that I could definitely relate to - and the photos and the dish seemed to align with it perfectly!
:)
valerie
megang
Thanks, Valerie...I think we can all relate at this point in the season, huh?
Suzanne
I love cooking a great pasta dish and then watching travel shows on Italy at the same time!