Summer Pasta for Lunch

My trip to Libba's was absolutely fabulous....until two hours into the ride home when I got my first speeding ticket.  Grrrr--nothing like a $288 honest mistake (I really didn't know the speed limit had dropped!).  I had to listen to The Fish once I got in the listening area to redirect my mindset. However, it was great to see Lib, her new pup Indy and relax on the beach.

I am now watching Luna for my friend Ashley while she is out of town the country on a cruise.  I would be jealous if I didn't have a week long adopted dog to cheer me up!  What is especially nice about having the dog is it has made me exercise.  Today I walked her she walked me around the park and the night before around the neighborhood.

Today I went to lunch with my dad at the local airport and then came home and finished up some last minute school stuff- Unit 1 Word Wall and notes sheets to accompany the videos I'm giving for homework some nights (I am attempting a semi-flipped classroom this year).  I have the first four weeks planned out with 99.2% of all the tasks, notes, homework, etc. finished.  I hope my team likes what I have done so far because it has taken a lot of work but I just wouldn't feel comfortable walking in on the first day of pre-planning with nothing done for a brand new curriculum.  I wanted as many handouts made as possible so I can send them to the county copy center during pre-planning.  Can I get an Amen for not having to stand at the copier while it does ten different sets of 115 double sided stapled copies (THE WORST)?!

This summer when I was home at my apartment I always had the Food Network on in the background.  It was very relaxing and inspiring.  One thing they always do on shows like Giada at Home and Pioneer Woman is they make lunch.  Usually my lunch consists of a lean cuisine, soup, or left overs.  The most effort I think I have ever put into a lunch is a sandwich.  So during my last whole week of summer (last week-I go back to work Thursday this week) I decided I would give the idea of really truly  making a lunch a try.

I chose a summer pasta which I found in a Cooking Light magazine last summer.  It is very light for lunch because it doesn't have a true sauce or any meat.  Don't let that scare you away because it is still so flavorful!  It has tons of garlic, fresh basil, and burst roasted tomatoes.  Additionally, I just LOVE pasta. When I make this for Trey and myself I usually add chicken by getting the thinly sliced chicken breasts, and adding them to the cooking sheet with the tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic.  Don't forget to salt and pepper them and they finish cooking in the 12 minutes the tomatoes take to explode! Yummmmmy!

You'll need:

8-ish oz whole grain angel hair

1/4 cup olive oil (divided- 2 Tbsp and 2 Tbsp)

2 pints of multicolored cherry tomatoes (I couldn't find them this time but I do prefer the multicolored..gives it a little more somethin' somethin')

4 cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp fresh ground peper

Basil and Parm for a tasty garnish

Start by slicing the garlic, preheating the oven to 450 degrees, and boiling the water for the pasta.

Then on a lined jelly roll pan, combine the tomatoes, 2 Tbsp of olive oil and sliced garlic.  These are going to roast in the oven for approximately 11 minutes or until they have burst and are lightly browned.

Then add your pasta to the water.  It should take about 6 minutes to cook.  When it's done cooking, keep a bowl under the colander when straining to save some of the starchy water. You'll need 6 tablespoons for the "sauce."

Then slice up some pretty basil to put on top of your finished pasta.  Take the leaves off the plant and roll them up. Slice the roll perpendicular to your knife (I am such a math teacher) and Ta-Da!

Take the 6 tablespoons of kept water and add it to the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Bring to a boil and boil 4 minutes.  CAUTION: Do this is a sauce pan and NOT a saute pan like I did.  My kitchen was a mess!  As you can kind of see...

Lastly, take the tomatoes out of the oven, add the "sauce" to the pasta and then the tomatoes.

Garnish to make a beautiful and semi-easy made lunch. :)