Pretty,Projects & Pasta

Well, it's winding down, summer that is but life is going to be full force once again. I was starting to feel a bit anxious...you see I am the mother that doesn't like to see the kids go back to school, well when they are little that is teens need to be in school 24/7 365!!! . They are only little for such a short time and I have enjoyed and cherished watching my little guy playing Legos all day or at the beach or getting ice cream at our favorite ice cream stand. I have loved hearing him in his bedroom using his imagination and acting out the stories boards he created in his mind.  We had some great conversations and great downtime...It was a good summer for us!
 My little guy wasn't feeling well so we stayed close to home.  It was a good thing I was able to work on creating a new baby booty pattern and picked up "way to long on the needles" knitting projects. I really want to finish these for my KAL/CAL.
I am also working on spending less time at the grocery store. I did a run down on what I spent in food this summer and it was a bit high OBNOXIOUS!! So I went to the fridge and used what I had in there for tonight's dinner.  Penne pasta with pan seared tomatoes and prosciutto. Simple easy quick and it did the trick. My garden is producing a lot of the cherry tomatoes at the moment so this was perfect. This could very easily be meatless and add some radicchio would be good I think.

• 1 1/2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 large Vidalia onion sliced
• Prosciutto or nay type of ham,for meatless use radicchio sliced
• 1 lb penne pasta
• 1/2 cup pasta water
• 1/4 half and half ( i use organic)
• 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano cheese grated
• olive oil

Cook pasta according to package (make sure to add a good amount of salt to the water, this flavors the pasta) save some pasta water. Heat olive oil in a saute pan till hot. Add onion & prosciutto let it get crisp but not burn. Now add the tomatoes, heat is still pretty high at this point but again you don't want it to burn. When the skins start to split on the tomatoes start to crush them. Now add the reserved pasta water and let it all blend to make a nice sauce. Once blended cut the heat and add the half and half. Drain the pasta and add directly into the saute pan. Turn the heat back on medium  add a tablespoon of butter and give it all a good stir and let the sauce gloss the pasta. Last add the grated cheese and serve at once.

Enjoy!
Ming


I am also cherishing my pretty summer flowers and butterflies!