Penne with Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic, and White Beans

A healthy pasty dinner? Yes, it's true! And it doesn't involve whole wheat pasta. Nothing against whole wheat pasta, it just doesn't work for everything. The recipe is by Ellie Krieger, a nutritionist who used to have a show on the Food Network. Alas we no longer have cable so I'm not sure if she still does. I doubled the recipe even though it's just me here because I love it that much. I've pretty much been eating this for lunch and dinner everyday this week (I made this Sunday night) and I still haven't gotten tired of it. So the pictures and instructions on here are for a double recipe but the link is for the single recipe. Also I have the book this came from and the recipe in the book is SLIGHTLY different than the link. I really don't know why (for example, the book recipe calls for 6 cloves of garlic while the online version only calls for 4).

Also, I'm not really that big of a tomato OR garlic fan and I still LOVE this recipe!

You will need (remember this is doubled!):

• 6 large ripe tomatoes (about 4 pounds)
• 12 large cloves of garlic, papery outermost skin removed, but left unpeeled
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Two 15.5-ounce cans cannellini or other white beans, preferably low-sodium (I used Great White Northern)
• 1 box (16 ounces) penne pasta
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2/3 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into ribbons
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I used the canned stuff..shhhh!)

You also need a big pasta pot and a 9x13" pan.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Slice each tomato into 8 wedges and discard the seeds. Put the tomato wedges and garlic in the 9x13 pan, toss with 4 tablespoons of the oil, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and a few turns of pepper. Roast, uncovered, until the tomatoes lose their shape and become slightly charred, 35-40 minutes.

Pretty tomato wedges!

Eat your heat our Rachel Ray...I line my garbage bowl for easy cleanup!

Speaking of Rachel Ray, do NOT buy her oil and vinegar bottles like the red one in the first picture. The oil and vinegar will seep through the bottom. :( Notice the paper towel under mine.

Pretty tomatoes and garlic ready for the heat!

Let's check in on the rusty, I mean TRUSTY assistant!

"When are you going to make me more peanut butter treats??"

Drain the beans in a large colander in the sink.

Beans in a colander, CHECK!

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta in the colander containing the beans, so the hot pasta water warms the beans. Return the drained pasta and beans to the pasta pot.

Here's how to chiffonad (or make ribbons of) your basil:

Stack the basil leaves. It helps a bit to have the bigger ones on the bottom and the smaller ones on top.

Roll the leaves up!

Chop! You have to hold on to the leaf roll so be VERY careful not to cut your fingers. 

Not quite ready...

There!!! Roasty goodness!

When the tomatoes are done, carefully pick out the garlic cloves, squeeze the garlic out of the skin into a small bowl, and mash with a fork. Add the lemon juice, the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper, and stir to combine. I do this in a slightly different order though....

I've found the easiest way is to hold the clove with a fork and squeeze the garlic out with a knife. They're much too hot to handle with your fingers!

I cheat and make the rest of the sauce while I'm waiting on the tomatoes, garlic and pasta. And then add the garlic.

All mashed in!

Transfer the roasted tomatoes to the pasta pot, add the garlic-lemon mixture and basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Served topped with the Parmesan.

My beans got a big smashed...oops!

The beans give this an almost creamy flavor! Next up, (hopefully tonight) a healthy Buffalo chicken salad!

Recipe stats:

Serves 4 (or 8 in the blog version)

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups (which is a pretty generous pasta serving!)

Per serving:

• Calories: 476
• Total fat: 14.5g
• Mono: 8g
• Poly: 2g
• Sat: 2.5g
• Protein: 16.5g
• Carb: 70.5g
• Fiber: 9.5g
• Chol: 1mg
• Sodium: 602mg

Excellent source of: fiber, iron, manganese, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K

Good source of: calcium, copper, folate, magnesium, molybdenum, potassium, thiamin, vitamin B6

Coasting, part 2!

My first craft project is officially done!!! I am SO excited to have these! Here they all are after several coats of the acrylic sealer: 

Love it!

And here are the individual sets...so pretty and shiny!

Dining room set: blue, black and silver

Kitchen set: bright colors

Living room set: aqua, brown, and beige.

The tiles I got are about 4.25" square. Pretty much the perfect coaster size! I've promised a couple of friends some old-school pin up girl coasters but so far I haven't been able to find the right paper...I don't think Hobby Lobby carries that kind of paper :) So if anyone knows where I can find cute sexy/tasteful pin up girl paper or even napkins or cards, please let me know!!!

I've been inspired via an Etsy shop to try this same technique one something else. Hopefully I'll be able to do this soon. Happy crafting everyone!

Coasting Along...

While browsing pinterest , I fell in love with a pin from one of my friends about a craft project for coasters. I'll let you read the full directions there. It seemed fairly simple so I decided to try it. 

Here are the supplies:

• tiles 
• Mod Podge
• water-resistant clear spray
• foam brush
• waterproof glue
• felt
• scrapbooking paper
• paper trimmer (not necessary, but a big help!)

I wanted coasters for the kitchen, dining room, and living room - hence the various colors. I used my scrapbooking paper trimmer to cut these. I think it saved a lot of time and I know for sure the pieces are all square and even. 

Blue, black and silver for the dining room; aqua, brown and beige for the living room; and fun bright colors for the kitchen.

You also need one trusty assistant! In my case, my almost 18-month old pup, Ranger. 

Ready to help!

Here are the kitchen coasters just after applying the paper to the tile. I was already in love with this project at this point!!!

So pretty! Hopefully not too girly for the hubster...

I realized at this point it might be easier if your assistant doesn't shed. I had to pick several Ranger hairs out of the podge. I ended up using matte Mod Podge because I couldn't remember which one to get when I was at the store. I got glossy acrylic spray though, so they will have some sheen. I didn't want too much glare to detract from the pretties of the paper. 

Kitchen set after one podge layer.

Kitchen and dining room sets.

The bottom left coaster in the picture below has paper that will be used in the wedding scrapbook. Yes...I've been married over year and have yet to make the scrapbook. Don't judge me!!! The hubster wants to help me make it so I HAVE to wait...(that's right ladies, I have a crafty hubby!)

Kitchen, dining room, and living room sets!

I podged the coasters a total of 5 times, including the edges on the last two passes since some of the paper was overlapping the tile just a tiny bit. 

Let's check in on our trusty assistant, shall we?

Oh! He's relocated and brought a toy.

Getting antsy!

I've only put the felt on the back of one coaster, I'll do the rest tomorrow before I put the clear acrylic finishing spray on them. 

Tune in tomorrow for the finishing touches!!!

Crafting music: A Fine Frenzy and Sara Bareilles (my famous twin!).

Past Crafts

My crafting began with some small 10x10" paintings for the bathrooms. First I made one using stencils for our master bathroom.

Next, I attempted to copy the floral pattern from the shower curtain in our spare bathroom. I'm most proud of this one because I did it free hand (pencil first, of course...I am not nearly that talented).

It ended up off center so I added the band of dark brown. I mean...I totally did that on purpose! Yeah...

Mind you my husband is the artist of the two of us, so the real art will happen once he gets back home (which is soon!)

The Start of a Beautiful Thing!

Welcome!!! My husband and I have been living in this house for a little over a year now, and I am still in the process of decorating it! Grad school and deployments sure haven't helped but I certainly should have a lot more done by now. Inspired by my friend Ashley, I thought I'd start a craft and cooking blog to document my progress. The cooking part probably won't happen very much until my husband is back, because, let's face it...cooking for one just isn't as exciting. I have been crafty while he's been away though! I'll start by posting some of my past crafts, but first I must go finish my current one. I hope you all enjoy!