SUMMER PASTA

Sometimes in life you get blocked. No inspiration, no motivation, no passion for a lot of things you use to have passion for. Sometimes you may just need a day or two to unwind, time for yourself or an overdue vacation. While a vacation has not been in the cards for years for me and definitely not for many people these days, a little bit of quiet time at home or even at the park early in the morning to take the sun in can really help boost your mood and spark a little bit of inspiration. For me, things have been very chaotic. A roller coaster that won’t stop and a steep plunge into depression city. Cooking has always been a source of escape. A love and passion I have had for years. So what do you do when that passion has all but died? Watch some cooking shows on TV online! I have finally found some inspiration again with the little time I have so I have been watching a few like the Pioneer Woman, Goop cooking videos, Chopped, Chef Ramsay and my favorite Rachel Khoo. CUE Pharrell’s “Happy” song!!!!!!

I got into that kitchen today and I put together this pasta salad inspired by the Pioneer Woman’s Primavera Pasta Salad which I of course change to make my own and let me tell you, it was GOOD! What inspires you?

Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients

1 box of Rotini pasta 

5 tablespoons cup mayonnaise 

1 teaspoon of dijon mustard

1/3 cup half and half plus more if needed 

2 1/2 tablespoons of sour cream 

2 tablespoon basil chopped finely or in a chiffonade

1 tablespoon of Coriander

1 teaspoon of Cumin

3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan 

1/2 cup of Havarti cheese*1

1 bag of frozen edamame 

1 package of baby portobello mushrooms sliced

1/4 cup of sliced black olives

1/3 cup of green olives

1 red pepper diced

1 cucumber chopped

1 package of cooked bacon *2

 

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the Rotini pasta and cook until al dente about 10 minutes. Drain put in a large bowl.
2. Season the In a large pan, add a drizzle of olive oil, then add the mushrooms, edamame, red pepper, black and green olives and spices and cook for about 8 minutes. Then add the basil, parmesan and havarti cheese, half and half and mustard and cook another 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Now add all this to the bowl with the pasta along with bacon and mayonnaise and stir until well combined.
3. Can be served warm or cold.

*REVISION CORNER
*1 Instead of bacon you can use one package of turkey bacon or one package of Canadian bacon
*2 Instead of Havarti Cheese, you can use any other cheese that melts well. IE Mozzarella, Edam, Italian Fontina