Easy Zucchini And Corn Pasta

End of summer cooking means visiting local farms selling sweet corn and backyard gardens bursting with zucchini. It's such a joy to be in the kitchen with the abundance of seasonal produce. Fresh, fast and flavorful food is made in minutes. Healthy meals come together without much fuss. I'm sharing another one of my favorite summery dinners with you again. Chewy-pasta with tender-crisp zucchini, pops of sweet corn and a good amount of herbs.

Easy Summer Spaghetti

Fresh and fast is what's on my mind. Meals that are bright, tasty and fuss free. During the warm months, I meander around parks, piers and orchards. I'm in the sunshine. I spend less time in the kitchen.   

Mushroom Marsala Spaghetti

In my twenties, I survived epic trainwreck relationships. Ignoring my better instincts, I jumped aboard... heading for a crash. Being on a speeding train seemed sorta fun. Woohoo! I cozied up to dangerous situations, pitching my tent among the bomb blasts and heavy artillery. I convinced myself that it was better than being alone. One night, I sat in my car and prayed (begged) for the grace to leave it all behind. I hibernated in my room, licking my wounds until they healed. I took up watercolor painting. I cooked. I found peace in solitude.

Chinese Noodle & Bok Choy Soup

The hiatus from my former career life started with a mix of anger, grief, confusion and self pity. Then there was the Benadryl-haze I caused myself from taking it for insomnia. Slowly the fog lifted and I stopped analyzing myself to death. I let go and let God. I hugged my husband and my dog. I counted my blessings. 

Thai Red Curry Noodles

I've hit a roadblock with embroidery designing. My last larger pattern was Madame Butterfly. Since then, I've done some small freebies, which people enjoy. But the bigger ideas aren't coming to me. When that happens, I put my needle and thread away and head to the kitchen. Recipe ideas flow without any effort. They continuously pop into my head, before I go to sleep, on long walks with my beagle, while brushing my teeth. I write them down because I can't keep up. I cook up a storm. That's my process. It's a bit insane with lots of messes in the kitchen. But I am not one without the other. My cooking and sewing fuel each other.

Rice Pilaf With Toasted Orzo

Just a quick post today. I wanted to share my rice pilaf recipe with you because rice is so essential to many Eastern Mediterranean meals. Toasted orzo makes this pilaf special, lending a nutty aroma and taste to the fluffy rice. This recipe makes a huge batch. It reheats well for workweek meals. 

Spicy Sesame-Broccoli Soba Bowl

After finally finishing my new Madame Butterfly pattern, I treated myself to soba. I love all Asian noodles. I especially adore brothy soups and tangly noodles with lots of vegetables like my Soba Noodle Soup with Mushrooms & Snow Peas  or my Korean Style Soba.  My pantry and fridge are well stocked with things like naturally brewed soy sauce and rice vinegar so I can whip up a recipe in no time.

This flavorful soba bowl is brimming with bright green veggies, spicy chili, warm sesame and perky ginger. The sauce is kept on the lighter side, with just the right amount of oil necessary to coat the noodles.

Sesame Asparagus Noodle Bowl

There's lots of fresh flavor and texture in this lightly-sauced and healthy noodle bowl. A combination of scallions, ginger and tender-crisp asparagus make it a great choice for springtime. Sesame oil seasons the chewy Chinese noodles with toasty notes. I like to serve sriracha sauce on the side for a bit of chili heat. It's great with a fried egg on top too.

Korean Style Soba Noodles

I took a break from working on my next pattern to make this Korean-inspired lunch. Cross stitching and designing can make a girl hungry. Since I stopped working every evening in a psychiatric ER, I've been into mindful eating. Having proper meals is the new goal. Lunch is a must.

I adore Asian noodle bowls, don't you?  Soba noodles are low in fat, high in fiber, amino acids, B vitamins and minerals. They're also delicious! Here, tangles of soba noodles are tossed with a spicy sauce similar to the kind served with bibimbap.  The dish has delicious sesame, spinach and umami flavors. Ginger and diced scallions brighten things up with freshness. Chili and garlic bring in bold flavors.

This recipe is a great base for crispy, pan-fried tofu or thinly sliced chicken. A side of kimchi is also welcome with this meal. The recipe comes together quickly for those (like me) in need of a midday-Korean-noodle-fix.

Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup

Most days you can find me hand-embroidering and cooking. I enjoy quiet, domestic activities that are blissfully non-competitive, solitary and stress-free. I also work part-time in a crisis center, which provides a nice balance. Soup is one of my favorite things to cook. I like knowing it's simmering on my stove. A big brothy bowl, along with a piece of crusty bread, is simple and delicious. There are usually tasty leftovers too.

Everyone loves Grandma's chicken soup, right? My grandmother was a wonderful cook. She could mend a sock or make a Christening dress without much effort too. I adored spending time with her. She used to make the best chicken soup. She finished it with a pinch of cinnamon and a squeeze of lemon. The addition of cinnamon wasn't overpowering. Instead, the soup tasted even more warm and inviting.

Fresh Pasta with Mushrooms & Tomatoes

Patience has never been one of my virtues. When it comes getting to a meal ready when I’m hungry, patience really goes go out the window. I try to cook nutritional food, even when I’m tired. Pasta tossed with lots of sauteed mushrooms and bright cherry tomatoes is the recipe of the day. Earthy mushrooms, tangy tomatoes and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice make it a hit in my home. Healthy, wholesome and ready in under 30 minutes! 

Easy Sesame Noodles

For a brief time I worked as a case manager in a program for vulnerable immigrants and victims of human trafficking. It was such a rewarding experience to see people heal and blossom when given care and help. The funding ran out and the program shut down. But I'll never forget the experience.

One of the clients enrolled in the program loved noodles. We bonded over our mutual love of noodle dishes, sharing recipes and proudly proclaiming that we could make better sesame noodles than the gourmet market across the street from the program office. There are those who must have steak and potatoes and those who must have Asian noodles. This recipe is for all noodle lovers. If  you're tired from a long day, craving your fix, comfort is found here. It's ready in under 30 minutes.

Soba Noodle Soup with Mushrooms & Snow Peas

I love soup! There are many simple soup recipes on this blog. But, I especially adore Asian noodle soups like my Thai Noodle Soup or my Rice Noodle Soup with Bok Choy. The Recipe Index lists all of them. Do you dream about big brothy bowls of noodle soup too? When I go to downtown Boston, I head straight for Chinatown to get my fix. Since I live a good few miles from there, I've learned to create them at home.

Asian Noodle Soup

I work with a beautiful nurse who's my best friend. She's everything a friend and a nurse should be; kind, respectful and insightful. She looks 20 years younger than her actual age. Her fountain of youth springs from her youthful soul. This soup may also have something to do with it. She calls it her "Chinese Woman Soup." A wise Chinese lady told my friend that the soup keeps her healthy. I riffed on her recipe.

Reboot Soup

After all the holiday feasting, we're in need of something fresh, green and clean. Cue my reboot soup. This soup tastes like you made your own vegetable stock. But it comes together in less than 30 minutes, thanks to my go-to secret ingredient. It rescues us with a delicious balance of flavors and textures. Crisp peapods are tossed in at the last minute, remaining springtime green. Chewy elbow pasta and creamy white beans provide substance. Corn and peas lend their subtle sweetness. You know you're eating something good for you, but it doesn't feel like you've jumped on the diet wagon. It's pretty to look at too. The soup is customizable with your favorite veggies. Toss in a few chopped mushrooms if you're in the mood. It would be great with asparagus in springtime. A little grated Parmesan or gruyere cheese is a nice finishing touch. 

This weekend, my husband and I drove to a lonely Cape Ann beach with our beagle, Ellie. It was surprisingly mild and we walked and enjoyed the sunshine. The long walk and this fresh soup for lunch was just the thing.

Wishing you all peace, joy, and happiness in the New Year!    

xo ~ Jilly

Easy Spaghetti with Brown Butter, Lemon & Sage

With four ingredients (not including salt & pepper) and twenty minutes, you can make this simple and delicious pasta dinner. The recipe has the perk of including brown butter too. As the butter browns it becomes warm and toasty. The sage crisps in the butter, losing its astringent edge, infusing the butter with even more cozy flavors. A sprinkling of sea salt (fleur de sel or gray salt is great here) and a squeeze or two from a juicy lemon is a welcome finishing touch. 

Thai Pasta Toss with Chili, Lime & Basil

There’s an old, honest saying that goes, “Most of the world eats to live, but Italians live to eat.” This recipe uses the Italian principles of keeping things fresh and basic, but with a a little Thai twist on the traditional.

Black Pepper & Parmesan Pasta

This is one of the easiest pasta recipes to prepare. Lots of perky pepper, salty Parmesan and fruity olive oil wrap around the tangles of pasta. It’s close to nirvana after a long day.  

Fish, shrimp, scallops or chicken pair nicely with it.  A light garden salad and this pasta dish are wonderful companions too.  Even if you have never cooked before, you can make this recipe. Trust me. 

Pasta with Lemon-Whipped Creme Fraiche & Peas

You're about twenty minutes away from this gloriously easy and supremely satisfying pasta dish. This is the kind of impromptu cooking that makes my heart happy. In the time it takes to boil the spaghetti, the sauce is made. Toss everything together, dig in and be happy. Tangles of spaghetti in a creamy sauce spiked with lemon with the bright pop of the peas makes it so good.

I eat this when my husband is away on business. A glass of crisp white wine, a good movie and a cozy quilt are also welcome.

Lemony Pasta With Peas, Herbs & Feta

This is light, lemony recipe is great on its own or with sauteed shrimp or toasted pine nuts. There’s not much cooking involved, except boiling the water for the pasta.