Pasta Primavera

Pasta Primavera translated means ‘spring pasta’ so as a dish it means pasta with spring vegetables.  There are lots of recipes out there … most all consisting mainly of spring veggies (and pasta) with a very very light tomato based sauce.  The emphasis is on the veggies NOT the sauce.  Sooooo I made up my own variation AND it was absolutely delicious.  Now I don’t have a recipe with actual amounts but I can tell you what I did and maybe you can make one of your own.  I did cheat a little by using canned Tomatoes since I didn’t have any fresh.  Also, you’ll notice I used both Butter and Extra Virgin Olive Oil … you’ll find quite a few of the traditional Italiano dishes (not necessarily the Italian American dishes) start with both.  The Olive Oil keeps the Butter from burning but I like the flavor both, together, add.  Also, I threw in some ready made Meatballs at the end, since my man doesn’t like his meal without including meat!  

Carboni Pasta Primavera

1 Tblsp Butter

1 Tblsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Can Diced Tomatoes

1 Zucchini, diced

½ Lrg Onion, diced

½ Green Bell Pepper, diced

About 6 Leaves of Fresh Basil, chopped

Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Heat the Butter and Olive Oil in a skillet then add the Vegetables, Sea Salt and Black Pepper.  Cook until just tender … I like mine still on the crunchy side.  (I kinda over did the Tomatoes, as you might can tell from my photo … I added them alone first and cooked them just a tad more than I would have liked.)  Then add the Basil and cook another minute or two.  Serve over your choice of Pasta.

Again, please note ~ these measurements are not exact!  Pasta Primavera is soooo good on a hot summer day … and quick too!!!

Beergaritas

I came across this recipe … well, actually Alayna did .. in the May 2011 issue of Southern Living.  She suggested we try them and I was thinking “beer and liquor isn’t supposed to go together, is it?”  Well we made them and have made them again and again and again.  LOL  Not too sure how my Nanny would feel about me making them in her Sweet Tea Pitcher though.  Anyway … they’re delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day!!!  If you love Margaritas, like I do, then you will love these.  Make sure to use a Mexican beer as I’ve tried others and it’s just not the same. 

NOTE: Chili’s has these on their drink menu now and I’ve tried it … they’re okay … more of a watered down version.  There are also a lot of ‘copycat’ recipes out there and I gotta say … this recipe needs NO improvements … its perfect!

1 (12 oz) Container Frozen Limeade Concentrate, thawed

1-1/2 Cups Tequila (I just fill the empty Limeade container)

2 (12 oz) Bottles Mexican Beer

Garnish with Lime Slices

Stir together ingredients and serve immediately over crushed ice.

Lucy Lou Turns 21

She’s turning 21 …oh how can that be?

Just only yesterday she was just 3

Reading her books and thinking she’s grown

Singing her Zippity Doo Dah song

Or was it 5 when Charlotte’s Web she read

Dancing across the stage with dreams in her head

“Mommy’s Angel” she’d say and “Nana’s Angel too”

Dancing around the house in Mommy’s shoes

Wait … wasn’t she just 7?

Thinking she’s big … yet carrying “Jaque-a-mo” everywhere we went!

There’s Old Bunny, and Betsy, the Black Cat and the ‘bird”

There was Barney, Pocohonis and Lion King too

Where did the time go?  Or where have I been?

Suddenly she’s 8

And it’s late, this I know

But she’s finally riding that bike down the road!

Thanking me over and over again

as she’s tumbling and tumbling all across the gym!

Wasn’t she just 11

The year she finally grew … out of those Tinkerbell panties, so cute!

She was so tiny walking across that pageant floor

Singing “These Hands” song to hundreds or more

There were birthday parties, recitals, days of honors and try outs

A few bruises, broken arm and some stitches … quite a few

13 … oh no … that was just the other day

with Spanish she was learning to say

Oh how she thought she was grown … knew-it-all

Mom and Dad know nothing at all!

She was just 14, no 15 …or was it 16? Oh my!

On top of the pyramid … she was the fly

There were tears and there was laughter

A friend lost or gained

But through those years, a young woman she became

Oh no is she really in college, so far from home?

Learning just how to make it on her own.

“Don’t call me or text me, I won’t even answer”

That’s what she told me as she left for campus

The calls and the texts came right away …

My baby girl was missing her Mommy everyday!

Then off to boot camp … oh she’s too little for that

A Thunderbolt, a perfect marksman … boy is she tough!

So off on her own, she truly is now

Making her way in the world … making this Mom proud!

I surprised her early

With something of meaning

‘Cause this Birthday is special you see

Gave her my necklace …

gold chain and diamond pendent

The chain I’ve had since a teen

The diamond some 28 years …

But now it is hers!

Then I put it around her neck

As we hugged and we cried!