Amazing Pasta

on May 26, 2009
in All Posts

Due to the holiday week, I actually only have to work 8-hour days–instead of 10-hour days–at my full-time job.  That meant I didn’t have to start working until 9:00 AM (cue: angels singing and strumming harps)!

 

I had a leisurely breakfast around 7 AM:

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My stellar bowl of oatmeal contained:

 

  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 sliced banana
  • Toppings: strawberries, blackberries, and almonds

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Twas a delish bowl!

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After breakfast, I really felt the urge to go on a walk… I was just so excited to have an opportunity to get in some movement before work!

 

I walked for 25 minutes at a steady pace and probably did around 2.0 miles.

 

Then, I came home and did 30 push-ups.  :)  In case you haven’t noticed, I am obsessed with push-ups!  I remember when I could only do 5 at a time, and now I can do 15 in one set.

 

About 1 hour after starting work, I got a little hungry.  I guess that walk turned ON my metabolism!

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I ate 1/2 of this Amazing Grass Green Superfood Chocolate Whole Food Energy Bar (that title is a mouthful!).

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The outside was coated in chocolate (mmm) and the inside was green, chewy Amazing Grass.  It was pretty good, but at 210 calories per bar, it was a little rich for my mid-morning snack (which is why I only ate 1/2).

 

I just inhaled this to-die-for lunch!

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I’ve been bitchin’ that vegetarians always get stuck with yucky pasta options at restaurants, but that doesn’t mean I don’t LOVE pasta.  Pasta is just one of the meals that I prefer to cook myself because it can either be really healthy (and cheap) or really unhealthy (and expensive).

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My pasta contained:

 

  • 1/2 cup (measured dry) whole wheat pasta
  • 1/2 cup steamed kale
  • 1 plum tomato
  • 1 tablespoon garlic
  • 1/2 tablespoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup chick peas
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

 

After cooking the pasta, I mixed everything but the cheese together and stirred it over low heat for another 3 minutes.  After plating, I topped it with cheese.  It was SO GOOD.  This would be a really easy (and cheap) meal to make for a dinner party.

 

Back to work I go!

 

What’s your favorite Italian dish?  I love baked ziti!

{ 44 comments }

 

  • spicygranola May 26, 2009, 9:05 am

    Yum, that looks delicious. I have some penne in the pantry, I might be making something like this tonight!

  • The Decayed Gentlewoman May 26, 2009, 9:06 am

    I love risotto. And prosciutto.

  • sloank May 26, 2009, 9:12 am

    Right there with ya, I LOVE baked ziti. However, when in Italy, I LOVEEE risotto…. so, so delicious!!

  • fitforfree May 26, 2009, 9:12 am

    fave italian meal would have to be eggplant parmesan – just wish it didn’t give me a tummyache!!

  • Beth May 26, 2009, 9:14 am

    I’m also OBSESSED with pushups! Last year, my main fitness goal was to be able to do real ones – no more girly style for me! Another blogger turned me on to this challenge…since I know you love challenges, maybe you’d be interested: http://hundredpushups.com/

  • Priyanka loves food May 26, 2009, 9:15 am

    Baked ziti definitely!! Your pasta looks delish!

  • BOBBI McCORMICK May 26, 2009, 9:16 am

    if I had to pick just one, PIZZA!!!!

  • HangryPants May 26, 2009, 9:17 am

    I am becoming obsessed with pushups and am up to 6 at a time! Yay.

    I love most Italian food, but have been really loving eggplant, with tomato sauce and a little cheese. Yum!

  • Thinspired May 26, 2009, 9:17 am

    I think you are dead-on in your reasoning for preferring pasta at home! That is a great way to put it.
    Your pasta dish looks awesome.
    I’m working on my push-ups but at the moment still doing them on my knees. You’ve gotta start somewhere, right?! 🙂

  • K from ksgoodeats May 26, 2009, 9:22 am

    Woohoo for 9AM start time! I still have to try that bar for myself – looks good though.

    My favorite Italian dish – risotto 🙂

  • Anne May 26, 2009, 9:23 am

    Haha, first off I have to say that I love the “angels strumming harps” comment, as I’m a harpist myself 🙂
    That pasta dish looks delicious. My favorite Italian meal is Eggplant Parmesan!

  • Cassie May 26, 2009, 9:23 am

    ooh that looks just like what i plan on making for dinner tonight, minus the chickpeas. maybe i will add some in for extra protein!

  • Just Me May 26, 2009, 9:40 am

    Check this out on my blog… You always eat so healthy and I would love to see what your fridge looks like 🙂 I tag you
    http://nikesandponytails.blogspot.com/2009/05/you-are-what-you-eat.html

  • Emily May 26, 2009, 9:50 am

    that pasta looks great! my dad’s from Naples so I grew up spoiled on amazing homemade Italian food. caponata is my probably my favorite; I think I’m going to post a recipe for it soon.

    yay for an unhurried morning!

  • Kelly May 26, 2009, 9:56 am

    I completely agree with you about pasta. Occasionally someone will ask me if I want take out from a pasta place and I’m like, WHY WOULD I DO THAT? I’d much rather make it myself and it’s easy!

  • carolinebee May 26, 2009, 9:57 am

    Caitlin your skin looks so amazing, i’m happy that Angela’s tips were so successful! I think my skin is sensitive to the scrubby type facewashes, but I could def use some more spinach in my life 😀

  • redheadedjournal May 26, 2009, 10:11 am

    My favorite is caprese! Yum!

  • Leanne May 26, 2009, 10:26 am

    I love throwing pasta dishes together with whatever veggies I have on hand. My favorite combo is angel hair with fresh garlic, spinach, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and artichokes.

    I also LOVE wild mushroom ravioli.

  • Recipes for Creativity May 26, 2009, 10:32 am

    Favorite Italian dish…I make a pretty darn good spinach lasagna. And a good eggplant parm, too. Your lunch dish looked wonderful, though!

  • Stacey May 26, 2009, 10:32 am

    I love working out before work! It makes me feel energized and ready to start my day 🙂

    My fav italian dish is manicotti stuffed with cheese..mmmmm

  • Brandi May 26, 2009, 10:39 am

    great lunch! I love pasta at home, too, but it’s so hard to find healthy pasta dishes at restaurants!

    I made an awesome baked ziti Sunday night – you should check it out! It could definitely be made meatless, as well.

  • Matt May 26, 2009, 10:43 am

    Ravioli!

  • calabazapie May 26, 2009, 11:24 am

    Enjoy your 8 hour work days! You work so hard so hopefully this makes it at least a little bit easier to get through the week. I am the same way about push ups. I used to not be able to do more than 2 good push ups. After the 30 day shred, I can do ten and even though I know that’s not much, I get super excited about it. It’s hard to decide, but I think my favorite Italian food is lasagna. Yum, makes me hungry just thinking about it.

  • Bec May 26, 2009, 11:31 am

    that pasta looks great, I agree it can be so delicious, healthy and cheap or sometimes very expensive and well cream based.

  • Jenny May 26, 2009, 11:35 am

    ah that lunch – to die for! i am definitely saving that recipe!!

  • Holly May 26, 2009, 11:36 am

    Hi Caitlin! I’m making your coconut oatmeal cookies this afternoon- they have become a favorite “go-to” recipe of mine and always seem to disappear fast :o) Your skin is glowing…I’m thinking about taking on project glow myself!

  • seesaraheat May 26, 2009, 12:11 pm

    Yum! You are right about pasta, I prefer to make it myself too. I’m actually making spaghetti for dinner tonight and was trying to think of a good protein source to go into it (I’m not eating much meat these days either) and chick peas are perfect! Thanks 😉

  • lighterportions May 26, 2009, 1:22 pm

    Pasta is awesome when homemade. You can add all kinds of fun mix-ins and make it WAY healthier than at restaurants. I never get pasta when I eat out anymore but homemade pasta dishes rock. I don’t have a fav but I love anything with a good cheesy/tomatoy combo 🙂

  • just me May 26, 2009, 1:32 pm

    30 push ups?! you’re a rock star!

    and i’m sad we didn’t get to hang out this weekend…soon soon soon!!! what you up to this weekend?

    and fav italian dish is def baked manicotti…if only i could eat cheese again…

  • peacelovepb May 26, 2009, 1:35 pm

    i LOVEEE my mom’s stuffed shells. So delicious.
    yay for not having work until 9!

  • Diana May 26, 2009, 1:36 pm

    You make such a good point! I don’t think it had ever occurred to me that pasta can be either healthy and cheap or unhealthy and expensive, but you’re so right. I rarely eat it anymore, period, but I think that’s mostly because I cook only for myself, which means prioritizing what I want to eat so things don’t go bad…and somehow pasta never makes it to the top of the list. But show me a good eggplant parmesan and I’m all over it – homemade and healthy or fabulously fatty from a restaurant. 🙂

  • Catch Me If You Can May 26, 2009, 1:42 pm

    Lasagna. Pioneer Women’s lasagna it’s sinful and ONLY eaten on birthdays because well calories don’t count on your birthday. I am not a huge calorie counter but I do try to eat normal most days 🙂

  • Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down) May 26, 2009, 1:46 pm

    Favorite italian dish goes to risotto! Although anything with sauce in it too, goes to the top of my favorite lists. 😀

  • eatingRD May 26, 2009, 2:33 pm

    oh man, I LOVE all kinds of pasta, except the ones you mentioned being unhealthy and expensive a.k.a. cream sauces and giant portions. I love any kind of stuffed/baked pasta, especially raviolis. We also like to make our own fresh fettuccine that is so much better than the dried stuff. I love to broil the cheese so it gets nice and bubbly and crunchy around the edges. Yum!

  • jenngirl May 26, 2009, 2:43 pm

    I love my mom’s spaghetti, but there’s also a great ricotta spinach stuffed shells recipe from Cooking Light that might rival it 😉

  • Rebeca @All Vegged Out May 26, 2009, 2:56 pm

    omg that pasta dish looks fab! I’ll def be recreating this…

    I love my own pasta too- spinach, tomato, zucchini and whatever other veg I have in the fridge + lots of fresh herbs and ww pasta and my carb cravings are cured!

  • Lindsey May 26, 2009, 3:07 pm

    Your skin looks great! My skincare reg is about like your “before” regimine. I’ll have to get a skin care makeover like you did!

  • Lindsey May 26, 2009, 3:07 pm

    Your skin looks great! My skincare reg is about like your “before” regimine. I’ll have to get a skin care makeover like you did!

  • Danica's Daily May 26, 2009, 4:03 pm

    That is some amazing looking pasta – thanks for the recipe 🙂

  • Anonymous May 26, 2009, 4:58 pm

    Caitlin, I just used your Baked Tofu recipe tonight and it was awesome! I have had zero luck in the past making a good tofu dish and I’m glad I finally mastered tofu! Thanks for sharing it 🙂

  • Oh She Glows May 26, 2009, 6:15 pm

    I love your pasta!! The chickpeas are a neato touch. 🙂

    Have a great night you glowing beauty! 🙂 I’m going to link back tomorrow AM.

  • Christina May 26, 2009, 6:40 pm

    I’m all about the eggplant parm! It’s my favorite dish, period.

  • Leah @ Simply Fabulous May 27, 2009, 1:11 am

    I think you just inspired my lunch today!

  • Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) May 27, 2009, 6:30 am

    I don’t really like Italian food that much! I don’t really like pasta too much, the texture is kind of weird to me. I don’t like tomato sauce so whenever I eat pasta it’s usually just with soy butter or something!

    I reluctantly went to Bertucci’s the other day and I was actually pretty pleased. I ordered this roasted vegetable plate and it was absolutely delicious. So charred and tasty. So um, I like that dish and I do love pizza!

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