Simple White Sauce

 

Just when I think Spring is finally here, the temperature drops, the clouds roll in, and I’m relegated to sweatpants and raincoats. Howwwwwwww upsetting. Fortunately, the colder weather gives me a last chance to make wintery foods like soups, roasts, or heavy sauces, and to bake a million cupcakes before the warm weather really DOES hit us and I can’t bear to turn my oven on or leave a burner going for more than ten minutes.

 

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Also, it’s Friday. Is anyone else’s brain just completely out the window this week? I checked out halfway through Wednesday and just never checked back in. No shame. But I think I need a good day or two of sleep and blogging and cooking and more sleep. And maybe three seasons of Friends while I sit on my couch and do nothing. Ahhhh, bliss.

 

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Even when I’m in my I-want-to-do-nothing-at-all phases, though, I’d rather eat something fresh than grab a bunch of fast food or order a pizza. For one thing, that costs money (and I never have any) and for another, it totally defeats the purpose of dragging myself to the gym or out on a run. Plus, unless I want to pay for delivery (I never do) I have to leave my house. And when I want to do nothing, putting real pants on and walking out my door is totally unacceptable. Who’s with me?

 

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Anyway. Laziness. Doing nothing but still eating well. These are the themes of discussion today, apparently. This sauce is one of my go-to recipes when I want yummy food quick and with minimal hassle. Make it in 10 or 15 minutes while you cook some pasta, throw some herbs on top and call it a day. Super easy. Super simple. Super conducive to being back on your couch in your sweatpants watching Friends in less time than it takes to finish an episode. WINNING.

 

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I usually make a whole batch of the sauce and a half-pound or so of pasta, then save the extra sauce for mushroom and spinach pizza later in the week. That recipe will be up next week, so stay tuned! In the meantime, happy Friday, and enjoy!

 

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Parmesan & Spinach Orzo

 

When I was little, I always gave my mom a hard time about making orzo. I picked a fight every time we ate it because “it’s not pasta, it’s rice!” and would have to sit there and (un)patiently listen to her tell me that orzo is, in fact, pasta. It was a whole big thing. But I’m over it (sorry, Mom). Even though it still LOOKS a lot like rice. Just saying.

 

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Anywho, Mom sent me some rice orzo in a care package awhile back, and I recently discovered the last half of the package sitting in my pantry. “Eureka!” I thought. “I’ll make some orzo!” [read more...]

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Mushroom Ravioli

 

Ummm…this is YUMMY. Like, I made two pretty sizeable batches, cleaned up the kitchen, and immediately regretted not making an additional six or seven sizeable batches to freezeĀ (freezer food! THE BEST).

 

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I love ravioli. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. I would eat it every day. Unless it has brussels sprouts in it. Because I reallllllly don’t care for brussels sprouts. Not that I haven’t tried – I still buy them about once a year and try to work some crazy cookery magic (including, yes, putting them inside ravioli once or twice) to make myself like them. But you guys – I just REALLY. REALLY. REALLY. hate brussels sprouts. *sighhhhhh* [read more...]

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Creamy Mushroom and Garlic Sauce

 

This sauce is sooooo yummy.

 

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Really simple, not many ingredients, but a great comfort food. I generally smother a bowl of pasta in this sauce, but it’s also great on top of chicken. It’s quick to make and always a hit. [read more...]

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Italian Sausage Bolognese

 

Bolognese is SO. COOL.

 

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It’s just a sweet, flavor-packed spaghetti sauce – but the base of the sauce is made from hearty root vegetables. And WINE. [read more...]

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