Ahhh, Noodles

Hey everybody!

How’d the day go? It was 100% GORGEOUS here today so I went on a walk during my lunch hour – and I got a blister on the bottom of my pinky toe!! That’s a new one for me! Got it wrapped in a band-aid though, don’t worry

For dinner tonight, I made a nostalgic dish. No, it’s not a treasured family recipe or a re-creation of Ben and I’s engagement night dinner or anything…it’s a dish from Noodles & Company! When Ben and I lived in Minneapolis, we went to Noodles & Company allll the time. If you’ve never had it, it’s a semi fast food restaurant (semi fast food because they make your food fast, not fast food as in greasy, fried and disgusting) where you order a pasta based dish that they make for you on the spot – none of it is pre-made, except for the noodles which I believe are only parboiled.

Well, whenever Ben and I went to N&C, we always ordered the Pasta Fresca. It was light, it was satisfying…and it was cheap! Something two recent college grads found very appealing. Since moving back to Des Moines, which doesn’t have a Noodles & Company, we’ve not had our favorite dish…until tonight!  For my version, I used whole wheat pasta, quite a bit less oil than I’m sure N&C used and topped it all off with grilled chicken breast and feta cheese.

You could just as easily use shrimp and parm – or shrimp and feta – or…well you get the idea! It was SO good and definitely took us back to walks along the lakes, hanging out at our favorite places and enjoying life in as great of a place as Minneapolis Plus, I just love light pasta dishes – really more than anything! Check out the recipe here – the ingredient list looks semi long, but a lot of the items are pantry staples.

Tonight I’m skipping LOST in order to be a good wife and support Ben at his first softball game! He joined a league with some friends and their first game is tonight. He’s designated hitter because he says he’s no good at playing the field…poor guy. I bet he’s just being modest

In other news, I’m curious – what’s your favorite flavor/flavor combos? Mine’s cinnamon sugar followed closely by garlic and olive oil. Two very opposite flavors, I realize – but both, almost, equally delicious.