IT IS SO GORGEOUS HERE!
The sun is shining, the temperature is around 70 degrees and there is a fabulous breeze running through my house right now. Gosh, I am in a great mood!
Oh, before I forget – I want to tell you about the Honey Oikos from lunch!
Every year for as long as I can remember, I have gotten a raw, honey filled stick from the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fair. Like this!
Every year I get super excited because I’m like this year…this year…I’m going to love it!!! But…I never do. I just can’t get into raw honey!! I adore it as part of sauces, etc. – but straight from the hive…nope, not for me. However, if you like honey you will freaking love this yogurt! One thing I’ve come to really appreciate about Oikos, is that their flavors are so natural and real. There is nothing fake about this honey flavored yogurt!
Din-Din: Pasta Pomodoro
So a couple days ago I saw a recipe from Mara’s blog for Rotini Pomodoro. I am a HUGE sucker for pomodoro sauces, so I thought I would give this one a whirl! I basically followed Mara’s recipe, but added in some onion…because I like onion 
So, I used:
- 1/4 large onion
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 3 small gloves garlic
- 5 roma tomatoes
- S&P
- sliced basil for topping
That’s it people! I sautéed the onion and garlic in the olive oil, added the chopped tomatoes and S&P and let everything get warm, thick and bubbly – about 8 minutes.
I served this over “whole-wheat white” pasta…yeah I don’t know what that’s all about. It’s this new Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta that apparently is:
Delicious white pasta plus 3x the fiber, and calcium equal to an 8oz. class of milk.”
Here’s a breakdown of the nutritional stats:
- Cals per 2oz: 180
- Total Fat: 1 g
- Total Carbs: 43g
- Dietary Fiber: 6g
- Sugars 1g
- Protein: 6g
Basically it’s enriched wheat pasta – but I’m not so sure why it’s considered “white”…gosh, sometimes this stuff makes my head explode! When I buy pasta, I’m looking for whole wheat, high protein, high fiber and low sugar. Maybe this didn’t fit the whole wheat bill (?) but it tasted great and it was on sale – so there you go!
This sauce was extremely light and flavorful! I tend to lean towards lighter sauces as opposed to alfredos, etc. on my pasta – so this was absolutely perfect for me!
Very summery, considering it was a hot meal – and the basil was a perfect topper! Thanks for the recipe, Mara!
I also made some garlic bread by spreading some butter on a slice of whole-wheat bread, sprinkled it with some garlic powder and placed it under the broiler for a few minutes. I just put it directly on the rack too…because I’m classy like that and it’s one less pan that I have to wash!
Oh, and of course dessert The sweetest part of my day…literally!
THIS IS DA BOMB!!!
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Do you guys have to have something sweet after each meal?
My oatmeal is usually sweet enough for me and usually I pack a sweeter fruit for lunch – but literally I HAVE to have something sweet after dinner. Have to – no way around it!
Your dinner looks so yummy!!
I am also from the Des Moines area and this morning tried my first sample of Barney Butter and I LOVE IT!!! I think you mentioned earlier that you found some at a local store here in town….??? I was wondering if you could tell me what store it was at so I can go and get a big jar of it!!! 
Thanks!!!
Hey… I have a quick question, I know that you like to have a sweet treat after meals, but do you drink any soda or are you only a coffee and water drinker?? I only drink one a day but often feel guilty about that… what do you think??
Thanks
Same with me!!!! Always something sweet and I love Edy’s Ice cream. They make great lower cal ice cream and frozen yogurt. Love it!
Yes! Definitely! I absolutely must have something sweet after dinner. I am just like you, I really do not eat any “sweet treats” during the day because I would rather save them for after dinner. I know that I will just not be happy unless I have it, so I resist during the day and fill my much needed desire at night.
About 90% of the time, my night time treat is frozen fruit and a little cool whip. But I am an avid fro-yo lover, so that often makes its appereance a few nights too!
Don’t worry, there is nothing wrong with a little sweet ending to your day. It makes the world a better place in my opinion.
Take care hun!
I am glad you are liking the Oikos yogurt. I have fallen in love with it while being in Chicago. I got used to the yogurt with honey while traveling Europe so not only does it taste yummy but it also provides good memories.
I always have to have something sweet after dinner. Like others, I don’t have sweet things throughout the day knowing I get to have something at night. I love all the Skinny Cow products. This bar is my most recent obsession. http://www.skinnycow.com/myproducts/bars.php?myflavor=mini_mint_dippers
Wow – that sauce looks so good! And I love fresh basil!
I usually have a cup of flavored decaf coffee after dinner. Otherwise I’ll have my hand in the cereal box!!
What a nice simple dinner!
I tried the honey Oikos too. I liked it, but I don’t think I mixed in the honey enough. The taste got a bit too strong for me as I got towards the bottom. But I like the subtle sweetness it provides.
I always like having something sweet after lunch and dinner. A few pieces of chocolate after lunch and a small (or larger) dessert after dinner.
You can find the Barney Butter at the 74th st. Hy-Vee on the corner of University and 74th in WDM. They just got a case in of both the smooth and chunky (my personal favorite:)
I like the honey Oikos, too – I think it’s my favorite flavor. I had it with strawberries and blueberries – so tasty! As for something sweet – I try not to eat something sweet all the time, but I am addicted to sweets.
That pasta looks great! And I love that caramel Edy’s ice cream! It’s so good. The little swirls and pockets of caramel are deliiicioussss!
I like having something sweet after lunch or dinner. Today is was a handful of TJ’s mini meringues, and sometimes it’s jello with reddiwhip, or pudding with reddiwhip and carob chips… yum!
Ooh, I’ve had that pasta before. All the fiber in it didn’t go over so well with us. Hopefully your tummy treats you better!
And yes, I hear you on the sweets thing. Big diet Dr. fan here, too!
That pasta looks amazing. I am going to try it. I much prefer simple pastas, I don’t like heavy saucy stuff.
http://islandgirleats.blogspot.com
Great looking sauce!!
I always have something sweet after each meal. I love dark chocolate, so that happens a lot of nights, just a few squares. I also adore Edy’s Slow Churned, so I rotate flavors there.
LOVE skinny cow desserts!
I drink diet soda – Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Mt. Dew. Regular pop makes my stomach hurt for some reason!