One of Ben’s and my favorite games to play is “Surprise!”
Whenever Ben’s out running errands, getting gas, or stopping by the grocery store on his way home from work, to pick up the block of feta cheese I forgot to get earlier in the week for instance, he always brings home a special, sweet treat to surprise and delight me with.
He’ll pull into the garage, open the door, yell Surprise!, then reveal the goods. It’s really fun. 
Said goods range anywhere from a Reese’s Big Cup, to fun size Twix Bars, a strip of Starburst Fave Reds, or the latest treat that gave me a giggle – a package of Sprees.
SPREES?!
1995 called and wanted their candy back.
Once he drove home with a big slice of ice cream cake snagged from a birthday party at work, but it melted en route all over the passenger seat. He was pretty upset, as it was going to be the best surprise yet. 
Anyways, now that I’ve given up sugary treats during the week, he’s had to think outside the box a little in terms of surprise options. So what did my sweet & thoughtful husband bring home late last week, when Peanut Butter Snickers was no longer an option?
Quinoa Pasta. Bahahaha!
Dee commented on my Quinoa Mac & Cheese post that I ought to try quinoa pasta, and I responded that if I found it I would most definitely swoop some up. Ben loves to read the comments on the blog so he saw it, and made it his mission to surprise me with a box. Mission accomplished! 
Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta is gluten-free, organic pasta made with a blend of both quinoa and corn flour. It cooks up very quickly, and was the super-tasty base for tonight’s supper of Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto & Chicken Pasta!
Oh. Mah. Gah, you guys. This dinner was ROCKIN’!
The dish was made up of several different components, but let me tell you about my favorite one first. The Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto.
Basically what it boils down to, is this pesto is the ‘ish. The bee’s knees, if you will. I just whipped up my regular pesto recipe, which combines fresh basil leaves with garlic, cheese and walnuts, and pumped up the flavor with sweet & chewy sundried tomatoes. SO GOOD!
The ingredients are whirred with extra virgin olive oil, and some of the oil from the sundried tomatoes, which results in a luscious sauce that is exploding with flavor. It’s absolutely unbelievable. And so easy to make!
K. Let’s turn our attention to the rest of the dish. Whooo – we got all four burners blazin’ tonight!
In corner one we have zee aforementioned quinoa pasta cooking in boiling, salted water. This pasta only takes 6-7 minutes to cook to al dente, and the box warns to not overcook.
In corner two we have chicken breasts, seasoned with Italian seasoning and garlic salt, then cooked up on a flat top skillet.
A saucepan of balsamic vinegar reduction took over corner three. That’s just 1 cup balsamic vinegar that I let simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until it’s the consistency of thin maple syrup. This stuff is black GOLD, people! Sweet & syrupy, I’d drizzle it on near anything.
And last but not least, a skillet of shallots, garlic, fresh spinach and baby heirloom tomatoes took over corner four! I just sauteed shallots and garlic in a little olive oil until soft, then added in torn, fresh baby spinach and quartered baby heirloom tomatoes, and let them saute until the tomatoes were warm.
Drained pasta, pesto and the tomato mixture into the pot.
Plate, top with chicken, and drizzle with some of that scrumptious balsamic reduction.
Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto
Makes ~1/2 cup
Ingredients:
1 cup loosely packed basil leaves
2 Tablespoons sundried tomatoes packed in olive oil
2 Tablespoons walnuts (or almonds, or pine nuts)
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove
salt & pepper
1 Tablespoon oil from sundried tomato jar
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Combine basil, sundried tomatoes, walnuts, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Stream in oil while pulsing until pesto is completely mixed together.
This pesto permeated the pasta, so every bite was 100% packed with flavor. The quinoa pasta itself had amazing texture. I will definitely be buying it again.
The sweet & tangy balsamic reduction just took everything over the edge. This is totally my kind of dish!
This pesto would be amazeballs with Crispy Pesto Gnocchi with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese, BTW!
Sugar-Free Jebruary Update
Well I’m one full week into Sugar-Free Jebruary, and feelin’ groovy! For real though, giving up extra sugar during the week has not been as hard as I thought it was going to be. Since choosing fresh clementines, apples, and pomegranate seeds over twizzlers, reese’s peanut butter cups, and chocolate chip cookies, the fresh stuff is what I’m really starting to crave. Not the crap that makes me feel like, well – CRAP!
While the Blueberry Muffin Top Cookies I made on Saturday were Heavenly (Ben has requested I make them every weekend,) I kind of baked them because I felt obligated to. Like I had to make them to celebrate the fact that I could eat a couple if I wanted.
I had one, and some Valentine’s Day gummy hearts I snagged from my brother & sister-in-law’s house while babysitting my nephew last night, and that was the only sugary treats I had all weekend.
That is insane to me!
Besides craving that stuff less and less, the biggest thing I’ve noticed physically is that I feel so much less PUFFY. Sugar has a way of blowing my face and stomach up like a balloon, and also with me, sugary snacks lead to salty snacks (to balance out the flavors, natch) which also cause bloating. Less sugar = less salt = leaner me.
These babies have also been a great help. Clementines, and Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Popcorn.
I love that Clementines are not a lot of work to peel and enjoy, and they’re perfectly sweet and satisfying. Plus, since I’m a volume eater, I like that you can have more than one since they’re so small.
This popcorn is absolutely phenom because, again, I can have a giant bowl for just 110 calories.
Sometimes, I think it’s just the crunch I need for a snack, and this delicately flavored (near non-existent, actually) popcorn totally fits the bill. Love that ingredient list too!
Fellow sugar-free peeps – how are you doing? Struggling? Hanging on? Thriving? Either way – kudos for trying!
Goodnight everyone!
~~~~~
How do you surprise, or treat, your significant other?
You always make the simplest, but most delicious recipes! Looks awesome! And damnnnn girl, how do you get home so quick, cook, take pics, AND POST all before… what, 5PM on your part of the country?! JEEZ!
It’s already 6:30 out here, but I also do a lot of prep work on the weekends (chop shallots, tomatoes, season chicken, etc!)
i LOVE sundried tomatoes — the punch of flavor they add to (literally) anything is insane!
clementines are like my kryptonite. i can’t eat less than 11 in one sitting. guess there are worse things
Hahaha, exactly
That is the CUTEST tradition! And doesn’t less sugar make you feel fantastic?? I’ve been eating clean for a few weeks and feel phenomenal and have no bloat. My sweet treat = cottage cheese with cocoa powder and stevia. mmmm
Gaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh.
I’m making this. Definitely. Looks SO good!
Where did you get your pasta? I don’t think I’ve ever seen quinoa pasta at my grocery store! I love to surprise my SO with home cooked meals and spontaneous dates!
He got it at Hyvee!
Oh my gosh. I’m can’t eat wheat, and this company is the only Gluten Free pasta I’ve found that holds up nicely like “regular” pasta does. Ok, now that’s I’ve gotten over the great surprise of your surprise, I need to actually read the recipe you posted.. =)
Hope you enjoyed the pasta!
That pasta looks sooooo good! It’s so cute that your man surprises you with these little treats!
Your dinner looks amazing!!! Definitely going to try to find the pasta and then create this for myself. Also, thats a super fun game. Surprises are so much fun
Do you eat anything with Splenda or any artificial sweeteners? Any Diet Soda? I use Splenda in my morning coffee…and then also in my decaf coffee at night. It’s my one “treat” of the day, since I don’t eat sweets! Grr I wish I could get rid of that.
Splenda makes me feel weird, and I’m trying really hard to cut back on diet soda. It’s so tough!
I’m digging Truvia right now – have you tried it?
I have, and liked it! I picked up a container of Trader Joe’s powdered Stevia awhile ago and it is lasting me a LIFETIME since a little goes a long way!
Wow…drooling over this meal!!
This dinner looks SO SO good! Definitely pinning this one
So glad to hear that you are liking the sugar free weekdays, it’s very encouraging. I was reading over at Sometimes Sweet about Danielle’s sugar hiatus and between the two of you, I just might have to try it. I have a MAJOR sweet tooth and fear it would be difficult, but I need a good challenge!
That looks so yummy~ What else do you eat as clean eats and low sugar for breakfast and lunch typically?
I usually have a flavored Chobani and banana for breakfast, with coffee, of course, and leftovers from dinner the night before for lunch. That, or a green monster spinach smoothie!
That dish looks amazing! I just passed the pasta in the grocery store this afternoon but didn’t pick it up–maybe I’ll have to go back tomorrow!
This looks yummy! I’ve pinned it:)
Good job on going sugar free. One of my sugar-free indulgences is hot milk with a shot of sugar-free Torani hazelnut syrup. It feels like such a treat.
Yay! So glad he was able to find it for you. Delicious! Even my non gluten free parents like the quinoa pasta
Wow. First things first…what a sweetheart your Ben is. I know you thank your lucky stars daily! My awesome hubby of 26 years is much the same…so thoughtful. Hope it’s ok if I pin this amazing recipe on pinterest…must share and archive for myself! I signed up for email updates for your blog yesterday and you do not disappoint! Thanks for taking the time to share this!!
Oh. em. gee. That recipe looks amazing! Like I end up doing with most of your recipes, I’m pinning it! Although the blueberry cookies are still first on my list to make
I tried giving up sugar (for just a week) earlier this month, and I definitely noticed being less puffy too! Since you reminded me of it, I’m trying to stay away from sugar during the week like you’re doing. It definitely does make me crave sweets less than I used to!
Ooh I’m going to have to snatch up that TJ’s popcorn asap. It’s funny that you have a post about quinoa pasta today because literally yesterday I was at the grocery store and saw it for the first time. Glad it was awesome, I’m going to have to check it out soon.
1. that is so sweet that he reads comments/bought that pasta for you
2. you should definitely get this: http://www.amazon.com/Presto-114316-04820-PopLite-Popper/dp/B00006IUWA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327369054&sr=8-1 if you like air popped popcorn. we bought one and are loving it! we just add some garlic powder and sea salt, yummo.
I’ve never seen quinoa pasta! YUM!!!
Way to go with the sugar free eating! Clementines are a perfect snack to beat a sugar craving!
Any way to make pesto without nuts? We have a tree but allergy at our house…
I am just going to throw this out there because my mom has a tree nut allergy too – she can eat everything BUT pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts and hazelnuts – so she can eat PINE NUTS which is the wya traditional pestos are made. However, they are the most expensive nut out there! When we do pesto we BUY classico brand in a small bottle – usually on the top shelf in the pasta sauce isle – it is the only one that I actually love the taste of that is made with pine nuts and is around $3 a jar. I am not sure you could make your own with pine nuts for the same price! I believe they also have a sun-dried tomato version as well. I am also guessing you could leave the nuts out altogether…
You can just omit the nuts!
OR try sunflower seeds!
Gah! I already made my menu for the week – but this is topping the list for next Monday! Thank you!!!
Looks delicious!!!! I am trying it this week!
That chicken recipe looks sooooo good, jsut like something from a restaurant.I do love pesto!
Popcorn is one of my go-to snacks. It’s really good with string cheese or almonds/pistachios when you can’t get your fingers sticky (from the clementine juices).;)
That is so cute he surprises you! I love quinoa pasta
I like to surprise my husband with making him week day breakfasts or adding a little treat into his lunch, like chocolate or chips.
I love that Trader Joe’s popcorn too! I’m a volume eater, so being able to eat a big bowl is a plus!
I surprise my husband by making his favorite meals throughout the week, or when I’m lazy, by making dinner reservations
It’s girl scout cookie season so does that tell you how I’m doing going sugar-less during the week….
and Ben if you’re reading….you need to do a guest post on how to make home-made beer, Thanks!
I, too, am on week two of your sugar-free challenge. I have been drinking diet Coke but NO sweets. Amazing how much better I feel after just one week. This meal looks delicious!
I just tried Quinoa pasta in our family meal for the first time tonight. No one knew the difference:-) Of course, Ben, my husband didn’t buy it for me nor did he even notice or care that the pasta was not “regular”. Bonus points for you!
Ooohhh wow. Droolingwithmymouthopen dang that looks so good! By the way your husband is so cute for doing that:) and Congrats on going sugar free!
My husband and I have been sugar and carb free for 7 days. Day 4 and 5 were the worst for us. But found a great recipe that is amazingly good and sugar free. These bars have satified that intense craving. Planing on doing the SF and no carbs for 14 days then slowly start adding them back in.
Peanut Butter Choc Chip bars
1 c parker’s natural Peanut Butter (creamy or crunchy)
10 packets of Truvia/ 3-4 t stevia spoonable
2 large eggs
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t sea salt
3 oz choc chips (Sugar Free Hershey’s)
3 oz chopped walnuts
preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl stir together the first 5 ingredients until blended. Stir in choc chips and then walnuts.
Pour into butter greased 9×9 pan. Bake for 20 min or until lightly browned. Refrigerate or freeze.
I am starting the sugar-free thing tomorrow. I’ve been feeling so crappy so my friends easily talked me into it. Like you, I love to bake & cook and enjoy me some desserts! I like your approach of being able to have sugar on the weekends, and got on here to specifically see if you were seeing improvement with doing it that way. It is encouraging to see that you are! Good for you with working hard at avoiding sugar! I’ll continue following along!
I’m not completely sugar-free, but getting there! I have cut a huge amount of snacking out, and I am like you–sweet, salty, sweet, salty………it’s like a constant back and forth and it makes me crazy! So I try to have one sweet treat, and one small salty treat and then I’m done with eating for the night! I don’t like the taste of artificial stuff, so I haven’t added anything like that. I would rather drink no pop then drink diet, so that’s what I do! Good luck, in your continuing to cut out sugar
This looks sooooo goood. I love sundried tomatoes and pesto I just never had them together. I also love balsamic reductions but when ever I try it I always cook the balsamic too long and it makes a hard mess in my pan.What is the trick for that?
My advice is take it off the heat before you think it’s done, as it continues to thicken as it cools. I always take it off when it’s the consistency of thin maple syrup, then it thickens up to a luscious drizzle!
Thanks for the tip. I will have to try that. It makes sense that it thickens after you take it off the heat. I just love Balsamic vinegar.
Hi There! I’ve been reading your blog since the momentous post of 10 minute cinnamon rolls. Such a great idea! Just thought I’d say hello, and that I think the fact that your hubby picks up surprises for you is super-duper cute. I’ve always thought I’d much prefer a pack of skittles to a bouquet of roses! Ha! Sweet lovers are so easy to please!!
Brandon hates, I mean really hates, putting his laundry away so that is one thing I will do to surprise him and make his day. Plus if I don’t, it will sit on his side of the bed for weeks on end! Ha!
Your pasta looks amazing. You always make the most delicious looking pasta dishes. WIll you come to Texas and cook for me???
I haven’t given up sugar but I have stopped eating the candy at work and man, it’s hard! Walking by tempting chocolate seven million times a day and not digging my hand in has proved to be very challenging. To combat the urge I’ve stocked up on snacks, including sugarfree gum, to munch on instead. It seems to be working, for the most part!
sundried tomatoes are amazing, great idea to add them to the pesto. Good job on the sugar free weeks! I’ve been snacking on oranges as well, they are so sweet and juicy at this time of year.
Sugar free is going great here! I did splurge a little bit this last week as we had my extended family Christmas(late I know!). My mom made homemade french silk pie and apple pie with homemade ice cream. How do you pass that up?! I’ve also given up pop and eating out(both of which I splurged on this weekend as well). I’ve done great on all of them. I eat sweets on Wednesday evenings and that’s it. It has been a lot easier than I expected too, so I’m happy about that!
I’ve been eyeing up the quinoa pasta at my grocery store, maybe now I’ll have to give it a whirl!
I don’t do big surprises, but I love cooking a big meal to treat the bf!
1. I haven’t seen sprees in forever! 2. I have also never seen quinoa pasta, love it!
I’m trying to do fresh fruit instead of other things for dessert during the week. Tonight, fresh little mango is the treat.
Have you heard of/seen the Special K Cracker Chips? They provide a GREAT crunch. And you can have between 27-30 chips for only 110 calories. A great snack option. Now if only I can find the other flavors available.
LOVE this post for so many reasons! My fiance and I do a similar “Surprise!” game- always so fun
Usually my gifts to him are some random new beer [most of which I can't even pronounce the name!] to try… The chicken pasta dish has inspired dinner ideas for tonight… Anddd, TJ’s has the best popcorn! I’ve only bought the microwaved version, not the pre-popped, but it’s awesome!
i LOVE TJ’s olive oil popcorn … i devoured an entire bag last night actually!
I really want to cook with sundried tomatos, as I like any thing that is flavored with sundried tomato, but I can’t find any at the grocery store I like. Any suggestions of brands?? p.s. no trader joe’s in my neck of the woods, so perhaps if you have any suggestions from target or hyvee?
I have found them at both Hyvee and Target (and Dahls.) If you can’t find them on the shelf, just nab an employee and they’ll show you the way!
I got their spaghetti and was dissapointed to realize it wasnt ALL quinoa, but rather a mix. Still, a good way to get some protien into pasta
Stick with your sugar free goals!! Before I even looked at your blog, I did a post about how sugar made me sick for the first time in a YEAR! I had a bunch of candy when I got my braces off and then got a cold
Take a look at my post for some of the suprising stats about how bad sugar is for you, it will help keep you strong!!
Not to be annoying…..but the popcorn has canola oil in it. Heads up that canola oil is not good for is. But good job on the no sugar. It’s hard to do. Sugar is in everything!
Love your blog. If you like that popcorn, you would love an air popper. We use ours all the time, and can make some fun variations while controlling the calories and salt. Last night used Brummel and Brown spread, garlic salt, and parmesan cheese. Yum!
We have one, I’m just to lazy to lug it out and actually use it! Your flavor combo sounds fab though, so maybe I should bring it out of the depths of my cupboards.