We made some headway on the Summer Bucket List this weekend!
Saturday afternoon Ben and I packed the car up with our rods, tackle box, and determination, and made our way down to Big Creek Lake, about 20 minutes north of our house, for an afternoon of fishing!
Big Creek State Park has some awesome biking and walking trails, but it was the lake and all the fish we were after yesterday, on a hot but gorgeous summer afternoon.
Ben and I don’t know anything about fishing, but it’s a fun, quintessential summer activity that just has to be done, and we try and go at least a couple times every summer!
We setup shop on a long fishing pier, and immediately got excited when we could see oodles of massive fish jumping out of the water in any and all directions. SWEET!
We cast our poles, cracked open a couple cold ones (PS am I the only one who can’t say cold ones without thinking of Edward and the rest of the Cullens??) and waited for the first catch.
And waited, and waited, and waited…
THREE HOURS LATER we had absolutely nothing to show for our efforts, except for some empty beer cans, sun burns, and sweat dripping from our chins.
Those fish wouldn’t even eat my secret fish crack – biscuit dough! Every fish I’ve ever caught has been with biscuit dough, but the Big Creek fish must have been on Atkins for all they cared.
Oh well, it’s the company that counts and despite the heat and lack of fish, Ben and I had a great time. 
Until 50,000 water snakes showed up and we all but ran screaming to the car, and all the home. EEEEEK!
This morning I got the day started with a nice garden harvest! Up until today, all I’ve been able to pick is my herbs – parsley, chives, basil, and mint – and tons of kale. Which, don’t get me wrong, is awesome, but I’m ready for the GOODS – cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, peas, and Brussels sprouts!
First, can we review the evolution of my garden? It tickles me so! 
Here it is when my Mom and I planted on May 7th:
Then a little over a month later on June 12th:
And here it is today, three weeks later, on July 1st. My Sweet 100s cherry tomato plant is literally taking up 80% of the entire garden!
Today I was able to harvest my first cucumber,
and a smattering of the aforementioned Sweet 100s.
These are like candy, people. Indescribably sweet, and with a thin skin. SO GOOD – and homegrown!
I used my fresh-picked sweet 100s (well, what was left after taste-testing!) supplemented with organic cherry tomatoes from Trader Joe’s, to make a garden-inspired Summer Pasta Skillet for dinner tonight.
Fresh zucchini and cherry tomatoes are sauteed in extra virgin olive oil and garlic, then tossed with spicy chicken sausage, spaghetti, and torn basil in this ultra-summery skillet supper.
The tomatoes get nice and hot in the skillet, then burst to create the most luscious, fresh-tasting sauce that goes perfectly with the spicy sausage, and garlicky zucchini. SO GOOD!
Start by sauteing 1/2lb spicy chicken sausage. I used this Spicy Italian Vino & Formaggio Chicken Sausage from Trader Joe’s, but you can use whatever is available. Regular spicy Italian sausage would be great!
Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks, until it’s no longer pink. Scrape the sausage out onto a plate, then set it aside.
Turn the heat down to medium then in the same skillet add 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and 4 sliced garlic cloves. Saute the garlic until it turns golden brown, stirring pretty much constantly so the garlic doesn’t burn, about 1 minute.
Next add 1 zucchini that’s been halved and sliced, season with salt & pepper, and saute for 4-5 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender.
Then add 10oz cherry tomatoes. So gorgeous, right?!
Place a lid on top of the skillet and let the tomatoes warm up until they’re nearly bursting.
Meanwhile, cook 8oz spaghetti in a large pot of heavily salted, boiling water. My #1 pasta cooking tip is SALT THE WATER you’re cooking pasta in. You won’t believe how much of a taste difference it makes in the final dish!
When the spaghetti is al dente, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain.
Add the drained spaghetti and cooked sausage into the skillet, then add enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to make a little sauce and make sure the pasta doesn’t stick together.
Add some freshly grated Romano cheese on top, if you wish, and garnish with TONS of torn basil!
Summer Pasta Skillet
Serves 3-4
Ingredients:
8oz spaghetti, dry
1/2lb spicy chicken sausage
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, sliced
1 zucchini, halved and sliced
salt & pepper
10oz cherry tomatoes
fresh basil
Romano or parmesan cheese, if desired
Directions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Remove to a plate and set aside. Turn heat down to medium and add extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Add garlic slices and cook until they start to turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Add zucchini, season with salt and pepper, then saute until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes then place a lid on top of the skillet and allow tomatoes to get hot and tender, about 3 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
- Add cooked chicken sausage and drained spaghetti into the skillet with the zucchini and tomatoes. Add some of the pasta cooking water to create a sauce and make sure pasta isn’t sticking together Serve topped with torn fresh basil, and grated Romano or Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Filling, nutritious, delicious – and quick! It only took 20 minutes or so to put this dish together. Not bad for a Sunday night, throw-together dinner.
Well I hope you all had a nice weekend, too. It went quick, don’t you think? Luckily it’s a short week ahead of us!
Have a great night!
Sounds absolutely delicious. I wish I had some cherry tomatoes growing right now. And I will def have to try that Chicken sausage. And-for the record- laughed profusely at the Cullen reference. I will never look at a beer the same again!
Sweet 100′s are the best!!! We rent and don’t have permission to dig up a garden here in the northeast. I’m a Missouri girl and use to getting harvest by July. They don’t even plant until June 1 here so it’s been a culture shock! I have a garden in pots with sweet 100′s, patio tomatoes, green pepper and I am trying cucumbers this year in pots. We have blooms and some green tiny fruit coming in…..can’t wait! Your garden looks fabulous! Nothing better than home grown!!!
This is great! I’ve got a ton of yellow pear tomatoes right now, and I’m looking for recipes.
My husband is out fishing at Big Creek right now. It hasn’t been the best summer for fishing, with the water so low. Maybe this is an obvious question, but did you use worms as bait? Might work better than biscuit dough
Hehe, yeah. Worms, lures, then eventually biscuit dough. Still nothin’!
I haven’t been fishing in years but it does seem so summery and relaxing. Yay for fresh veggies! I’m still waiting for mine to ripen but I know it’s close! Can’t wait to use my own produce in my dinners.
Your pictures remind me of fishing with my dad in central Illinois when I was kid! Ahh…the memories. This looks like the perfect summer pasta dish! Can’t wait to try it!
I can’t fish. I cry when I hook the work for bait. And if I use a lure I just feel so bad for that poor little fishy & want to kiss his little lip where I hooked him. I’m such a sap.
That skillet looks SO yum!
worm*, obvs
50,000 water snakes!! I would’ve had a heart attack. This pasta dish looks absolutely perfect, I’m pinning this recipe and making it this week hopefully!
ahhhhmazing pasta dinner! –
yucky water snakes! – We used to have them live in the barn where I grew up (right next to a creek) – they would chase our dog!
Great post with a yummy looking recipe! We are garden growers as well and love it. My hubby and I also wanted to say kudos on the throwback Pirates hat that your hubby is sporting! Pretty sweet!
Can’t wait to try the recipe! Loving the New Belgium koosies….and no, I always think about the Cullens when I hear “cold ones” as well.
I am SO impressed with your garden! I’ve been wanting to start one, but honestly, I’m super intimidated! I am slowly getting up the courage to start my own
Thanks for your inspiratation! Fresh veggies on hand is priceless!
Water snakes… ughhh. I think I would rather swim with sharks.
Your garden is amazing!! I can’t believe how fast everything grew.
Love the veggie skillet… and can’t wait to try the baked bean recipe on the 4th! Thanks!
Aw, I love your fishing pictures!! I used to go fishing with my dad all the time…I think I only caught one fish though
love how easy this looks….& yummy!!! have you ever used the biscuits to make dough boys over your fire? definitely not adkins friendly, but worth it!!
know how much you love the iowa corn that is almost ready….& thought of you when I saw this tip for silk-free corn on the cob…check it out at the bottom of this post from Becky Higgins’ blog….
http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2012/06/back-from-being-on-the-road-again/
can’t wait to try it…& the skillet pasta too!!
Happy Monday…
oh dear…I pasted the wrong link to the tip…try this one instead…sorry!!
http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2012/06/tip-giveaway-from-mom/
LOL I am sitting at work and I literally picked my feet off the ground under my desk when I saw that picture of the snakes…scary!
Your garden is amazing!! There is nothing more rewarding than harvesting your own produce!
[...] Thursday: Summer Pasta Skillet [...]
The garden looks great. Do you have a tomato cage around your cukes? I’ve never seen that before?!
I do! It helps corral the plant and the cukes grow downward, off the dirt.
omg….those snakes are freaking me out SCARY
[...] failing fishing on Saturday, Ben and I didn’t feel like going home just yet, so we stopped off at Mullets on the way home [...]
WOW! Your garden is amazing! You have inspired me and I am building my own in the next few weeks. I do have a question for you though – is your garden in direct sunlight? Do you know if that is required? Just want to make sure I place the garden in the proper place in the yard. Thanks
Mine is in direct sunlight all day, and is about twice the size of my Mom’s garden, which was planted at the same time, and is not in sunlight all day. Hers is producing veggies too though, so it’s not *required* per se, but it will make your plants grow super fast and big!
Fabulous, thanks for the info! I will keep you posted
I made this tonight for supper with some zucchini from our CSA box and it was FANTASTIC! Would have been better with some cherry tomatoes from our garden but there were only a couple that were ripe enough so had to use ones from Hy-Vee. We will definitely be making this again soon. Hopefully our tomatoes will be ready by then – fresh from the garden is so much better. THANKS for the recipe!
I also keep meaning to thank you for the strawberry mojito recipe. I made them for my parents when they were here for dd’s graduation from Wartburg in May and everyone loved them. In fact, they loved them so much that they have been making the drinks for their friends in Florida, so your recipe is making the rounds in Florida too! As for me, strawberry simple syrup has become a staple in my fridge. Yum!
I’m so jealous of your garden progress! Looks great
[...] Go fishing – DONE! [...]
yum!! Sounds fresh and delicious!!! Perfect for summer!
Made this last night for dinner and it was AWESOME!! Great job, as always!!
DITTO! (What Tricia said) YUMMY.
This.was.FANTASTIC! Great job as always Ms. Kristin. Used ground turkey, but should have used the chicken sausage. Love your work!
Made this tonight for my boyfriend and I…awesome! That trader joes chicken sausage was great. Love your blog! I live in Minneapolis and love the “midwest feel” of your blog!
I made this last night. It was so delicious and easy! I used sundried tomato basil chicken sausage I found at the store and added feta cheese. Yummy.
[...] on the way home. Really, it was more me being cheap than wanting to be healthy. I made this summer pasta skillet. I’m not a big fan of tomatoes so I replaced them with summer squash. This was so good. Very [...]
love your husband’s hat – LETS GO BUCS !
Yoy are so clever girl!! Thank you for your blog) It’s amazing!!
[...] introduce to you, Summer Skillet Pasta. I took this recipe from one on of my favorite blogs, Iowa Girl Eats. Her recipe calls for chicken sausage, but since I am a vegetarian, I decided not to use that [...]
I just made this tonight and LOVED it! I used rainbow rotini instead, and also added onion, green pepper, and spinach. OMG, so delicious…I cannot stop sneaking more out of the pan! Thanks for a great recipe.
[...] I probably did make that up because we got nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. AGAIN! Tons of nibbles, but in the end our hooks got more action from the pond weeds than the blue gills [...]