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Does this pasta scream spring or what??
I promised myself I wouldn’t talk about the weather, but the colder it gets, and the more it snows, the more I crave SPRING!
Anyway, how was everyone’s Easter?!? For once, I actually took it kind of easy on Saturday. My energy has been super low since getting my wisdom teeth yanked last week. On Sunday morning I was in a lot of pain. Unfortunately the pain has actually gotten worse instead of better. Thinking I may need to get it checked out today.
But for real, how was everyone Easter? I spent a tiny amount of Saturday night hiding Easter eggs with my younger brother Red for little Asher to run around and find on Sunday. I think Red and I may have gone a bit too far though, because Asher only found about half. Ooops!
Thing is Red spent Easter Sunday on a plane headed to…ahhhh….I dunno I forgot. I think maybe Chicago for one leg and then off to some other country to do more snowboarding. Or maybe it was a shoot for a snowboard mag first, and then out of the country. Not sure, but the kid lives the life of a rock star. He spent all last week riding in the back country of Wyoming filming for a part in some movie. Details clearly are not really my thing. All I know is that I saw some of the shots and it looked pretty fun.
Anyway, after Red and I hid the eggs and spent our five minutes of older sister, younger brother time together, we said our goodbyes (aka adios amigo…later Tiegs). Then mom and I quickly ran down to Target for some last-minute goodies for Asher’s basket. You see, I had promised Asher that I would get her something fun for Easter, but then I didn’t… which meant Target with mom at eight o’ clock the night before. I used to be so organized…what happened to me? I got her a cute little summer inspired outfit for our upcoming trip to CA to visit the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I promised her that as soon as I turned in my book manuscript I would take her. Man, I make that girl a lot of promises.
So yeah, that was kind of my Easter in four hundred words. Oh, and when the parents dropped off Red off at the airport yesterday, they picked up Kai, who is here for a whole week on spring break, yeah! You loose one brother, you gain another. Life balance?
Forgot to add that Mom made me a KILLER Easter basket. Malley’s chocolate bunnies, strawberries and passion fruits. OKay, kind of an odd basket, but not for me. I’m pumped about the passion fruit, I’ve been looking for it for weeks, yeah!!
Also, is it weird that I am twenty-two and my mom still makes me a basket?!? It might be lame, but I love it and I love her for it. I also love her for coming over just to help me make my bed on Sunday night. I mean, I can make my own bed (although those duvet covers are not easy). But when mom helps me? It’s extra special. You know? She gives it that motherly touch!
Ahh but OK.
PASTA talk time!
Oh how I love this Sunflower Seed Pesto Pasta. It’s quick, simple and delicious. Light, but filling, healthy, but still totally satisfying in every which way. One of my favorite ways to prepare asparagus in the spring time is the grill. Grilled or roasted are both great, but I think I like grilled best, it just gives the asparagus an awesome flavor.
Believe it or not, this recipe idea came solely from the concept that I wanted to char up some asparagus on the grill. From there I built-in this pasta and added in some yummy seasoned chicken for protein. You see the pasta was necessary to in order to satisfy my carb fix… and to add a little cream for sauciness. I also incorporated some goat cheese – for its yum factor, and greens + herbs – for their color and flavor!
So here’s how this pasta goes:
…start by seasoning the chicken
…make a quick pesto like sauce consisting of toasted sunflower seeds, spring greens, basil and olive oil
….bring a pot of water to boil for the pasta
…grill, sear or roast your chicken + asparagus
….boil the pasta and toss it with a splash of cream and the pesto, plus some goat cheese…duh
…add the chicken + asparagus
….eat and eat and eat!!
So you see, pretty simple, and full of so much yumminess! Also, this dish is quick to prepare, making it the PERFECT Monday night meal. If you are vegetarian, the chicken can be omitted completely or replaced with tofu OR chickpeas (which would be my choice). You can also use shrimp and salmon in place of the chicken too! Oh and I do also highly recommend an extra drizzle of lemon just before serving. I am on a huge lemon kick lately – so refreshing, and so good for you!
If you’re not a fan of goat cheese…wait who am I kidding, of course you love goat cheese right? I mean, I am not sure we can be friends otherwise.
JUST KIDDING.
But you know I love goat cheese. If you don’t, I would recommend buffalo mozzarella, buratta or feta. All would be great options. Just don’t skip the cheese. Hey, it’s Monday, Mondays need cheese.
Obviously.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
YUP. Make Mondays doable with plenty of carbs + cheese. Yep, you’re welcome. 🙂
Love what a quick + delicious meal this is!!! xo
I made this recipe for dinner tonight – and it WAS as amazing as I thought! I did a few variations – I used pine nuts instead of sunflower seeds. I didn’t use any cream or the canned coconut milk. I also used half pasta and half spiraled zucchini which was GREAT! The meal was fabulous and I have a great lunch waiting for me tomorrow. Tieghan – you are an incredibly talented cook, photographer and writer. You inspire me everyday!
Awe, thank you!! I am SOO happy you enjoyed this recipe! Your kind comments are making my day!! 🙂
Goat cheese is pretty much my favorite thing!
I hate cheese, but I admit, goat cheese on occasion is delicious–it adds the perfect flavor to everything! Oh and I love asparagus with blackened chicken. The sunflower seeds add a delicious crunch too!
Hello pasta perfection! I need this for dinner tonight!
Many times you make your dishes extra lovely by throwing in some edible flowers. Would you be able to give us a list of some of the flowers that are edible?
Thanks so much!!
Hey Donna! Thank you for your kind words! Those a radish flowers on this past, but I also use a lot of chamomile flowers, dill flowers, basil flowers and cilantro flowers too! Let me know if you have questions, happy to help! 🙂
Your Easter sounds lovely (minus the wisdom teeth pain… do you have dry socket?! Gosh I hope not – it’s the worst.)! And this pasta is calling my name!
I make several “Primavera” style dishes in spring and summer with all the garden veggies. GREAT nuts to use for pesto are pepitas (pumpkin seed kernels). You can use them raw, or I toast them in a dry pan. I also roast some garlic and add it to my pesto. No need for the pine nuts, most are from China these days anyhow… I try to buy local when I can.
Lemon, charred asparagus, and pasta were meant to go together! So spring. Love it!
Love the simplicity and versatility of this dish yet it still has lots of flavors. Will definitely put this into my rotation. Sorry to hear your jaw is getting worse instead of better. Follow up visit to the doctor sounds like a good idea.
Yum! Sounds like the perfect pasta, especially love those grilled asparagus – they look so good!
Love your bond with your brother. As the younger one in the sis-bro relationship, I think it’s a totally special connection.
I hear you with the weather. It’s going to warm up here soon but right now it’s cold and rainy and totally depressing.
Dishes like this can certainly save the day (and our spirits)! Love all the beautiful flavors and textures in this bowl of pasta (love the bowl, too). 🙂
Thank you so much, Brian! Hope all is good! 🙂
Hi!
This looks great. What protein would you recommend for vegetarian/pesceterian instead of chicken?
Asparagus have still to make an appearance around the local markets this year, and I have sooooooo been craving them… this pasta looks like heaven on a bowl, actually.
http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt/
It’s totally screaming Spring! I could just faceplant in that huge bowl of yumminess! p.s. I love that your mom still makes you an Easter basket, not weird at all. She sounds so awesome!