Tasty Tuesdays: Ricotta Spinach Pasta

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

You know I love pastas - this one sounded so good, I knew I had to make it when I saw the recipe in Cooking Light Magazine.  It was very easy to make and quite delicious.  I absolutely loved flavor added by the lemon rind.

{ Original recipe form the April 2012 issue of Cooking Light Magazine.  See it here }

Ingredients:

- 9 ounces fettuccine { I used whole grain }

- 2/3 cup ricotta cheese

- 1 teaspoon lemon rind

- 3/4 teaspoon slat, divided

- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided

- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

- 1-1/2 cup red pepper, diced

-1/3 cup chopped walnuts

- 3 garlic cloves, minced

- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

- 3 cups fresh baby spinach

- lemon rind strips, optional



1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain in a colander over a bowl; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.

2. Combine ricotta, 1 teaspoon rind, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper; sauté 2 minutes. Add walnuts, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon oil and juice. Add pasta, pasta water, and spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts. Top with ricotta mixture and rind strips, if desired.

So easy, right?

What did you cook this week?

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Make sure to stop by later this week - I will be hosting a giveaway!

Fall Mantel

I took a little time this weekend to get my mantel ready for Fall.  Poor mantel - I completely skipped any Summer decoration for it this year.

I didn't do much - just picked up a few pumpkins and gourds from the farmers market and brought out a few seasonal pieces.  If you've been here for a while, you've probably seen these same things several times!

Here is an overall shot:



I made the wheat bundle last year.  You can find my tutorial right here.

The apothecary jars are almost always on my mantel - I just change out the fillers to reflect the season.  I left the top off of the one above, and put in a candle & nuts instead.

The pie pumpkin above is the prettiest shade of orange in person.

The small gourd is sitting on a glass candle stick - an easy way to add a little height.

I saved the nuts from last year because I knew I'd want to use them to decorate for Fall and they aren't out in bulk at the store yet.  I might be a little crazy!

And the left side...

More wheat on this side of the mantel.  I bought a few bunches, divided it into four sections, and tied each section with a piece of raffia.

I think gourds are so pretty and interesting.  The patterns are beautiful!





One last overall...

Yikes, I didn't realize I had so many photos.  Thanks for sticking with me!  I have to say, it sure feels good to be posting something other than Tasty Tuesdays.  I think I may have gotten my blogging mojo back.  We'll see.

Make sure to stop back later in the week - I will be hosting a giveaway!

More Fall decorating posts:

- Thanksgiving table scape

- Simple Fall Mantel

- Fall Mantel 2011

I've linked up to Centsational Girl's Autumn Link Party - check it out RIGHT HERE

Dahlia Love

It's dahlia season!  Last weekend at the farmers market I picked up a few.  I always seem to forget about dahlias until they make their appearance in late summer.  They are such a gorgeous flower - definitely one of my favorites.



Isn't this a beautiful shade of peach?

Sitting on my nightstand...



I love these too.

The edges looked like they are dipped in white.



It's hard to believe fall is right around the corner with gorgeous flowers like these still around!