A Quick Herby Pasta & Garden Variety Wednesday # 6 (link up)

Garden Variety Wednesday link up below.

School's out.  And it's getting hot outside.

That means I'm looking for fast, easy dishes.  Things that cook quickly and don't heat up the house too much.  Things that don't take too long to cook.  Because I'd rather be sweating out in the yard than sweating standing over the stove. 

And if I can use a bunch of stuff from my garden in the process...even better.

This week I have another herby pasta.  I know.  More pasta.  More herbs.  Enough!  But pasta is something I usually turn too for a quick, no fuss meal.  When GVW resumes on June 8, I promise to have something completely diferent.

That good looking dish is Jamie Oliver's Summer Tomato Fusilli.  It was quick.  Easy.  Used a bunch of stuff from my garden.  I live in an older house with no dishwasher, so I also liked that the dishes were kept to a minimum. 

The sauce is made in the serving bowl set over your pasta pot as a heat source.  Very cool.  Although, if your bowl is tight-fitting, beware of possible spillover as the water boils.  Not that I'd know anything about that.  The herby balsamic-butter sauce is flavorful but light.  The recipe is versatile too.  Change up the herbs.  Add in garlic and/or some kind of veggies.  The olives are listed as optional, but I really wouldn't skip them.  Unless you don't like olives.

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Before moving on to the recipe and link up, I have to mention Joplin, MO.  I called Joplin home for almost 5 years before moving back to Louisiana.  While Joplin and I were not a good fit, I met some stand-up people there.  People I think about often even though I don't keep in touch all that well.  People I care about.  Some, I have heard from.  They may be bruised physically and emotionally.  They may be carless and homeless.  But they are okay.  Or will be given some time.  A few...we're still left hanging.  Particularly The Boy's old doctor and his family who live in one of the hardest hit areas.  We lived across the street from them when we first moved to Joplin.  He made a house call when I was sick with the flu.  His oldest daughter brought us a plate of cookies when we moved in.  She took care of my child now and then.  I can't help but think of all the times they offered their basement to us yahoos from Louisiana who were scared to death each and every time the tornado sirens sounded.  I hope that basement protected them. 


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Summer Tomato Pasta
from Jamie at Home by Jamie Oliver

1 lb fusilli
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
6 Tbsp butter, cubed
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
a large bunch of soft herbs (basil, marjoram, parsley, thyme, oregano), leaves picked--a few baby leaves reserved, the rest roughly chopped
1 1/4 lb cherry tomatoes
extra virgin olive oil
a block of Parmesan for grating

Pour some water from a kettle into a pan over the heat and add the pasta and some salt.  Place a large metal or earthenware bowl over the top of the pot.  Put butter, balsamic vinegar, and chopped herbs in the bowl and warm until the butter melts.  Now squeeze in the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, then remove the bowl from the pan and put to one side.  Give pasta a stir.

When the pasta is cooked according to the package instructions, drain it in a colander, reserving some of the cooking water.  Tip the pasta into the bowl with the tomatoes and stir.  Drizzle with a good glug of olive oil, loosen with some of the pasta water if need be.  Sprinkle over the reserved baby herb leaves.  Serve with a block of Parmesan for grating.  Lovely with olives thrown in.




Garden Variety Wednesday # 6

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Made a dish with something you nurtured in your garden?
Maybe a neighbor stopped by and shared some of his/her harvest?
Have baskets of goodies from a pick-your-own farm?
Found some treasures at your local farmer's market?


Link up here!


* In your post, link back to Ms. enPlace or grab a Garden Variety Wednesday button and add it to your post.
* Link your post--not your home page.
* Please, one link per person.
* Since growing seasons differ so much even across the US, old/archived posts are welcome, but please edit with a link back or a button.
* Have fun visiting other blogs!

See side bar for GVW #1-5.


Garden Variety Wednesday schedule:
June 8 & June 22
July 13 & July 27
August 10 & August 24
Past August...up to Mother Nature and if participation picks up

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This week, I'm linking up with:
I Heart Cooking Clubs--Mad About Herbs
Make a Food-"e"-Friend Monday #14 @ The Saturday Evening Pot

Tuesdays at the Table @ All The Small Stuff

Hearth and Soul vol 49 @ A Moderate Life

Delectable Tuesday @ Home Sweet Farm

Made it on Monday #11 @ Lark's Country Heart

Tip Day Thursday @ Around My Family Table

What's Cooking Thursday @ Feeding Four

Potluck Friday @ EKat's Kitchen

Foodie Friday @ Little Brick Ranch

Presto Pasta Nights # 215 hosted by Trish of My Slap Happy Kitchen
Seasonal Saturday @ la bella vita
Cookbook Sundays @ Mom's Sunday Cafe