A good way to remember the summer is to taste it- literally. Starting way back in September, I used our basil to make and freeze pesto for future use. (Thanks for the idea, Crystal!) So the other night, we had some
Trader Joe's Trottole pasta with home-made pesto genoese.
On the side, we had some roasted veggies (eggplant, canned tomatoes, onions, with dried thyme, basil, and oregano, finished off with some balsamic vinegar). The shape of the pasta, along with its thick texture, picked up the pesto perfectly. This is one of the best pastas at Trader Joe's, and they have a lot to love! Artisan-style pasta is just unbeatable.
Here's Marble. We brought some groceries home in a box and left that box in the kitchen. Well, it's become Marble's favorite playground now! She has learned that if she jumps in and acts really cute, she just might get a treat or two. So now we have a constant companion in the kitchen while we're cooking.
Ah yes, snow. Here's Daiku heading out of the house. Notice that the snow comes up to his knees.
This is what I want. This photo is from our garden, taken some time last summer. Come back, sun! At least tonight brings this year's extra early time-change, so tomorrow will bring an extra-late sunset. (Americans, don't forget to re-set your clocks to "spring forward" before going to bed tonight.) Yay!
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Bazu, what a beautiful flower!
I know on my blog you see the sun and warmth, but i get such a warm feeling seeing the snow with the sunlight on it. Daiku must have had a nice litte path in front of him there.
Marble is adorable in the box! Forget a jack-in-the-box, we have cat-in-the-box! And how smart she is now, getting a treat for being so adorable in and out of the cardboard box...
Love the roasted veggies there and the pesto pasta. YUM!!! I'm gonna get to Trader Joe's soon..
And here I was thinking that the blogging world was quiet because it's so summery outside. I'm really sorry that it hasn't brightened up where you are. If I could, I'd package up a little Spring and send it to you!
That pasta looks wonderful! Just another reason I envy everyone who has a Trader Joe's.
This is weird but.. I really like the pictures in this entry. That little clip of your kitchen looks neat.. I don't know why. And even though it's from the back, I love the shot of Daiku. He looks very handsome.
But I, too, can't wait for the flowers to bloom like that. Go away, winter.
I could KILL for some good pesto right now. Heh.
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I should make some, sometime soon. I'm just so damn lazy and I have no mortar and pestle or food processor.
It's starting to feel like spring here... there are buds on the trees and I've pulled out my short sleeve wardrobe. The wonderful thing about seasons is that every one is beautiful in some way, and by the time you are ready for a change, there is a new one upon you! You'll be seeing flowers like that lovely one in no time...
I can't believe you still have all that snow. It was 85 here yesterday and wonderful, although now it's supposed to rain the next 3 days - because it's spring break week and it always gets rained out! I hope you have beautiful flowers in your garden very soon.
The pasta looks very comforting. I'm still jealous there's no TJ's here.
Awww I love that picture of Marble! Our kitties love to play in boxes, too.
Upstate NY winters are certainly long - I think I feel your pain here in Chicago. Today it is supposed to be close to 60, but then it's going to drop back down into the low 40s. What a tease!
That picture of the flower is gorgeous. It certainly brightened my day!
oh Bazu,,,
I should show you a picture of our walk up to our house... I am almost 5'11 and it is wayyyy above my head! and it is still snowing... Yes, I know I live in alaska but, its really usually much milder where we live...
julee
I LOVE Trader Joe's...I always find soemthing new and exciting to play with when we shop there.
What a cutie Marble is! Now that's thinking outside--or is it inside?-- the box...
I am constantly complaining about winter and yet we hardly had any snow. Your post gave me some serious perspective.
But let's all take heart--spring is just around the corner, and I was so happy to give up my extra hour of sleep last night for an extra hour of sunshine.
I guess our endless winter of rain and damp is no more miserable than winter elsewhere... I think to myself that maybe snow would be better than rain but really I'm too webfooted to want any other sort of winter. It really is fascinating to read about how others are doing out there though...
As always, great post. (LOVE the kitty-in-the-box!!)
Heyyy, I just bought some of that pasta yesterday! I love buying funky pasta shapes because it gets my kids excited about their dinners, even if it is just pasta sauce and noodles.
I guess I shouldn't mention that it is 91 degrees here today, and my kids actually went swimming in our pool yesterday. No, I won't mention that. :-)
What a lovely photo of the flower!
I can't wait for spring either.. it finally warmed up here a bit..
The pesto looks amazing.. and the veggies on the side I'm sure were delicious!
I recognized that pasta instantly! I love the way they swell up and get all chewy, and with your pesto--yum!
I've been hearing about the snow in upstate New York, but seeing it is another matter. I wish I could send you some sunshine to melt some of the snow away. :)
Wow, look at all that snow. I know what you mean about the weather. Two weeks ago was snow, last week was rain, and this weekend was actually gorgeous. It was 59 here today. I hope this nice weather is headed your way :)
Your pasta dinner looks fantastic. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for that pasta next time I go to TJ's. Awwww, what a funny story about Marble's antics to get treats. That's a cute pic of her in the box.
What a pretty shot from your garden last summer too :)
well you can envy me, we have lots of sun all year! but sometimes iwish we have some snow or more cold weather is always too warm for me!
Bazu, I hear ya -- I'm about ready for spring, too. We had a huge blizzard last week, on March 1st -- gives new meaning to "in like a lion!" Har, har. At least it's supposed to be 50 degrees today, so everything is . . . MELTING! Wee! I hope it starts thawing in your neck o' the woods soon!
P.S. cat-in-the-box = cute. My Oliver does that all the time, too -- he climbs in with the paper recycling, digs around, and hangs out!
I love Trader Joe's too. I'm ready for spring to arrive too (thankfully, we had spring-like weather today and it's supposed to last all week).
look at this new blog format! I'm loving it.
Marble looks so cute! Linus loves playing in boxes too, although he tears them apart over time.
That pasta looks heavenly! I haven't picked up that kind before and I bet you are right about it picking up the pesto well. I'll have to check it out.
Come on spring!
Awwww, Marble is such a cutie! What a sweet little kitchen companion you now have. :)
I was really enjoying our brush with Spring here in SoCal and then it was over 90 degress all of a sudden! Come back, Spring! I'm not ready for summer yet. (sigh)
Your grilled pasta and pesto dinner looked wonderful. That's such a great idea to freeze the fresh pesto. I bet that makes dinner a little easier too. :)
I have to say I do love your new blog layout. It is clean, fresh and light....very spring like :-)
I hope you are feeling better. This is always the hardest time of year for me, just waiting and waiting for the snow to go and the warmth to come. I think about the natives and the settlers who first lived in this area. What hardy souls they must have been!
Aaw, I’m sorry the weather is depressing you. But I think it’s great that you are trying to cheer yourself up with summery food. My answer would be to stuff my face with comfort food and chocolate :) I love the photo of Marble…so cute!
Your blog is so beautiful, Bazu! I love the new layout!
You are lucky to still have frozen pesto!! I used all mine up. :( The pasta from TJ's looks really great! I will have to pick some up next time I am there!
Marble is such a little doll! You can never remove that box now! Lol!
The snow looks so pretty! it's all melted here, and Britty is so sad over that.
The flower photo is gorgeous! Wow! It makes me happy thinking of spring!
I hope you are doing well! Oh, and spring *is* coming...don't you worry! You will see those flowers again soon!
Oh Bazu, your new layout is spring!
Just finally doing some catch-up blog reading and look at all your great entries that I have missed.
Pasta and side vegetables look delicious.
And Marble, what a smart little kitty! And so adorable in the box, I would give that little face as many treats as she wanted!
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