My test took me longer than expected, but I wrapped up right around 5:30 just in time to plan something fun for dinner.
I took a study break around 4:30 to make this delicious snackaroo
Hot Apple with Granola, Cinnamon + PB
I used to eat this a lot ages ago and had forgotten what a great snack it makes! I just chopped up a big apple and nuked it for 2 minutes (a little too long, though) and then added cinnamon, about a quarter cup Mix My Granola and a tsp of peanut butter. Yum!
Angela, this one’s for you 🙂
Matt and I walked to the grocery store (in the dark – so sad the sun goes away in the 5:00 hour now!) to pick up some veggies for dinner.
Upon arrival home I heard that familiar Friday night "tsst" of a bottle top and was presented with a sample at my desk! One does not turn down beer tastes presented by handsome gentlemen. [He even takes the photos for me when he’s surprising me with a beer!]
Love the 1554!
We brainstormed dinner on our walk. I decided on a pasta dish and we chose eggplant and mushrooms to go in it. And we remembered we had some bacon on hand as well. The dish was born:
Roasted Eggplant + Mushroom Pesto Pasta with Bacon + Olives
We first roasted a sheet pan of eggplant + mushrooms tossed in a wee bit of oil, salt and pepper for about 40 minutes at 350*. Then we sautéed 2 slices of bacon in a pan and tossed in the roasted veggies.
Plus about 10 chopped kalamata olives and 2 tbsp of Mezzetta Napa Valley pesto I brought home from the Foodbuzz festival. I have to say I was totally impressed by the pesto. It reminded me of my summer in Cambridge when all I cooked was pasta with pesto and goat cheese!
All tossed over some Barilla penne and topped with parmesan. I loved the subtle bacon bites mixed with the rich veggies. Def. want to make this one again! I didn’t actually eat all of my penne. I am just not a pasta person! I would have rather just had more eggplant 😉
The Yeast Master also prepped some bread in the oven with a bit more pesto
Pasta I can do without, but bread…..
And HA! I think Matt loves it more than I do! Check out his portion (these were both about the size of my hand with some bites missing!)
Tonight we watched Memoirs of a Geisha. What a gorgeous movie!!! Unlike last night being wired at 12:30, I’m ready for bed now – just in time for 10:26!
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) says
Eggplant is one of my favorite ingredients to include in dinner.. I feel like it ups the taste value in an ordinary meal.
candice says
It fascinates me how you guys can come up with such an cool dish by just throwing things you have on hand together. Roasted eggplant is sooo yummy–much more flavorful than pasta, IMO! 😉
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
MMm I love pesto! Soooo good.
Erin says
That dinner looks yum — mmm pesto!
Relaxing Fridays are great. 😀
emmy - eatventures says
I’m so glad that pesto is a winner! I have two jars (my roomate was allergic to nuts) and I am so excited for them to get here in the mail.
Anne K. says
Your snack looks so good, and perfect for Fall! And bread + pesto is a winning combo 🙂 Have a lovely night!
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet says
Mmm, I do not judge you in anyway for accepting the brew! I love beer, and that looks amazing! I love eggplant and pesto so I may have to try that. I agree on the pasta front, I like it but I don’t often crave it. I would MUCH rather have bread anyday! Especially with that delectable looking pesto spread!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
That apple snack is one of my favorites. I add the cinnamon pre-nuking. Sometimes I add some greek yogurt for a tart bite as well 🙂
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans says
I love that mug/bowl!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i really love your big mug/bowl. just love eating from stuff like that; makes me feel cozy. i didn’t really care for “memoirs of a geisha” (maybe b/c i auditioned for it over 4x) but it was very beautiful, indeed.
Katrina says
I’m way beyond late, but congrats on your FoodBuzz awesome win! Love the new look to your blog, too.
Jen(eatmovelove) says
Beautiful pics! That meal looks much more sophisticaed than mine! 🙁
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Hooray for eggplant! 😉 I tried mine last night cut into rounds, topped with black pepper and garlic powder, and baked at 350* for 16 mintues. It was AMAZING! I’d love to try it in a pasta dish or stiry fry now.
And I’m digging that apple/granola! What a perfect healthy comfort food.
Ameena says
That looks delicious. I need to use eggplant in my meals more often.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
I loooooove eggplant with all of my heart! I’m not a big pasta person either. Eggplant>pasta any day!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Not a pasta person?! 🙁 You make me sad, Kath! lol Dinner looks delish!! 🙂
Jenn
BettyTheBalancer says
Hi KERF — been lurking for a while but just wanted to say THAT PASTA LOOKS DIVINE. Note to self: Must buy pesto tomorrow.
BroccoliHut says
Holy delicious pasta! It has been far too long since I last had pesto.
Mama Pea says
I’m an eggplant virgin, but a hot apple granola slut.
Hillary - Nutrition Nut on the Run says
Hot apple & granola sounds like the perfect fall snack.
Danica says
MMMMMM…fantastic pasta. I definitely cannot wait to try out the pesto now 🙂
Marina says
yummy pasta dish. I never had pesto, but this recipe seems like a great one to try it
Jenna says
glad you had a great dinner!
jenna
Sarah says
What a great dinner idea – can’t wait to try it out!
Simply Life says
Oh I like the apple and granola idea – yum! Thanks!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
What a great looking dinner!
Nicole says
Memoirs of a Geisha is a great movie! I saw it in the theaters, I really loved it. I feel like such an old lady, I was in bed before 11 as well! I even made my way downtown with the intention of going to a bar with my friends, but the whole time I just wanted to be in my bed with a movie, so I went back and that’s what I did 😉
Stacey says
The book is really great too! How sweet of him to take the pics for you! I ask Jason and I always get a blurry, uncentered one lol…he finds it tedious. 😀 Enjoy your weekend!
Katie says
Hope the test went well.
Yummy meal. I love how you and the hubs spend so much time together!
haya says
that pasta looks really tasty, though i can’t imagine going wrong with bacon! mmm
have you read the book memoirs of a geisha? i liked the movie, but the book was even more excellent! (i am making myself finish julie and julia, the book, before i see the movie for this very reason)
skinnyrunner says
you are so creative, you can whip up an amazing meal on the fly while that would take me 3 cookbooks and half a day to replicate!
Diana says
I really liked that movie too, the photography was amazing.
The Voracious Vegan says
Mmmm….what a comforting dinner! I adore pesto, whether it is on bread, pasta, or a spoon straight out of the jar! Looks like a lovely evening.
Light Delight with TouTou says
I love veggieful Penne!
Susan says
I’m not a huge pasta person either. I just don’t like the mushy, slimy, texture of it. And the white stuff doesn’t really have much of a taste. When I was a kid I would just ask for spaghetti sauce 😛
That pesto on bread though? Mmmmm….
Kelly from Bridges and Bites says
Matt’s idea of putting pesto on the bread sounds really good! And I LOVE that movie!!! So beautiful.
Kath says
Mama Pea,
LOL where do you come up with this stuff!?
haya,
I haven’t read the book, but I bet it was a good one 🙂
K
ashleigh says
baked apples are soo good! looks like a yummy dinner you had.
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says
I made pesto pasta with that pesto too. I used zucchini, eggplant and butternut squash. And I am definitely starting to want to eat more veggies and less pasta too.
Mary Ann says
couldn’t you just LIVE off good bread and pesto, GASM (and totally affordable)
Angela (Oh She Glows) says
OMG I did a double take on the sticker and then burst out laughing!!!
Danielle says
Hi Kath!
I started reading your blog a few days ago and LOVE IT! Your eggplant + bacon + pasta looked too good to not leave a comment on. I LOVE pasta and bacon so this looks amazing! I think I know what I’m making for dinner one night this week 🙂
Have a great Saturday!
Danielle
Kath says
Danielle,
Thanks and welcome!
K