My Hubby has gone soft; not in his middle or god forbid down south, even though being a pharmacist would make it pretty easy to get his hands on some Viagra. And illegal too, so don’t go getting any ideas.
Even worse than him going soft? It’s partially my fault.
Once upon a time, in an unrealistic world far, far away and a lifetime ago, we did household chores together. We took turns mowing the lawn, making the bed, and folding the laundry. We shared the mundane, minus cleaning the bathroom, because I refuse to stick my hand down a toilet. I’d rather move, which could admittedly get quite costly.
In any event, we prepared meals together from start to finish. We discussed what we were going to eat, who was going to cook what, and then bantered back and forth over the dreaded clean up. Somewhere along the way though, our roles shifted and I became the creative one and he my prep chef. After the tiny human was born, it changed yet again, with efficiency winning out. The simple fact of the matter is I could cut all the vegetables in the time it takes him to cut an onion and possibly his finger. No offense honey.
So these days I do the vast majority of the cooking, aside from his specialty PB&J sandwiches, crust removed, or pasta with jarred marina sauce and a side of broccoli because veggies. He gets mad props for always including the green goodies. It’s partially why I married him, ignoring of course his access to Viagra.
Anyway, tomorrow I’m hopping on a jet plane, sans tiny human. I will be leaving Ave for three whole days and three whole nights in his very capable care. When it comes to being a parent, he’s a rock star. He’s patient (which we all know I’m not), calm (again, not necessarily my forte) and tolerant of toddler antics (The only rule in toddler fight club is there are no rules). Where he’s lacking is a pair of attached milk jugs and a little bit of kitchen creativity.
Since I don’t want the two of them living Survivor style over the next few days (ya know, eating bugs and whatever else they can find in the backyard), I thought I’d share a recipe he could whip up while I’m gone. One that involves the Hubby’s beloved pasta, but is also packed with palate pleasing pesto, ample amounts of asparagus and grilled goat cheese. It’s tasty, tantalizing and super simple to throw together, even while juggling a tiny human.
Bonus points, babe, if you send me a picture.
- 1 bunch Asparagus, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 2 cloves Garlic, roughly chopped
- 1/2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper
- 3/4 lb Pasta of choice (I prefer shells or anything that holds the pesto well)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup reserved Pasta Water
- 3/4 cup good quality Pesto
- 4 oz. Goat Cheese, sliced into four medallions
- Handful of Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread asparagus on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, a few cranks of salt and pepper, and your roughly chopped garlic. Mix well until the olive oil lightly coats the asparagus. Roast in the oven for 6 minutes. Flip asparagus over and then cook for another 6 minutes, adding the goat cheese medallions to the oven for the last two minutes of cooking.
- While your asparagus is roasting, cook pasta of choice according to package directions, reserving 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water. Drain pasta.
- Add the cooked pasta, the roasted garlic asparagus, the pesto and a 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to a bowl. Stir to combine. If you'd like your pasta to be a little bit more saucy, add more reserved pasta water.
- Top with halved cherry tomatoes and goat cheese medallions.
Who does the household chores in your house? What’s your significant other’s go to meal?
Bravo for taking off solo! It’s a hard thing to do that first time. But it only gets easier. The pasta recipe looks easy and very tasty! For some reason goat cheese, even though it has small amounts of lactose doesn’t bother me. I still have it in moderation so that doesn’t change.
Hooray for goat cheese. Also fun fact, people who are lactose intolerant can usually handle buttermilk.
I leave for the airport in 15 minutes. Squeal!!
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
Yummy! I love pasta too. I will definitely try this. Have fun on your sans-toddler vacay!
Laurie recently posted…Wednesday Word, May Edition – Technical
Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the pasta.
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
Leaving my not so tiny humans too!
But I’m leaving them with $20 and fridge/freezer of possibilities.
The rest is up to them.
And now I want goat cheese medallions because this looks yum!
Kirsten recently posted…Wild Violet Muffins with Wild Violet Sugar #MuffinMonday
You’re so much nicer than me. Cash and food. I’m impressed. Have a great time!!
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
Shells are the best for holding sauce, which honestly is the main point of pasta.
My husband is also plagued with vegetable-chopping inefficiency. In fairness, when we met his entire cooking repertoire was about 5 meals, so chopping anything beyond onions and potatoes is an area where I have far more experience.
Sauce and cheese right? Little buckets of delight.
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
Oh, he’d better send a pic! Of the pasta. Not his non-soft member. *gag*
I wouldn’t mind a picture of either.
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
Yummm!!! I have not had enough goat cheese in my life lately – have to fix that. Good luck with your trip! It is a big deal, I know it means a lot, and you will all do great 🙂
Thank you. I’m super excited and incredibly nervous at the same time; pretty much how I feel about parenting in general. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
Delicious! I also like pasta. Wish you have a fun trip and great things come to you.
Who doesn’t like pasta> Team carbs all the way!!
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
Grilling goat cheese!? My eyes are popped. This screams spring and easy. Two things I am 100% adamant on right now. Oh and asparagus. I’ve been digging those guys too.
This is great! I say thanks on behalf of myself AND the hubby.
Cora recently posted…Week In Review: Social Media, Reverting to the Corner and Recouping in the Kitchen
You are most welcome. I would love for you to try it and I can’t wait to hear what you and Dan think.
Meghan recently posted…Pesto Pasta with Grilled Goat Cheese and Asparagus
I love you two. I am glad you’re off with your friends, Ave and daddy bonding time. With goat cheese and pastaaaa.
Brittany recently posted…Early Morning Confessions
I love everything about this pasta! We’ve been eating so much asparagus lately. It’s funny how up until a few years ago, I didn’t even like it.
Hope you had a good trip!
Chelsea A recently posted…Beet Hummus Toast with Figs and Goat Cheese
i can totally get down and dirty with this!!! goat’s cheese and green stuff… and pasta. love.
can’t wait to hear about your trip you badass mama you!
David and I do share, especially food prep but I tend to make all the breakfasts and lunches. He is quite happy to be clean up which makes me happy too. He can cook but doesn’t really take much joy in it, unlike me, so we each work to what makes us happy. David would be all over this though, pesto is one of his favourites.
David’s go to if I wasn’t around would probably be one great big massive slow cooker chili. Make once, eat all week. And he would eat it for dinner all week, he isn’t fussed with the same thing every day if it’s tasty!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Week in Review
I love a great big pot of slow cooker chili too, although I’ll usually only eat it twice that week. The rest gets frozen for another time.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: The Highlight Reel (#132)
This looks delicious and healthy!
Thanks!