My Try at the Trendy Tik Tok Pasta

 

I’m not on Tik Tok, but if you are on line at all you have most likely seen this easy pasta recipe.  I was skeptical, but every time someone made it, there was evident genuine surprise at how good it tasted.  So, I decided to give it a try.  I did change the cheese from Feta to Boursin.

Step 1

Place a block of Boursin garlic and herb flavored cheese in a 9x12 baking dish.  Surround with one container of cherry tomatoes.  Drizzle cheese and tomatoes with olive oil and add 3 tsp crushed garlic and your choice of seasonings.  I used Italian seasoning, cracked black pepper and red pepper flakes.  Put water to boil and prepare 16 ounce box of pasta.

Step 2

Bake in 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until cheese is melted and tomatoes are soft and ready to burst.

Step 3 

Mix in prepared pasta of your choice (I used fettuccine) and a bit of the pasta water. Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil.

That is how easy it is and it is really good.  You could add shrimp or chicken at the end as well if you needed some protein.  Sometimes a fad can be a good thing :-)

Pittsburgh Weekend In Photos

 

We had so much fun visiting my daughter and son in law in their beautiful city this past weekend.  It was my husband’s first visit to their new home that they closed on last year, right before covid, so overdue for him. They live a bit north of the city, but we made our way downtown to both the Riverfront/North Shore and the Strip District enjoying some delicious food and fun drinks at all our stops.  A big surprise was a spur of the moment meet up with our niece and boyfriend who were passing through from Chicago to D.C.  

The rainy weather on Saturday did not stop us and we enjoyed sitting in the cute Allegheny Overlook Pop-Up Park located on the river with views of the baseball stadium and the bridges.  The day wouldn’t have been completely Pittsburgh style without a Primanti sandwich, fries right inside.  Sunday was a pretty day for walking around the funky Strip District and lunch at Coop de Ville.  We ate southern style chicken sandwiches, watched the final holes of the British Open and played a few games of duck bowling.

They have a lovely home and we enjoyed being there and having them show off their home, their city and their cutie dog too.

Happy Thursday!

How I Stay Grounded

 

I posted this on my IG stories, because it really spoke to me.  My personality is quite calm, but there are certain things that keep me that way and maybe this list which is pretty spot on, will help you too.  Obviously, not working full time, or having young children or teens at home makes my days less stressful than many, but we all need touchstones in our daily life that keep us grounded.  Out of this list, I have highlighted a few that I can’t do without.

Sunlight

I live in Florida, so soaking up the sunshine is a way of life.  Having lived in Michigan for a good portion of my life, with it’s gray winter days, I can see the difference living in the Sunshine State makes in mood and lifestyle.

Whole Foods

As I have gotten older, there is a noticeable difference in how I feel based on how healthy I eat.  I rarely eat fast food, do not consume any caffeine and do my best to eat a balanced diet.  As a dietetic, portion control is my mantra.

Sleep

I used to be a night owl and exist on very little sleep.  My diabetes is hereditary, but not getting enough sleep can be a trigger.  Now, I rarely stay up past midnight.  Again, a stress free lifestyle makes a lot of difference, but a healthy lifestyle is the key.

Nature

I love to walk and soak in nature whether it is on the beach or on a trail.  When I lived in Michigan, walking in the snow was my favorite thing.  Gardening is also a big part of my life and getting my hands in the dirt or wandering around a plant nursery are what I consider therapy.

Movement

I discovered yoga about ten years ago and haven’t looked back. When I had a knee injury and couldn’t practice yoga, it showed me how important if is to move.  And, having graduated from physical therapy last week, with my strength and range of motion back, I am doing what I love.  And, out of all the exercises my PT gave me, yoga was by far the best for building strength and flexibility.  I  also play golf regularly and like I mentioned walk every day.

Decluttering

This started with my move and inevitable downsizing four years ago, and it is now a way of life.  I am determined to never accumulate so many things again and donation is happening regularly.  A cluttered home equals a cluttered mind for me.

Future Planning

I love to be home, but also love to make plans.  Whether it is a day trip or plane travel, new experiences are good for your mental health and to keep you from getting in a rut.  There is always a new adventure on the horizon and we live in the perfect place and have the perfect lifestyle to take advantage of it.  

Happy Wednesday!

Bye to Elsa

 

We are going on year five in Florida, and have learned so much about hurricanes.  When Irma hit, three months after our move, we were definitely rookies and in full blown panic.  Since then, there have been several more tropical storms and hurricanes and I feel I have a handle on how to survive the sometimes craziness of hurricane season.

First, find a weather person who is calm and does not sensationalize.  Never, ever watch The Weather Channel.  Floridians are quite nonchalant about low level hurricanes and it’s more about being prepared and staying alert to see if you are told to evacuate. Our homes are built for wind and you really only need to leave for storm surge if you live right on the coast.  We are 7 miles inland and only have to worry about the surge filling the Myakka River which is fairly close.

We have all the recommended supplies, food, water (wine) and now have a generator in case we lose power. Soon, we will have a permanently attached roll down hurricane shutter on the lanai, so we can bring all the outdoor furniture to that section if necessary and do not have to manually put the extra large aluminum shutters on the sliders.  

It’s all not for the faint of heart, but living in paradise is worth it.  Elsa was predicted to be worse than it was. We never had the sustained winds that cause the damage and are thankful for that.  It’s only the start of hurricane season and September is usually the big month, but each time we go through one of these, we gain knowledge and learn we can handle what comes our way.  

Happy Thursday!