Рецепт Warm Courgette Pasta Salad / Peanut Ginger Dressing; photos: now and then
Mon mari made a mess of my organized unpacked boxes out in the barn.
He saw that there was actually empty space up on the platform where they all are stored and started tossing stuff up there.
Stuff like the tile cutter and plumbing parts and the new bathroom sinks and the drawers for the cabinets.
The other day he 'suggested' that I might like to clean it all up.... Hinting that perhaps I should have done a better job in the first place....
Well....
It was hot and we were both rather tired.
Accepting that he could either work on the bathroom (which I can't do) or clean and tidy the platform (which I can do) I graciously agreed to handle the project.
Occasionally a good deed is rewarded.
In all my rearranging I found the boxes with our two dozen or so photo albums.
They needed to be unpacked, I decided.
I since have spent a few pleasurable evenings meandering down memory lane.
This all started me thinking (haven't been doing much of that lately).....
My mother has six photo albums, one of which was her mother's. She cherishes these albums, and now, as she is getting on in years, spends many hours looking at them. One of her favorite things is to go through them with her children, grandchildren and any one else who expresses the least bit of interest, pointing out who is in the pictures and reminiscing about the day it was taken.
That was when taking a photograph was still something of a big deal.
With digital cameras it no longer is.
I regularly upload two or three hundred photos a week. Out of that I choose a few to keep, but still, over the course of a year, that's a lot of photos.
Great! I'll have a wonderful record of just about everything.
But I won't be able to sit in a comfy chair with a cup of tea or (more likely) a glass of wine and turn the pages of an actual photo album, quietly remembering this occasion or that dress or someone's party.
The abundance of riches has diluted the memories.
Note to self: Must remember to keep good back-ups.
We are now totally living off the potager. And it's still getting away from us. Even trying to pick the baby zucchini and picking the flowers doesn't keep them in check.
But, it is a salad for Presto Pasta Nights, the fantastic event founded by Ruth of Once
Upon A Feast.
It's hosted this week by Helen, of Fuss Free Flavors, She'll have pastas from around the globe on
her blog on Friday.
Everyone looks for new, interesting ways to use this abundant vegetble. With the red peppers, it makes a colorful, warm, summer salad, especially good with the slightly hot/spicy Peanut Ginger Dressing
- Warm Courgette Pasta Salad / Peanut Ginger Dressing
- 1 zucchini (courgette), about 8" long (20cm)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 red onion
- 1/2 red pepper
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sesame or walnut oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 cup pasta, penne, rigatoni
- Peanut Ginger Dressing
- Cook pasta according to package directions. When done drain. Slice onion, mince garlic. Slice the red pepper the long way then cut slices in half. Cut zucchini in half the long way, then into 1/4" (6cm) slices. Heat oils in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, sauté 5 minutes. Add garlic, pepper and zucchini; turn heat to medium and sauté 6 - 10 minutes longer, depending on how crisp/done you like. When done to your liking add Dressing and pasta, toss to combine and serve. I sautéed the veg just until the zucchini started to get limp, about 7 minutes.
- Peanut Ginger Dressing
- 1 1/2 tbs peanut butter I used creamy
- 1 1/2 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbs sesame or walnut oil
- 1 1/2 tbs olive oil
- 4 tsp white Balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp powdered ginger
Combine peanut butter, mustard, ginger and soy sauce in small bowl. Whisk to combine completely. Add vinegar and oils, whisk well.
Admittedly, not the prettiest pasta dish...
Happy Zucchini Season!