Dinner: Tomato, sausage pasta with lemony green beans

I tried a new recipe from the latest edition of Cooking Light for dinner tonight: Fresh Tomato, Sausage and Percorino Pasta with Lemony Green Beans. I usually love Cooking Light recipes. Normally, they are very flavorful and easily adaptable to our individual tastes. I have to say, I was a little disappointed by this recipe.

The green beans were my favorite part of the meal - steamed and tossed with lemon peel, lemon juice, olive oil, a little kosher salt and pepper. They were crisp and slightly tangy and a wonderful summer side dish. I will definitely be making them again.

The pasta ... well, it was bland and uninteresting. To be fair, I had to leave out the onions because Sean is not a fan (to put it mildly). I didn't replace them with another vegetable, though, and I probably should have. Usually, skipping the onions is no biggie, but not today - the success of this dish hinges on the onions, I guess.

I really liked the big chunks of fresh tomato and, of course, I always enjoy a good sprinkling of fresh basil. But, the pasta ratio was way out of balance: too much pasta and not enough sausage and tomatoes.

I think if I make this dish again, I might decrease the amount of pasta by half and use rotini instead. I might also toss the whole concoction with a light basil pesto. Does sausage go with pesto, though? I can't decide. The dish really screams for a wee bit of sauce to hold everything together so if I don't use pesto, I'll have to think of something else. Any suggestions?

Have you tried any new weeknight dinner recipes lately?

Another weekend draws to a close

I made a trip to the farmer's market this morning - see my take in the photo. Fresh okra, heirloom tomatoes, hybrid yellow and white sweet corn, a spicy salad mix, cucumbers and huge cherry tomatoes. Yum.

Sean and I will be digging into some of these treats this evening. I am planning some grilled tuna, a salad out of the heirloom tomato and cucumber with some olive oil and basil and some sourdough and Parmesan mini toasts on the side.

I've also got two loaves of whole wheat bread in the oven - they should make good peanut butter and jelly sandwiches this week with the new blackberry jam. Overall, a very successful and productive weekend.

I am not sure how it's possible, but the weekend has, once again, flown by so quickly. We ran the usual errands and did the usual chores and somehow it's Sunday afternoon. I find myself making plans for the work week ahead... preparing lunches, ironing clothes, thinking about meetings.

Did I mention, Daina and Paul will be here this time next week? Sean and I are so very excited and can't wait to see their smiling faces. I assure you, next Sunday I WILL NOT be thinking about the work week.