Holidays also mean lots of lonely nights being a chef's wife. The restaurant is BUSY doing Christmas parties and entertaining guests on vacation. It is so easy for me to become frustrated with his job and all that it entails, but this year was different. Don't get me wrong, I still had my occasional "pitty party". BUT, I really tried to focus on the time we were together rather than dwell on the time we were a part. I think we drank hot chocolate and snuggled in Christmas jammies every night we were all home in December. I had our fireplace going, candles lit and Christmas music playing almost every night. This might seem like its obvious, but I don't know what makes me think I can't do this every day! There is something about listening to music, especially Christian music, that just makes my heart happy! I plan on continuing our December family time through the new year!
Here is a picture of my family on Christmas night!
It wouldn't be a blog post without a recipe right?!?! So, here is what I made last night! The boys LOVED it and so did I :)
Spinach Artichoke Pasta
1 pound pasta, cooked according to directions in SALTED water (I used gemelli)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves, sliced or diced
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 pound frozen spinach, thawed and water squeezed out of it
1 lemon, zest and juice
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan, plus more for topping
salt & pepper
Start by getting your pasta boiling. While that is cooking heat up olive oil in a large skillet add in onions and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Let that saute for a minute or 2 then add in the spinach and artichokes and saute until its all heated through. At this point pasta will be cooked. Drain and add cooked pasta to the pan with vegetables. Add lemon zest and juice as well as parmesan and fold it all together. Serve hot with grated parmesan on top! There is something about the lemon in this pasta that makes it so delicious and kid friendly too!!
