Pasta Salad

I love grocery shopping day. Even if we are on an extra tight budget right now. I love finding fresh ingredients to come up with something new, nutritious, and delicious for H. There are of course staples that we need, go to snacks my lady loves. And today we got to go to our favorite stop, Trader Joes. I rotate between stores because obviously my beloved TJs doesn't have everything we need, I mean there are only like four isles in our store. But it's still my favorite. You get a wide variety of specialty items and all for low cost. Except I am really disappointed with them for one huge thing, they have been out of coconut oil the last four times I went. That's crazy. I long for my TJs coconut oil. 

For some reason I was extra tired today. Probably because the last time I looked at the clock before bed last night, it read 2:35. I toss and turn for hours, always. Like most, I try and solve life's problems after midnight. So with a few hours of restless sleep, awoke my jack-in-the-box- toddler. Rise and shine before the hour of seven. I knew it was early.  Mr. King wasn't even in bed, when my sunshine woke up. The sun wasn't even shining yet, but she was. So cereal, an early movie and then it was bundle up time. I don't like to leave the house when there's three feet of snow outside. I think the last time I left was the Super Bowl, and I don't even feel bad about it. I hate the cold, I hate snow, and my car hates snow. So I have succumbed to being a home body. But four days is a bit much. It was a perfect morning to layer up, blare some tunes and sing our little hearts out. It started snowing big fluffy snowflakes on the way there. H loves to catch them on the tip of her tongue like raindrops. 

H had an extra fun time shopping today. She found Scooter! The little toy hermit crab that hides throughout the market. She has only found him one other time. It was our first time shopping there. Needless to say she has asked about him every single visit since then. You could imagine the pure joy, when she spotted him fifteen feet away. Everyone who was in the store heard her happiness.

I wanted something quick and easy for dinner tonight. 

Pasta Salad with Pizza Toast

This was truly delicious. I told H that it was Kermit the frog pasta and Constantine Toast. Green on green and she gobbled every last bite up.

Sauté garlic and a shallot in some olive oil, toss in sliced mushrooms and a handful of grape tomatoes. Shake a little 21 seasoning salute and let it get all garlicky and fragrant. Toss in a couple handfuls of chopped kale and two chopped Sundried Tomato Chicken Sausage links.  I usually peel the casings off the sausage as personal preference. But today it was being a pain in the but, so I left the casings on. Shake the pan and cook until the tomatoes burst. Add a tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar, a few heaping Tbl of pesto and one whole shaved carrot. Next add a ladle of starchy pasta water to the sauce. Melt in about a quarter cup goat cheese and add a squeeze of fresh lemon. Toss with strained pasta. I used a combination of pesto tortellini and multigrain elbows. Delicious, easy, nutritious and kid friendly.

I served mine over a big bowl of spinach mix. Pasta salad.

One of my favorite after high-school snacks was pesto, tomato and mozzarella. So what better to go with our pasta salads, 

Pesto Pizza Toast

Spread a tablespoon of pesto on each slice of all-grain bread. Top with shredded Parmesan, Asiago, tomato and I put a few dollops of goat cheese. Broil until bubbly and toasted.  Cut into small triangles and shape like butterfly's on the toddler plate. 

Enjoy!

-K