Prosciutto & Asparagus Pasta

Lately I've been trying to step up my game in the recipe department.  Trying new recipes and increasing my go-to everyday recipe list.  It goes without being said that Pinterest is my new best friend for this, right?

One of our favorite go-to recipes is Prosciutto & Asparagus Pasta, and I actually found it in Sunset Magazine.  Oh my, it is SO yummy.  So good.  And easy.  So it's an obvious choice for when you have company over - you won't have to spend all night in the kitchen and they'll devour it.  They will ask for the recipe, I'm telling you.

{Prosciutto and Asparagus Pasta}

• 8 ounces of angel hair pasta (we use whole wheat, makes us feel better about the ungodly amount of cream used below)
• 1 Tbsp of olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 4 ounces thinly sliced proscuitto, cut into strips
• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream (I know, it's a lot.  Do it in the name of goodness.  Or, replace with fat free half & half like we do.)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  
  
  
  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.  Drain and return to pot.
  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large frying pan over medium high heat.  Cook onion, garlic, and mushrooms until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add prosciutto and asparagus until asparagus turns bright green, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add cream, cheese, pepper, and red pepper flakes.  Reduce heat to simmer until sauce has thickened, about 4 minutes.
  5. Pour sauce with vegetables over pasta and toss to coat.  Serve with more grated Parmesan.

On Feeding Baby

Do any of you mamas out there struggle with what to feed your baby?

We started feeding Noah solids when he was around 5 months.  He took it like a champ, one bite of pureed bananas and he was hooked.  It was a little too easy.

Now, at 10 months, I can hardly get him to eat a thing.  He became Mr. Independent around 8-9 months and will have nothing to do with anything involving a spoon.

So, onto the finger foods I suppose.  We started with Gerber Lil' Crunchies and he took to them right away.  I snuck a bite of a crunchy one day and found it's basically no more than a glorified Cheeto.  No wonder N devours them.  I'm trying hard to stick to fruits and veggies and not get hooked on salty, cracker snacks.  (I know, talk to me a year from now and see how I'm doing...).  But for now, Lil' Crunchies are in the "Mama's Desperate to feed you" pile.

We've tried avocado, mango, bananas, pears, canned veggies, soup, cooked whole wheat rotini . . . Need I go on?  I literally have tried everything.  Another favorite - roasted acorn squash.  But the dilemma lies in him not being able to pick up the slippery, squish-able stuff! I've made sweet potatoes a few times, too.  I bake a sweet potato, mix it with a spoonful of vanilla greek yogurt, a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and pinch of brown sugar.  Let me tell you, this is GOOD.  I would eat it by the spoonful.  But Noah keeps a good yard between him and the nearest spoon. 

I'm desperate, people.  I've resorted to these super-handy food pouches.  They cost an arm and a leg and I cringe every time I check out, but if it's finally getting Noah to eat fruits and vegetables, I'll cave.  Mostly I just worry that he's not eating enough, and what am I going to do in two months when we're finished nursing?

Do you have any tried and true finger food recipes and meal ideas for your independent babies?  I'm all ears, over here.

In other news, do you guys use reusable food bags?  We would go through a box of ziplock bags a week, I swear.  We love Smitten Baby reusable bags for everything from whole wheat waffles on the go, to the banned Lil' Crunchies.  It's so nice to just be able to rinse and reuse.  And it helps that they are adorable, too.  Find them here: {http://smittenbaby.com/products/snack_podz.html}

That's all I've got on the topic of baby eating.  Talk soon.

On Weather

It was one of the warnings I was given before moving to Casper.  You know how WINDY it is there, right?  Yes, wusses.  How bad it could it be?

Well.  I retract what I said.  Got my first dose of the wind today, and it went a little something like this.

Walked outside, where I almost immediately lost my scarf in the wind.  Somehow it came unraveled around my neck in the midst of me carrying Noah, a diaper bag, a blueberry waffle, my wallet, and a coffee mug in attempts to get out the door.

Came home from our little rendevouz only to find the front door wide open.  I of course panicked.  Clearly someone has robbed us of all our belongings and is waiting inside for me with a knife.  I left Noah in the car to take a quick tour of the house, unarmed, ready to be attacked.  Only to come to the more rational realization that wind has in fact blown the door open. 

And finally, was cleaning up debris outside (I'm not kidding) when I found pieces of our flag pole in the yard.  I look at the side of our house where our flag used to be, to see pieces of the base still attached to the house.  What the heck, people!  The flag, the pole, are GONE.  I drove around the block a few times thinking I was going to find the flag but to no avail.

Now, you may think this is where I drown in my sorrows and whine to you all.  No, no.  I am happy inside enjoying my 4th cup of coffee relishing in days like the ones below.

Hope the weather is treating you better where you all are.  :)

Something About {It}

I'm back.  I'm blogging again.  There's something that has me kicking again.

Something about taking the leap to leave my job in sales, but gain a career as a mama.

Something about packing up your family to leave the city and welcoming a more quaint life.

Something about saying goodbye to dear friends, but gaining more family.  About missing those friends, but knowing they're still in your life.  Something about cherishing those friendships more now that they aren't at the tips of your fingers.

Something about wanting to capture this all on {paper}.  Something about sharing it with you all. 

Doesn't this just about sum it up?

XO