Cool autumn days. Leaves slowly starting to change their colors, the air ripe with harvest and change. My life feels quiet right now, and I’m actually really happy about it. I feel like I’m starting to “settle” into who I want to be, and what I want my life to be about.
Most of that, I think, is thanks to my boyfriend, Jon. He was my best friend from college, and over the past few months we’ve become something more. When I’m with him, I feel like I’m home. I feel like I’m with family. And sometimes I just laugh at how crazy it is that we are so well-suited for each other.
I’m very Type-A, industrious, ambitious, intense. Jon is easy-going, patient, always able to make me laugh. We bring out the best in each other.
I’ve realized that as you get older, your life sort of pares down into the important friendships and relationships. It’s not this “let’s meet a ton of new people every day” vibe that college was all about. And college was fun and it was a blast making a ton of new friends. But things change. Seasons of life.
I used to be afraid of getting older, but now I just look at it as the next big adventure. I also think this is because of Jon. Having someone to explore that next chapter of life with completely changed the game for me. I’m excited to focus on my relationship, focus on my work, and really savor the little things in life that turn out to be the most special.
Today’s recipe is one that speaks to my roots. I was just saying to Jon the other day that I wish my Grandpa was still alive so that I could cook for him. His parents immigrated to America from Italy, and my Grandpa always retained a fierce love of Italian cuisine and culture. I hope he would have been proud of me.
This pasta is exactly the type of pasta I like to eat – lightly “sauced” but full of flavor. (Have I ever ranted about how I HATE super saucy pasta?!) As with all of my recipes, please feel free to adjust the ingredients as you like. Pasta is so forgiving, and everyone’s tastes are different. Just use your instincts and you can’t go wrong!
Roasted Heirloom Carrots w/ Black Pepper Pasta
Ingredients
Roasted Heirloom Carrots
- 1 Bunch Heirloom Carrots about 7-8 carrots
- Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Squeeze Fresh Lemon
- 1 Tsp Dried Parsley Flakes
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Black Pepper Pasta
- 1 Lb Spaghettini or Fettuccine
- 3-4 Cloves Fresh Garlic very finely minced
- A Few Glugs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Juice from 1/2 a Lemon
- 3 Tsp Black Pepper fresh cracked
- 2 Tsp Dried Parsley Flakes
- 1/2 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt to taste
Toasty Breadcrumbs
- 1 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- Light Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil for frying
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
Roasted Heirloom Carrots
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Wash carrots and trim off the stems.
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toss the carrots in the olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, and salt and pepper.
- Roast carrots in the oven for 20-25 minutes. When done, let cool and set aside.
Black Pepper Pasta
- Cook spaghettini in salted water according to the package’s instructions. Linguine, fettuccine, or regular spaghetti work fine too.
- When pasta is done cooking, drain water and put pasta back in the hot pot it cooked in (though off the heat).
- While the pasta is still hot, add in a very generous glug (or glugs) of extra virgin olive oil, coating the pasta.
- In a frying pan, add in a little drizzle of olive oil. Add in the minced garlic, and sauté on medium-low heat until just about to brown. Be careful not to actually brown your garlic!
- Pour the garlic and the oil from the pan into the pot of pasta. Add in the lemon juice, black pepper, parsley, red pepper flakes, and salt to taste. Stir well until pasta is evenly coated.
Toasty Breadcrumbs
- Bring your frying pan back to medium high heat with a little drizzle of olive oil.
- Add in the breadcrumbs with a little salt and pepper, stirring well.
- Lightly fry the breadcrumbs for about a minute or two, stirring often, until they are toasty brown. Just be careful – they can burn easily!
Putting it All Together
- Assemble your bowls – add in a healthy portion of the pasta, with a few carrots for each person. Top with as many breadcrumbs as you like.
- This pasta would also go well with fresh chopped parsley and lightly toasted walnuts. But if there are any other toppings you like, go for it!
- Enjoy!
Notes
P.S.
If you make this recipe and post it on Instagram, be sure to tag me @wellandfull and #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your takes on my recipes :)
Leave a Reply