Pasta is for Lovers

by jenna on February 16, 2009

I was a lucky girl this evening! My mom made an AWESOME dinner for my brother and I before she headed out to work! Maybe it was because I got her these gorgeous flowers today ….just because :)

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After leaving the dealership today, Ryan and I hit the courts again for another hour of tennis. I know, I know. We are totally training for Wimbledon over here. I am just loving getting back in the tennis groove though since I did spend the majority of my teenage years practicing and competing! I feel like I am JUST STARTING to feel it again after playing a couple times. Its a great workout, too!

Pre-tennis I ate a lovely plum:

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And then on to the yummy dinner, which was whole wheat pasta with chicken and olive tomato cream sauce. The recipe comes from her best friend, Margaret, who is an awesome cook! It was deeeeelicious! Don’t be put off by the cream in the title—there is only a splash involved but it really does make all the difference in the world!

Whole Wheat Pasta with Chicken and Olive Tomato Cream Sauce

Serves 4

3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into one inch cubes

1 tbsp olive oil

1 can chopped tomatoes in juice

2 plum tomatoes, chopped

2 cloves garlic, sliced

1/3 cup kalamata olives, sliced

1/2 red onion, sliced thin

1 cup white wine

1/4 cup cream

2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

sea salt and garlic salt to taste

8 oz whole wheat pasta, cooked in boiling salted water

1. Season chicken with garlic salt, sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Brown in saute pan with olive oil.

2. When browned, remove chicken and set aside. Add the can of chopped tomatoes, chopped plum tomatoes, sliced garlic, olives and thinly sliced red onion to the pan and bring to a simmer. Cook for about 5 minutes-10 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent.

3. Add the white wine and simmer for another 5 minutes before adding the chicken back in.

4. Add the basil and the cream then toss with the hot, cooked pasta. Garnish with parmesan cheese!

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YUM!

I also had a salad made with greens, sliced almonds, dried cranberries and a sprinkle of gorganzola cheese, drizzled with a little Annie’s Woodstock dressing.

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Time for tea and my book! Have a great Monday night, yall, and I will see you tomorrow! =)

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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }

1 fitforfree February 16, 2009 at 4:43 pm

lovely flowers :-) I miss my mom’s cooking!

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2 kaneil, balanceisbest February 16, 2009 at 4:57 pm

You’re making me want to get back on the courts, asap! Glad you two are having fun with it!

Sweet flowers! :)

Kaneil, balanceisbest

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3 K February 16, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Those are gorgeous flowers!! Tennis is so much fun, especially during the spring when it’s not too hot on the court! Have a great evening :)

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4 FoodsThatFit February 16, 2009 at 5:24 pm

The Woodstock dressing is my all-time favorite salad dressing! The flowers are pretty! I wish I was coordinated enough to play tennis!

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5 Sarah (lovINmytummy) February 16, 2009 at 5:31 pm

So sweet that you bought your mom flowers!

I think playing sports together is one of the most fun things to do as a couple. The hubs and I bonded over basketball (I won’t tell you who wins…)

Have a great night!

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6 Amelia February 16, 2009 at 5:43 pm

Aww pretty flowers! Do you know what kind of plum that is? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a plum that’s not purple or dark red.
Have a good evening! :)

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7 Sarah (Tales of Expansion) February 16, 2009 at 5:45 pm

mmm, what beautiful pasta!! and you’re such a sweet daughter getting those flowers for the mama. sleep tight!

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8 Hallie February 16, 2009 at 5:45 pm

That pasta looks so good. I swear the pasta in my pantry is calling out to me!

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9 Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) February 16, 2009 at 5:46 pm

Yum! I love pasta. Carbs are so good. =)

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10 megan February 16, 2009 at 5:59 pm

pretty flowers!
That pasta looks so yummy- your mama is great!
Have a good night!

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11 Mara @ What's For Dinner? February 16, 2009 at 6:02 pm

aw how sweet!! I’m left with just making food LIKE my mom, not actually BY my mom!

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12 brandi February 16, 2009 at 6:23 pm

that pasta sounds great! and I bet that little bit of cream makes it delish :)

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13 martiniwindow February 16, 2009 at 6:31 pm

new to the blogging world – and i LOVE your blog! the pictures are so clear and you are very creative!

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14 Red Head, Yellow Dog February 16, 2009 at 6:32 pm

It’s wonderful that you’re rediscovering old loves (yoga, tennis)! Beautiful flowers :)

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15 Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter) February 16, 2009 at 6:33 pm

Beautiful dinner, and so sweet that your got your mom flowers. I love just because surprises like that!

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16 Emily February 16, 2009 at 6:40 pm

Such a nice surprise for your mom! I really miss my mom’s dinners – its definitely a good enough reason for me to hop in the car and visit, though! :)

Have a good day tomorrow!

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17 Victoria February 16, 2009 at 7:37 pm

That pasta sounds so great! Tennis sounds fun. I wish it were warm enough to get in a workout like that hear!

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18 Matt February 16, 2009 at 7:44 pm

Mmm that looks amazing! I used to play tennis all the time! I was top 30 in Texas back in the day!

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19 Kate February 16, 2009 at 7:49 pm

aghhhhhh I already ate din din and now Im CRAVING pasta after seeing this! I’ll writing it down!

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20 Kailey (SnackFace) February 16, 2009 at 8:05 pm

I’m going to have to make that for my man sometime- that looks so good! Tennis always sounds like so much fun! I’m too clumsy with it though, lol. Have a great night!

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21 Meg February 16, 2009 at 8:09 pm

I want some of your mom’s pasta! It looks amazing!

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22 Anna February 16, 2009 at 8:38 pm

whoa that plum does not look real! looks like it’s made out of porcelain or something, neat.

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23 Emily February 16, 2009 at 8:59 pm

Gorgeous flowers!
And I am dying to try your pasta recipe!

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24 the Clean Veggie February 16, 2009 at 9:16 pm

gorgeous flowers!
pasta sounds great!

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25 MaryBe February 16, 2009 at 9:29 pm

Your plum looks like a pear!

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26 joyful February 16, 2009 at 9:39 pm

Mmm, looks wonderful!

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27 Sharon February 16, 2009 at 10:11 pm

Oh my gosh, love the eats! And the flowers are so pretty!

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28 HangryPants February 16, 2009 at 11:51 pm

Gorgeous flowers. Nothing is better than pasta with a little cream! Also, I see that others have asked about the plum and am curious as to its type.

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29 MizFit February 17, 2009 at 5:33 am

(whatcha reading?)

how kind is your mom?
how sweet are YOU?

apple doesnt fall far from the proverbial tree.

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30 Shelby February 17, 2009 at 6:49 am

That is so sweet of you to get your mom flowers just because. Glad you enjoyed the dinner =)

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31 Jenna 2 February 17, 2009 at 8:11 am

That pasta looks so good!!! Thanks for the recipe!! :)

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32 Danielle February 17, 2009 at 8:32 am

How nice of you to buy your mom flowers! That pasta looks delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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33 Sarah February 17, 2009 at 8:59 am

That pasta looks so, so good! Yum.
Gorgeous flowers too!

Sarah

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34 emily February 17, 2009 at 11:40 am

what kind of plum is that? I love plums but I don’t think I’ve seen yellow before.

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35 jenna February 17, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Emily,

I should know but I have no idea!!! All it said on the sticker was “plum” hahaha!! I know it is not typical, I will try to scout it out tomorrow in the produce section and report back! :)

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36 skinnyrunner February 17, 2009 at 1:18 pm

what pretty flowers and delish looking pasta!

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37 Samantha February 17, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Tennis is so fun…rediscovering activities is great!

Your fruit always looks so ripe and fresh!

The pasta dish sounds amazing. I have been making penne vodka and margarita from an italian friends recipe and my husband begs for them. This might have to be next on the list for him to try.

What a sweet thing to get your mom flowers and they’re gorgeous!

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38 michelle February 17, 2009 at 3:04 pm

That pasta dinner looks fabulous!!!

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