My test took me longer than expected, but I wrapped up right around 5:30 just in time to plan something fun for dinner.
I took a study break around 4:30 to make this delicious snackaroo
Hot Apple with Granola, Cinnamon + PB
I used to eat this a lot ages ago and had forgotten what a great snack it makes! I just chopped up a big apple and nuked it for 2 minutes (a little too long, though) and then added cinnamon, about a quarter cup Mix My Granola and a tsp of peanut butter. Yum!
Angela, this one’s for you 
Matt and I walked to the grocery store (in the dark – so sad the sun goes away in the 5:00 hour now!) to pick up some veggies for dinner.
Upon arrival home I heard that familiar Friday night "tsst" of a bottle top and was presented with a sample at my desk! One does not turn down beer tastes presented by handsome gentlemen. [He even takes the photos for me when he's surprising me with a beer!]
Love the 1554!
We brainstormed dinner on our walk. I decided on a pasta dish and we chose eggplant and mushrooms to go in it. And we remembered we had some bacon on hand as well. The dish was born:
Roasted Eggplant + Mushroom Pesto Pasta with Bacon + Olives
We first roasted a sheet pan of eggplant + mushrooms tossed in a wee bit of oil, salt and pepper for about 40 minutes at 350*. Then we sautéed 2 slices of bacon in a pan and tossed in the roasted veggies.
Plus about 10 chopped kalamata olives and 2 tbsp of Mezzetta Napa Valley pesto I brought home from the Foodbuzz festival. I have to say I was totally impressed by the pesto. It reminded me of my summer in Cambridge when all I cooked was pasta with pesto and goat cheese!
All tossed over some Barilla penne and topped with parmesan. I loved the subtle bacon bites mixed with the rich veggies. Def. want to make this one again! I didn’t actually eat all of my penne. I am just not a pasta person! I would have rather just had more eggplant 
The Yeast Master also prepped some bread in the oven with a bit more pesto
Pasta I can do without, but bread…..
And HA! I think Matt loves it more than I do! Check out his portion (these were both about the size of my hand with some bites missing!)
Tonight we watched Memoirs of a Geisha. What a gorgeous movie!!! Unlike last night being wired at 12:30, I’m ready for bed now – just in time for 10:26!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Eggplant is one of my favorite ingredients to include in dinner.. I feel like it ups the taste value in an ordinary meal.
It fascinates me how you guys can come up with such an cool dish by just throwing things you have on hand together. Roasted eggplant is sooo yummy–much more flavorful than pasta, IMO!
MMm I love pesto! Soooo good.
That dinner looks yum — mmm pesto!
Relaxing Fridays are great.
I’m so glad that pesto is a winner! I have two jars (my roomate was allergic to nuts) and I am so excited for them to get here in the mail.
Your snack looks so good, and perfect for Fall! And bread + pesto is a winning combo
Have a lovely night!
Mmm, I do not judge you in anyway for accepting the brew! I love beer, and that looks amazing! I love eggplant and pesto so I may have to try that. I agree on the pasta front, I like it but I don’t often crave it. I would MUCH rather have bread anyday! Especially with that delectable looking pesto spread!
That apple snack is one of my favorites. I add the cinnamon pre-nuking. Sometimes I add some greek yogurt for a tart bite as well
I love that mug/bowl!
i really love your big mug/bowl. just love eating from stuff like that; makes me feel cozy. i didn’t really care for “memoirs of a geisha” (maybe b/c i auditioned for it over 4x) but it was very beautiful, indeed.
I’m way beyond late, but congrats on your FoodBuzz awesome win! Love the new look to your blog, too.
Beautiful pics! That meal looks much more sophisticaed than mine!
Hooray for eggplant!
I tried mine last night cut into rounds, topped with black pepper and garlic powder, and baked at 350* for 16 mintues. It was AMAZING! I’d love to try it in a pasta dish or stiry fry now.
And I’m digging that apple/granola! What a perfect healthy comfort food.
That looks delicious. I need to use eggplant in my meals more often.
I loooooove eggplant with all of my heart! I’m not a big pasta person either. Eggplant>pasta any day!
Not a pasta person?!
You make me sad, Kath! lol Dinner looks delish!! 
Jenn
Hi KERF — been lurking for a while but just wanted to say THAT PASTA LOOKS DIVINE. Note to self: Must buy pesto tomorrow.
Holy delicious pasta! It has been far too long since I last had pesto.
I’m an eggplant virgin, but a hot apple granola slut.
Hot apple & granola sounds like the perfect fall snack.
MMMMMM…fantastic pasta. I definitely cannot wait to try out the pesto now
yummy pasta dish. I never had pesto, but this recipe seems like a great one to try it
glad you had a great dinner!
jenna
What a great dinner idea – can’t wait to try it out!
Oh I like the apple and granola idea – yum! Thanks!
What a great looking dinner!
Memoirs of a Geisha is a great movie! I saw it in the theaters, I really loved it. I feel like such an old lady, I was in bed before 11 as well! I even made my way downtown with the intention of going to a bar with my friends, but the whole time I just wanted to be in my bed with a movie, so I went back and that’s what I did
The book is really great too! How sweet of him to take the pics for you! I ask Jason and I always get a blurry, uncentered one lol…he finds it tedious.
Enjoy your weekend!
Hope the test went well.
Yummy meal. I love how you and the hubs spend so much time together!
that pasta looks really tasty, though i can’t imagine going wrong with bacon! mmm
have you read the book memoirs of a geisha? i liked the movie, but the book was even more excellent! (i am making myself finish julie and julia, the book, before i see the movie for this very reason)
you are so creative, you can whip up an amazing meal on the fly while that would take me 3 cookbooks and half a day to replicate!
I really liked that movie too, the photography was amazing.
Mmmm….what a comforting dinner! I adore pesto, whether it is on bread, pasta, or a spoon straight out of the jar! Looks like a lovely evening.
I love veggieful Penne!
I’m not a huge pasta person either. I just don’t like the mushy, slimy, texture of it. And the white stuff doesn’t really have much of a taste. When I was a kid I would just ask for spaghetti sauce
That pesto on bread though? Mmmmm….
Matt’s idea of putting pesto on the bread sounds really good! And I LOVE that movie!!! So beautiful.
Mama Pea,
LOL where do you come up with this stuff!?
haya,
I haven’t read the book, but I bet it was a good one
K
baked apples are soo good! looks like a yummy dinner you had.
I made pesto pasta with that pesto too. I used zucchini, eggplant and butternut squash. And I am definitely starting to want to eat more veggies and less pasta too.
couldn’t you just LIVE off good bread and pesto, GASM (and totally affordable)
OMG I did a double take on the sticker and then burst out laughing!!!
Hi Kath!
I started reading your blog a few days ago and LOVE IT! Your eggplant + bacon + pasta looked too good to not leave a comment on. I LOVE pasta and bacon so this looks amazing! I think I know what I’m making for dinner one night this week
Have a great Saturday!
Danielle
Danielle,
Thanks and welcome!
K