But first, afternoon snack! My giant apple from lunch, plus a tbsp PB and a hunk of nutty bread – and tea! This basically ruined my appetite for dinner 🙁 I’m always hungry for a substantial snack from 4-5pm but then I never get hungry enough for dinner. If I just wait out snack hour, then dinner is always enjoyable, but that makes for an itchy 4pm hour. I suppose I just need to have a smaller snack. Some nuts or something. Or just eat dinner when I’m only about a 5 on a hunger scale.
It probably didn’t help that I had a mocktail and a fig around 6:30 after we went for a 30 minute walk to the grocery store for mushrooms for dinner and apples for GOTR tomorrow. Figs are SO WEIRD tasting but I like them….kind of! Sweet like a plum…..but grassy….and mushy.
I chose tonight’s dinner while reading Everyday with Rachel Ray on my walk yesterday. UnforTUNAtely the recipe isn’t posted online yet, but hopefully it will be soon: Tuna And Tomato Pasta . Simple and cheap!
I’m calling ours TNT
TNT Pasta
Serves 2
Adapted from Everyday with Rachel Ray
- 3 oz small shape pasta
- Pint mushrooms
- 2 small tomatoes
- 1 tbsp whipped butter (or just cooking spray)
- 1.5 cups jarred pasta sauce, such as the Bertolli I got from BlogHer and love
- 3 oz can chunk light tuna
- Parmesan, basil and hot seasonings to taste for garnish
- Cook pasta, drain.
- Meanwhile, heat butter and saute mushrooms and tomatoes until soft, 7-10 minutes.
- Add pasta, sauce, tuna. Heat through.
- Portion into bowls, top with garnishes.
~400 kcal per serving.
I also came across this meal planning widget on the RR website. Pretty cool if you’re looking for meal ideas!!
I’m off to study some, if I can force myself, and then to bed ! I’m sleepy.
VeggieGirl says
Haha, love the TNT pasta title – makes it sound like it’s an EXPLOSIVE dinner 😉
Good luck studying, and have a good night’s rest!
Megan says
Love your tuna dinner. I have the same problem with getting hungry around 4. I usually grab half a z-bar or a handful of cereal to tide me over just a bit!
Cyclist Kate says
That looks so good! I love saucy tomato pasta dishes, and the basil is a beautiful touch.
That’s funny–I was just going to ask how you deal with wanting to snack before dinner! I also usually want a snack around 4, and I try to have something substantial (bowl of high fiber cereal) or I get the munchies hard and snack right up ’till dinner, leaving me with zero appetite and a fully prepared meal! It doesn’t help that I’m usually studying/restless during this time and heading to the kitchen is my old-fashioned way of clearing my head.
Meghann says
I’m having trouble viewing the meal widget. Do you have a link for it?
magpie says
Oo awesome, I love menu planning.
Yeah, I get hungry around 4 too… Half the time I eat something, half the time I don’t, but if I do I try to make it light.
Fleur says
That pasta looks great – I never think to combine tuna with tomatoes or tomato sauces, but I’ll definitely have to try it soon.
Good luck with your studying!
ModelBehavior says
That looks delicous, and SSSOO simple!
madison (follow my weigh) says
wow that pasta looks sooo good! i’ve always wanted to try figs but have been scared. they sound interesting though.
gina (fitnessista) says
that pasta looks divine! i wish i liked canned tuna but i’m just not a fan…
i think figs are good, but in a weird way too 😀
have a great night, kath!
AlliJag says
RR just made that pasta on her show a few weeks ago (and I saw it in the magazine as well – I love all the recipes in there!) It’s nice to see that stuck out to someone else as well – I was going to make it this week and have been putting it off. Also – I have to tell you – I completely stole your “mocktail” idea, and have one just about every night! Thanks for the idea – I love your blog!!
Allison 🙂 (AlliJag – Green Dog Wine)
Marlow says
I LOVE RACHAEL RAY!!
caitlin (seebriderun) says
awwwwwwwwwww take a night off from studying. its overated!
Laura says
I need to try one of your mocktails. I’ve gotten in the habit of having wine or something every night and I need to cut it out because I know it’s stalling my weight loss!
I love her magazine! I like that it focuses on food, but has other cool features in it too.
Biz319 says
I could have pasta every day – except now I use spaghetti squash! (sadly I am the only one who will eat it though!)
Rachel says
I just discovered your blog a few days ago, and I’ve been hooked! It’s also led me to read a couple other food blogs in addition to yours. Thanks so much for sharing all your healthy-living tips, they’re very helpful and informative.
Rose says
Figs are really weird! I put them in muffins the other night, and I’m still not sure if I like them or not. I am so afraid to try them in oatmeal. Have you done that yet?
Katrina says
Question–Are there NO onions in that Bertolli sauce? If not, I’m so surprised as it seems all processed sauces have them.
Runnershigh says
How do you measure out your pasta? I have such a hard time with that, particularly with longer noodles.
Heather says
Wow. That is one amazing looking apple!
Jenny says
Yum!! I am exactly the same way about my afternoon snack, I like to have something substantial, but then I’m not as hungry for dinner. I guess it’s always nice to not be ravenous at dinnertime though. Good to know I’m not the only one who contemplates this dilemma 🙂
Christie I. says
The first time my non cooking dear husband made me dinner it was Tuna pasta. Aw. The memories 🙂
Katie says
Dinner looks fab. I LOOOOOOOOOOVE figs btw. I could eat them by the hudreds. They are like apples, though. Some are more mealy than others. So, I’d try a couple more before you make a decision. 🙂
Kath says
Meghann ,
Is it still not working? It’s viewable on mine.
Rachel ,
Welcome to KERF!
Katrina ,
There were some onions, but they were really mild. I’ve said before that I can eat them in things that have been cooked well like soups and some sauces. If they’re made from scratch, they are more raw and I’m less likely to not be able to notice them.
Runnershigh ,
We break out the food scale for pasta.
Kath
JENNA says
kath,
I can’t see the meal planning widget? Do I need to click on something else?
Nicole says
I feel the same way about figs. I like to eat them, but I have to avoid looking at them once I bite into them or else I will be grossed out!
Teddy says
hahah what an ADORABLE name to your dish… I’m sure I’ve said it before but I love love love figs. They are like nothing else and I grew up eating them in Va. To me Figs=love. YUM
Teddy
zestycook says
Wow – Love your site. I just discovered your site this week and I am and will be an avid reader. Great meal… and I love the TNT. Great work – keep it up.
Zesty
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
Count me in as a RR fan. I get the mag too and I like her 30 min meal shows. Yeah she can have her annoying moments but her ideas are actually really good and so simple! I’m loving the widget and am going to have to check it out.
megan says
Hi Kath. I’m intrigued by your mocktails. What are some of your favorites? Recommended recipes?
Kath says
megan ,
I almost always use Diet Tonic as a base, but sometimes plain club soda/seltzer. I add a lime and a maraschino cherry (and sometimes a splash of juice). And sometimes I add a dash of Triple Sec!
Zestycook,
Welcome to KERF!
Kath