Today was quite busy and didn’t end on the greatest note. It was one of those days when I just wanted to sit down with Matt and enjoy a nice dinner. So that’s just what we did.
I decided I wanted a little red wine from a box. I bought these single serving wine boxes at Target for nights when we don’t need a whole bottle – just a taste each. The serving size was perfect for two small glasses and the wine was pretty darn good!
[Action shots with giant cameras are HARD! Needless to say I had to lick up some wine that spilled after this one]
We put together a quick weeknight dinner while we sipped. I used some Ragu, which I bought with a coupon I received at BlogHer‘s Ragu sponsored lunch. I have to say it took us over 10 minutes to choose this jar. Most of the jars had soybean oil in them (why is that necessary for tomato sauce??) and/or they had onions high on the ingredient list. This one – Sun-Dried Tomato & Sweet Basil – looked like the best.
Served with EarthFare brand whole wheat gnocci shaped pasta –
And grilled veggies. I always bulk up tomato sauce with veggies!
—->
Capers were added for garnish. We had no parmesan cheese 🙁
Still sippin’
Dessert…
The kitchen is now closed
[For the record, my salad at lunch was totally filling and there was no need for a snack, although I did pop a few grapes in my pie hole 😉 ]
I’m off to read blogs….and perhaps do some homework. I’ve got one more Gossip Girl to watch in Season II. Will probably save the new one for tomorrow, so don’t spoil the details!!
Kristen says
Oh, I’m excited to be the first to say hey! 😀
I love bulking up sauces. We did so tonight we some fresh maters and basil from the garden. Aren’t those Bliss chocolates great!!
Have a lovely night, Kath!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
won’t it be exciting to watch “gossip girl” in “real time?” i did that with “sex and the city” and “mad men” — which, i still think you should check out!!!
Julie @savvyeats says
The wine is so cute! Its like the adult version of a juicebox! 🙂
Courtney says
“kitchen is closed” is one of my famous quotes in my house. Once I’m done cleaning I yell it out so that everyone stays out and doesn’t get it dirty!
Have a great night…I’m off to watch GG premiere!!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
I’m so glad you were able to sit down and enjoy a lovely dinner with Matt. Hope you have a relaxing evening… enjoy Gossip Girl!!! I only have 2 episodes left – SO addicting! And the 3rd season premires tonight on the CW in case you didn’t already know. 🙂
angieinatlanta says
Aw, that wine in a box is a great idea! Love that you can each have a nice taste! And adding veggies to pasta sauce is a GREAT idea!
Marisa (Trim The Fat) says
I had pasta for dinner tonight, too, but yours looks much better! I love grilled veg with pasta!!!
Enjoy the rest of your evening!
Jenn (www.j3nn.net) says
Pasta is a great comfort food to end the day with. 🙂
Jenn
Elizabeth (The Dallas Celiac) says
I love veggies in tomato sauce but I’ve never tried grilling them before adding to the sauce. Brilliant idea!
Danielle says
Your photos are beautiful Kath, I’m loving the new camera!
WEEKLY BITE says
I’ve never seen the gnochi (spelling?) shaped pasta… I’m gonna have to look for those.
enjoy the rest of your evening & Gossip Girl!
Lauren says
Sorry to hear you had a loooonnng day! Ugh, those Monday blues are the worst.
Praying that tomorrow is 1000x better! 🙂
Take care hun!
Evan Thomas says
Now I’m craving some home made potato gnocchi 🙂
Allison Rentmeester says
I JUST got done eating almost the exact same dinner and had the same piece of chocolate for dessert…WEIRD!!!
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
I wondered about the oils in sauces before… seems unnecessary!
Heather says
Ironically I said the “kitchen is closed” after our dinner tonight! I think I may be watching gossip girl Wednesday or Thursday night this week – I cannot wait!
lauren Luhrs says
I am waiting to see the season premiere too – I am a very patient girlfriend and my boyfriend is busy with work and grad school, so we’ll squeeze it in sometime. Just wanted to tell you the new camera’s photos look fantastic!
Lizzy says
i LOVE grilled veggies mixed in with pasta! such a great filler 🙂
Brie (The Fit Bride) says
Sorry your day didn’t end well–it was pasketti night at our place, too!
eliza says
beautiful dinner and love gnocchi one of my favorite foods!
xo
Eliza
Bec says
your pasta dinner seems like a great way to end the day, simple and tasty! I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to watch the new GG too since my cable package at school is missing several basic channels!
Jennifer says
Hey Kath,
I’m a little behind with google reader, but I just saw your post about your new camera. Micheal Ruhlman’s wife, who does the photography for his foodie blog, has started her own blog about food photography.
http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/donna/
There are only a few posts up, but it might be helpful to you. I just checked it out and picked up a tidbit about
natural light that I hadn’t thought about.
Jennifer
brandi says
that pasta is so cute!
Casey says
I’m sorry your day didn’t end well. 🙁 I <3 you!
Erin says
I have never watched Gossip Girl, but all your notes about are making me want to watch it…
Kiersten says
your pasta looks yummy Kath! sorry you had a rough day, i hope tomorrow is a better one.
maria says
Those Hershey Bliss chocolates are soooo good! I’m particularly fond of the dark chocolate for a weird reason: I prefer milk chocolate, so it takes me longer to eat the dark chocolate and feels like I have a treat for longer.
Donna says
Do you know how to nominate your blog for the 2009 Food Blog awards by foodbuzz?
http://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/1408216-nominations-for-the-2009-food-blog-awards-are-open-
Angie says
Sorry your day didn’t end well…dinner looks fanastic though!
Love the grilled veggies addition to pasta- great idea!
Hope tomorrow’s better!
Megan says
Don’t spoil any details either please! I’m in the middle of season 2 myself 😉 P.S. Love the new camera !
marie says
I love the idea of the small wine boxes. I’ve wasted half empty bottles of wine way too often and now drink beer most of the time because of its perfect format. I will have to look for those.
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
Love love love capers in pasta! Or in anything for that matter!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I love pasta dinners with extra veggies. It looks like a good, relaxing meal full of flavor.
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
I have to admit I love Gossip Girl. I thought I was too old for it, so I’m glad someone else above the age of 12 finds it as addicting as I do!
Jenna says
dinner looks great! and you must finish season 2 of GG so you can watch tonights episode! it was really good 🙂
jenna
Dawn (HealthySDLiving) says
I’m sorry your day didn’t go so well but definitely must have been nice to end it with a yummy meal with the hubby!
Lele says
I had no idea they made either wine juice boxes OR dried gnocchi. I plan on purchasing both! Well, wine juice boxes in a month… when I am actually 21!
Julia says
It sounds like your experiences with ragu are much better than mine. Everytime I use it there is a puddle of watery tomato juices underneath my pasta. Did that happen with yours at all?
Tay says
I’m loving your new camera. It’s amazing how crystal clear and beautiful your pictures are!
Morgan says
Yay! You found the wine boxes! Aren’t they so fun? I’m just bummed I can only find them in the South, guess I have to get some in October when I am in Florida!
Run Sarah says
I definitely to try that small boxed wine when I’m down in the states!
bhealthier says
awesome new camera! I love wine boxes for that same reason- and they are much more reasonable to open!
Adding vegetables to pasta sauce is just such a simple way to get in more veggies! I wish more people did it more often?!?!
Devan Newman says
i love the mini wine!!
Ali says
Only you could make ‘simple sketti’ high quality! I’m jealousss : )
Steph says
Veggie pasta and wine….what a great dinner. Have a good night!
Jenny Skylar says
Red wine in a box…how ingenius! You can probably pass that off as a juice box at work or school. I can’t wait to find some!!!!
Julia says
That pasta looks delicious. I love grilled veggies, I use them in about everything:)
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Dani says
I am SO looking for the litte boxes of wine! I never saw them before… what a great idea!
shawna says
Those little boxes of wine are GENIUS!! I would love to find some, but Target doesn’t sell alcohol around here. 🙁 I’m on the hunt, though…
leslie says
lovely dinner – i’ve got to get some pasta soon, i love bulking it up with grilled vegetables too.
kath, i am SO jealous of your camera – your photos are just gorgeous.
thepinkpeppercorn says
Grilled veggies look great!
Pam (Highway to Health) says
I love the single serve wines because I NEVER need a who bottle unless I have company!
Paige says
Sounds like a great dinner! Love the single serving boxed wine:)
Anne [email protected] New Weigh says
I wish the Target around me sold wine. That would be great!
Anne [email protected] New Weigh says
I wish the Target around me sold wine. That would be great!
christie, honoring health says
I tried those wines from target and they gave me a really bad headache the next day and I never drink more than a glass. Do they do the same thing to you?
Pam says
Nice din din Kath….very relaxing for sure and choc for dessert…the best!
Jessica says
LOVE that wine juice-box!! How cute! Here in PA we don’t get to have that since alcohol isn’t sold outside of liquor stores. Too cool!
Kath says
Jennifer,
Thanks!
Donna,
I think I was already nominated – thank you for the link!
Julia,
We didn’t have much of one, but we heated it on the stove-top so maybe most of the wateriness burned off?
christie,
So far, so good.
Kath
Jelli Bean says
My husband and I have dinners like this all the time, minus the grill, unfortunately. Roasted veggies are great too, though and make for a great marinara. Have you tried goat cheese in place of Parm? The strong flavor means you can sprinkle a lot less for just as much flavour. Yum!
Nicole (dishin') says
That dinner looks so tasty! The pasta is so cute too.
I’ll have to look for single servings of boxed wine. They don’t sell alcohol at Target in MA but I’m sure I can find it somewhere.
Lisa says
Hi Kath,
I really enjoy your blog! I haven’t made any comments yet–this is my first.
If you really want to control the ingredients in your pasta sauce, it is VERY easy to make your own, using a can or two of crushed tomatoes, fresh herbs, garlic, and a bit of salt and pepper–and then add veggies to your heart’s content, of course. I admit I still haven’t been able to perfect my homemade recipe (the jars always taste better), but I really love knowing exactly what is in the pasta sauce.
All the best, Lisa (from Michigan, live in Australia)