adam's clam pasta

Alright, alright, this is not the healthiest recipe ever to appear on this blog, but sometimes you need food that is straight good for the soul, and that, it is. Clams, I did not know, are surprisingly easy to cook - and cheap! We spent $8 on a dozen, but felt like royalty slurping them down. The air of elegance is pleasantly deceiving when you go to take out the wallet. Paired with my favorite ancient grain pasta, Adam made a zesty, Marsala stewed tomato sauce to top it all off. If you're looking to impress guests, this is good one to whip out.

Ingredients (serves 2):

12 Top Neck Clams

1 Yellow Pepper, diced

1 Yellow Onion, sliced

3 Cloves Garlic, minced

8oz Tomato Sauce

1/2 Cup Marsala

1 Vegetable Bouillon Cube

1/2 Stick Butter

2 Thyme Sprigs

2 Tbsp Herb de Provence

1 Tbsp Red Pepper Flake

1 Tbsp White Pepper

Juice from 1 Lemon

1 Bag Ancient Grain Fusilli

Directions:

1. In a large sauce pan, saute onion, garlic, and yellow pepper. Deglaze with Marsala, and add 2 cups of water, bouillon cube and tomato sauce.

2. Once boiling, toss in clams, and cover pot. Cook until clams open up. Remove from pan once cooked.

3. Boil pasta until almost aldente. Strain, and then toss into your sauce and let the pasta cook the rest of the way.

4. Spoon pasta onto a plate and then place clams around the border to serve.

weekly scenes

Spring is in the air! Ok, it's still a few days away, but I'm ready for it. Adam and I checked out the Philly flower show on an exceptionally beautiful day last weekend. We stopped into Reading Terminal market and split a monster breakfast sandwich beforehand. With all there is to see and shop, you need a full belly to take on that flower show. We didn't even get to half of it because he had to get to work. He did give me a beautiful bunch to take home; however, and that made up for all that we didn't get see inside. When I got back to my room, I arranged the yellow beauties into glass bottles on the mantle. I deep cleaned all of the surfaces, and instantly everything felt fresh and new, like spring. It got me inspired for the incoming warmth. That little taste. It leaves me daydreaming over long runs, gardening, and t-shirts. I am ready to shed winter's cocoon. The time is oh so near.

trust your knees

I lay on Lois's table as her energy-filled hands hovered over my body, reading its signals and in turn, communicating back. She got to my knees, my weak weak knees, and asked if I had issues with the left. A little taken aback, I didn't know what to say. It had never been medically labeled as problematic, but then again, I had always considered it a little defective. I replied saying exactly that, and we moved along on the path to healing.

We were all wrapped up and she had one last thing to say. "About your knees....it was interesting what you said, that they were weak. They say that your knees are where you hold your ego. You need to believe in them more. Trust that they will carry you. They will take you wherever you want to go, you just have to believe it."

I was so struck. It's true! I don't trust my knees at all. I'm always doubting their strength, thinking that they're awkward and not made as strong as all the others. What a metaphor for everything I'm scared of. Something in me doubts that my body and brains can take me where I want to go, but that's all bogus. I can do anything and I will do anything. It starts with trusting. I'm smart enough, strong enough, original enough, and brave enough.

Tell yourself this everyday & trust your knees - they will carry you.

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(all image sources here)