Search
The surprise bug has bitten me, and I’m sharing the mood! What’s your take on surprises?
Love them? Long for them? Spoil yourself with a good one occasionally? I hope so.
Hate them? Despise the idea of one headed your way? Cringe at the thought of the lurking unknown? Gee… give them another chance? They can be good fun.
To me – surprises are so darn exciting! I squeal in anticipation for a really good one. Yes – I squeal. I love being surprised. Food to flowers – an unexpected treat is delightful.
Tonights dinner was just that: delightful, and totally unexpected. I’m also sitting pretty with a vase of dazzling sunflowers on my desk. No, no guy – yet.
I spoiled myself. You should do this too. You’re wonderful and gorgeous and deserve something pretty. You are. I am too. We really really totally are.
It’s important to be good to yourself. I forget that sometimes. Then I buy flowers and make myself pasta and remind myself to be kind. Always.
What do you indulge in?
Brownies? Good wine? Handbags? (I’m guilty on all three accounts)
Tell me!! I like to know you’re treating yourself well.
For this pasta, you very well may have most of the ingredients hanging around. I love fusilli – dainty swirls of pasta glory – but you’re welcome to use another type of noodle if you have it on hand: penne, rigatoni, and bow tie would all work magnificently. In flavor town: capers and olives are easy friends; their salty round bodies add texture and tang. Canned Tuna is a convenient and cheap way to add protein to your dinner. Lemon and parsley beam crisp flavor and freshness. The sun dried tomatoes pop with their gorgeous color and taste. Total flavor popping pasta here people!
This was the perfect pantry pasta, and with a glass of cold white wine and a seat outside – my night ended perfectly.
Now – before I get out of here and polish off this pasta; I have surprises to give away. Two readers will receive a surprise package of some of my favorite things that I think you will totally love and use in your kitchen. A surprise package ; what could be more exciting?!
Just leave a comment below telling me about you’re best or worst surprise you’ve given/ received. Contest closes Friday, September 2nd at 12 noon EST. Good luck love bugs!
Fusilli with Tuna, Olives, Capers, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Lemon – adapted from epicurious.com
Ingredients:
-
2 can (6 ounces) tuna (chunk or solid in olive oil), drained
-
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
-
grated zest of 1 medium lemon
-
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
-
1/4 cup fruity olive oil
-
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
-
freshly ground black pepper
-
2 tablespoons capers, drained
-
1 cup kalamata olives, roughly chopped
-
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
-
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
-
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Am I too late for this giveaway? I do not know but hey worth a shot right, especially for such a great giveaway 🙂 My best surprise received was for my 16th birthday party (a while ago I know but I remember it like it was yesterday!) 12 friends arranged a surprise meal for me at a local restaurant which I went to with my best friend just expecting to get a take-away. The shock was unreal and i will never forget how happy I was 🙂
Sasha! That’s an amazing surprise – good friends are more valuable than anything I can think of! Total BUMMMER, but the contest closed this afternoon; I’m very glad you answered and I got to read your memories or a wonderful surprise!
I found your blog because you ran across mine, and now I found your give-a-way! Yay! (I’m also so happy to find another great food blog to follow 🙂 Worst surprise? I don’t think this is what you’re going for, especially when people may be eating while reading, but nursing baby + stomach bug (for baby) = BAD. I’ll just leave it there. The best surprise(s)? Awesome lovely beautiful weather, exactly when you can enjoy it.
Hi Christy! So glad you stopped by and shared your surprise stories; it’s been so much fun reading them all. The weather is definitely one of the best gifts we have when it decides to behave; not much compares to a beautiful day and free time to enjoy it.
Oh and not to sound lame, but I can’t think of the worst surprise category. But the best surprise I ever got was the trip to Sonoma my wife secretly planned. It was a Christmas/birthday gift and she went to a lot of trouble to leave me fake gifts or really small ones so I thought I was opening gifts. It got pretty funny, dress socks, a parks and rec calendar, not the show an actual one…. But I did need the socks in San Fran!
This is such a fresh, fantastic, fun pasta. I love tuna and capers in pasta, one of our go-to weeknight meals. Great recipe.
Greg – tuna and capers are such a great combination, and definitely perk up any pasta! Your wife’s surprise sounds amazing; I’m sure you guys had a magnificent time in San Fran!
Love this pasta recipe, should go really nice with some white wine and flowers! My worst surprise is my husband give me some carnations on the next day after Mother’s Day which is special from the supermarket. My best surprise is my husband buys me a diamond necklace on our 10th wedding anniversary on an overseas trip. With all these surprises given by him, I should pitch him hard and love him dearly! Besides having a nice and moist chocolate cake to indulge myself, I love to hear my kids play the piano and violin. I always want to tears when the music touch my heart.
Veronica – I think the diamonds make up for bad flowers?! Chocolate cake is an amazing indulgence, and it’s so so so sweet your kids are able to play instruments 🙂
Aww Jamie! I love that surprise; romance is full of the unknown, and it’s always great to hear about a happy ending!