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Last night’s dinner was the perfect example of leftover night. What did I have in my cupboard/fridge? Leftover noodles, leftover swiss chard, a slightly tired looking zucchini, two equally tired looking tomatoes, a lemon, and 1/4 cup of random nuts. What did I make? Nutty awesomeness (thank you ‘The Garden of Vegan‘ for helping me out!!):

Nutty Leftovers Pasta:

*enough pasta for two people
*1 small tired zucchini and 2 tired looking tomatoes (or you could use wide awake veggies. Probably a better idea actually)
*2-3 cloves garlic (always, ALWAYS, have garlic hanging about some where)
*1/2 lemon
*1 cup vegetable stock (I bet white wine would taste better. *sighs longingly*)
*1/4 nuts (I had almonds and peanuts but I think that cashews, walnuts or pine nuts would have been just as tasty)
*1/4 tsp salt
*1/4 tsp black pepper
*1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

+leftover leafy greens (I used rainbow swiss chard)

Boil up the pasta. While it is cooking, take out your food processor (Betsy!) and blend together the nuts and garlic. Add stock/wine, salt, pepper, cayenne, and the juice from half a lemon and blend until well combined. Then, in a large saucepan on medium to high heat, cook zucchini, tomatoes, and nut sauce until zucchini is tender (but not mushy…a delicate artform that I have yet to master). You can add in your greens here too although I steamed mine in a different pan (because apparently I really like to do dishes…sigh). Once everything is ready, toss together in a bowl and serve. Quick and tasty.

Now, I’ll bet you were wondering where the blood comes in, eh? Well here it is. I went in to get bloodwork done today – gots to keep up on my iron and B12 levels. I think I’m doing ok, but who knows right? Plus they had to check for rubella because apparently someone dropped the ball for immunization of rubella between 1970-something and 1980-something and a whole bunch of us only got one of two shots. Anyway, the point is that I went in to get this bloodwork done and I didn’t faint!! Most exciting. Of course, I was lying down while it was being removed so perhaps that’s why but whatever. I didn’t pass out. Passing out in public is beyond embarassing, especially if you happen to be exceptionally pale like me because even when you wake up, people are convinced that you are on the brink of death (come to think of it, people are generally convinced I’m on the brink of death due to my ghostly, sun-screen covered complexion). I usually revive pretty quickly and while I’m a bit woozy, I’m ok to just go but they always make me stay for 15 minutes, drink lukewarm tap water, and rest my head on my knees. Even when I say I’m fine, they don’t believe me. Lame. But today, nothing. Next time, I’m going to try watching the needle. Because I love love love watching but something in my subconscious won’t let me.

Back to work now….