Month: July 2014

Chocolate & Courgette Honey Cake

Chocolate & Courgette Honey Cake

The moment that you announce you haveĀ a tiny human on the way, is the moment that people suddenly have a lot of questions for you. They vary from the politely inquisitive (When are you due? How are you feeling?!), to the very personal (Were you 

Cucumber, Edamame & Quinoa Salad

Cucumber, Edamame & Quinoa Salad

Yesterday I was sat in my weekly staff meeting chatting about upcoming projects with my colleagues. Suddenly I realised that it will be August next week. AUGUST! Where does the time fly? And why has my summer been so devoid of summery activity?! Hey, no 

No Cook Summer Pasta

No Cook Summer Pasta

No-Cook Summer Pasta- Emma's Little Kitchen

Hello friends! It seems pretty apt that I am sharing this incredibly simple and low key “No Cook” Summer Pasta recipe with you today. I returned from a two week holiday in the homeland this Monday, and my post holiday to-do list is leaving my very little time for kitchen activities! I was in England for the wedding of my oldest friend Lauren, and her now-husband Liam (wedding of the yearrr!!). Not to let the transatlantic flight go to waste, I tagged on a couple of weeks before the wedding so I could catch up with family and friends.

No-Cook Summer Pasta- Emma's Little Kitchen

Among my highlights, the wedding (obviously…!), walking with my Dad at Longsleddale in the lakes, afternoon tea with my sissie in York, picking out wedding flowers with my other sissie, running along the river with my Mum, munching pizza with my friends Harriet and Harriet, and spending a little quality time with my Grandparents… it was certainly a busy few weeks! My goal for this week and next is to take it EASY! Starting, of course, with this pasta dish.

I admit “No cook” is perhaps a slight stretch… obviously the pasta must be cooked… but the tomatoes when left to slowly marinate are so sweet, tangy and flavorful, no cooking is required at all! It’s perfect for those days when it is simply too hot to stand over a steaming pan, or turn on the oven. The only requirement is a little forethought, and then you will be minutes away from summer pasta bliss!

No-Cook Summer Pasta- Emma's Little Kitchen

What do you like to eat when you’re to busy to cook?

No-Cook Summer Pasta
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients
  • 2 pints (790g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup (60ml) olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 10 large basil leaves, thinly sliced
  • pinch chili flakes (optional)
  • 1 tbsp good quality balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • pepper to taste
  • ¾ cup parmesan, grated (plus more for serving-optional!)
  • ½ lb (225g) wholewheat spaghetti (or other pasta of choice!)
Method
  1. Combine all the ingredients except for the pasta and cheese in a large bowl.
  2. Cover and allow to macerate for 3-6 hours
  3. When you are ready to eat, simply cook pasta according to package instructions, and drain
  4. Return the cooked pasta to the warm pan, and pour the tomato mixture and cheese over the top of the pasta
  5. Using kitchen tongs, toss everything together until the pasta has a nice oily coating
  6. Serve in warmed bowls

Notes

Adapted from Ina Garten’s Summer Garden Pasta.

Blueberry Vanilla Muffins

Blueberry Vanilla Muffins

So the other day, or maybe more like a couple of months ago, my sissie Laura requested a recipe for wholewheat blueberry muffins, with “no bananas or other random ingredients please”. Message received. It has taken me a wee while to get around to creating 

Kale Greek Salad

Kale Greek Salad

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I am back home in the UK this week! I am having a lovely time catching up with my family, and I am REALLY looking forward to my best friends wedding next weekend. Before things