Summer evenings, holy $h*t pasta, Jay Shetty has been putting me to sleep
August is amazing so far
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This week I did a couple of ‘totally summer vibe’ things. Mind you, this was a Monday evening. I am not going to wait for weekends to do anything! If I want summer vibes on a random Monday eve, it’s happening! If I want to cozy up in my bed by 7 PM with a book and a wine glass of kombucha, I’ll do that too.
Monday evening I signed off of work (I WFH) around 5:30. I already knew what simple dinner I was going to make, which makes a WORLD of difference in my stress levels. If I don’t have a plan for dinner, I start panicking around 3 PM.
This was a throw-together meal (semi-planned). I knew it would involve feta and whatever veg I had on hand.
Vegetable, Feta Sheet Pan Penne Pasta
I arranged a sheet pan with veggies (frozen broccoli, a handful of cherry tomatoes from my deck garden, and 2 baby peppers that were lingering in the fridge with nothing else to do) and a block of feta torn in half.
I drizzled on some extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings then baked it at 350° for 25 minutes. I cooked up some high-protein penne, added some olive oil, and reserved pasta water. I think you know the rest… I gently smashed that now soft block of feta into the pasta and whirled it around with the pasta and veggies. I added some parm and fresh basil (from the deck garden) and holy $hitballs, it was probably the best pasta I’ve ever made. Next time I’ll create a recipe video and posts it on YouTube and link it back here.
I am kind of surprised I fit this all into one Monday evening, but here goes the rest.
I had a delicious bowl of pasta, then took a 40-minute bike ride with my friend. I feel very fortunate to have a good friend who is also a neighbor. We both love to walk, bike, and kayak together. I selfishly hope she never moves!
We literally got back from the ride in time to take cover before a downpour of rain.
10 minutes later the rain stopped (that’s Upstate NY for you) and we packed the dogs (we only have one dog, but we are dogsitting) into the car and headed to the ice cream shop.
Now, you can’t tell me this isn’t the most summer vibe feeling ever? The dogs were busy for a good 10 minutes lapping up the vanilla ice cream.
Share your classic summer vibes this week!
Lastly, I am sharing a book I’ve been reading. I’m sure many of you know Jay Shetty. I’ve been reading Think Like a Monk off and on for a while, and finally going to finish it. I only read right before bed. It’s a perfect time for me as it helps me fall asleep. Reading before bed can put your focus on something else other than stress or worries that might hinder your sleep. Win-win!
In Think Like a Monk, Jay Shetty distills ancient wisdom into practical advice for daily life. As Jay experienced living life as a monk, he has amazing insights on mindfulness, self-discipline, and finding purpose. He writes about transforming negative thought patterns, building lasting habits, and cultivating a peaceful, focused mindset to navigate the many challenges we face in life. Every time I read, I find a new nugget of wisdom I can apply in my own life. There’s a breathwork practice starting on page 87 that I’ve been practicing in the mornings to start my day with some serious calm.
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Gosh I've never thought of baking feta, you've opened a whole new world for me Melissa! I love reading at bedtime too, it's guaranteed to help me wind down and get my eyelids drooping (just no exciting thrillers!) Think Like a Monk is on my reading list, but I'm not allowing myself anymore books until I finish at least three in my current pile... 😱
Your meal looks fantastic! I’ve never seen feta baked before- going to have to try it