Sigh.
It’s Monday.
I know.
You probably don’t have a smile on your face. Maybe you woke up 35 minutes late and couldn’t wash your hair. Dumped hot coffee on your new white shirt? Couldn’t fit into your new white shirt? Or maybe you dropped your last allergy pill – the only thing that keeps you from scratching out your eyeballs in May – down the garbage disposal. Did you reach down there nearly sacrificing your hand, only to feel something slimy and scary in a desperate attempt to limit wheezing and snot and itchiness?
That only means one thing. Someone needs to stop disposing of lime wedges and chicken in the sink.
Mondays are for grown ups. Mondays are for people who wear suits and carry briefcases and use a shoe horn to put on their loafers and rinse with green Scope. In other words, Mondays are for my dad.
But I have some good news!
Monday just got a whole lot more tolerable. Monday just got cheesier and creamier. Monday just got so much better than online shoe shopping, self tanner searching, surviving on salad because you stuffed your face while weekending, and attempting to hold off on the snoring while you take a little desk snooze.
Shucks… I sort of like Monday now. But just today.
So – the pasta!
Am I gonna give it up or what? Chewy noodles swim in a light tomato cream sauce. Creamy chunks of fresh mozzarella hide in between pops of grape tomatoes and ribbons of basil, and melt into a gooey, bubbly binder that falls perfectly atop a slice of crusty, buttery garlic bread. It’s almost as perfect as a toasty French loaf topped with a homegrown tomato round, buffalo mozzarella circle, and a solitary silky basil leaf. But better.
Creamy Caprese Pasta
serves 4-6
1 pound whole wheat pasta (noodles such as penne work best)
1 cup of your favorite pasta/tomato sauce
1/3 cup heavy cream or half and half
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + more for garnish
4 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into cubes
1 pint of grape tomatoes (I cut some in half and left some whole)
1 bunch of fresh basil leaves
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Boil water and cook pasta according to directions.
While pasta is cooking, heat tomato sauce over low heat in a large saucepan. Once warm, stir in heavy cream and grated parmesan. Once pasta is done cooking, drain and dump into the sauce, mixing to coat and turning off heat. Fold in mozzarella cubes and tomatoes, then chop 3-4 fresh basil leaves and add them in too. Once combined, spray a baking dish with non-stick spray and pour the entire pasta mixture into the dish. Top with fresh mozzarella rounds. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
Top with additional fresh basil and grated cheese. Serve with garlic bread. You can also add in chicken, steak or seafood for some protein.
Take that Monday.
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
This will be the perfect dish for me to make in the summer when my garden starts to provide me with loads of fresh cherry and regular tomatoes. Caprese salad is one of my favorites! :-D
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That looks like the absolute perfect pasta! Love the big pieces of the halved cherry tomatoes :)
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If you hear a knock at your door, it’s my husband. This is basically his dream dish that he wishes he could eat every night! Looks delicious :)
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I think I could get used to this every Monday :-)
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I don’t know which I’m more excited about – this pasta… or the fact that I’m not the only person who will sacrifice clean hair if they wake up late and no longer have time to wash and style it. Thank you for making my Monday a little more tolerable!
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Jessica — May 16th, 2011 @ 9:14 am
I pretty much do everything possible to avoid washing my hair.
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Fresh mozzarella is amazing. Just look at the gooey-ness!
Now, what’s a shoe horn??
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Jessica — May 16th, 2011 @ 9:13 am
Hahahah it’s something that helps you get on your shoe… I think?
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I’m actually okay with mondays. It’s tuesdays that get me bogged down.
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It is DEFINITELY Monday…..my saving grace on Mondays is that I teach pump first thing. Getting moving right away keeps me smiling! This pasta looks awesome. I love caprese anything. And that picture of you pulling the cheesy deliciousness out with the spoon? awesome. Hope your Monday is a good one
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I’ve had my eye on this dish for weeks now! It looks incredible!
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i can’t believe it’s monday…seriously, where did the weekend go?! i feel like i fell asleep and woke up to the new week!
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This pasta could surely make my Monday a much happier day! I just love the bright colors of it!
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Oh yes, this does make Monday so much better!
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This makes Monday a whole heck of a lot better!
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That looks so cheesy and delicious. I definitely have a case of the Mondays today. Boo.
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Um, YUM! :)
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Mondays are definitely not my day and to make matters worse I took my last hayfever tablet on Friday :(
But you just made my Monday feel so much better, awesome dish ♥
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I love caprese anything, this looks SO good!
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Awesome. I especially love that second to last photo. Yay for cheese!
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This looks sooo awesome!!!!! I can’t wait to try it out! :D
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Oooh this sounds so comforting! I’d love to gobble it all up right now, then go gargle with my blue Scope. ;)
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Oh my. I just started a “biggest loser” competition–today being the first day–with my friend but caprese is my FAVORITE! This looks amazing!
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How did you know I woke up 35 minutes late and thus, couldn’t wash my hair this morning? I was hoping to hide that little fact from the rest of the world!
This pasta looks amazing!
Here’s hoping that Monday gets better for all of us!
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Must make asap! But I also thought that about those cheesecake bars yesterday. You must stop making these irresistible recipes! But don’t really stop please :)
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Beautiful Jessica! Your photos are excellent girl. A very natural eye and lucky to have all that gorgeous natural light.
I used to like all the autumn colored walls in the house we’re renting until I started my blog. Now fighting the light from the oranges, yellows, greens etc of the walls is enough to make me want to move…
All for my blog! LOLOL How silly right?
Love the post gal!
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Jessica — May 16th, 2011 @ 9:12 am
Thanks so much Tara!
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Yikes, I have a case of the Mondays blahhhhh. That looks amazing. I want some of that now!
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I need to tell Monday to “take that”. And then hand me the largest cup of coffee possible. It was a looonnnngggg night with the little man.
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cheese…. ohhh…. be still my quavering thighs!! everytime i make pasta bakes, i gotta make two trays. cos The Captain cant stand cheese. how can ever be earthly possible!! and he rolls his eyes whenever i put cheese into the shopping cart. he just doesn’t know what he’s missing!! erm, but he loves NY cheesecake to death, though. weird.
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Jessica — May 16th, 2011 @ 9:12 am
Can’t stand cheese?! How is that possible?
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This would be amazing w/a drizzle of balsamic on top :)
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Jessica — May 16th, 2011 @ 9:12 am
Kicking myself for not doing that… guess I just gotta make it again. :)
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Oh that looks so tasty to make on this rainy day!
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I love you. I seriously do. As I am sitting here at my tiny cubicle trying to down as much coffee as I can so I can look alive, I decide to check your blog because its Monday and I’m having a hard time adjusting. And there it is. The answer to my Monday blues. Now I have something to look forward too and my Monday just got a little better.
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Jessica — May 16th, 2011 @ 9:11 am
Thank you so much Mary!
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Monday doesn’t stand a chance if that is what it is up against.
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I have been CRAVING caprese! I guess mozzarella will now be added to my grocery list.
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Wow Jessica this looks great! I know Scott would LOVE something like this!
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This creamy pasta looks great for a Monday!
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Yum! Anything with that much basil has my attention. It’s my all time favorite herb :)
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You and all of this caprese stuff? You are my hero! :-)
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Love how fresh mozzarella melts!! I made some extra sauce last week, this dish will be perfect for that.
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YUM! Going to make this this week!
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Mmmm, the pasta looks amazing! Thanks for sharing. And if you’re looking for a good self-tanner, I can’t recommend Jergens enough. It’s very natural-looking albeit slightly smellly, but it’s really hard to screw up.
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So, I thought you were gonna do some uber healthy pasta salad at first. LOVE this gooey, oozy cheesy deal :) xo
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I oficially love Mondays. <3
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Monday just improved…… by leaps & bounds!
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You made my Monday a whole lot better!
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I would dominate this pasta! I love classic caprese, but melted and paired with pasta is even better. Simply awesome.
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this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy :)
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Me. You. Breakfast.
You bring this pasta. I’ll bring…myself?
Sounds good.
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Caprese anything would make any Monday the best day of the week.
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Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese.
I’m going crazy.
Not to mention the fact that my allergy pills are left forgotten at home while I itch away at work. I have a love-hate relationship with spring.
I also have a love-hate relationship with cheese. As in, when I’m eating it, I love it, but when I see such amazing photos while I’m not eating it, I hate it.
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mmmm..cheesey goodness!! this looks like a perfect dinner!
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Goodness…. This looks heavenly. As I I was sitting down with my meal planning calendar, I realized that I needed dinners for Thursday & Sunday. This is a delicious option :)
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