Capellini Pomodoro

I was in the mood for a light and healthy pasta dish for dinner.  The sauce for this recipe is made with fresh plum tomatoes, olive oil, and fresh basil.  I used whole wheat angel hair pasta which contained 24% of the daily value of dietary fiber.  This recipe yields approximately 7 servings at 313 calories/serving.

Capellini Pomodoro

12 oz. package of whole wheat capellini or angel hair pasta
1/4 cup light olive oil
2 cloves garlic
10 fresh plum tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon fresh italian parsley
Pinch of crushed red pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup fresh basil, minced
1/2 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese

Boil pasta as the package directs.  Dice fresh plum tomatoes, set aside.

In saucepan saute clove garlic in the olive oil and cook until garlic is tender.  Add plum tomatoes, fresh parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt and pepper to taste.  Heat through for about 2-3 minutes and remove from heat.

When pasta is done cooking, drain.  Transfer pasta to a large bowl and add tomato mixture.  Add fresh basil and toss with the hot cooked pasta.  Stir gently to combine.

Serve pasta with freshly shredded parmesan cheese.  Recipe yields 7 servings at approximately 313 calories/serving.  Enjoy!

30th Year High School Reunion

I could not find a decent picture from my senior year in high school.  This is the best I could find, although here I was a few years younger (16). This is what I looked like the last time many of my high school friends had seen me.  In this pic I was sporting my classic 1980's Farrah Fawcett inspired feathered hairstyle.  I graduated from Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington, NY in 1983.

This is the first of the reunions I will be attending.  I missed my 10th year reunion because I had been vacationing with my husband in Cancun.  When my 20th year reunion rolled around, I was very busy with my young family and did not want to make the trip from Buffalo, NY to my hometown in Long Island.

I am anxious about attending, after all it has been many years since I have seen many of my friends from high school.  I am relieved that one of my closest friends in my graduating class will be joining me. In recent years I have frequently visited my hometown as my parents are still living in Port.  Although most of my friends have moved on and are no longer living in the area, a few still remain.

30th Year High School Reunion, May, 2013, H on the Harbor, Port Washington, NY.  From left to right, me (on the left) and my friend, Sharyn (on the right).

While it is true that with the advent of social networks such as Facebook, there is not as much mystery and anticipation in advance of the big event.  While this may be true, I am still anxious to reconnect with old friends whom I have not seen in many years.  Although I have made frequent trips to my hometown during the last few years, I have only visited with one of my closest friends who still lives in Port.  Some of my other former classmates are scattered in the Long Island/New York area, while many have relocated to other cities and states.  So this is very exciting, and now just a short 4 weeks away.

So until then I will watch what I eat, exercise like a crazy woman, all in antipication of this once in a lifetime event....

Our family vacation to Orlando, Florida

Our family was long overdue for a vacation.  The last time we visited Orlando was 4 years ago when my husband traveled to the area for business.  Our stay was brief and  that being said, we did not visit many of the sights we would have liked.  The picture below was taken at the Typhoon Lagoon water park.

The beautiful sunny weather was therapeutic.  The most enjoyable part of going to the Disney parks was enjoying long walks outside in the mild and sunny weather.  It is what I look forward to most as winter comes to an end in Buffalo.

The world showcase in Epcot was a highlight of the vacation.  Eleven countries are represented in the showcase. There is a transition from one country to the next one as you make the walk around the lagoon.

The picture below was taken in the United Kingdom English tea garden section.

The fireworks show held nightly in Epcot called IllumiNations is truly spectacular.  If you are planning a visit to Epcot, I would highly recommend it.

I do not tolerate thrill rides because I get motion sickness.  I loved the Animal Kingdom park because there were many activities that I could do with my family. 

I especially enjoyed the Kiliminjaro Safaris attraction which was a ride in an open-air vehicle providing an up close view of exotic animals.

The tour guide pointed out the various animals we encountered and shared interesting information about the wildlife during the ride.

The Festival of the Lion King show was a special treat.  My family and I enjoyed the music and stunts in this live action performance.

I enjoyed walking around the Downtown Disney area and checking out the shops.  My son, a music lover, coaxed us into eating at the House of Blues for dinner during one of the nights of our stay.

We enjoyed watching the musicians perform outdoors during the evenings in the Downtown Disney area.  One night we watched Gerardo Manrique, a talented guitarist perform.  He has recorded for several popular artists including the Miami Sound Machine and John Secada.  My son, a guitarist, was very impressed by his talent.

Packing to return home from our vacation was bittersweet.  We had a wonderful time and it was just what the doctor ordered.

Maybe it's time to start planning our next Florida vacation! I could really see myself feeling right at home if I ever moved here...