Tomato Basil Pasta - Summertime Favorite

Us kids grew up with a momma who always planted tomatoes in her summer garden. 

Tomato season in the LeSueur house would always mean Tomato Basil Pasta for dinner. 

wahooo!!!

Turns out, when I told my mom yesterday that I was making it she confirmed, "That's what we're having too!" No coincidence my friends, we have the same taste buds and appetite. And... probably our minds way of helping us feel like we're not 1500 miles apart. 

Sunday, we had one of Joey's mission companions over for dinner (he's the one you can blame for ever putting this whole Nebraska nonsense in Joeys head... and I guess mine too). He just returned home from his home town of Cedar City and brought us a slew of tomatoes, cucumber and corn from their garden. I turned to Joey and said "It's Tomato Basil week!" He knew exactly what that meant and agreed. 

(Yes, I balanced the bowl on our third floor apartment balcony rail. I was so so happy the ridiculous wind from the day didn't send a serious gust right then).

Here is the sought after recipe! Enjoy!

Tomato Basil Pasta

10 Tomatoes (really any kind of hearty, juicy tomato you like)

1 cup basil, chopped -- this is a lot more than you think. I pulverized my basil plant to get enough. But it is definitely worth it!!

2 TBS Parsley, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/8 tsp salt

8 to 16 oz Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese, diced (depending on how much cheesy, melty goodness you want in there. I did 12 oz)

1 lb. Small Shell or spiral (fusilli) pasta -- I used brown rice fusilli, found at Trader Joe's or most places with a "gluten-free" section. I love the flavor of those and I feel like it holds it's shape and texture better. But just a thought. 

Dice/Chop the tomatoes, then combine with all other ingredients EXCEPT pasta. Let tomato mixture sit aside for at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour, to let the juices collect and flavors to marry together. Cook pasta al dente, drain, DO NOT RINSE, immediately combine the drained pasta with the tomato mixture. Stir together. Cover for about 5 to 10 minutes to allow the cheese to melt a little. mmmm. So good!

Sprinkle with a little pepper for added flavor. 

Hope you like it as much as we do! 

China -- The Final Chapter

Two months ago today, (really two months already???) we landed once again in the blessed U. S. of A.! 

It was so awesome to get home after a hectic hectic HECTIC flight, that included missing our flight in Korea (s-t-r-e-s-s-f-u-l), ridiculous taxi time sitting in the plane on the runway for at least an hour each flight, and lost baggage in San Francisco. But when we landed and got to see the Grimes family for the first time, all of the stresses were gone and I was so happy to be back with family! 

We drove straight to the car lot to visit my brothers, another awesome moment. I missed them sooo much! Then home to my momma who I also missed sooo much and she missed us soooo much :) Unfortunately we had to wait until the next day to see my dad due to his own travels. 

I will talk about life after China in my next post. Now I want to finish the final chapter of China in honor of it coming to a close 2 whole months ago!

 Joey's crazy hair... straightened!

 Globe trotters in China. Soo random.

 The super tall guy gave my student, Mike, his head sweatband. Mike was thrilled!

The performance of a lifetime :) We worked for months on this!! These kids were singing Old Time Rock n' Roll.

 Surfin U.S.A.

The "Never Say Never" group. They rocked it.  

One of many Chinese teachers -- Julia 

Our 2nd graders! 

Field day with the 4th graders. These activities were deemed "not safe" for the 2nd graders later that day which we had all planned out. oh geez... 

 Joe's giant water balloon. He dropped it from the 3rd floor of the building and the kids loved it!

The Chapel in Suzhou 

Church in Suzhou. So pretty. 

Final dinner with the group at Pizza Hut.  

Our dorm building. We were on the 5th floor.  

Classrooms 

The DinNing Hall :) 

The teachers eating area 

BEFORE 

AFTER -- Not much different eh? I'm so happy to be home now :) 

Just waiting for the kids to come in and feast. 

 View from our dorm hall. There are people that live in that shack on the far right. And that is their garden. 

 Saying goodbye to mine and Joe's 4th graders. Sad day. 

4th grade 

We made dirt cups for all of our students -- complete with a gummy worm in each one. They were so excited!

Jenny & Jess

Minnie & Zena 

Hannah & her dragon she won in our drawing 

Mike and I, sad to say bye to that kid. 

The first week of class he was nuts and I made him stand for like 20 minutes straight instead of sitting. From then on he was a changed boy in my class and I loved him!

Kevin 

Joey & Mary 

 Our dorm! Those were wood beds. 

Wood beds + plus sleeping on your side = bruised hip bones! 

Our bathroom. Yeah. Gross. You NEVER go in there without shoes on... or really anywhere in China without shoes.

 Squatter with a shower right next to it. Worst part, we weren't allowed to flush t.p. Even MORE gross.  

Goodbye second grade! 

Loved Susan. She was so sweet. 

Getting ATTACKED by the 2nd graders for my bag of candy. It was madness. 

And they ended up breaking the bag. 

 Chinese otter pops

Claire and her teddy bear she won 

Joey getting SMOTHERED by kids for treats!  

 He was ready to pass out by this point. He had to run away and hide! 

See ya later kiddos!! 

Saying goodbye to the group. Sad. Joe and I left 5 days before the rest of the group. Amy and Emily went back to Shanghai with us as well to begin a whole new adventure.  

Love these girls! 

 McKenna and I 

Ryleigh & Micheala 

 

That is our craaazy bus driver.  

Shanghai, here we come! Then HOME!!!!

Final thoughts:

China will ALWAYS have a special place in our hearts. We loved the experience. It was absolutely crazy at times and I desperately wanted to get the heck out of there and GO HOME but I am so so so happy we went. Nearly 5 months of just being together, exploring a whole different country, was priceless. 

And now as I sit here in our apartment in Nebraska (remember this post !), and Joey has begun his 10+ hour days at school, I long to be back in China. 

But this time maybe just a quick visit :) 

One day we will be back. Even if for no other reason than to visit Yangshuo . 

If you EVER have the opportunity to go to China, Do IT! 

Just bring your own food :)