Friends! It’s Thursday! Which means tomorrow is F-R-I-DAY!! HALLELU, amirite?
(I just had to look up how to spell ‘amirite,’ even though it’s not a real word. The internet is weird, man.)
So I’ve quite settled in to this crazy-awesome job of mine, and I’ve finally adjusted into the whole working from home thing. I’m surprised it has been such an adjustment! Like, working from home is the dream. Theoretically, working in your PJs, rolling out of bed at 7:59 in time for work at 8:00, being able to cook breakfast at home instead of grabbing literally anything and running out the door all sound like awesome things.
And you know what? They ARE.
I just didn’t realize how gosh-darn busy I’d be! Like, these photos right here? Hastily thrown together one night after work this week. And I’ve actually had a life on the weekends with Mother’s Day, the big family dinner, and traveling, so my blogging schedule is all jacked up.
On one hand, it’s totally frustrating. You guys know how gosh-darn much I love this tiny little corner of the internet. Me feeling like I don’t have enough time to dedicate to be the person I’ve grown up to be is a weird feeling. Like I don’t have enough time to be me.
On the other hand, it’s taught me a lot about how I run my day. I’ve started to pick up on the amount of time I waste scrolling through Facebook or randomly turning on The Office on Netflix at night. In fact, in the time it has taken me to write the first word of this post to this very sentence, I have gotten up 4 different times to go get tea, go talk to Mark, or go get a peanut butter cup. FOUR.
I waste an inordinate amount of time.
So while I thought I was just so darn busy all the time, it’s really because I can’t prioritize. For some reason, I’m really struggling in this department things lately. In my mind, watching Gilmore girls for the 300th time somehow outweighs polishing my photography skills, promoting my content, or writing my posts. It outweighs hanging out with the friends or family I haven’t seen in months or trying a new restaurant. You know, the stuff that I actually love to do.
Has this ever happened to you? You’d just rather sit and veg rather than actually doing and living.
I literally realized this yesterday, but I’m happy I did. While it’s hard to admit your faults, I think it’s one of the best ways to grow. Identifying flaws and overcoming them tells you so much about the kind of person you are. So while I’ve been wasting quite a bit of time lately, I’ve come to realize that’s just not alright with me. Time with family and friends is important, so making time for them is a must. And I’ve experienced some wonderful things with Fooduzzi in this past year and a half of blogging; there’s no way I’m slowing down now just because I’m feeling lazy.
So in the spirit of cutting down on that “laziness” and better prioritizing my life, I bring you a 10-minute meal! Virtually no chopping, minimal mixing, and a teeny tiny ingredient list make for an efficient, and not to mention totally mouth-wateringly delicious, weeknight mealtime!
As I mentioned before, Mark looooooooves spinach artichoke dip. But eating spinach artichoke dip for dinner, while totally tasty, isn’t the healthiest thing you could do. We’ve definitely done it, and we’ll probably do it again in the future. But for a quick and easy everyday meal? Let’s choose some healthier ingredients and pair it with some fiber-rich brown rice gluten free pasta, shall we?
Just like in this pasta recipe, the creaminess is coming from…hummus! If you haven’t added hummus to your noodles yet, boy are you missing out! You get all of the creaminess from, say, an alfredo sauce, without any dairy! You know I’m a complete and total hummus fiend, so I’m going to hop on each and every opportunity I get to add it to my diet.
Add a little spinach, some artichoke hearts (HIGHLY recommend these bad boys), and some other pantry staples, and you’re done! Seriously. 10 minute meals are the best, aren’t they?
Best part? This recipe is totally and completely gluten free and vegan. You can totally add some cheese to your pasta if desired, but I think it’s plenty creamy and decadent without it.
Enjoy this 10-minute pasta, friends!
PrintCreamy Spinach Artichoke Hummus Pasta
- Yield: 4-8
Ingredients
- 1 12-oz. pack gluten free pasta
- 1 cup reserved pasta water (see Instructions)
- 5 oz. plain hummus (half a standard pack)
- 7 oz. artichoke hearts, roughly chopped (I used these and HIGHLY recommend them!)
- 4 oz. frozen spinach (about 1 and 1/2 cups), thawed, squeezed, and drained
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 tsp. dried Italian Seasoning
- salt + pepper
- Optional: red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Prior to draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of pasta water for thinning out the sauce.
- While the pasta is cooking, mix the sauce: Add hummus, artichoke hearts, spinach, garlic, Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper to a large bowl and mix to combine well. Add some (you won’t need it all) pasta water to create a thick and creamy mixture.
- Once the pasta is done cooking, drain and add the noodles to the bowl with the sauce. Toss to coat, adding additional pasta water to thin if necessary. Serve immediately.
Affiliate links were used in this blog post. “Affiliate” is just a fancy way of saying that I get some money if you click on and purchase the products that are linked! The money I earn will go directly back into Fooduzzi, so I’d really appreciate you helping me “feed” my blogging efforts!!
I could talk about this same topic for days. DAYS I TELL YOU. I’m so busy wahhhhhh (<–that's me) but honestly, I spent a gross about of time just petting Layla or sitting on social media. As bad as it sounds, I usually leave my phone in the other room when I'm trying to write a blog post/get anything time sensitive done. It's sad that I have to resort to that, but it works! I've also been trying to only go on snapchat 2x/day since snaps last so long. So far so good! PS that overhead shot is gold.
FOR REAL. The time waste continuum is real. I love your Snapchat tip – totally doing that from now on!
I literally saw half of the picture when your page first loaded and I was immediately like YES! Haha this looks fantastic Alexa, I love the flavor combinations! :)
Haha thank you so much, Marina! It’s quickly becoming a dinner staple!
This looks SO good! I think I’m going to try a variation with quinoa for my lunches next week :) See you at Avett tonight?
Sarah
http://www.thesurznickcommonroom.com
Ooh! I love the idea of pairing it with quinoa! You so smart :)
I hope the Avetts were amazing! I’m still in mourning that I forgot to buy tickets. :(
This looks amazing, Alexa. And you totally had me at 10 minute dinner. I can soo relate with you with the prioritizing and not wasting all my with Netflix and Facebook. I’ve been struggling with that so much lately.
Thanks, Rebecca! I’m seriously the worst when it comes to Netflix and Facebook – no self-control whatsoever! The struggle is real haha
I love your lemon hummus pasta so when I saw this I could not be more excited to get to the store to buy everything and make it this weekend!
I thought of you when I posted this! I hope you get the chance to try this version out! :)
I’ve been wanting to try your other hummus pasta since, like, you posted it, and now this one looks SO incredible doc! Definitely need to get my butt into gear and try this. I’m so with you on the busyness! Sometimes I get home, cook dinner, plop down and do a little blog stuff, and it’s already 9 pm! Where does the time go!
haha thanks, Liz!! Let me know if you try it out!
You had me at hummus! This looks SOOOOOOOOOO good!
Thanks, Kristy! It’s my favorite creamy pasta hack ;)
Oh girl, amen to this post! I totally hear you. I’m so guilty of always saying that I’m busy and have no time….when really, we all have the same amount of time, and we just need to prioritize, be smart, and get crap done. Anyway, this pasta looks absolutely dreamy! I freaking love spinach artichoke dip. And these photos are seriously killer, you’re doing such a great job!
The worst, right?! But life is just a big ol’ learning experience – you learn and grow! :) Thanks, Lucia! I’m slooooowly trying to improve my photography skills. You need to come to Pittsburgh so you can teach me your ways ;)
Your hummus obsession is starting to rub off on me! I’m putting it in everything these days. I will be making this for dinner tonight because it is friday and I’m feeling super lazy.
Oh the hummus obsession is REAL. I hope you liked the recipe!
If I come over for lunch will you make this for me. Hummus is one of the best foods ever created. Of course I had to pin it.
Have a great Friday Alexa.
i’m so making this next week. easy, healthy and quick. that’s what i look for when i’m making something! plus i have a goal for this month to use some new recipes.
also, you are the absolute best. i love getting to chat with you and i look forward to the next time :)))
YES! Let me know what you think! :) I loved chatting yesterday – let’s do it again soon :)
I 100% agree that admitting our faults is what helps us to stay humble and grow and change! :) And I also LOVE the look of this pasta. The spinach artichoke flavor is one of my favorites.
Oh we’d totally get along, Emily. It’s one of my favorite flavors, too ;)
This looks incredible! Artichoke anything is my favorite… add in spinach + hummus and I’m there :)
SAME, Liz! I hope you get a chance to try this one out!
OH I can so so so relate to this post! I sometimes need to leave the house to work because I see the dishes in the sink and it distracts me. Or I just want to roam the kitchen and snack all day ;) I can’t believe this 10-minute meal – it looks a-maaaaaaazing!!!
I TOTALLY AGREE. We just walked to the grocery store, and even THAT was enough to get me in back in the blogging mode. Sometimes a little break from the house is a good thing ;)
This is pretty incredible! I love that you combined my fav dip with pasta, yum!
:) Thanks, Rachel! It’s definitely a keeper!
Yummm! This looks and sounds delicious!! Also, I totally feel ya on wasting time, even though I literally have NO free time, even now I am typing this while feeding a toddler, haha!
Holy moly! You must be a pro at multi-tasking! Props to you, girl!
You hit the nail on the head. Loved this post. And it totally is an adjustment working from home! I was surprised, as well. I actually had a bit of a learning curve – I had to learn how to shut off lol! My desk is IN my room, so at first it was hard for me to sleep because I had so much going on, and I was working in the same room that I was sleeping in!
YES! My desk is in my room, too! I went from spending only sleeping hours in there to literally all hours of the day. I’m amazed at how much of an adjustment it has been, but a good one nonetheless ;)
I totally know what you mean! Time management and prioritization are certainly NOT my strengths. I go through phases where for a few months I will be really productive and have my ish together, then I’ll be like “Oh, that was hard. I’m tired.” and will be a hot mess for a few months after that. I need to find a happy medium haha. As you can probably guess I am currently in the “hot mess” phase of this cycle…anywho….
And girl. Using hummus to make the pasta creamy – like, why you so smart? Seriously, such a good idea. Anything spinach and artichoke is a winner in my book!
That’s exactly how I am, too. haha I feel like I might perpetually be in that “hot mess” phase sometimes ;)
I get side tracked all the time when trying to write posts. I bulk do them usually where I end up making a photographing because I have a day or time and then get busy and often lately with my husband traveling so much and the girls schedules and mine I don’t get to editing photos or writing up the post until later and if I get more than a few to do I get bogged down and literally can’t concentrate to save my life.
Love this! I’m often find myself with leftover hummus and am throwing it with this or that and noodles but the addition of artichoke and spinach sounds delicious!
I can totally relate – I have all of these great plans to stay ahead of schedule, then…life happens haha.
Wow, this sounds great. All our favorites, I’ve really been into hummus lately.
Oh oh you girls are ticking all my boxes, love this food too! Im opening a Veggie/Vegan Deli (well a takeaway actually) here in Southern Spain in August so looking out for all this kind of yummy food and great combos. Thanks for this hints and tips!
That’s SO cool, Lois! I’m glad this recipe served as some inspiration :)
I made this for dinner the other night and I absolutely LOVED it!! Seriously so good. Thanks for the recipe!
Woo hoo! So glad you liked it, Rebecca! Can’t go wrong with spinach artichoke dip and pasta ;)
Do you this would freeze ok? And then eat cold I guess?
Oh man! I have no idea if you could freeze it. I’m assuming yes though. You could eat it cold, but I prefer it warm for sure.
Hey Alexa, That is one good recipe. I was thinking if you have tried making this with barbecue sauce- I was filling myself with one today and turns out to be very delicious.
Oh interesting! I love that idea.
wondering if you could use other types of hummus i was thinking roasted red pepper hummus might be good