What's in the fridge pasta

Once upon a time there was a blog with recipes. Then there was a wiring project, then an infant who didn't want to be set down, a kitchen remodeling project, then a toddler who could open doors. Lately, there's been a distinct shortage of recipes as a result.

Recipes in our house have morphed somewhat. Here's an example, on the table in less than 30 minutes, or 40 if you have a toddler around to "help".

"What's in the fridge?" pasta

• Start cooking one box of rotini, or 3/4 box, if that's what's in the cupboard
• Saute a few crushed cloves of garlic and sometimes part of an onion (chopped) in a splash of olive oil.
• Add a chopped red or green pepper, saute a few more minutes. Also a cup of fresh tomatoes (chopped), or not.
• Add salt, pepper, oregano.
  
• Add 10 oz of frozen (thawed and squeezed) spinach, or some sad-looking fresh spinach
• Add some chick peas (1-2 cups, cooked for another recipe the other day, or one drained can, if you eat things from cans, which we mostly don't any more), or not.
• Add some dried and soaked sundried tomatoes, or some oil-cured sundried tomatoes, or not.
• Toast some walnuts in the oven, or not. (Don't stir them in until everything else is done cooking.)
  
• Cook until the noodles are done, stir in the "sauce", top with walnuts, mozarella cheese (or not), serve with some romano (or parmesan) cheese

In the photo: Dalton enjoys making chopped tomatoes (from our garden) with his Dad.