Spinach Pesto with Roasted Tomatoes

Hi friends.

I posted this picture on Instagram a few weeks ago, and apparently you guys thought it looked delicious because several people asked for the recipe? Ummm, what? This looks kind of awful (thanks, iPhone) but whatever. I'll go with it.

This is actually 2 recipes thrown together to create a wonderful antidote to the more common than I care to admit scenario of "oh-shit-it's-7pm-and-I-haven't-thought-about-dinner-yet". Right. Moving on.

Roasted Tomatoes

Found on Pinterest, obviously. Part of another dish from Yummy Mummy Kitchen. Her photography is lovely and her recipe is spot on. My little version of the roasted tomatoes is below:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 

1 container cherry tomatoes

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/4 teaspoon salt 

pinch red pepper flakes 

Mix this all together and throw in a baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and let it do it's thing in a 400 degree oven for about 40 minutes.

Pasta

Just make some pasta. You can figure this out.

Pesto

Adapted from Martha but not really because I've only looked at this recipe once before linking it here. Basically, take some fresh spinach, olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese (I use the kind from a green shaker container. No judgement here, friend) and salt and pepper and mix it up in a food processor. Add a little more olive oil until you get a paste like consistency. Done. For real. I never have pine nuts (mostly because they are crazy expensive) but if you have some on hand, throw them in too.

Mix the pest with the pasta then add in the roasted tomatoes. Throw in some sauteed shrimp, or grilled chicken if that suits your fancy.

Eat a huge bowl.

The end.

Hi friends. Still here.

Lovely ones, I promise to blog again soon. 

Really, I am doing you a favor by not chronicling our horrendous experience replacing this washer and dryer.

(No, it's still not replaced.)

(I can't even talk about it.) 

(I totally can, but I don't want all of you to leave me. So I'll just stay quiet.)

(For now. Once it's all done I'll probably post about it in excruciating detail.)

In the mean time, as we prepare for the eventual demise of Google Reader, follow me on bloglovin'!

Train of thought

Please tell me you do this too. 

While reading the headlines on the BBC News homepage, I see that a Giant camel fossil found in Arctic. I've never heard of a giant camel, so naturally I have to learn all about it. Right now.

So then I am reading about these giant camels, and how they are basically just bigger versions of today's camels but with shaggy warm coats. 

And then I read this....

45 million years? That's a lot of years. Has the Earth even been around that long? Have camels really been around that long? 

Are those monkeys? Have monkeys been around that long?

This actually went on for a really long time after this (and yes, this is way after the dinosaurs. Apparently I have no recollection of learning these things in high school science), but I'll spare you the rest of the rabbit hole journey of the internet.

And this is why things stay on my to do list.

Monday morning Ashley-isms

Welcome to Monday, lovelies. Settle in for some 'too short for a post of their own but still so typical of my life I have to share them' Ashley-isms. But if you've seen me in person in the last 2 weeks I'm sure you knew all of this already, mostly because once I start talking I have a hard time shutting up.

1. Our washing machine is broken. It broke before we left town at the end of January and still isn't working. It gets just far enough in the cycle to give me hope that it has been revived by the appliance gods, but then it dies. Because I apparently ticked off the washing machine gods, I have become a regular at the oh-so-photogenic laundromat on the Hill. The washers are huge so it doesn't take forever, but still, it's a laundromat. When we bought our house we bought a home warranty at the same time that is designed to help with things like this. This has actually turned out to be more of a pain in the a then a help, but whatever. Last Friday morning I stayed home to wait for the repair guy. (this is actually Repair Guy #2. Guy #1 never showed up and then LIED and said he came by the house and knocked on the door and no one was home. Whatever. I'm done with you, Sears. We are still waiting to see if they are going to repair the washer or replace it (it's 12 years old). Ugh.

2. I fully embrace my English roots, but I right now I am too pale. I am starting to look sickly. Spring can show up any day now.

3. Taylor Swift and Adele are the same age. Let that sink in.

4. Right after we moved into our new house I slipped down the stairs because I am genius and wear socks on hardwood floors. Ouch. I could wiggle all my fingers and toes so I figured it was nothing to worry about and moved on. Wrong! I apparently knocked my SI joint out of whack and 4 weeks after the slip heard round the block I finally made it to the doctor. At least at this point, we don't think anything is broken/or that I have a ruptured disk.I start 4 weeks of physical therapy today. My doctor put the kibosh on my half marathon in March, but hopefully I can get clearance to do something. I am ready to be back at Biker Barre!

5. I keep telling myself I don't need it, but all I can think about is that I need a bright pink Longchamp with my monogram on the side.

6. Last Friday I made an impromptu and impassioned speech to the General Manager at Chop't about my dissatisfaction with their discontinuing my favorite salad dressing (simple lemon vinaigrette, of course). He seemed confused, but gave me a card for a free salad (without my favorite dressing but whatev). I'll take it.

7. I posted a video on Vine, mostly because our new stove freaks me out. I don't think I am cool enough to 'get' Vine.

8. I'm the only person that doesn't watch Downton Abbey. I KNOW. I'll get to it.

9. Now that you've thought about it for a while, can we talk about #3?

10. I just learned that the past tense of smite is smote. I really would have guessed it was smitted. I also spent most of my life thinking that the past tense of scream was scrame (rhymes with game). It's not.

Happy Friday, lovelies.

Happy Friday, lovelies. I've been gone for a while. Sorry about that. Let me make it up to you with a whole bunch of cute videos and funny things.  Sound like a deal?

No idea where I found this, but I can't get enough of this old Sesame Street clip. Next time, Cookie Monster.

I may be the last person to see Pitch Perfect, but I just may have to. Anna Kendrick sings with a Solo cup.

Why The Mindy Project is worth saving. Ummm, yes.

David Tennant may be my favorite Scotsman. I LOVE that he got down on this kids level to talk to him. So sweet.

I downloaded this album during the 'We Are Young' binge over the summer and just now got around to listening to the rest. The whole thing is solid and I have basically had Carry On playing on a loop.

Remember Salem, Sabrina the Teenage Witch's smart mouth cat? Here are the 40 Greatest Things He Ever Said. Also, we've come a long way in making life like animatronics.

If Reagan could talk, I'm pretty sure she would have the same response as this kid.

Also, did you notice the address bar? I bought SplashOfAshley so no more.blogspot.com up in here! Update your readers, darlings!

Old Navy look a likes

As I think I've told you before I do a lot of window/online shopping. Not a ton of buying because I am crazy picky and we just bought a house. In my shopping I frequently find good look a likes and lately Old Navy has been all over it. I know they are not exact replicas, and I doubt the quality is a match, but these were similar enough for me to do a double take.

Lilly Pulitzer Boston Top $148

Old Navy Roll-Cuff Blouse $14.97 

Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top $148

Full disclosure- I love my Lilly Elsa's but would never in my right mind pay retail for them. $150 for a shirt? Yeah right.

Old Navy Smocked Crepe Blouse $25.00 - $29.94

No, it's not silk, but rather crepe (whatever that means). I saw this in person earlier this week and it's pretty darling.

J. Crew Circle Print Chambray Popover $88

Old Navy Printed Chambray Shirt $24.94

J.Crew Matchstick jean $49.99 (on sale from $125)

Old Navy Rockstar Super Skinny $35- 17.97

Not as big of a price difference on these since the J.Crew pair are on sale, but the Old Navy version comes in a TON of colors.

Back to December

Yes that was a Taylor Swift reference. Deal with it.

Umm,  I miss you people. December was kind of a blur of a month, but we are back in the game. Before we rock and roll into the new year, here's a super quick review of December.


12/08 - My 27th birthday. Oh man. Where did 27 come from? I feel like 17 was yesterday. Parks surprised me with a reservation at Bistro Bis. I had scallops (as I almost always do if they are on the menu) and Parks had lamb. Really really delicious - I highly recommend.

12/10 - A Toyota rear-ended me on my way to work. Lame. His car was totaled, and mine was pretty roughed up. Parks met me at the ER and 4 hours later I was sent home. I hit my head and my knee hit the steering column pretty hard. My seat belt locked my ass in place, so I had some pretty awesome bruising from that. Thankfully no broken bones, but pretty bad whiplash and a mild concussion. I had to wear a neck brace while we were waiting for the x-rays to come back and much to everyone's disappointment, I didn't let Parks take a picture.  I was really sore for a few days, but lots of Advil and plenty of time with a heating pad helped. But let's be real, I couldn't move my neck for like 3 days and I looked a little like Frankenstein.

12/12 - While I am sitting on my sofa, with a heating pad on my back and neck, I get the bright idea to register for a half marathon. I have no f*cking little clue what possessed me to do this, but on March 16th, my 4th wedding anniversary, I will be trying not to die in the Rock n Roll Half Marathon. Let me be clear, I am not going to win this. I am probably going to hate it. My only goal is to not die. (Depending on how training progresses I may change my goal to something slightly more lofty, like only consider stopping every 30 seconds).

12/18 -  WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! For real this time! Everyone was alive and we have the keys! It's perfect and so so charming. I'll do a post or 12 alllll about it soon :) And on the way to buy a house we found out our car was totaled. Awwwwesome. RIP Ruthie. You were a great car.

12/22 - We bought a car! The same week we bought a house! (OMG) After test driving every car in Northern Virginia we settled on a 2013 VW Jetta. It's wonderful and has heated seats. The end.

12/31 - Saw Les Miserables. And I haven't quit singing since. Be glad you don't live with me.

So that's where I've been. What have you been up to, lovelies?