Penne with Charred Tomatoes and Hummus (and Taking One Small Step)
You know what I love? That by putting it out there––I am feeling overwhelmed––a chorus of voices rose up in response. Online and off, friends said, “I’m in that same ‘spread thin,’ place.” And while I would prefer for us all to be sipping pink lemonade and playing with puppies, isn’t it comforting to hear that other people get in that place and how they get through it? It reminded me of another truth in life: talking about what’s bothering us––even the worst, most terrible thing–– normalizes it. Keeping quiet can let the problem seep and multiply. But bring it into the light, and we can see it for what it is, and maybe even find the way out.
Take this: I was listing my many complaints to a friend. I wanted to know how and when my life would transform from its parade of stress and takeout food and into equilibrium and equanimity. “One day,” she said, “you might just make one small, tiny choice that reconnects you with that balanced place. Like taking a walk.” Or waking up one morning with enough time to post something on your blog, even if it’s a ramble, because you miss it dreadfully.
So remember that: when you are in the thick of it, in the weeds, and feeling spread thin, there will come a moment when you make the choice to do something small. You won’t be shoving your life into a box of what you think it should be. It will come naturally, my friend said, because you can’t bear to be without it any longer: a deep, mindful breath, a call to a friend, a sun salutation. That one choice might not push you off from the bottom of the deep-end back to the surface. It might not set everything right. But you will have a least given yourself a moment to connect with what makes you feel centered. And it just might do you a world of good.
I recommend this recipe as a potential small choice. It comes together mighty quick with many ingredients you likely already have at home, but it’s got about 40 different vibrant flavors going on that could make your Monday night bowl of pasta a little bit more exciting.
Penne with Charred Tomatoes and Hummus
from Bon Appetit
Serves 4
8 ounces penne pasta
1/2 cup plain hummus
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12-ounce bags cherry tomatoes
1 15-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 cup halved pitted kalamata olives
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Whisk hummus into liquid.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large heavy skillet over high heat. Add cherry tomatoes; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until blackened in spots, shaking skillet occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix in chickpeas, garlic, and smoked paprika. Crush some of tomatoes to release juices. Add pasta and enough hummus mixture to coat. Mix in olives and cilantro; season with salt and pepper.
Cadi: I like your friend’s idea of the one small thing that sparks the ignition of reconnecting – it’s much more soothing than my mom’s ‘you’ll get over it, just keep plugging away and soon you’ll notice everything is better.’
Glad to see you’re feeling better, I for one missed seeing you around here last week. (Although I have to tell you, I’ve been reading your blog for so long now that instead of thinking that you must be on vacation, I was hoping you were OK!).
Happy Monday and the cheerful prospect of a great week!51 weeks ago
Laureen: Ahhhh — I’m feeling like I’ve been in a jungle of weeds for the past few weeks and just reading this post allowed me to take a deep breath.
So much so that I was almost feeling pressured and bullied by the idea of how much I needed to do to hack my way through the BS in my way. And, of course, needing to do it all–and do it well–at the same time.
But I love this idea of one small choice that puts me and not the weeds back in control–even if it’s just for an hour at the gym…51 weeks ago
MrsB: I have thought of you often, hoping you were ‘making it’ x
I am so proud of your small step…it’s so often the hardest!
I find taking out a minute every so often just to be ‘mindful’…really looking, hearing, smelling etc just gives me time to realise how noisy it’s getting in my head and the world is still there as it was and will be x
Keep your chinup, chicken x51 weeks ago
girdtmom: I am so glad to see you feeling even the littlest bit better. I have been fretting a bit, to see you so stressed in your usually warm and sunny corner of the internet. I certainly felt that I couldn’t offer any comfort, as a random lurker/internet stranger. So let me just say that this space has brought me happiness, and I wish you well.51 weeks ago
Katie: I’ve been feeling spread thin, too – so much so that I couldn’t even comment on the last post. I think you’re right, though – talking these things through instead of hiding them can be so healthy and normalizing.
This sounds like a delicious small step. (Though I’d also welcome pink lemonade and puppies!)
Thanks for your honesty, Sarah. Missed seeing you here last week. xoxo51 weeks ago
Katy from DiningwithDusty: This sounds lovely–just the kind of thing to help you take a step back from the madness and treat yourself to something nice. It really is the small stuff that counts; I finally finished my chapter (at long last, yay!) and spent the day reading in bed….and ate a bowl of ice cream, too. Needless to say, I feel restored, at least for now. But it’s a constant process of rebalancing.
Thanks for being one of my guilty/guilt-less pleasures!51 weeks ago
Rachel Cunliffe: Hi Sarah,
I just read your entire blog post (except for the recipe) out to my husband and we nodded in agreement… thanks for the beautiful post, the talking aloud about things with the people that care makes big problems sometimes seem so much smaller. Sometimes life just feels like surviving – staying that way for too long is disheartening though. A few words that a friend gave me recently really helped me let go of something I’ve been holding on angst about for almost a year… change is possible and can come from the smallest of things.
Thanks for your honesty
51 weeks ago
Reading these comments makes me so happy! Is it weird to say I ‘ve missed you guys? I really have.
Also: it’s a shame about this picture. We were experiencing with gluten-free pasta and that’s why it looks like it’s falling apart––it was!51 weeks ago
Kristine: Hope you are out of the weeds soon! Even when you are spread thin you still manage to write thoughtful heartfelt posts that really resonate. Thank you. And thank you for the recipe too, looks so delicious. Hummus and pasta and roasted tomatoes sounds like heaven and a fine way to remind us to breathe and enjoy even when we are fighting for air….50 weeks ago
Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams: This recipe was our dinner tonight. Delicious. Thanks again, Sarah!50 weeks ago