Quoi de neuf – C’est juillet!

Bonjour and a happy July to you! It’s been awhile, non? I’m still working on a post all about motivation, but in the meantime I thought I’d get back into the hang of posting and share what’s new, what I’m up to so far this summer. In fact, my main motivation for this post is a pasta salad I made for the 4th, the BEST pasta salad, recipe below, you’re welcome. Perhaps you could make it for your juillet 14 celebration? On to it! Quoi de neuf – C’est juillet!

listen

Le Square Trousseau #0721 playlist on Spotify. A cool playlist for your hot July from a restaurant in Paris that I’ve mentioned before and can’t wait to visit. They are such an inspiration – to create my own summer playlist, to make that risotto, oh – or maybe this velouté? Oui, oui et oui!

The Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast. Mr Roboto: The Movie (w/ Jimmy Kimmel) is just too much. I laughed out loud throughout the whole episode. Subscribed. Might have to go back and re-listen to the one with GP.

watch

Just finished season 2 of Lupin on Netflix – can’t wait for season 3!

ＴＯＫＹＯ 106.9 FM lofi + chill + vibe on YouTube the other night and could not stop watching. The virtual reality is amazing. Totally hypnotic.

After watching this Positano Evening Walk, I can’t get it out of my head. What a dream. I Must Go There, un giorno!

Our sweet deer in the back yard. Marky’s girlfriend (yes, she’s actually inside the fence) and mama deer, who finally showed us the bébés!

shop

While dreaming of Positano… I am loving my new Birks in Amalfi Testa Di Moro!

Ordered Frange Puff, Bisous Balm and Yeux Paint from Violette_FR. Can’t wait to try these, now on to YouTube for some more lessons from Violette!

I grabbed a Jetsetter Tee in Soldier Blue from White House Black Market for the past holiday weekend, it will also work for julliet 14! Also found this cool Tee in SIGNATURE LEOPARD BLACK and couldn’t resist.

I ordered this Ruched Bandeau Swimsuit in black. It is actually pretty flattering, well as flattering as a swimsuit is going to be on me right now 🙄. Wish they had it in my size in the Iris color… it would be perfect for 80’s Pool Party III 🦄!

And speaking of Pool Party III, what about this Disco Dome Pool Float???

read

This Naked Mind – In need of a new perspective, a new mindset, a new attitude for the summer, if you will.

The Promise of Provence by Patricia Sands. A little summer escapism, in the south of France, mais oui 🌞

Thinking of grabbing this soon, The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta, this months Goop Book Club pick. You really didn’t think I would come back with a post with no Goop in it did you??

eat

Loving my beautiful perfect black raspberries from my garden. My favorite! I was so blessed this year! I’ve just been eating them straight from the bush, except for once when I poured oat milk over them in a bowl – miam! Not quite enough left to make a whole pie, but what if I mixed them with cherries to make this Black Raspberry and Cherry Pie with a Gluten Free Crust? Double yum!

This Rose Cacao SuperLatte looks amazing. So does this Zucchini Butter Spaghetti from Smitten Kitchen. Made this Spinach and Ricotta Pizza With Garlicky Olive Oil last Friday and it was awesome. And these Falafel-Spiced Tomatoes and Chickpeas on Flatbread? I definitely see those in my near future.

And here it is, Pasta Salad! So good, it inspired this post after a 6 week no-post hiatus! Along with my Blue Nachos and raspberry hot wings (which I made using this magical ingredient from Penzey’s), it was the perfect patriotic July 4th celebration.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Perfect Creamy Rotini Salad

The best pasta salad I've ever eaten! The addition of lupini beans gives it that extra crunch, and the marinated mozzarella and zingy, creamy dressing make it perfect!

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time8 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: festive, pasta salad, summer

Servings: 4 main ( or 8 sides)

Ingredients

• ½ pound rotini pasta
• 15 ounces lupini beans (jarred), drained
• 1 cup red pepper, chopped
• 4 ounces black olives (half a can), sliced in half
• 5 – 7 slices sun-dried tomatoes in oil, minced
• 1 cup mini marinated mozzarella balls, sliced in half * reserve a couple tbsps of marinade for the dressing
• 1/8 cup chopped red onion
• chopped fresh basil, for garnish

Dressing

• 3/4 cup Vegenaise (or mayo)
• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp marinade from mozzarella balls
• ½ tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp sugar
• salt, pepper

Instructions

• Cook rotini pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Add pasta to large mixing bowl and add lupini beans, red pepper, black olives, sun-dried tomato, mozzarella and red onion. Stir to mix together.

  For dressing, whisk together Vegenaise, vinegar, water, marinade, Dijon and sugar. Add salt & pepper to taste.

  Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss to mix. Garnish with basil. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Bask in the beauty of the best pasta salad ever!

Quoi de neuf – C’est juillet! I hope you enjoy yours and take the time for a Bastille Day celebration! Could I ask a special favor? If you are reading this could you take a minute and say a short prayer for my princess puppy Razzmatazz for her health and happiness? Merci. Sending you love and light! À bientôt!