WHAT I MADE FOR DINNER: SPICY TOMATO PENNE

Adapted from "Let's Make a Baby Pasta" recipe.

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Spicy Tomato Penne

3/4 pound whole wheat penne
2 tablespoons olive oil + extra for grilling chicken
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I even put as much as a whole teaspoon for extra kick!)
One 14 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 large chicken breasts
Salt
Pepper

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Cook penne in boiling water until al dente, drain and set pasta aside in serving bowl

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over moderate heat, then add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic is soft, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon--careful not to let the garlic brown. Add the tomatoes and stir. Simmer until warmed through. Add salt to taste.

In a separate, lightly oiled skillet, grill chicken breasts seasoned with salt and pepper until golden brown on both sides.

Toss pasta with tomato sauce, reserving a few tablespoons of sauce to drizzle atop chicken. Place grilled chicken breasts on top of the pasta (I cut my chicken into strips). Pour remaining sauce and cheese on top of the chicken.

I love this dish because it's light, but filling and tasty. When I need some good carbs, you bet I make this pasta! I really like how much you can tweak this dish, too. Sometimes I add some zucchini to the pasta sauce, and sometimes I leave the chicken out.

I'm going to go heat up my left-overs right now...

SLUMP

Ever since running the Ragnar relay at the end of June-- I really haven't been running and I feel awful. I tried running last weekend, and let's just say it almost killed me. I think that I pushed myself too hard during Ragnar and because it was my first time, I didn't know what to expect. I thought I trained pretty well...turns out I didn't. It took me weeks to recover after that race.

The rest of this summer I have been in a slump. I have taken the "it's okay to relax in the summer" mantra way too seriously. Let me explain how...

///// Ever since Thanksgiving, I seem to actually feel my metabolism slowing down by the hour. Oh the woes of aging.

///// Our apartment comes with free cable and I've been exposed to all these television shows I didn't even know existed. The Real Housewives of Wherever are captivating to watch. Their lives are unreal to me and ridiculously entertaining.

///// We had left over cheese cake from our reception that helped kick off my summer of sucky eating. Seriously...I had a piece every day for breakfast for about 2 weeks.

///// I blame Breaking Bad for my inability to wake up early and exercise outdoors before it's blistering hot. The husband gets off work at 9, we eat dinner, and finish watching the good old Heisenberg around midnight.

Do any of you feel sluggish and plump at the end of summer? What do you do to stay motivated and moving? I need someone to get up in my face, and tell me to shape up.

WHAT MY HUSBAND MADE FOR DINNER

This is what happens when my husband is left to fend for himself:

A pan cake. 

Eggs

Almond Milk

Bisquick 

Ick.