Spaghetti with Zucchini and Carrots
Being back in New England brings back many memories especially of food. Largely food I don't eat anymore like lobsters, steamers and fried clams. Yesterday I was scouring the shelves of a small local New England grocery searching for quinoa when I ran into one of my favorite comfort foods as a child – the Sno Ball. I was overwhelmed with memories. It was also very surprising because last year Hostess, the manufacturer of the Sno Ball announced it was going out of business. I looked at the expiration date, and it said 12/12. I thought “that's not too bad”. What the heck? Was I really considering eating a chemical filled Sno Ball? I thought long and hard – why would I even consider such a thing? Than I remembered. As a child, whenever I got sick, I asked for Sno Balls. They were the only thing I could get down. I would lay in my sick bed, and my mother would bring me two perfect little pink snowballs on a plate with a glass of milk. I wolfed them down and fell happily asleep. Even when I got older and I came down with some illness, I would ask my husband to run out and find Sno Balls. Strangely they gave me some kind of solace, and as a child, I honestly believed they could cure me.
Later on in life, I found out that the ingredients in Sno-Balls included cellulose gum, mono diglyceride, sodium stearoyl lactylate, polysorbate 60, sorbic acid (which is petroleum extract ) and animal fat…just to name a few. I will always miss my Sno Balls, or more importantly the comfort they gave me, but I am extremely grateful that I don't eat food like that anymore. Also, encountering that Sno Ball was a good reminder to examine my emotions before I eat anything that is bad for me. Sometimes the strongest cravings for unhealthy food happen when you are at your weakest point emotionally. Taking a moment to to figure out what connects us to our food choices, can help us make better decisions.
On to food. My new neighbor Javier generously gifted me with the most beautiful bounty of vegetables. So I made a rustic and simple spaghetti with zucchini and carrots. I simply sautéed the yellow and green zucchini and carrots with garlic, fresh basil, parsley and oregano in a tiny bit of oil and served the sauté over whole wheat spaghetti. The art of simple food. Hope you enjoy this healthy spaghetti with zucchini as much as I did. Don't miss any of Ordinary Vegan's free recipes by signing up here.
When I was reading your story about the Sno Balls I could so relate. They were also my favorite snack/comfort food up until they took them off the shelves! However, I have to agree with you that it is so easy to make a healthy meal choice if you just stop and think about what you are doing when you reach for food. Something as simple as zucchini and carrots sautéed & served over a whole wheat pasta is tasty, filling and healthy for you. Keep the recipes coming!
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes and insight. Vegan for 45 days! I think I am sticking with it.