Tonight’s dinner was a new experiment.
Zucchini noodles!
Okay, so they’re not exactly noodles.
Earlier this summer, I saw a recipe for zucchini and summer squash salad that called for “ribbons” of zucchini and squash, created by peeling the squash with a vegetable peeler.
Ever since then, I thought it might be fun to use the ribbons as noodles!
To make the noodles, I simply peeled three large zucchinis. I then placed the zucchini ribbons in a pot of boiling water for about a minute. (The ribbons cooked very quickly because they were so thin).
After straining the “noodles,” I topped them with some of my semi-homemade marinara meat sauce!
A delicious combination!
As good as the zucchini “noodles” were, they definitely weren’t a substitute for real pasta. As I was eating my zucchini marinara meat sauce bowl, I found myself wishing I made some ziti as well. Note to self: Make zucchini noodles with pasta.
Nevertheless, it was a yummy dinner!
College Picture Throwback
This evening, I sorted through a couple of the remaining boxes from our big move. One of the boxes I came across included a pile of pictures from my college years that apparently didn’t find a home in a frame, photo album or scrapbook.
So why not share them on the internet, right?
I should probably explain that one, huh? It’s from a lifeguard-themed sorority social. My best friend Laurel and I went as "Baywatch Babes" and had a little help in the boob department from some balloons. I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty fun being so bosom-y for one night.
Recognize that guy? I’m lovin’ the Pauly D hair… and my beer, apparently. 
I’m pretty sure we were dancing to “Out Tonight” from Rent in that picture at around 3 a.m. Show Tunes + Drinking Games = Fantastic Night
Another sorority social in the middle of nowhere. Camo themed, obviously.
Spring break!
I hope I’m screaming about my decision to wear a jean jacket to a bar.
Oh, memories!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
The classic college photos:) I think that the late night sing alongs were some of the best memories!
I love looking through old pictures and cracking up at how crazy we were in college. Great pics! I also wore a Jean jacket to a bar….it was cool then I swear 🙂
hahah I love those college shots!! I think I probably have about 80 pictures of me grasping beers so intensely and making weird faces…sad part is I just graduated college and def still take pictures like that! waaah it makes me miss school (betcha don’t wanna hear that) Any who….that meat sauce makes me want a warm comforting pasta dish right now lol!
hahah I love those college shots!! I think I probably have about 80 pictures of me grasping beers so intensely and making weird faces…sad part is I just graduated college and def still take pictures like that! waaah it makes me miss school (betcha don’t wanna hear that) Any who….that meat sauce makes me want a warm comforting pasta dish right now lol!!
Hahahaha the balloon picture is hilarious. Love it!
I had zucchini noodles for the first time at a raw food workshop and they were good!
Loving the throwback photos 🙂 Glad you had your share of fun in college! I know I sure did, and I couldn’t imagine it being any other way! I went to college with my hubby like you and Ryan did, and I love looking through our old photos documenting how ‘crazy’ we were back in the day…er, 3 years ago. Haha.
You look so young in some of those pics! My college sorority pics are getting to be almost 10 years old now and it’s funny to look back at them and see the things I was wearing. What was I thinking!?
I haven’t made spaghetti in a while. It’s just been to flippin’ hot! But that does look good! I usually use spaghetti squash instead of noodles for my meal. I still make a pot of whole wheat spaghetti noodles for my husband though. I can’t get him to convert to spaghetti squash. 😉
ah loved looking through these college photos! looked like you had a blast and love that you any ryan have these memories together! post more! post more!
Sister sister! I’m a KD too! Although we never had cute Project Runway themed shirts!
Those zucchini noodles are so interesting! I never would have thought of that myself!
Oh how I miss college!
haha! I love college memories! makes me miss it
I love the old pics- they’re so great! Ryan looks so different with that hair!
I recently found a recipe website called skinnytaste.com Have you ever heard of it? It was awesome “skinny” recipes on it!!
yes! i met gina before on a trip to CA last year. she’s such a sweetheart.
True story: Today during lunch, I stopped at the grocery store for a few bits and pieces that I needed. In typical fashion, I turned on my “Wicked” Pandora station, popped the headphones in, and did my business, picking things off the shelves and singing along. Defying Gravity came on and I couldn’t help myself from dancing in the [what I thought was] empty aisle.
It definitely wasn’t empty. BUSTED by stranger at the store! As I passed by, I heard her mumble “THAT’S how I’d like to shop!”
Here’s to dance parties lasting loooong after the college years.
i love it! i would’ve danced with you!
These photos are hilarious! I love Ryan’s Pauly D hair. And LOL: “I hope I’m screaming about my decision to wear a jean jacket to a bar.”
please tell me the jean jacket picture is at Devaney’s. b/c jean jacket + devaneys would make sense. hahaha
I’m cracking up at the “wearing a jean jacket to the bar” picture. Very funny!
Great pics!
You were and still are adorable! I cannot get over the change in Ryan’s hair. What made him change his hairstyle and color?
Those pictures are so fun – thanks for sharing! 🙂
And zucchini “noodles” are getting added to my dinner menu…yum!
Looks like you didn’t starve yourself and overexercise in those days…
She looks the same now as she did before to me…how is running a few times a week “overexercising” and eating pb fingers starving yourself?
Someone needs a hug.
Just wanted to say I made your Roasted Eggplant lasagna dish tonight and my hubby and i decided it was the BEST THING i’ve EVER made. THANK YOU!
Hahaha. College was so fun, right? So awesome, but like you definitely never want to go back. Lol.
I love the zucchini ribbons. Seems like it would be a great combo with some pasta too!!
i can’t believe i’ve almost been outa college for 15 years. i’m so freaking old!
Ooh, your dinner reminds me of sloppy joes 🙂 yum! I couldn’t even recognize Ryan in the first picture! He must have one of those changing faces. I look the same as I did when I was younger, so I’m easily recognizable to friends/family 🙁 not as fun and exciting; no wow factor at reunions! Oh, and I love the picture of you dancing and POINTING! I find myself pointing, snapping, clapping, and doing the open face palms.. Great moves, yes?
Ohhh maybe some garlic bread on the side would have given you your carb fix? Just bought a spiraller to make zucchini spaghetti but will make a note to add in some of the real stuff too!
GIRL!! I didn’t know you were a KD! What up sistah!?
AOT 😀
woop, woop! 😀
Ha ha! Love the college pics. I think shredded zuchinni owrks a lit better. It always takes me so dang long to use the peeler to make the ribbons. 🙂 That sauce looks yummy! 🙂
I love zucchini noodles, but yeah, pairing them with some regular noodles definitely gives them a necessary bit of bulk. 🙂
And I also love old pictures! It’s fun taking a walk down memory lane!
I was in a sorority, too, and I remember the many socials, many costumes, and MANY MANY sorority t-shirts! 😉 I think I still have a few haha!
What Sorority where you in?
College is fun no matter what!!!
i was a kappa delta.
Looking back at old pictures is so much fun! Me and my roomies actually have a Wall of Shame hiding in our apartment that we are adding hilarious pics to throughout the year.
My gosh girl you are gorgeous <3
Hahah! Those pictures are great! I’m an ADPi, but KD was founded at my alma mater! 🙂
Another hilariously awesome post! Zucchini “noodles” are a good alternative to lasagna noodles, which I was actually eating when I was reading this post last night!
Great throwback pics! definitely makes me miss college!
Ah! I love going through old pictures 🙂 Don’t you wish you could just relive a few of these moments? I DO!
Oh, it looks like you had tons of fun in college! 😀
Zucchini is one of my favourite vegetables and I love zucchini noodles, but it’s not like pasta. Those who say it is are only fooling themselves. I love zucchini (noodles) with beef (such a yummy combination!) and marinara sauce, but I wouldn’t eat it with chicken, for example.
I’ve always wanted to try making zucchini pasta. I think your dinner looks yummy. I’m going to try it! 🙂
I love your college pictures. It’s fun to look back at the entire college experience. I definitely miss some aspects of it. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been out of college for over 5 years already. I feel old 😉
Hahaha- I love your college pics! I feel like everyone has some exactly like that hidden away. 😉
I can’t wait to try those pancakes!! I have to admit that I LOVE jean jackets. I own 3 and I wear them all the time 🙂
Hahahahaha Jul, I remember that night at Devaneys! We took your sister and her friends lol. I hope you’re screaming at my decision to wear orange extensions in public 😉
I still wear a jean jacket too! I got it at J.Crew last year and it’s perfect for wearing over summer dresses before it’s really warm enough or when it starts to get chilly at night. Maybe it’s just around here, but I feel like that’s really common.
Man I miss College.
Its so different to see you with dark makeup on 🙂
I love looking at old photos!
Those pictures are hilarious. Don’t hate on the jean jacket though! Those things are back (at least in my world).
Hahha those are great pictures! Love fun sorority pic memories 😀
I’ve been cutting down on carbs for a while and Atkins has this great raw “pasta” pesto recipe that I really enjoyed. I took the skin off and shredded my zucchini into smaller “noodles” and added some shrimp to this recipe. It was very good and surprisingly, I didn’t feel like I needed pasta after. I would definitely suggest it if you’re looking for more zucchini noodle recipes. It can be modified in so many different ways, in fact I think adding any kind of protein would make it a great dinner.
http://atkinschefrecipes.com/recipes/raw-pesto-pasta
Love your pictures – so cute! You’re adorabel!
Holy. Ryan looks just like young Val Kilmer in that one pic holding the beer. Hee!
Please note: Not old, fat Val Kilmer.
That is all.
Yeah veggie “pasta” never satisfies as much as “real” pasta. But still yummy!
Fun pics! I also just finished Alexandra Robbins’ book Pledge the Secret Life of Sororities. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is curious about joining one!