20-Minute Summer Pea Pasta and hopefully longer than that parties
tips on making good pasta and hosting a stellar party #lifeskills
Hello and happy start of wishing-I-was-casted-on-Summer-House season. Today we have:
our best hosting tips
20-Minute Summer Pea Pasta
The Backyardigans were onto something, let me tell you. Playing in your backyard and rolling around in the grass (because you were tackled to the ground by Rose) makes you feel that childlike wonder again. OR maybe it’s because you’re drinking alcohol and there’s nothing like a darty (clearly someone is missing college). But no one ever said The Backyardigans were sober!!
Sorry, that was a weird intro for a weekap of Leeann’s birthday party. We played volleyball and other games utilizing a ping pong ball. People were sure to have gotten the ick because there was a lot of bent-over ball-chasing, but that’s show biz baby! As professional hosts we have a few tips for crushing a party…
Part 1: Food & Drinks
Have a signature drink. A signature drink is not only delicious and perfect for getting everyone’s buzz going, but it also ends up being an easy topic of conversation. To quote Angelina Hazzouri in The Secret(s) to Throwing a Good Party when talking about a signature drink… “it’s something that you surprise your guests with that gives them something to talk about. This way, even if they don’t know each other, they have something in common.” Obviously, ours was our 3-Ingredient Spiked Pink Lemonade and boy did it get the job done.
Make a dip. This goes hand in hand with the signature drink. It’s something special that everyone will love and ultimately yap about. Make our Buffalo Chicken Dip and watch as each guest slowly falls in love with you. JK, I’m still single so I better try out a different dip.
Serve either Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos (purple bag) or Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chips. I swear everyone is obsessed with these and at least two boys will come up to you and tell you that they’re loving them. They are simple creatures!!
Bake a vanilla cake and top it with fresh strawberries. Of course serving cake is going to uplevel your party and this one is simple, pretty, and downright delicious. It is impossible not to like unless you are our cousin Brooke and don’t like strawberries, which seems to be a character flaw?
Make sure someone has an extremely thoughtful friend to send over a bottle of champagne. No one would do this for me but luckily it was Leeann’s birthday and she was popping bottles. It was a very nice touch.
Part 2: The Vibe
Have something fun to do. It can be as simple as a card game, beer games, some hypothetical questions, or an activity like volleyball or spikeball - the key is having something to center the party around. It’s an easy way to get people involved, plus it’s nice to not have to talk for 8 hours straight (I hate talking, so take that into account). This tip could also stem from the fact that our family has no idea what relaxing is. Our vacations growing up were either skiing or going on the most strenuous hikes day after day until you get a stress fracture on your foot but continue on because YOU’RE HAVING FUN RIGHT!?? THIS IS FUN.
Have a digital or disposable camera out and about. It’s fun to capture the essence of the party and then make a shared album afterwards. The party lives on!!! Also snapping pics is something fun for people to do - start some drama by making people take photos together.
Never lose your competitive spirit. Do lose your mind in 21 cup and rip the ball out of the other team’s hand and then have to apologize for being too aggressive and taking the fun out of the game. Makes for a good story. Being competitive is also an easy way to flirt? With your cousin? (we have a lot of them and they’re always around)
Keep the invite list quality over quantity. No, I’m not just saying this because quantity isn’t an option for me. For real, our grandpa always said “It’s the people that make the party” and he was right!! Surround yourself with people you love (or at least genuinely like) and it’s impossible to have a bad party - even if you don’t get purple doritos.
All of this to say, I want to host your next party but I will be in the yard playing volleyball with you. Some would say that’s a plus!
Behind the scenes moment: Amy to me when writing the intro “So, were the Backyardigans pervs at all?”
20-Minute Summer Pea Pasta
It’s a one-pot wonder that takes 20 minutes. If you aren’t making it all summer then what are you doing??? Tiny pasta is involved so that’s already a huge win for mankind. Peas and leeks, leeks and peas - that’s all I have to say (clearly Amy is writing this part).
20-Minute Summer Pea Pasta
(Serves 4-6)
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 leeks, sliced thinly
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lb pennettine pasta
1 cup dry white wine
4 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups peas, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Salt & pepper
1/2 cup crumbled feta (we use Violife)
Method:
Caramelize the leeks: In a skillet on medium high heat, add the olive oil. Once shimmering, sauté the leeks and garlic for 4-5 minutes until they soften and begin to caramelize.
Toast the pasta: Add the dry pasta and toast for 2-3 minutes. Deglaze with dry white wine and add the vegetable broth.
Cook the pasta: Bring the mixture to a boil, uncovered, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the pasta is done cooking, about 6-8 minutes.
Add peas, coconut milk, and lemon: Reduce the heat to low and add the peas, coconut milk, lemon juice and zest. Cook for a few minutes until the peas are warmed through. Season with salt and pepper.
Top with feta and serve: Sprinkle on crumbed feta and enjoy! If you like it spicy, add crushed red pepper flakes.
Recipe Notes:
We got our leeks from Trader Joes’, so they came pre-trimmed and relatively clean.
If you can’t find pennettine, any short pasta will work. Ditalini is a great substitute.
Instead of feta, you could use (vegan) Parmesan.
Feel free to add a fresh herb like parsley, basil, or mint.
