Lazy Market Lunch #1

It's funny.  As much as I love getting up early on Saturday mornings and going to the farmer's markets, I rarely cook when I get home.  One day, it is my dream to have nothing to do on Saturdays but put away produce, plan meals for the week, take lots of pictures of vegetables, zap a few things in the FoodSaver, and maybe make some jam, I always have to work on Saturday nights (and we all know how work takes the fun out of everyting).  So, until sometime steps up to the plate and pays me $300 to do nothing but shop and cook on Saturdays, I have to do with meals like this one.  (I am taking volunteers, so don't be shy.  I'll cook you dinner!)  (just kidding. sort of).

Fortunately for the most gourmet or the laziest of cooks, shopping at the North Market means you can indulge either side.  One of my favorite lazy meals, which is also incredibly tasty, is cheese ravioli with greens and red pepper flakes.  I love to keep the giant bags of frozen spinach & cheese raviolis from Costco on hand just so that I always know I have something delicious no matter what state I'm in.  See?  Even fancy food bloggers get lazy from time to time.

While at the market yesterday, I stopped by Pasta Seconda and picked up 2 variteties of frozen raviolis; spinach and ricotta, and stripedy mascarpone (the second primarily because they are pretty).  The prices for the raviolis by the pound might seem a little expensive, but I bought 12 raviolis for around $6 (although, one of them was empty!  The scandal!).  When I got home from the market, I browned about 1 tbsp of butter in a skillet and wilted the spinach and a handful of chopped chives with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.  When the raviolis were cooked, I tossed them in with the spinach and put the whole mess on a plate.  Grate some Parmesan over the top and voila!  Nearly instant lunch! (the raviolis only take about 5 minutes).  That's literally the entire meal, and it's one of my favorites.  Besides, it's pretty to boot.  These would make a pretty stunning appetizer for a dinner part, especially if you buy the stripedy raviolis.

Comments

[Devon]

That looks delicious and super pretty. If only we could get paid for doing exactly what we want to do at all times. It can't hurt to dream right?

[Anne]

That's almost exactly what we had for dinner last night! My ravioli were from Trader Joe's (spinach ricotta), and I tossed them with sauteed spinach and olive oil and feta cheese (the stuff from Meadow Maid is really decent these days) and a dash of lemon. I'll have to try adding red pepper flakes next time.