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Tips for Making Neon Pasta.. or Why You Should Make Neon Pasta

Neon Pasta

I first posted these photos in 2012 as a fun tribute to the opening of Disney’s the Lorax. This answers the question of why I originally wanted to make neon pasta. Yes, the broccoli was meant to represent the trees from the movie and the blue alfredo sauce- the river.  But after my neon pasta photo was listed as a Pinterest favorite photo of the day and has been shared thousands of times, I figured that maybe more than Lorax fans would want to cook up some neon pasta of their own.  Here’s my tips to making your pasta pop (we’ll answer the “why” later):

The Lorax Pasta

Toni’s Tips for Making Neon Pasta

Tip #1:  Choose A Fun Shape

Bowtie, penne, elbow, or my favorite- cavatappi pasta…. the purpose behind making neon pasta should undoubtedly determine its shape. Having a rainbow-themed party? Elbow. Want to bring the 80’s to dinner? Linguine.  And, for a formal affair, use bowtie, of course.

Tip #2:  Use Premium Food Dye

You can use an entire bottle of a cheap grocery store food dye and it still won’t give you the bright colors a professional food dye can (can you say “Pinterest fail”?). My favorite dyes are Wilton and Duff, which can both be found in Michaels or Walmart. In fact, Duff has a special line of neon colors like “Electric Pink” and “Electric Purple”.

Tip 3:  Don’t Toss Your Gold (your pasta water, that is)

If you follow any of my tips, you’ll want to follow this one. I call my pasta water liquid gold because I save it to the side for when my pasta gets dry and dehydrated, I simply splash some pasta water over the pasta to get it shiny again.  Take a glass measuring cup and scoop out the water before draining the pasta, one cup for every half pound of pasta.

scoop out pasta water

Tip #4:  Don’t Mix Your Water

Yes, you will have to boil each color individually (I know, duh). I start with my lightest color first and work my way up to the darkest colors. This makes saving your pasta water to rehydrate the pasta even more critical. The alternative is to get out three or four pots and boil them at the same time in separate pots, but personally, I only like to wash one pot.

 

Why You Want to Make Neon Pasta (come on, you know you want to)

I know you’re probably searching your brain for a reason to make neon pasta by now, right? The truth is that it’s just a fun touch to a party. Here are my reasons:

Reason #1:  80’s Themed Party

A few years ago I threw an 80’s themed party for my niece and thought a nice addition to some pizza would be a big bowl of neon spaghetti with their choice of marinara or alfredo sauce to top. It turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the party when I only thought it would be just a nice added touch. The girls talked about it all night.  You can read more about it here:

80s party

Reason #2:  Beach Themed Party

Okay, I might have gone a bit too far with this one. A friend was having beach-themed party for her daughter and needed some help so I made some “Surf’s Up Pasta” (blue cavatappi pasta for the waves) with a choice of Shark Attack Sauce (marinara) or “Sunset Sauce” (alfredo).  Yep.  Big hit.

Surfs Up Pasta

 

Reason 3#:  Because It’s Fun

Do you really need a reason to make neon pasta?  If you do, please refer to reasons 2 & 3 above.

Share Your Neon Pasta Photo #OrganizedCook

If you decide that neon pasta should be served at your next party and decide to take a photo, please tag me at @OrganizedCook on Instagram or Twitter, or post a photo to my Facebook.  Would love to share it with the rest of our readers!

 

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Spring Gardening- Wordless Wednesday

Kid Garden

Garden Tomatoes

so proud

 

Kids in the Garden

carrots

 

To read more about our home garden, aka- the “Hope Garden”:

Victory Gardening

Victory Gardening

 

home gardening

"The Earth Is Generous To..."

 

home garden

A Bit of Earth

 

gardening seeds

Seeds of Hope

 

home gardening

The One That Got Away

 

garden photo

A Summer Garden Photo Shoot

 

garden birthday party

A Fairy Garden Birthday Party

 

 

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I’m Getting Minted For The Holidays

Christmas cards are but one item on my long list of things to do each holiday season. In past years, I’ve endured hours at my local portrait studio, sweating and chasing after toddlers before turning cartwheels to get them all to smile in one photo. I considered it well worth the effort because after all, I MUST have the best cards each year. I mean, don’t we all? This is our once-a-year opportunity to show off our adorable family!

Recently I’ve discovered that candid photography shoots outside of the studio create some of the best photos for Christmas cards. I’ve even shot some great photos on my iPhone to use this year.

So, what took me hours to create before, will take me just minutes this year with Minted.com. The best part is that I’ll definitely have the best Christmas cards this year (again)!

Here’s just one of my idea inspiration boards from Minted.com for this year’s Christmas cards:

Sparkle & Snow Christmas by Toni, see more Minted.com

Sparkle & Snow Christmas board by Toni. See more Minted.com

Get $25 off your order of $50 or more by joining Minted.com now, click here.

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Meditation Garden – Create Your Outdoor Sanctuary

Meditation is defined in many ways. According to one of my favorite authors, Eckhart Tolle, one conscious breath can qualify as a meditation.

This news is a huge relief to me because one breath is all I have time for most days.

When the sun and moon are aligned just perfectly, however, I’m handed the unexpected gift of an hour or two to sit, contemplate and connect…. yes, meditate.

Now that I’ve covered the “what” and “when” of meditation, it’s time to discuss the “where”.

Inside, my meditation alter is a small corner of my home office that I’ve claimed as my sacred spot, where crystals are arranged perfectly around books, rosaries, candles and other relics that remind me to connect with all that is higher than me while keeping my feet perfectly grounded to this planet (so many who connect with Spirit forget the “stay grounded” part).

 

Spiritual

Are all of these objects necessary for me to meditate? Of course not, but I can’t deny the immediate shift in perspective and mood when I sit down in my spiritual spot after a long frantic day. The smell of sandalwood and frankincense trigger a response in brain that reminds it to shut off, which is so necessary in meditation.

This summer evening was a cool 88 degrees in Las Vegas and I couldn’t help taking advantage of it by enjoying some time outside. As I sauntered over to my meditation garden I was struck by how neglected and sad it looked. I’ve spent so much time indoors lately that I’d forgotten how much more connected and spiritual I feel when I take my meditation outside. I wondered if this former outdoor sanctuary in any way reflected a neglected spiritual need within me.

Meditation garden

Before throwing away a decaying bouquet of flowers, I pluck off the living buds and toss them in my fountain

Before you write me off as dramatic or crazy, know that I’m already ahead of you in that area, we can agree to agree. The fact of the matter, however, is that your home is your sanctuary. Monks and nuns work tirelessly in the monastery or convent to create purposefully tended outdoor retreats to pray. Why should these spiritual spots and practices be left only to the sequestered divine?

Today, the kids and I have decided to get to work and rebuild our meditation garden. We’re de-spidering (yes, I know that’s not a word), planting, arranging and building. Check back soon for our “after” photos!

meditation garden

Meditation garden collage courtesy of #Muzy

 

2013-06-23 17.29.15 2013-06-23 17.28.48 2013-06-23 17.29.34

2013-06-23 17.29.51

 

I love my garden statues. I don’t shop for statues the way I would clothing or curtains, rather I let them find me. To steal the phrase from Pier 1, I wait to “find what speaks to me”.

I have a great story about my big angel statue. I was shopping one day at Sam’s Club and saw this statue among other large garden items. They had boxes of them lined up next to each other. I thought it was beautiful. but I just continued on my way shopping.

From my kitchen sink I can see my meditation garden, and that night while washing dishes I looked out at this area and saw this empty spot that made me think of that angel statue. I had never considered placing anything there before, but all of the sudden it looked like it was missing something.

For several following nights, I looked out from my kitchen window and each time I felt like that statue was meant to go there.

I went back to Sam’s Club to find two things. One, there was only one angel statue left in stock. Two, it had been discounted in price to nearly half. Angel and I left Sam’s Club together and every night I see her from my kitchen, and sometimes I sit with her in my garden to meditate.

Meditation garden

Love my garden statues

 

Follow Our Garden Progress on Instagram!

My Instagram feed will, no doubt, be filled with all things “meditation garden” as long as you don’t mind the intermingling of cooking, fashion and wine photos.

 

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