You know how Olive Garden has their Never Ending Pasta Bowl? Well, I think mine gives theirs a run for its money.
The difference is – my Salmon Florentine Pasta bowl is never ending not because I had seconds and thirds, but because it’s full of filling ingredients like salmon, beans, and spinach. And if you’re anything like me, everything is better in casserole-form.
My pasta bowl included:
- 1 serving pasta
- 1 filet (about 4oz) salmon, grilled
- 1/2 package thawed frozen spinach
- 1/2 cup cannellini beans
- drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
- parmesan cheese
- sprinkle of kosher salt
Not only was my pasta bowl filling and delicious, but it was also *so* simple to throw together. Like my dinner from a few weeks ago, I was able to use ingredients found in the freezer and pantry. While I’m all about using fresh ingredients, sometimes that isn’t always possible. So I generally make sure to have most of the following in stock:
- frozen veggies – spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts
- frozen meats – fish, shrimp, chicken, turkey burgers/meatballs
- canned beans – black, kidney, garbanzo, cannellini
- grains – quinoa, brown rice, whole grain pasta/couscous
By having those options in the pantry and freezer, you’ll always be able to throw together a balanced and tasty meal…even on those inevitable OMG-there’s-no-food-in-the-house days
And for dessert? I kind of wish there could be never ending jars of nut butter…
…especially when it comes to walnut butter. It’s been my favorite as of late, and I highly suggest you try it…stat!
I have quite the busy day ahead of me…gotta run! Ta ta, loves
xoxo G
- Do you ever make “never ending” bowls? What do they include?
- Have you tried walnut butter?




Walnut butter!!? I really would love to try that.
I love just sitting down and eating out of a jar of almond butter. Nothing could be better! =)
I haven’t tried walnut butter, Artisana products can be a little pricey, and I’m already addicted to their coconut butter. I’d like to try my own, though!
I love your pasta bowl! It looks delicious! I never tried walnut butter! I didn’t even know there was such a thing. It sounds good!
Walnut Butter? My mind is offically blown
I love filling dishes like that! And simple things always taste better to me.
Agreed- casserole form makes everything better!!
& I totally need to try walnut butter
Ohh, you totally reminded me that I have a packet of the same brand of Walnut Butter in my pantry. I bought it to sample and just forgot about it. THANK YOU!
I love pretty much all nuts, so it goes without saying that I pretty much like all nut butters HA!
Your pasta dish looks good, but I’m a RICE girl. I could never have pasta or bread again in my life, but I luuuurve rice! As far as a “never ending bowl”, I think it would include Chinese Egg Fu Yung or taco salad/soup:)
I love never-ending yummy bowls
)
Specially savory oatmeal with tomato sauce,tuna and veggies. yum
The one thing that I don’t portion out is pasta! I always allow myself to go back for another helping, life’s too short not to
Walnut butter?? I don’t think I see that one at my grocery store, but maybe at the organic marketplace down the street??
walnut butter sounds pretty good! I’ll have to try it:)
Did your meal include never-ending salad and bread sticks, too? Because that’s the best.
I wish I could still eat gluten-filled pasta, haha. That bowl looks amazing! I’m definitely a bottomless pit when it comes to cereal, and I would totally say pasta if it was GF. With alfredo sauce
Walnut butter sounds amazing!
pasta looks yummy. I love adding spinach to everything.
Oh yum! That pasta bowl looks perfect and so simple: exactly what a student wants! I will have to try something along those lines soon.
Your pasta totally showed Olive Garden what’s up. Saved a ton of calories too.
Now that’s a nut butter I’ve never tried. I have to get me some of that!
I need to keep more staples on hand so I can create delicous last minute meals like this! Looks incredible!!!
pasta kept simple can be really YUMMY! sometimes we think we need to add lots of sauce and toppings, but simple can be much better
MmM I LOVE WALNUT BUTTER!!! especially atop bananas!!
xoxo
This is not relevant to today’s post, but I recently found your blog and love it! I curled my hair yesterday like you showed in one of your v-logs and got a nice compliment on it! Made me feel good
Thank you for the tip! Keep up the good work!
Love it! Looks delish
Walnut butter sounds amazing! I try to stay away from butters like that because I know that my spoon will be in and out of it all the live long day!
Yes - the (quite small) jar of walnut butter was about $10
Eeek! But I personally considered it worth it!
Yeah, rice is pretty good too
Although I don’t think I could ever go without my pasta or bread!!
Hi Genevieve! Thanks so much for reading
And I’m glad to hear that my hair-curling tip worked out for you…I’m sure it looked fab
xoxoxo
gahhhhh that pasta bowl sounds to DIE FOR!!!!! i love the canellini bean + salmon mix! so simple yet sooo tasty! i feeel like you should pitch this to olive garden haha
I had a jar of walnut butter and left it at home…I’m sure my parents have demolished it by now
So good though!! And I had a neverending pasta bowl for dinner tonight too. Great minds think alike
i tried to make walnut butter and mehh didnt come out so good! haha I need that artisana one!!
totally love pasta dishes, i always go back for more
I actually have not tried walnut butter yet. Besides peanut butter the only other nut butter I’ve eaten is almond butter.
Never ending bowls are my staple dinner - I usually use quinoa, add defrosted veggies, and some olive oil. I always have those things on hand!!
I actually made walnut butter! Mmm, it is so good!
No, I have not tried walnut buttah, but boy do I ever want to!!
I’m so impressed how you can make such delicious, healthy meals with pantry staples and frozen produce!
My stir fries are always never ending bowls! I usually have brown rice, tofu, and so many veggies that they don’t even fit into one frying pan! They take me forever to eat.
I made some maple walnut butter last week in a little experiment! It worked out really well - I think I’m going to have to recreate it with a recipe this time!
I just found the single serving Artisana packets at my local store. Tried the Raw Pecan Butter today and will probably test the Walnut tomorrow.. glad to here it’s amazing!
This looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it!