AGLIO E OLIO

sad girl dinner

Someone recently commented on one of my videos that I should smile more while I cook. But the thing is, I have been very sad for over a month, and what’s interesting about someone telling you to smile when you feel broken inside, is that it usually has the opposite effect. I am relatively new to sharing my life on the internet and I’m still figuring out for myself which parts I am happy to share and which bits I’d like to keep private. I know for sure that I will always have parts of my life that stay offline, but it also feels odd not to acknowledge that I am generally struggling at the moment, due to a heady cocktail of personal reasons. It’s my birthday this week and I’ve never felt less like celebrating, but I’ve also never felt more grateful for all the wonderful things and people in my life, my friends, family and peers, who I am so lucky to have.

I know I’m really sad when my appetite disappears, because I live for food, I live to talk about it, cook it, eat it and feed it to the people that I love. But when I am really heartbroken, sad and struggling, I just don’t get hungry. The irony of spending my days feeding others, writing recipes to encourage people to cook more, and personally not feeling interested in food, is not lost on me. But we all have to eat and regardless of where I am at emotionally, cooking always makes me feel better and the one thing I can always muster an appetite for, is pasta. So in the spirit of being honest and real with you, this weeks recipe is the only thing I have felt interested to cook or eat for a while. It’s my version of the classic Aglio E Olio, a less traditional, lemony version, because that’s how I like it. It ticks all the boxes for me when I just don’t have it in me to come up with something new or interesting, it’s quick, simple, easy and above all else, delicious. It has everything you need in a bowl of pasta: colour, acidity, heat, glossy, slippery spaghetti. The perfect combination of elements to entice the saddest of girls.

Whether you are sad, mad, happy, drunk or in love, this pasta will warm your heart.

Sending love, Rosie x