our place is where the pasta is
This content is sponsored by Our Place. The Always Pan was gifted to me, and I may earn commission off of the included links.
Welcome back, friends. I hope you brought a snack with you — maybe a fresh plate of eggplant fries with an avocado and cucumber dipping sauce, or a bowl of strawberry ice cream with fresh blueberries sprinkled on top. Today, or whenever you’re perusing this blog post, is about making your tastebuds sizzle a bit and giving you a glimpse into the Always Pan, the perfectly pastel pink pan you keep seeing on Instagram. I’m happy to report that it *is* worth the hype and endless lifestyle shots on your feed. It’s also a sweet reminder that cooking a meal, and sitting down with your significant other or best friend to enjoy it, can be healing.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s about how to heal. During these eight, weird and revolutionary months, our little planet has seen an exhausting pandemic, a tireless movement fighting for Black lives, and a new challenge every single day. Although we’ve been graced with the Down to Earth special on Netflix starring Zac Efron, the time at home we’ve forever craved, and road trip itineraries circling the Internet like never before, it’s been anxiety-provoking. We never seem to know what’s next.
As I’m writing this, the Democratic National Convention is playing in the background. It’s been 24 hours and I’m still thinking about Michelle Obama’s speech, naturally. Change is on the horizon, as it always is. It’s that one constant in life (Although I do wish it wasn’t reality for our climate.) and a pinky promise that when you feel out of the loop of the world, you’ll be brought back into it soon. But, in the meantime, as waves rock Taylor Swift in the “cardigan” video and uncertain times quake your brain, there are people. There are plates of food that, when enjoyed with your phone turned upside-down, will take you into the super lush jungles of Costa Rica, the tiny streets on the coast of Italy, or the sunny weekends when your grandma made a tomato sauce with a secret ingredient you still don’t know about.
That food isn’t just healing because it’s jam-packed with nutrients, vitamins, and flavorful minerals. It’s a ritual that sneakily slips into every one of our lives and nestles itself in a spot we can always come back to. On days when getting out of bed is tough or the world feels totally lopsided, venture back to those food-centric rituals with the ones you love. Heck, do it with the people who drive you crazy, too.
That first bite of your meal, whether it came out exactly as the recipe noted or not, will calm your nerves. It will be living proof that you’re right where you’re supposed to be, even if you’re ready to jet-set to a planet far, far away with nothing but the mindset of, “I’ll figure it out.” It will ground you on this globe that’s complicated and messy, but ours. You do realize that, right? This is our place. It can be whatever we want it to be. Hopefully, for you, that is a place of love, joy, and lots of amazing food.
For me, our place is where the hope, non-stick pans that don’t ruin my eggs in the morning, and pasta is. Join me here anytime. I’ll provide the forks and the deets on the Always Pan.
on our place
First up, let’s talk about Our Place. Like you probably did, I came across this brand on Instagram. My phone heard me say “aesthetic” for the thousandth time, so I scrolled past an ad for this pretty dang cute pan. After doing some research for an article I wrote for Elite Daily about Our Place, I came to a very speedy realization that this company cares. The planet and people are at the center of their mission and that’s what you’ll experience from day one with the Always Pan, or one of the brand’s dinner essentials. Their pieces are a loving ode to cultures that constantly make an appearance in American kitchens. Their products are made with lots of recycled materials, natural sand, and dyes. You won’t see a piece of plastic in their packaging as it’s made completely with biodegradable and recyclable corrugate.
Not to mention, this company donates regularly to charities such as Feeding America and partners with local food councils in order to serve good food to their communities. As detailed on their website, you can feel confident in the factories where there products are produced. The team regularly and rigorously visits all of their factories to make sure they’re paying fairly, providing benefits, and treating employees with humanity and respect. Long story short: You’re investing in something good.
on the always pan
That doesn’t end with the pan. As someone who grew up with those sticky metal pans, my standard for a non-stick pan is probably pretty low. But, you guys, my linguine (You can make it for yourself. We’re getting to that part.) was slipping and sliding like 7-year-old me on my summer camp’s gigantic slip-and-slide. As you’ll be able to see below, it also really does work in a myriad of situations. I made the following meal from start to finish with this pan: I boiled the water, cooked the linguine, sautéed it with olive oil, mixed it with vodka sauce, spices, and some other goodies all in one place. Whether you hate doing the dishes or don’t have much room in your cabinets for a 12-piece set, this pan is for you.
Right now you can shop it for $145, which is about the price of a similar cooking set that would take up wayyyy more space. The pan comes with a steamer basket and a wooden spoon-maybe-spatula which conveniently sits in a holder on the stem. The Always Pan comes in four colors including spice, steam, char, and sage. Pick out the best one for you, and then inaugurate its arrival to your kitchen with this hot and spicy linguine of mine (Could that be a new nickname for Nick? Let me know.) featuring a vodka sauce.
summer linguine with vodka sauce
INGREDIENTS
a box of linguine
two cups of vodka sauce, either freshly made or from a local grocer
one beefsteak tomato, diced
one lemon, sliced
three tablespoons of olive oil
two cloves of garlic, minced
spices: oregano, basil, red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring water to a boil in your Always Pan. Once it’s boiling, add three quarters of the box of linguine to the pan. Let it cook until it’s al dente, or your desired tenderness. Then, drain the pasta and wipe your pan with a damp cloth. Add the olive oil to the pan on medium-low heat. When it starts to dance, add the garlic and wait for it to get a little brown around the edges. Gently toss in your cooked and strained linguine, and stir for two minutes, or until the ingredients are well-mixed and the pasta is well-coated.
Next, add in the vodka sauce and stir. (I used about two cups, but you may want to have more on hand so you can revive this meal during tomorrow’s lunch.) Let the sauce warm up with the pasta for three minutes. Add a half tablespoon of oregano, a half teaspoon of red pepper flakes, a teaspoon of basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything together, before finally adding the tomatoes and lemon slices, and stirring it all together. Lower your heat, cover your Always Pan for three more minutes, and prepare to serve.
This meal is best served in a bowl, in my personal opinion, and in the peak of summertime because it’s spicy but not incredibly warming. Enjoy it with good company or a good book. Just don’t wear a white shirt you love, and be sure to tag me on IG (@marisataylorc) if you make it, okay?
shop with me
Did you make that savory summer linguine? Oh, you’re waiting to buy the Always Pan! Here’s the link to shop it in spice or whichever color you please. Don’t forget to follow the brand and tag them on IG! (@ourplace) Also, use code MARISA10 at checkout for $10 off!
ALWAYS PAN: https://rstyle.me/cz-n/egtuixcz7wp
Until next time, enjoy our place, our planet, our people. I hope your version is complete with pasta, love, and hope, too.
Love always, Marisa.
