This is what I like to call a happy leftovers dish. What’s a happy leftovers dish? It’s when I use up random leftover ingredients in my fridge and the experiment culminates in an unexpectedly delish dish that makes me happy.

And, I need some happy in my life, you guys. Last week was, well, NOT GREAT. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but I need to be Veronica Vents right now so I can resume my position as Patty Perky. You follow?

Anyways, last week our beloved but mischievous kitty cat, Hamish, decided that cat food no longer did it for him and he’d rather chow down on foam ear plugs….three to be exact. Long story short, Alasdair and I spent an entire Sat night (we’re talking midnight – 4am) in the animal urgent care followed by an entire day and night of “Hamish watch” followed by another day driving around from vet to animal hospital getting x-rays and ultrasounds (not just for pregnant ladies!). The whole ordeal ended with Hamish getting emergency surgery to remove one of the ear plugs which was stuck in his tummy.

If the kitty emergency, crazy vet bills, and missed nights of sleep weren’t enough, I got sick, broke my phone and an ATM ate my credit card. We also had to spend a few nights staying up late and “getting creative” to keep Hamish from licking his stitches. Our little escape artist Houdini’d his way out of multiple cones, t-shirts and baby onesies. CURSES!!!

Fortunately, last week is over, and, hopefully, so is our streak of bad luck. Just in case – does anyone know any good luck rituals?? I am not over knocking on wood, picking up pennies, throwing salt, doing whatever I need to do to make the last month and a half of pregnancy a little less stressful and a little more luckful.

As always, though, I find a bright spot in food. And this pasta dish is the perfect mixture of health (good-for-you kale and gluten-free quinoa pasta) with a touch of indulgence (bacon and salty, creamy feta). I’m feeling luckier already!

Pasta, you saved me.