I started feeling a bit achy on Monday.  A bit of a cough, but didn’t feel too bad.  Yesterday at work?  I must have sneezed 100 times and munched on cough drops all.day.long.  

It’s the kind of sick where you don’t necessarily need to stay at home in bed, but you just feel blah.  It was the last day of the month at work which is usually hectic, so I just kept my head down and powered through the day.

I made a picky plate for breakfast – I bought this lo carb bread at the French Market in the train station – each slice is only 45 calories and perfect for toast.  I only ate one of the eggs because I was full by the time I finished everything else.  My sister and I are both pretty slow eaters, so this took me about 45 minutes to eat.  Two for the bread and a schmear of butter, 1 for the ham, two for the one egg, and fruit for zero = 5 points.

I didn’t grocery shop this week and I’ve used up all the frozen soups I’ve stashed, so Corner Bakery to the rescue.  I got their spicy tortilla soup and it was so spicy good!  The WW app said a cup was 4 points, but not sure if that includes the tortilla strip garnish, so I called my soup 6 points, with 2 points for more toast and that is just half of a honey crisp apple – so huge!  Lunch comes in at 8 points.

I worked an hour late, and didn’t get home until 7:45.  I didn’t really have a taste for the pork chop that I defrosted, although I’ll have to eat it tonight or throw it away.  I may make pork fried rice with it.  Anywho, this Cacio e pepe is one of my favorite comfort foods when I am not feeling well.  I puffy heart cracked pepper so this dish is right up my alley.

Cook your pasta according to package directions, but scoop out 3/4 cup of the starchy water before draining the pasta.

Add 1 teaspoon of butter to the pan, start with 1/2 cup of the starchy water, and a generous amount of black pepper and a bit of salt and cook for about 2 minutes – it will thicken as it cooks.  Remove from the heat and add 1 cup cooked pasta and 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan and a bit of dried parsley and stir until the cheese starts to melt.  

That’s it.  The sauce is light and peppery with just a hint of butter and pure comfort in a bowl.  It was 11 points (6 for the pasta, 4 for the cheese and 1 for the butter) and worth every point.

My friend Jacky posted this same board below on her Instagram last week and I immediately said “I want that!”  Turns out her cousin makes them and I got mine in the mail yesterday – thanks Angie – I love it!  It’s the perfect min charcuterie board.  #love – her Instagram account is in the video below if you want one for yourself.  Perfect gift for the foodie in your family.

I still have 35 minutes of my train ride to work, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be napping the rest of the way to work.  

Happy Thursday – make it a great day.