Summer Zucchini Pasta and a Summer Prayer

Ingredients:
5 qt. salted water in a 6-quart pot
1 lb. small zucchini (about 4 or 5)
1 lb. imported penne
4 Tbsp. good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil
¼ tsp. red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste
4 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved, or 2 cups other fresh tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 to 1½ cup (6 ounces) feta cheese, crumbled
? tight-packed cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

Instructions:

1. Bring the salted water to a boil.
2. Trim off the ends of the zucchini. Cut the squash into sticks about the size of the penne.
3. Drop the pasta into the boiling water. In the last 3 minutes of boiling (check pasta package for timing), drop the zucchini into the pot. Boil, stirring often, until the penne are tender but still have a little bite. Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water and reserve it. Immediately drain the pasta and zucchini in a colander.
4. Return the pasta pot to the heat, turning it down to low. Film the bottom of the pot with the olive oil. Add the red-pepper flakes and garlic, and gently sauté just until the garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
5. Remove the pot from the heat, and add the drained pasta and zucchini, the tomatoes, feta, basil, and as much of the reserved pasta water as necessary to lightly coat the pasta. Toss gently, taste for seasoning, and serve.

Note: This recipe can be halved or even quartered, if cooking for 1 or 2, so that you don’t have more leftover than you can eat!
From The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift, Clarkson Potter, 2008

Story: 
Gardening and growing food is hard work, but the gift of summer produce reminds us that plants flower and fruit through Divine grace. “They neither toil nor spin”, says the Gospel, yet are arrayed in abundant splendor.  This summer prayer from Joan Borysenko, PhD encourages us to not only do the hard work to which we are called, but also to be receptive to the the energy of the Creator.

“Great Spirit, thank you for the incredible gift of life that is manifesting so abundantly in the green of summer.  The plants flower through your grace and your life force rather than through personal effort.  Help me develop that same attitude toward all I do, becoming a channel for your energy rather than being the ‘doer’.”