For all you Utah folks out there, have you heard of Pirate O’s?  It’s a cool little store in Draper that I discovered after a recommendation from my veterinarian. It’s a small 100 year old wooden building with a gravel parking lot and from the street, you have no idea what’s inside. But once you step inside…. you’ll see why I love it so much.  It has walls of hot sauces, salsas, sauces, CHOCOLATE and more. It’s not your typical grocery store, it is so much more. And this easy weeknight pasta dinner was made with unique items I found there.

What makes this such a great place to shop? Simple, it has unique items I can’t find at my local Walmart or Smiths.  They carry products from around the world as well as local Utah items. As you meander through the different rooms singing along to the Jimmy Buffet music that they only play, you’ll find all sorts of goodies from cheeses in the refrigerated room (which I only discovered the second time I went….. totally missed it the first time) to the pasta room. Which is where I found the ingredients for this meal.

We all love easy weeknight pasta meals, especially now during the summer when we have all those outdoor activities going on. For us, we have been spending so much time getting the veggie garden going (and now the herb garden too), that there are nights I just want to throw something together quick without a lot of hassle. But I don’t want unhealthy fast food either.  That’s where Pirate O’s saves the day. All you really need are some basic ingredients to turn a quick meal into something delicious. And I used just these four, with two coming from my new favorite store.

Super simple. Boil the pasta according to package directions. While that’s happening, empty the jar of Arrabbiata Pesto into a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and spinach and cook until shrimp is pink. Once the pasta is done, drain it then add it to the skillet and cook until the pasta is coated . Then serve. That simple. We’re talking 15 minutes and dinner was ready!

Don’t fret all you non-Utah residents….  Pirate O’s is not a chain but, you can buy some of their customer favorites online and even order custom gift baskets.  You can read about their history of how they came to be here.  I really love this store and will be shopping there quite often. Plus as a Jimmy Buffet “Parrothead,” I get to sing along to some of my favorite music while shopping. How awesome is that? What’s your favorite store? Let me know…. I love discovering new places.

For more delicious pasta ideas, follow my Pinterest board.

Follow Lori’s Culinary’s board Pasta Recipes on Pinterest.

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