No-Cook Veggie Pasta (Gluten Free!)

Francesca Bean
Aug 29, 2013

If you haven’t noticed, it’s summer produce week here at Brit HQ. We’ve given you 2o yummy zucchini recipes, healthy Chocolate Chip Walnut Zucchini Muffins, and now we’re serving up some No-Cook Veggie Pasta. Not only is this a delicious way to make use of all those fresh summer veggies, but these colorful noodles are gluten free and simple as can be. Plus, you can whip them up in under 15 minutes! So what are you waiting for?


– 3 zucchini


– 2 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves

– 1 cup Parmesan cheese

– 1/2 cup pine nuts

– 5 garlic cloves, peeled

– 1 cup extra virgin olive oil

– salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
1. Place the basil leaves, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and pepper in the food processor. Pulse until combined. Slowly stream in the olive oil and continue to pulse. Scrape down the bowl, as needed.

Slice the veggies (very carefully!) using a mandolin. Set aside.

Place the basil leaves, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and pepper in the food processor. Pulse until combined. Slowly stream in the olive oil and continue to pulse.

Toss the fresh veggies with the pesto. Top with Parmesan cheese.

So. Much. Color! We can’t get over how beautiful these vegetables look.

What are your favorite ways to use up summer veggies? Let us know in the comments section below!

Ed Sheeran Just Gave Us A Rare Update On His 13-Year Friendship With Taylor Swift

"Everything has changed," according to Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift's 2012 song of the same name, but 13 years later, the most important thing between these two BFF's stays the same. The duo, who have recorded collabs like "End Game" for Taylor Swift's Reputation in 2017 and "The Joker and the Queen" for Ed Sheeran's Equals album in 2021, don't often see each other with their busy schedules, but when they do, they spend a lot of time together, Ed says.

Here's what Ed Sheeran told Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper about his friendship with Taylor Swift.

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift love to catch up for "hours" at a time.

“I see her when I see her,” Ed Sheeran says on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast. “I probably see her, like, four times a year.”

But in true bestie form, when these two do get together, they lock in. I'm talking “proper sit-down, six-hour catch-ups,” according to Ed. “I think that’s, like, a really nice way to do it.”

Extended conversations where you lose track of the world around you are my favorite way to spend time with a friend! As much as I love phone calls and FaceTimes, there's nothing quite like being together with someone in person, and Ed thinks really fondly of being with Taylor Swift on her Red tour in 2013 and 2014, where he opened for the "Fortnight" singer.

“I lived in Nashville, and she lived in Nashville,” he said. “And we used to fly to and from the gigs together. I literally spent almost every single day with her for about six months...I think that period [is my favorite]. Yeah. 2013." Spending every single day with Taylor Swift? Dreamy!

Ed Sheeran isn't the only one of Taylor Swift's friends who's talked about her recently. Taylor showed up to Emma Stone's Poor Things premiere in 2023, and Emma was in the audience at the Eras Tour!

“I’ve known her since we were 17 and 18, so she hooked me up, which was very nice ’cause I know those tickets are impossible to get,” Emma toldVanity Fair at a Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic polo match. “She’s a wonderful friend. She blows my mind."

Check out A Ranking Of Taylor Swift's Most Powerful Friendship Moments for more!

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The Best TV Shows Based on Books That Actually Live Up To The Hype

Our hot take for 2025 is the best TV shows are book adaptations. We understand there's a call for original work, but we appreciate when directors and executive producers are able to visually depict authors' written work. This could look like Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington reciting moving monologues that makes it hard to find the "villain" in a series, or it can involve a sexy man who literally exists in a fantasy.

Want to know which shows we're hinting at?

Keep scrolling to see the best TV show adaptations we think got it right!

1. The Handmaid's Tale

Disney/Steve Wilkie

The Handmaid's Tale has taken our emotions on the scariest ride for five seasons because it showed the mass hysteria and cruelty that resulted in the creation of the totalitarian government of Gilead. Hoping to account for the low birth rates and keep things like STDs at bay, a new social standing is created and places fertile women in the hands of powerful leaders to help repopulate the world.

Treated like slaves, these women aren't allowed to do anything that doesn't align with Gilead's strict policies which places them in a helpless state. However, one Handmaid named June Osborne/Offred (Elizabeth Moss) decides to form a plan that'll help them break free and seek revenge if necessary.

Watch the sixth season on Hulu while you wait for its sequel The Testaments to premiere!

Read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

2. 13 Reasons Why

David Moir/Netflix

Trigger warning:This TV series mentions suicide.

13 Reasons Why is a drama show that sheds light on one student's decision to kill herself. According to Hannah Baker's (Katherine Langford) recorded messages, several people played a role in her final decision to end her life. Beginning with Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette), the tapes outline how characters affected her and it eventually results in Katherine's parents suing the school district. By the end of the series, no one's the same.

Watch all 4 seasons on Netflix and read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

3. The Witcher

Susan Allnutt/Netflix

The Witcher converges the timelines of Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), Princess Cirilla of Cintra (Freya Allen), and sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) as they deal with the different moments that impact them. However, their stories eventually connect because Geralt conjured Cirilla's presence in his life via magic and swears to protect her once they meet.

If you love watching fantasy shows, you'll love watching The Witcher!

Watch all 3 seasons on Netflix and read The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski.

4. Little Fires Everywhere

Erin Simkin/Hulu

Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington's performances in Little Fires Everywhere had us locked in to this drama series every Wednesday during the pandemic in 2020. It was unlike anything we'd seen, but we were even more excited to learn the show was based on author Celeste Ng's book. Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon) and Mia Warren (Kerry Washington) begin an uneasy friendship that quickly turns volatile when an adopted child's mother seeks to reclaim the child she once couldn't care for.

It sheds a light on classism, stereotypes, and motherhood in a way that changes the main characters by the end of the heartbreaking series.

Watch it on Hulu and read Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

5. The Summer I Turned Pretty

Erika Doss/Prime

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a coming-of-age TV series that explores Isabel "Belly" Conklin's (Lola Tung) experience with being noticed by her crush Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and his brother Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). Though they aren't strangers, the boys have never noticed her until one particular summer finds them looking at her differently.

Although Isabel revels in their attention, she learns how to listen to her heart in this moving show.

Watch both seasons on Amazon Prime and read The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

6. The Queen's Gambit

Ken Woroner/Netflix

The Queen's Gambit tells the powerful, yet tragic story of skilled chess player Elizabeth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her struggle to conceal her bad habits. Orphaned at a young age, she develops a dependence on the medication given to her and other orphans to help keep them as tame as possible. Though the medication works and Beth is eventually adopted, she can't seem to stay away from harmful substances.

Despite it all, Beth finds a way to continue excelling at chess and even enters the world's largest tournament to prove her skills are far superior than others.

Watch it on Netflix and read The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis.

7. Bridgerton

Liam Daniel/Netflix

We melt every time we talk about Bridgerton, but can you blame us? Adapted from Julia Quinn's popular series, we're introduced to a society that prides itself on finding the Diamond of the season. However, a closer look reveals how much the TV series and novels follow the darling Bridgerton family.

From finding love in unlikely places to secret identities being revealed, it's one series we'll always want to watch.

Watch all 3 season on Netflix and read Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.

8. Normal People

Enda Bowe

The TV series Normal People stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne Sheridan and Paul Mescal as Connell Waldron, the two main characters of Sally Rooney's bestselling novel of the same name. Over a period of time, viewers watch as the two students grapple with their social standing at school, private lives, and feelings for each other. It's about as messy as you think it can be, especially knowing Marianne is considered an "outcast" while Connell seems to excel socially at school.

Watch it on Hulu and read Normal People by Sally Rooney.

9. Watchmen

Mark Hill/HBO

Watchmen is a superhero TV series based on a book that explores themes of politics and supernatural elements. Instead of being hailed as trustworthy, those with the power and means to fight crime were banished because of their unorthodox methods.

However, it's clear that sinister forces want to continue to incite fear in citizens via racism and faux threats which leads to Angela Abar (Regina King) being pulled into a plot that tests her as a masked police office who's on the hunt for Doctor Manhattan (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). What she doesn't anticipate is how close he is to her.

Watch it on HBO Max and read Watchmen by Alan Moore.

10. Daisy Jones & The Six

Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

Daisy Jones & The Sixmay have had one season, but we're still singing its sweet tune. It followed the beginnings, sweet highs, and unfortunate lows of a fictional rock band that knew how to move a crowd. Fronted by singers Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) and Billy Dunne (Sam Caflin), the group had a successful run that was sometimes complicated by personal problems, drugs, and romantic encounters.

If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?

Watch it on Amazon Prime and read Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Follow us on Facebook for more binge-worthy TV & movie news!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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9 Discontinued Starbucks Syrups We Wish We Could Still Order

Starbucks fans that have stayed loyal to the chain through thick and thin are no strangers to the heartbreak of saying ‘goodbye’ to certain beloved drinks, food items, and flavors. Over the years, Starbucks has discontinued several syrups, leaving fans yearning for their return (we miss raspberry so badly). In this post, we’re taking a look down nostalgia lane and revisiting some of the most popular Starbucks syrups that were sadly taken off menus!

Scroll on for 9 discontinued Starbucks syrups we miss terribly.

Starbucks

1. Almond Syrup

Starbucks’ almond syrup was subtly nutty all while adding sweetness to fan-fave drinks like lattes and hot chocolates! Despite its loyal following, Starbucks discontinued it around 2008, likely due to low demand and a general restructuring of their menu. Many fans still miss it for its unique taste and versatility, though the chain still offers plenty of nutty flavors like hazelnut and pistachio (though the latter is seasonal).

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2. Raspberry Syrup

Gone, but not forgotten! Starbucks’ raspberry syrup was always so tasty in an iced white mocha or in their lemonade bevs. It offered a bright, fruity flavor with a nice sweet-tart balance. Plus, it added a fun color to any sip! Sadly, Starbucks began phasing it out around 2023, likely due to waning popularity and a shift toward more natural fruit inclusions.

Starbucks

3. Butterscotch Syrup

The butterscotch syrup debuted in 2016 with Starbucks’ very own Smoked Butterscotch Latte, bringing all the nostalgic, candy-like flavor notes with it. The syrup itself was fairly rich, buttery, and caramel-y. Mmm. Though it was beloved at the time, this flavor was only around seasonally and eventually discontinued, probably due to lacking demand.

Starbucks

4. Juniper Syrup

Widely known as one of Starbucks’ more-experimental flavors, the juniper syrup launched around the winter holidays in the famed Juniper Latte that carried botanical notes of pine, citrus, and sage. This now-discontinued flavor turned out to be notoriously divisive among Starbucks fans, though the small niche that really adored it still beg for the flavor to come back to menus!

Starbucks

5. Pineapple Ginger Syrup

This summery flavor was introduced to the Starbucks menu back in the spring of 2020 for a few limited-time drinks. With the sweetness of pineapple but the subtle spice of ginger, it was a pretty bold syrup choice at the time. It came and went from menus super quick, though Starbucks still offers plenty of fruity options like strawberry, blackberry, and cherry.

@StarbucksNews

6. Sangria Syrup

Sangria syrup was first used in Starbucks' iced teas to mimic the fruity, wine-inspired flavors of a traditional sangria… all without the alcohol. Sneaky! It tasted slightly of apple, berry, and citrus, making them taste like a true mocktail! It likely didn’t stay on menus long because it was a limited-time offering and didn’t gain enough traction to return.

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7. Valencia Orange Syrup

Starbucks’ Valencia orange syrup was another of the fruity variety. It was widely used in iced drinks like Refreshers, though some baristas really enjoyed it in mochas for a unique orange mocha vibe! It was super summery, though it ended up being phased off menus as Starbucks tested new flavors like dragonfruit, pineapple, and passionfruit.

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8. Mango Syrup

This one’s a total throwback! Starbucks’ long-gone mango syrup was super tropical and, of course, fruity. It paired especially well with the chain’s green teas and lemonades, though they ended up trading the more-artificial, syrupy mango flavor for a natural juice blend over the years.

Starbucks

9. Marshmallow Syrup

Made popular with the S’mores Frappuccino that hit menus in 2015 (and made a reprise in 2019), Starbucks’ marshmallow syrup was truly one of a kind. Creamy and sweet, it had a nostalgic quality that not many other Starbucks syrups did. Unfortunately, Starbucks cut it from the menu since the S’mores Frappuccino was only around for a single summer.

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