Orzo is a great alternative side dish to potatoes or rice. I like to cook it as you would risotto instead of boiling it as you do with most pasta. I discovered I am not the only one who has been doing this (I actually thought I invented it). I’ve noticed the internet is full of…
Tag: pasta
Zucchini Lasagne
I created the delicious (happy to say) Zucchini Lasagne you see above when my intention was really to make a recipe I came across in a magazine for Grilled Zucchini Parmigiana. But, a funny thing happened on my way to making it… I’m nothing if not impulsive and determined. I realized in my haste to make…
Quick Tomato Sauce
Sometimes simple is best! And with good ingredients, simple allows the true flavors to shine through. Trying to come up with a quick dinner the other evening, while hungry for pasta, I found this recipe for Tomato Sauce in The Tuscan Sun cookbook, a favorite of mine for Italian dishes. With few ingredients and a super…
Lasagne with Ragu
This luscious lasagne comes from Frances Mayes’ The Tuscan Sun Cookbook, a favorite Italian cookbook of mine. The lasagne pasta is layered with ragu, (meat sauce), besciamella (béchamel sauce), Parmigiano-Reggiano, and shredded mozzarella, and topped with toasted breadcurmbs. Delizioso!!! I have made this ragu recipe in the past and it is wonderful, but since I…
Pappardelle with Baby Bella Mushrooms and Garlic
Two nights ago I was hungry for pasta. I needed a quick fix and then I spotted the leftover container of sautéed mushrooms from dinner the night before in the fridge. They were leftover because I had decided to cook the entire large container of organic “baby bella” mushrooms purchased at Costco earlier that week….
Creamy Corn Pasta with Basil
This is a summery pasta dish you will love! The sauce is bursting with the flavors of fresh sweet corn, scallions, and fresh basil. No cream in this recipe, but the sauce is a creamy consistency, with a surprising depth of flavor. A bit of butter adds to the richness while the freshly grated…
Hello Summer 2016
With the arrival of summer this week also comes lots of outdoor dining! Be it a picnic on the grass, a candlelit dinner on the patio, or a barbecue on the beach we will find many reasons to eat al fresco. We are fortunate here in San Luis Obispo because our fabulous Mediterranean climate…
Caponata
There are many versions of Caponata, a dish of chopped eggplant, olives, onions, and other vegetables seasoned with herbs, typically served as an appetizer. You can check out another caponata recipe (more of a sweet and sour version) here. Not only is it a wonderful antipasto with crackers and crudités before dinner, a couple of…
Tagliatelle with Mushrooms and Garlic and Spinach Salad with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
Talk about an easy yet impressive dinner! The other evening I prepared this version of a pasta dish with mushrooms which I had posted some time ago. With few ingredients and in minimal time you can serve this dish which is loaded with flavor and presents beautifully. It lends itself to a variety of pastas…
Summertime…and the Cookin’ is Easy… Bucatini with Fresh Tomato Sauce
That really is the great thing about summer! There are so many delicious dinners we can prepare that take little time and effort and yet result in such delicious, satisfying meals. Because of the abundance of fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs at their peak at the farmers’ markets the less fussing with the ingredients…