National Pasta Month - Fun and Simple!

It’s National Pasta Month! One of my favorite things about this job, is photographing the food I’ve created, except for eating it, of course! (Above: shooting my Pumpkin Ravioli for this Blog Post, see the photo in the gallery below)

No wonder October is my favorite month of the year! All of my favorite dishes and flavors come together in one glorious fall month! I had been having such a hard time getting motivated lately and the further we move into COVID living and with no end in site at the moment, the more difficulty I had staying inspired. Then October arrived with my favorite fall flavors and features. It’s not just National Pasta Month, it’s Pumpkin Month, Merlot Month, and National Food Day and Dessert Day in October, so my mojo in the kitchen has been full on with new Fun & Simple recipe creation and updates to some of my old favorites.

Pasta is the best comfort cooking I know, simple to prepare, super versatile and so delicious! I’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen this month, my happy place, and since we are basically still in quasi lock down, cooking and baking have been my COVID calm. I thought I would share some of my favorite Fun & Simple pasta dishes and wine pairing tips to help get you inspired. Nothing like comfort food to bring a smile to anyone’s tummy!  Continue to stay safe and well and I hope you enjoy some of my favorite pasta comfort dishes while spending time at home.

So the thing about pasta is that it really is a blank canvas.  Cook some pasta, your favorite shape or whatever you have in the pantry, make a sauce, add some extras, bring it all together, top it with your favorite cheese, nuts, herbs and you have a fun & simple gourmet masterpiece!

One of my very favorite and flavorful pasta dishes is a simple Puttanesca.  Cook Pasta: Start with a pound of linguine, spaghetti or fettuccine cooked to package directions for al dente, keeping one cup of the pasta liquid set aside.  Drain. 

Make Sauce: In a large sauté pan, heat ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil over medium heat and add a medium fennel bulb, halved and sliced into ¼ inch thickness.  Sauté until soft and translucent but not browned. Add one-half cup halved garlic cloves and swirl around until the garlic just begins to become aromatic. Be careful not to burn the garlic.  Add 2 cups of diced San Marzano tomatoes (canned or fresh) and simmer for 5-7 minutes until reduced and beginning to thicken. Add Extras: Add ¼ cup dry white wine, ¼ cup capers, ¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 tablespoon tomato paste.  Stir well to combine and continue to cook about 5 minutes more.  Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed. 

Bring it All Together: Add the pasta and ¼ cup of the pasta liquid into the sauce and toss to coat (with tongs).  If the sauce seems too thick, add another ¼ cup of the pasta liquid and continue to toss.  Cook about 2 minutes longer and pour into serving bowl.  Finish with Toppings: I like, freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, chopped fresh basil leaves, fresh flat leaf parsley or both, freshly grated lemon zest, a sprinkling of kosher salt and a fresh grind of black pepper, then a nice drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and serve!  If you like tuna in your Puttanesca, add 8 oz. of flaked oil-packed tuna during the last two minutes just to heat through tossing to combine into the dish.

That’s it!  A super fun & simple and most delicious and comforting pasta dish. Here are some more of my fun & simple favs…including a creamy cheesy Pumpkin Zita and my favorite Pumpkin Ravioli!

Pumpkin Zita

Pumpkin Ravioli

Spaghetti & Wilted Greens

Pasta Calamari

Orange Scented Capellini

Creamy Orecchiette

Hope you enjoy these Fun & Simple #National Pasta Month dishes. And, not just because it is also Merlot Month, but a nice medium to full-bodied but soft Merlot pairs exceptionally well with any of the pasta dishes I’ve shared here. Like pasta, Merlot is also versatile, known as a chameleon among wines because of its adaptive properties, Merlot also blends very well with a variety of foods and flavors. #MerlotMe

Continue to stay home, stay safe and stay healthy! Remember Fun & Simple Gourmet is available at iTunes for your devices and is filled with more delicious pasta recipes and other fun & simple menu ideas.

Pantry Cooking 101 - Fun and Simple Pasta!

Pantry cooking looks like the norm for a little while and Pasta is the best pantry cooking I know, simple to prepare comfort food, super versatile and so delicious!

Maybe it’s just me, but I have had such a hard time getting motivated this week.  This was not the stay at home vacation any of us planned for and though I have so many home projects that could very much keep me super busy this week, I have had a hard time starting any of them.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen, my happy place, and since we are basically on lock down and won’t be making many trips for groceries, it’s a good time to be creative with the pantry.  My favorite pantry food…of course, you know me…Pasta! 

I thought I would share some fun & simple pasta dishes to help us all get through the isolation period.  Nothing like comfort food to bring a smile to anyone’s tummy!  Continue to stay safe and well and I hope you enjoy some of my favorite pasta comfort dishes while we are spending time at home.

So the thing about pasta is that it really is a blank canvas.  Cook some pasta, your favorite shape or whatever you have in the pantry, make a sauce, add some extras, bring it all together, top it with your favorite cheese, nuts, herbs and you have a fun & simple gourmet masterpiece!

The easiest Pantry Pasta I know is a simple Puttanesca.  Cook Pasta: Start with a pound of linguine, spaghetti or fettuccine cooked to package directions for al dente, keeping one cup of the pasta liquid set aside.  Drain. 

Make Sauce: In a large sauté pan, heat ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil over medium heat and add a medium fennel bulb, halved and sliced into ¼ inch thickness.  Sauté until soft and translucent but not browned. Add one-half cup halved garlic cloves and swirl around until the garlic just begins to become aromatic. Be careful not to burn the garlic.  Add 2 cups of diced San Marzano tomatoes (canned or fresh) and simmer for 5-7 minutes until reduced and beginning to thicken. Add Extras: Add ¼ cup dry white wine, ¼ cup capers, ¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 tablespoon tomato paste.  Stir well to combine and continue to cook about 5 minutes more.  Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed. 

Bring it All Together: Add the pasta and ¼ cup of the pasta liquid into the sauce and toss to coat (with tongs).  If the sauce seems too thick, add another ¼ cup of the pasta liquid and continue to toss.  Cook about 2 minutes longer and pour into serving bowl.  Finish with Toppings: I like, freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, chopped fresh basil leaves, fresh flat leaf parsley or both, freshly grated lemon zest, a sprinkling of kosher salt and a fresh grind of black pepper, then a nice drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and serve!  If you like tuna in your Puttanesca, add 8 oz. of flaked oil-packed tuna during the last two minutes just to heat through tossing to combine into the dish.

That’s it!  A super fun & simple and most delicious pantry pasta dish. Here are some more of my fun & simple favs…

Spaghetti & Wilted Greens

Pasta Calamari

Orange Scented Capellini

Creamy Orecchiette

Hope you enjoy these Fun & Simple #PantryPasta dishes. I will have more #PantryCooking ideas for you next week. In the meantime, continue to stay safe and healthy!

Remember Fun & Simple Gourmet is available at iTunes for your devices and is filled with more delicious pasta recipes and other fun & simple menu ideas.

Spectacular Stone Fruit Season!

Plum Crumble - the perfect dessert to welcome the arrival of fall!

Have you noticed how beautiful and delicious the Stone Fruits are this time of year. I have been raiding the Farmers Markets for peaches, plums, cherries and apricots. Stone fruits not only offer lots of vitamins and nutrients, these super sweet beauties are also low in calories. I have been enamored with the plums this season. Did you know that the natural white film coating, called a “bloom” protects their skin and makes them juicy by keeping the moisture on the inside of the fruit. If the plums still have their bloom when purchasing, you can tell they have not been over handled, and they should be very juicy upon ripening. Filled with antioxidants, these sweet, juicy beauties are super heart and brain healthy and naturally low in calories. Check out the recipe for my Soothing Plum Crumble. It is amazing! (simply click on the photo!)

With so many delicious ways to enjoy, I thought I would share some of my favorite sweet and savory dishes with stone fruits this week. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, fresh salads, appetizers and desserts, so many delicious options for enjoying fresh stone fruits while they last.  I am thrilled to pass on just a few of my Fun & Simple favorites to enjoy with your family. Don’t forget to share and send me your photos!

Peach Arugula Salad

Hearty Peach Bolognese

Soothing Plum Crumble

I hope you enjoy these fun and simple stone fruit recipes while savoring the beginning of fall! Stay tuned for lots of fall entertaining ideas, menus and delicious and comforting new recipes...In the meantime,

You will find lots of my favorite recipes in my new lifestyle cookbook. order yours today!

Gone Nuts...for Peanuts!

One of the biggest food trends this year has been non-dairy milk alternatives, mostly plant based nut milks. Replacing dairy is a great way to enhance your healthy lifestyle! This week's blog includes several fantastic and delicious recipes using peanut milk, both plain and chocolate, from protein packed breakfast muffins, to light and healthy pasta, warm soothing fish curry and decadent desserts, like these gorgeous Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cupcakes!

In addition to being high in protein, other incredible health benefits associated with peanuts include biotin, an enzyme healthy B vitamin, heart healthy monounsaturated fats which lower stroke and heart attack risk, antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and reduce cancer risk and consuming peanuts may even protect you from gallstones!

You've seen them all, almond milk, cashew, walnut, even hazelnut milk, but this is the first Peanut Milk, introduced by Elmhurst 1925. (@elmhurst1925) Peanut milk is dairy-free, non-GMO, vegan, lactose free and Kosher. With today's trends in food, turning to a more plant based protein diet, as a replacement for dairy products, nut milks have become a viable and popular alternative. In addition to their already produced almond, hazelnut, cashew, walnut and grain milks (oatmeal & brown rice), Elmhurst (@elmhurst1925) has developed the first peanut milk (regular and chocolate!) and it is delicious! 

They use a patented process called cold milking, producing a nut milk that is super creamy, flavorful and maintains the nutritional integrity of whole, raw Georgia peanuts (@gapeanuts) free of stabilizers, emulsifiers, gums or other chemicals typically used in nut milking and 6 grams of protein in every 8 ounces! (8 grams in the Chocolate variety)

I was honored to be asked, in conjunction with @Foodiechats and the Georgia Peanut Commission (@gapeanuts) to test the product in my kitchen where I had so much fun creating new dishes and improvising with some of my old ones. Check out these amazing recipes using peanut milk! From smoothies and protein packed muffins to start your day, to light and delicious pasta, warm and soothing fish curry and decadent peanut milk desserts! Simple to prepare and oh so tasty! (Simply click on the photos for the recipes!)

With all of these beautiful and delicious options, you can see why I went Nuts for Peanuts and had so much fun cooking with Elmhurst 1925 Milked Peanuts! Not to mention the many health benefits of peanuts!  Can't wait for you to try the recipes and please, send me your photos after you've prepared one of mine, or created one of your own! Hope you are enjoying the start of your summer...