Friday, February 29, 2008

Presto Pasta Night is One Year Old! Welcome to the Party!

It's official...Presto Pasta Nights is One Year Old!...

Fifty Two weeks of fantastic pasta dishes of every conceivable computation - boiled,baked and fried; hot and cold; appetizers to desserts; finger food to needing a big spoon and a bib...with kudos to every corner of the world for making Presto Pasta Nights such a success. We've seen recipes from Australia, Singapore, China, Maylasia, Germany, India, Thailand, Greece, Italy (of course), Canada, New Zealand, United States, Ireland, England, Scotland, France. I apologize if I've missed your country.

I must admit, that when I started this event, I was afraid no one would come to the weekly party. In fact, the first one only had 8 entries...all delicious, true, but still...only 8. This week there are more than 30 tasty treats to dig into. So before I turn it over to you....Thank you all soooooo much for playing with me week after week. I do hope you plan on sticking around for the next year. I'm sure there will be even more mouthwatering dishes on the menu. But enough blathering from me.....let's get to the party....

First one here was Lola. She may be without a blog but she's always up for a party and she emailed me this very tasty sounding dish of Bow Ties Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Scallion Cream Sauce.

Lauren at Burghilicious brought these very rich and festive Mushroom Lasagna Rollups . A very cool spin on everyone's fave dish.


Johanna of the wonderful Green Gourmet Giraffe has these perfectly awesome Gyoza with Mushrooms & Lime Leaves....and she wondered if gyoza counts as pasta....is she kidding?!!!!! They're perfect!


Kitchenetta of Got No Milk has a fantastic dish for this time of year...Tuscan Bean Soup. I'm imagining the warmth of the bowl in my hands, the aroma and that flavor...yum!


Dharm, Dad, Baker & Chef is back with my favorite use of pasta...the perfect base for that last minute, "what will we eat?" spontaneous party. His Tuna & Broccoli Dish says it all.


Another long time friend, Ulrike of Kuchenlatein brings an awesome dish to the party. Allgäuer Käsespätzle is Spaezlte taken to the nth degree and she even gives us step by step instructions so there are no excuses for not trying it.


Ivy of Kopiaste shares not only a fantastic traditional Greek dish...Makarounotes Hilopites...she shares some family history. Nothing reminds me of my childhood more than stories of grandmothers, and mothers sharing their "secret" recipes.


One of my favorite PPN regulars is Katie at Thyme for Cooking. She always shares a hysterical story (this time is no different) and a great dish. This luscious one is perfect for the party... Smoked Salmon Pasta. Can you see me in my little black dress and pearls?


Marye at Baking Delights presents a dish that she used to call Chicken Pot Pie until she moved South, where she was informed it's Chicken & Noodles. As Shakespeare said..."a rose by any other name would smell as sweet".


BreadChick at The Sour Dough, was ailing so she couldn't do a fancy dish for the birthday bash, but she did something even better.... Tuna Pasta Casserole. For me, pasta is the perfect thing to prepare when you're not feeling well. It's easy and somehow there's that "hug" from long ago memories of childhood and "mummy".


Rosa of Rosa's Yummy Yums, another great PPN regular shares a second version of that wonderful German dish...Spatzli. How lucky are we! Two cool recipes for one great dish. Now I have no excuse not to make some at home.


Next up is Giz, the other half of the Equal Opportunity Kitchen, Psychgrad's mom! Her Orzo Salad is a perfect party dish - colorful and, best of all...brings a little summer to the table - a definite must this time of year.


Bellini Valli of More Than Burnt Toast came up with a really special party dish - Penne Romanoff - it's even flambeed to really impress us! Way to go!


Sathya, one half of The Baker & The Curry Maker shares a lovely easy Comfort Pasta Bake that works for parties of one or one hundred! I love it.


Tigerfish at Teczcape is a fantastic PPNer and this week she's got a great post and wonderful dish to bring to the party...Mee Siam...Who says knock your socks off dishes can't be quick and easy?!


Mike of Mike's Table shares a step by step recipe for another very classy dish. This one is Beef Stroganof. All I can say is...wow!


Kittie of Kittens in the Kitchen went all out for the party with homemade olive & chili pasta for this Puttanesca Putapasta. I can't wait until my daughter comes home from Cuba to try this one out with her pasta maker.


Sher of What Did You Eat? is another longtime PPNer and we're all happy when she shares a dish. This week, it's a stunning Sweet Pea & Mint Cannelloni that shouts Spring is here!


And Chris of Mele Cotte, another great PPN regular also brings some summer sunshine with this glorious Shrimp & Vegetable Orzo. And the sun just came out as I'm typing this....cool!


Judith of Think on It shares a very traditional, very mouth-watering dish of Cavatelli con Fagioli e Cozze (I love the sound of it in Italian - so romantic) Cavatelli with White Beans & Mussels will taste as good though if you have to say it in English. And tell me you wouldn't want to be enjoying it on that lovely terrace -I dare you!


Katie of Other People's Food always does something interesting. Lemongrass Pork with Rice Vermicelli Salad....I think so!


Kit of Kits Chow made her own party - we all need an invite! - to share this gorgeous Hot Pot Dinner. Perfect for the -12 degrees C we're having here in Halifax.


Kevin, my favorite Closet Cook, went all out and made his own Udon noodles for his droolingly good soup. Very impressive...I usually go to Udon noodles (in a package, naturally) when I'm starving and need to eat within 5 minutes or I'll faint!


Elly of Elly's Opa! dishes up some of my favorite things...Penne with Goat Cheese and Tomatoes and Sausages...Yum!


Ricki of Diet, Dessert & Dogs is back too. She shares a vegetarian dish that even carnivores will adore...Bangkok Noodles with Cashews & Pineapple.


Mike at Mel's Diner is in love with Nigella (don't tell his wife), but then..who isn't. I love this Squash and Ravioletti Soup...no surprise there.


Alisha of Cook, Craft & Enjoy crawled out of her sick bed to be able to join us. I love her Shallota Flavor Pasta. Feel better soon!


Cara at Cara's Cravings shares this dish that has her husband wondering about how healthy it is... Roasted Squash & Ricotta Pasta...I love it when dishes seem too creamy and delicious to be good for us too.


Ginny of Just Get Floury joins PPN for the first time with a lovely looking Squash & Sage Pasta dish. Hope to see you here often Ginny.


Gay, our favorite Scientist in the Kitchen, has a special birthday dish...Special Birthday Pancit Canton. I can't wait to dig in.


Haalo, of Cook (Almost)Anything is a fantastic PPN regular with the most beautiful photos to go along with some great dishes over the year...This one is really awesome...Spaghetti Chittara alla Vongole...check it out.


And as for me....well I've had a busy week reminiscing over the past year...well actually longer in my case, right back to my youth and a family favorite...Lasagna.

And then there was my Homage to Shrimp.

Plus this very classy but so, so easy Tagliatelle con Speck e Pangrattato


Don't forget to join in the Presto Pasta Night experience and please visit the Presto Pasta Gang on Facebook.

As always, from the bottom of my heart (and stomach)...a very big thank you to all of you for playing along and visiting every week!!! I know 2008 will be an awesome pasta year.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice turn out for your birthday party!

sher said...

Wow! What a wonderful re-cap. So many delicious pasta dishes. Happy Anniversary Ruth!!!! The next year should be great. :):)

ostwestwind said...

Happy Anniversary Presto Pasta Nights, recipes for ages!

Thanks for 52 weeks putting all together!

Ulrike from Küchenlatein

Laura Paterson said...

Happy First Birthday Presto Pasta Night! Well done Ruth - amazing event, as is shown by the turn out today!

And here's to many more luscious dishes in the next year :)

Mansi said...

wow, its been a Year already!! congrats Ruth! PPN is always fun and a storehouse of interesting pasta dishes:) thanks so much for keeping it alive!

Lisa Turner said...

Congratulations Ruth! I look forward to many more Presto Pasta Nights.

Katie B. said...

Congrats, Ruth!! I look forward to your PPN round-ups every week, and this is no exception!! Hurrah and Happy Birthday to PPN!

Dharm said...

Congrats on the first Birthday Ruth!! Somehow I didnt put it together that 52 weeks meant the first anniversary....duh. Happy Birthday anyway!

Anonymous said...

Ruth, congratulations and happy birthday! A beautiful collection of pasta recipes for your anniversary edition. I am so glad to have been introduced to so many wonderful cooks and bloggers like yourself. Thanks for all your hard work - it's beautiful.

Kalyn Denny said...

Congratulations! A whole year of doing this is a great accomplishment. Someday I'll surprise you and actually manage to enter. (Sigh, I never seem to have time to enter many events.)

test it comm said...

Great roundup! Just look at all of those tasty looking pasta dishes. Congratulations on 1 year of Presto Pasta Nights! I look forward to more tasty pasta.

Mike of Mike's Table said...

Happy birthday and congrats on year one, and hopefully many more!

Johanna GGG said...

Congratulations Ruth! A wonderful round-up and a great year of pasta - you surely have given me lots of inspiration to cook pasta. Now I am off to look at some of these wonderful pasta dishes

tigerfish said...

Happy Birthday! Now I stuffed to my neck with all these great dishes! :O

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Happy birthday!!! A wonderful roundup! I'll have to come back later in order to check all the recipes...

Cheers,

Rosa

Ruth Daniels said...

Thanks all, not just for the kind words, but for being such a great part of Presto Pasta Nights. Couldn't have done it without you....keep those pasta dishes coming!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Happy first birthday Ruth!! I'll look forward to another year of Presto Pasta nights and a whole lineup of delicious pasta dishes:D

Katie Zeller said...

What a wonderful celebration!
I suppose I could start eating pasta for breakfast... It would certainly taste better than Bran Flakes and I could try more of these...
I have visions of me spending the rest of my life doing nothing but eating and exercising!

Chris said...

Happy Birthday! Thanks for a wonderful 52 weeks of delicious dishes. Here is to many, many more!

catsynth said...

Happy "anniversary" to this event! I have made a couple of the recipes over time, but want to do a lot more. So many interesting recipes, it's a bit overwhelming :)

Anonymous said...

Ruth,
Happy, happy birthday to PPN! As usual, a wonderful array of dishes, so many of which I can't wait to try. Here's to the next 52 weeks!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing array of dishes - and so diverse too. Who would have thought you could do so much with pasta.

Thanks for all your efforts over the 12 months.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to Presto Pasta Nights! And many more!

Thanks for all of your hard work each week bringing us the best pasta recipes from around the food blogs and introducing us all to eachother! Much appreciated!

Coffee and Vanilla said...

Ruth,
I must send you some pasta recipe for Presto Pasta Night soon...
... but for now I tried your Spinach Mushroom soup:
http://www.coffeeandvanilla.com/?p=1803
It was delicious, I change some quantities but not much. I was forced to replace mushrooms for plain white button mushrooms but the soup came out delicious anyways!! :)
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Margot

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary. I've really enjoyed the ride over the year. So, many wonderful recipes. I feel like I'm in pasta heaven. =)

Here's to another wonderful year! Thank you everyone!