Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Good For What Ails You Pasta

If you're like me, when you have a cold, nothing seems to have any flavor. I've been under the weather for more than a week. Nothing serious, just the usual symptoms - stuffed up nose, coughing, no sleep and worst of all...no taste! This post is not to induce sympathy....well...okay, perhaps a little.

Rather, it's to share my "cure"... at least for the no flavor part. I've naturally been dragging myself around due to the lack of sleep and so, any serious cooking...the kind where, if you have to really follow a recipe and pay attention during the cooking process was not going to happen. Thank goodness for the frozen batches of broth (chicken and vegetable )in the freezer, cans of beans in the pantry and sundry herbs and greens in the fridge for days when nothing but soup will do.

But now I actually want something more substantial and naturally pasta comes to mind. Pasta with lots of "in your face" flavors, since my taste buds and sense of smell is still lacking. The recipe for success...

1. Pick your favorite shape pasta (that's the visual comfort factor)...mine is cute farfalle or...as we used to call them when I was a kid "bow ties".

2. Choose your favorite over the top flavors...super salty, super spicy, super tangy (things you will actually be able to taste....my choices....sundried tomatoes in oil, black olive tapenade or oil cured black olives, lots of garlic and red chili pepper flakes, lemon - zest & juice, bitter greens).

3. Minimal cooking, and served up in a pretty bowl.

Sickly or not, it's perfect for Presto Pasta Nights. Heather, lichef.blogspot.com/">Girlichef, Extraordinaire will be hosting. So start thinking about what over the top or super easy pasta dish to send her. Just email your entries to girlichef (at) yahoo (dot) com and cc me at ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

6 comments:

Heather S-G said...

I'm sorry you're under the weather...we just kicked all of that out of the house around here!! This looks like the perfect cure :)

Anonymous said...

Hope you're feeling better. This sounds delicious. And pasta reminded me that Mario Batali is facing off with Jamie Oliver on Iron Chef America this afternoon at 1.00 pm ADT. I don't usually watch this programme but Batali and Oliver are two of my favourites.

Dee

pam said...

I always crave soup when I'm sick, but as soon as I start feeling the teensiest bit better, it's pasta time.

Joanne said...

Ooo I hope you are feeling better! This pasta would certainly cure me of anything.

Little Inbox said...

How are you now? Feeling better? I hope the pasta healed your sickness!

Ruth Daniels said...

I am definitely cured. Thanks all for the good wishes.