Epicurious Chose These as Most Influential Chefs

Epicurious chose the 15 Most Influential Chefs of the Last Decade. Some I know of, others... not yet. So grab a cup of your favorite brew (Earl Grey Tea is my choice) and see their accomplishments.

No.. I'm not giving you any more help than the link, but I do have two question for you... Choose one "famous" chef that has influenced where and what you eat and then choose one person in your life that has made an impact for you when it comes to the kitchen .

My Famous Chef: Jamie Oliver, not just because his dishes reflect our busy lifestyles and the fact that since many are fearful of the kitchen, he created dishes are easy to prepare and delicious to eat; not just because his focus is very much on the seasons at hand, eating locally grown & produced foods, supporting local farmers and finding healthful alternatives to the fast food nations we've become . It's about his passionate commitment to socially important projects like his restaurant Fifteen , helping disenfranchised youth find a positive place in society, like his work with schools to get better, healthier meal programs for our children under the umbrella of his "Food Revolution" and his Foundation that makes it all happen. I love his contagious enthusiasm and the fact that many chefs around the world are now making a difference in their communities.

My Personal Inspirations: because I couldn't come up with just one...

my grandmother, my mother and her sisters (my "Bubbie" on the left, Auntie Rita - the baby of seven children in the middle and my mother on the right) for making the kitchen the most wonderful place in our homes. No matter how horrible the day... and let's face it, to kids it sometimes doesn't take more than a friend saying something mean, a fall off the bike... to be a catastrophe. Wonderful kitchen aromas, a floury hug that even smells of cookies can make the day bright again.

And for me, another set of inspirers...
my daughters, Joanna & Sharron, who make cooking together the best activity I know and my grandsons Boaz almost 4 loves to cook and his little brother Dov,
who just turned 2, loves to eat. A perfect combination in my world.

So who are your inspirers? Please share in the comments.

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #191

Once again, it's going to be a very busy day here looking after two cute little boys while mummy gets ready for Dov's second birthday parties this weekend. Yesterday mummy & Auntie Kayla made this awesome birthday cake for our Lightning McQueen obsessed boys and, even though it's not made of pasta, I had to share it with you.
Don't forget to keep checking for Presto Pasta Night Roundup #191 over at Oh Taste n See . Thanks, Denise, our wonderful host this week for a great job and thanks to everyone who sent in those mouth watering pasta plates.

Next week it's back to me, so start thinking about what you're planning on making for PPN #192 and send your entry to me ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com by Thursday.

Not One to Freak Out But... Biosolids as Fertilizer?!

If you know me then you know that I'm not a rabble rouser. I let others fight for my freedoms and rights. I never burned my bra, but am grateful for all those suffragettes who did that and more. I only write about things that are wonderful to me and leave the ranting to others, no matter how worthy the cause.

I write about my favorite local farmers and other food purveyors and support them by shopping first at farmers markets and local shops that support them too.

I belong to Slow Food Nova Scotia and while a "quiet member", I certainly keep abreast of celebrations, events, opportunities and challenges in the region.

Positive as I am, I had to share this quote from SFNS recent newsletter: RE managment of Biosolids in N.S. & Canada. This is NOT good news.

"The NS Federation of Agriculture is including in its Policy Statement that farmers recognize the use of non-agricultural waste products (biosolids) as having "benefits" in agriculture production when managed under the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) and provincial guidelines".

This Policy will be brought forward at the NSFA's Annual Meeting on November 25th for approval. ... the sludge industry has been busy lobbying the Canadian Horticultural Council to change their position that prohibits the use of treated sewage sludge on Canadian produce by farmers holding an On Farm Food Safety/GAP Program certification.

Should such a policy change occur, even produce available through the major grocery outlets could be grown using biosolids. Consumers will no longer have the same level of assurance for safety in Canadian grown produce. As of this date, the Canadian Horticultural Council has not yet rendered its decision.

In short, our government wants to standardized how biosolids are managed across Canada and how they are promoted to the public. In an attempt to widely disseminate biosolids into our food chain (and get rid of the unwanted substance) our government plans to mix biosolids with topsoil or kitchen waste compost and call it an "organic soil amendment" and sell it to unsuspecting consumers for use in their vegetable or flower gardens.

The term "organic" soil amendment implies that the product is suitable for organic farming when it is not. Consumers will not likely be informed, via labelling, of the potential list of contaminants contained within this "fertilizer" mix and public perceptions about certified organic status could be diminished if consumers are confused about organic standards."

Some other interesting and equally scary information:

"660,000 dry tonnes of biosolids are generated each year in Canada. This amount is expected to increase because of stringent waste water treatment requirements.

Based on the guidelines for acceptable levels of heavy metals in parts per million (mg/Kg) in the N.S. Guidelines for Biosolids Management, this would be equivalent to 22,000 truckloads (@ 30 tonnes each truckload).

According to the NS standards for Class A biosolids, in each 30 tonne truckload of biosolids has 9.9 lbs of Lead (neurotoxin). Thus, 22,000 truckloads = 217,800 lbs of Lead spread each year over Canadian soils - most of it onto agricultural land. (From the HRM N-Viro plant, 1000 truckloads of biosolids are spread on our soils which amounts to almost 10,000 lbs of lead being put into our rural environment).

Here are more facts (based on allowable concentrations as per N.S.
Guidelines):

Arsenic = 0.9 lbs per truckload x 1000 truckloads = 900 lbs in N.S. and 19,800 lbs in Canada (carcinogen)

Cadmium = 90 grams per truckload x 1000 = 200 lbs in N.S. and 4,360 lbs in Canada (carcinogen)Mercury = 24 grams per truckload x 1000 = 53 lbs in N.S. and 1, 160 lbs in Canada (neurotoxin)

Copper = 26 lbs per truckload x 1000 = 26,000 lbs in N.S. and 581,000 lbs in Canada (plant and soil toxicity)

Zinc - 46 lbs per truckload x 1000 = 46,000 lbs in N.S. and 1, 012,000 lbs in Canada (plant and soil toxicity)

Nickel = 4.1 lbs per truckload x 1000 = 4,100 lbs in N.S. and 90,200 lbs in Canada (plant toxicity)

Molybedenum = 0.3 lbs per truckload x 1000 = 300 lbs in Nova Scdotia and 7,260 lbs in Canada (livestock toxicity)

660,000 tonnes of biosolids also includes the following amounts of these substances (From the 2010 Federal Study on Canadian Biosolids - concentrations of the Halifax N-Viro product):

Triclosan = 8,886 lbs being spread over Canadian soils (Significant contributor of antibiotic resistance)

Triclocarban = 2,309 lbs in Canada (same as triclosan)Carbamazepine = 145 lbs in Canada (Anti-convulsant)

Bisphenol A = 1,147 lbs in Canada (Canada's newest toxic substance and endocrine disrupter) And, these substances represent just a few of all potential contaminants that are being spread into our environment."

If you are interested in finding out more about this and what you can do to have your voice heard, contact the office of Biosolids & Wastewater CaucusNova Scotia Environmental Network and if you don't live in Nova Scotia, check out what's going on in your neighborhood.

The Latest Delicious Presto Pasta Night

Debbi, of Debbi Does Dinner hosted Presto Pasta Night #190 and what a great job she did. Of course, she couldn't have done it without all these luscious dishes... provided by some wonderful food bloggers. Thanks everyone for such a great job. But enough from me... dig in!

And don't forget that next week, Denise of Oh Taste n See will be hosting. Just share a pasta, mention Denise & Oh Taste N See with a link and email to ohtastenseeblog (at) gmail (dot) com with a cc to me: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

Orecchetti e Pepe e Pancetta e Cacio for Presto Pasta Night

I didn't think I'd make it to Presto Pasta Night this week, hosted by Debbi Does Dinner. It's Thursday and delicious little boys are coming over to spend the day. Boaz, the older one, doesn't like it when I call him "delicious"... handsome, cute, funny, smart and "best big brother" are all fine he told me, but "delicious is for food!" I could just eat him up when he says stuff like that, but don't tell him.

This Orecchetti e Pepe e Pancetta e Cacio (probably spelled wrong, but sounds so delightful... no wonder Italian food is my favorite - the names just roll off the tongue... but I digress.) It was simple enough to make, just more challenging to find time to write it up!. It's an over-the-top adaptation of an already great dish from Josee di Stasio - Pasta Pepe e Cacio, but never being one to leave things alone for long, I had to add the pancetta and mushrooms sitting in my fridge and screaming at me every time I opened the door "ME!, Pick ME!"

What do you do to an already delicious dish to make it your own? And don't forget, Debbi is still accepting entries for this week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup. Just mention Debbi Does Dinner & Presto Pasta Nights along with their links and email it to crabbymomofthree (at) comcast (dot) net and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

Getting Through November Blahs

I am usually a "glass much more than half full" kind of girl, but November changes that... at least for a while. It starts with turning the clocks back an hour... like I need more darkness in the morning, my favorite time of day! Dreary, damp, dull days don't pick me up either. So I was "over the moon" happy to hear that finally the Halifax Seaport Market was going to be open Fridays, Sundays and Wednesdays in addition to the usual Saturday morning.

Last Friday, I went with my daughter and the boys, expecting a regular farmers market plus International Day... whatever that meant. I discovered that there are almost no farmers present - in fact only Selwood Green was there, but a glorious opportunity to sample the flavours of the world...
...think street food from India (Masai Dosai and so much more. We had some of this because it brought back wonderful memories of Joanna's trip to India and she hasn't had any Masai Dosai since then. It's a South Indian street food favorite),
and there's... sweets & snacks from Indonesia,
Perogi from Poland
Jerk & Curries from Antiqua, as well as Jamaica, and Sri Lanka (curry)... the list goes on and on. There are also wonderful imported goods to buy as well and pretend you're in some exotic marketplace at the other side of the world (preferably one with more sunshine). Naturally, the foodie in me only to photos related to eating, but the jewelry, and other wonderful handmade treasures from far away lands will make some wonderful holiday gifts. Check out the Chronicle Herald's article about the project.

And back to November blahs... see how hard it is to keep the positive in me down for long? ... I went back to the market on Saturday - I've missed a few and it was the shock of normal November that hit me. While my favorite fish, meat, bread & cheese guys were there, I noticed the slimmed down produce vendors and the focus on root veg and hearty greens like kale. Not that this is a bad thing. Don't get me wrong. I love chatting with the vendors, and some like Julien's, Foxhill Cheese, Gourmandises Avenue have permanent shops on the periphery. The Fish Shop should have its own place in another week or two. And come December right through March, I'll be happy for a taste of fresh, local deliciousness to bring home.

In fact, it's the first Wednesday that farmers will be there, so I think I'll head out for a fix.... more about that later. In the meantime, what's your "November Blah" and what cures it?

What Does One Serve to a Group of Wonderful Chefs?

I was pleased to be invited by the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia (better known as RANS)to serve on the panel of judges with the difficult task of deciding winners for five different categories, to be presented at this year's AGM & Awards Dinner.

There was a huge turnout, with association members catching up with each other, participating in a very interesting presentation and doing the voting thing found at all Annual General Meetings. Truth is, it was my first time attending and it was much more interesting than many an AGM I've been to in the corporate world.

But while others were focusing on the business of running a restaurant, I was wondering what one would serve to such a distinguished guest list and how intimidated I would be having to come up with a menu for people who really know their food and how to serve it up.

Executive Chef at the Westin Nova Scotian is Raj Gupta, and he and his team did a wonderful job, even before the dinner started. The reception had a Nova Scotian theme with hors d'ouevres and wines from local sources. One of the hors d'ouevres was the Panini Toscano that was the win for Chef Michael Howell, Executive Chef & owner of The Tempest, one of my favorite NS restaurants and well worth the drive to Wolfville from Halifax, but I digress. The panini took first place at the Grate Canadian Grilled Cheese Cookoff at the CNE this summer. A perfect choice, given that Chef Michael is the incoming RANS President.

Before sharing the winners with you... it's back to my question... What does one serve a room full of restauranteurs and industry suppliers? Another digression... think of it as snacking on hor d'ouevres... I had the pleasure of sitting with the folks from Steak 'n Stein - a great family friendly restaurant (and one of the few places I'd dare to take my two little heathen grandsons); Cafe Chianti (one of my favorite Grown Up restaurants); Janes on the Commons (another personal favorite - especially for weekend brunch) and Jeff from Coca Cola, a huge sponsor of RANS.

The menu for the evening was lovely... I shouldn't have expected less. The photos on the other hand, (my own attempt at styling - less successful, but I think you get the point).

Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Soup en Croute
Duet of Peppercorn Sirloin and Chicken stuffed with Prosciutto and Asiago finished with Bourbon sauce served with maple glazed root vegetables and oven roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Dessert, a superb Chocolate Molten Lava cake with Ganache Starbucks Coffee and Tea.

But the real reason I was invited... the second annual awards which were given to...
Best Small Restaurant: out of 50 nominees... Charlotte Lane in Shelbourne - and definitely worth the 2 hour drive from Halifax. It will be our first road trip next May!

Best Large Restaurant: out of 46 nominees... Trendz Cafe & Wine Bar in Burnside.

Best Wine & Beverage menu: out of 24 nominees... The Five Fishermen in downtown Halifax.

Best Green restaurant: out of 13 nominees... The Wooden Monkey in downtown Halifax.

Best Design & Décor: out of 27 nominees... Pipa Restaurant & Bar in downtown Halifax.

Congratulations to all the winners and runners up... and to Chef Gupta and his team for a delicious dinner.

Presto Pasta Night #189

UPDATE: Helen's feeling better and here's the real PPN #189 Roundup.

Poor Helen, of Fuss Free Flavours is still feeling poorly. We're all hoping you get better soon. In the meantime, since it's already Sunday, I thought I'd do a temporary roundup with entries from those of you who cc'd me. If your delicious pasta is missing, send me the link and I'll add it.

Next week Debbi of Debbi Does Dinner will be our lovely host. Send your entries to crabbymomofthree (at) comcast (dot) net and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com by Thursday, November 18 .

A Bazillion Pie Choices for the Holidays

Lots of holidays are coming up and that means parties... which obviously means desserts. And Martha Stewart Living has about a bazillion pie & tart choices with photo tutorials for making pie crusts and a thousand things more.

The picture at the top of this post is actually my own Dark Chocolate Candied Orange Tart which is dead easy. The prep is actually done in short steps over 3 days. Sounds complicated, but really this kind of tart/pie is the least stressful when you have tons of cooking and baking to do.

What's your dessert options when you're entertaining?

Great Contest from Pei Wei Asian Diner

One of the fun things about being a food blogger is the wide range of emails I get asking me to promote something or other. It's almost like going shopping -I choose which ones I like and ignore the rest. My rule is that I have to try it, use it, visit it... before I write about it... and then only if I truly like it.

True... I've never been to a Pei Wei Asian Diner ... They are currently only in the US - 168 restaurants in 22 states, but this contest is worth talking about. Imagine...

"Pei Wei Asian Diner is searching for an international correspondent to accompany Executive Chef Eric Justice as he travels to Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea in search of culinary inspiration for Pei Wei’s next dish. Via blogs, photo posts and video uploads, the correspondent will document the journey and share the international experience along the way.

The selected blogger will eat everything from street food to five-star cuisine, trek from remote villages to world-renowned cities, and meet everyone from rural farmers to cutting-edge chefs.

In addition to the experience of a lifetime, the blogger will receive $10,000 for his or her time and skills. "

Seriously... how could I not tell you about it!... You can find out all the details HERE. Deadline to enter: December 20th.
Winner announced: Week of January 17.
Culinary Tour: Late February – early March, 2011
Sad news for me... it's only open to US bloggers. Oh well, I can dream, can't I

Presto Pasta Night #189 is (almost) Ready

UPDATE: Helen is under the weather, so the roundup will be ready tomorrow.

I'm running out to the market this morning - The Halifax Seaport Farmers Market is now open Friday, Saturday AND Sunday and I want to check it out. No more whining about missing out on the experience if I have other plans on Saturday. But you don't want to listen to me babble... this week's great Presto Pasta Night Roundup, hosted by Helen of Fuss Free Flavours is not quite done, but keep checking, it's really special.

Thanks everyone for playing along and sharing all our tasty treats. And thanks Helen for hosting once again... great job!

Next week Debbi of Debbi Does Dinner will be our lovely host. Send your entries to crabbymomofthree (at) comcast (dot) net and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com by Thursday, November 18

What's For Presto Pasta?

Tomorrow is Presto Pasta Night Roundup #189 and Helen of Fuss Free Flavours is hosting. You still have a few hours to get your entry in to her. Email: helen (at) fussfreeflavours (dot) com and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

It's Rememberance Day and here in Nova Scotia it's a statutory holiday, so both Poppa and I will be playing with our favorite boys... not sure if I'll be able to whip up a pasta dish in time to share with PPN, but here's a favorite of my dad - who was a bomber pilot in WWII ...

Chili Mac

... and certainly a dish that makes me smile at the thought of those childhood dinners at Piazza Tomasso or the only take out I remember. My dad would stop by the restaurant on his way home. It's also my salute to all our armed forces keeping us safe.

What are you making?

Taking Steak & Potatoes to a Whole New Level

The truth is my Honey and I really love steak and potatoes... We would probably be happy eating some at least a couple of times a week. If you are like us... carnivore supreme, then "steak and potatoes" usually means a grilled rib eye, sirloin, filet mignon or strip loin, grilled to perfection with just a hint of salt & pepper to season it... and served with mashed, baked or fries.
This very interesting combination of more unusual recipes is the result of me browsing through more of my favorite cookbooks for Monday's post about coffee table cookbooks. Somehow, I forgot to add Anita Stewarts Canada to my must have coffee table list. It is an amazing book. So amazing, it led me to chatting with her and writing about that too.

Not Your Average Fried Potatoes

This recipe really demonstrates the ethnic diversity of Canada and the cooking results are fantastic. Gefu Wang Pruski was born in NE China, is married to Kris who is Polish Canadian. They met in Edmonton and moved to Nova Scotia where she (at the time of the book writing at least) is a potato researcher at NS Agricultural College.

This Grilled Flank Steak with Jeanne's Secret Marinade from Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes: Recipes from a Modern Kitchen Garden ..., (read why I love it) definitely takes "steak" to a whole new level. The secret ingredient is ... shhhh.... pomegranate molasses and it's awesome.

So what is your "steak & potatoes"? Even if you're vegetarian, I'm sure the notion triggers some dish or other.

Beef Stew for Dreary Days & Hearth 'n Soul Hop

It's been like living in a cold cloud since Friday - and I'm not talking about my head. It's Halifax weather and it's definitely dreary. Our home is awesome, with normally a great view out of our many almost floor to ceiling windows, but all I can see is thick grey. Extra thick socks and a cozy sweatshirt are in order, as is some hearty meal to chase the weather away.

First thing that came to mind was a hearty beef stew. Especially since I had some cubed chuck from my favorite beef producer - Getaway Farms and some root vegetables to go with it. But what to do with them?
I could have just made my Easy Oven Stew - always a hit around here.

But I also wanted to use my Preserved Lemons, so Moroccan Style Stew sounded appealing.

Then there was the delicious sounding (stunning photo too) traditional version from Flavours of Prince Edward Island: A Culinary Journey that I reviewed which had roasted vegetables & red wine... never a bad combo. I also had another sourse that inspired me - House of Annie's entry to Presto Pasta Nights #187 . It was her olives that made me think of my preserved lemons. By the way, her dish was inspired by at least two others as well... almost a chain letter in abstract.

Here's my creation from all those inspiration points. (Photo at the top of the post)

Beef Stew with Roasted Vegetables, Preserved Lemon & Cured Olives

I'm sharing it with Girlichef & her friends for Hearth 'n Soul Hop this week hosted by A Moderate Life.

Where do you get your inspiration?

What Makes a Cookbook a Coffee Table Book

Knowing how much I love cookbooks, Erin a blogging friend of mine passed on this link. It lists her 40 Top Coffee Table Cookbooks for Foodies. It made me do more than just drool... it made me think.

For one thing, I own probably close to 200 cookbooks - and , no... I do not think that's excessive! But I was surprised to note that only two of her books are actually on my shelves.

Which then made me think of every visit to really good cookbooks stores ... three branches of Chapters/Indigo in Toronto make me smile - the Eaton Center, the World's Biggest Bookstore & the Bayview Village... Actually most of the TO branches have large cookbook selections. Unfortunately I live in Halifax and the branches here have slim selections... but I digress.

Another shop in Toronto that sells ONLY cookbooks and other foodie favorites is The Cookbook Store. and the reality that my collection is like a grain of sand on a Miami Beach! The point is... there are so many books - picture books that show off places and recipes, history or cultural tomes that showcase different cultures, books on baking, books on grilling, vegetarian, fish & seafood... and don't forget the ones for each appliance a person might own or every conceivable diet out there.

Lastly, Erin's list made me wonder what classifies a book as a coffee table book. It's a given that the books should be filled with beautiful photos. There are books like Beyond the Great Wall, by Jeffrey Alford & Naomi Duguid, which is a stunning travelogue of remote Asia with awesome recipes.

Books like Blackberry Farm Cookbook, by Sam Beall
and Blue Eggs & Yellow Tomatoes, by Jeanne Kelley
will have you quitting your city life and trading it all in for life on a farm.

But what about books that capture your imagination in other ways? Do you have a favorite culture you like to display?

I often have a rotation of my favorite Jewish Cookbooks that share, not only great recipes but a history lesson as well.

Truthfully, what usually happens around here is, that when guests come over, they take a book or two off the shelves - depending on what they're interested in and then I pull off a bunch more.

I'd love to hear what your favorite coffee table foodie books are and why.

What Does Your Dreary Weekend Look LIke?

The only bright spot this weekend... fresh rosemary & oregano growing on my window sill. Can you see our gorgeous view of the Bedford Basin? No... neither can we. So we did what we often do... hunkered down with some DVD rentals and I made some delicious dishes with what I had on had.

Admittedly, my not venturing out to the farmers markets (I got up too late for the early morning date I usually have) means I now have run out of eggs, cheese, salad and other fresh and tasty ingredients I wish I had for the week. But, never mind. No use dwelling on what I SHOULD have done. Instead, I thought I'd share some tasty treats I did manage to whip up - and all healthy, I might add.

Breakfast highlight - or should I say "Brunch" since we didn't eat until after 10...

Spicy Roasted Pepper & Artichoke Frittata

I added some black olive tapenade and a healthy dose of my new favorite hot sauce Cholula Chili Lime.

Rather than our usual bad tv food (chips and chocolate) I made an awesome snack of

Spicy Swiss Chard & Tahini Dip

Seasoned Tortilla Chips

Supper was a variation on my Salade Nicoise, using up just about every veg in my fridge plus a few slivers of Pamplona - a mild Spanish salami, tuna, the last egg (hard boiled) and a heaping handful of grated Asiago. The photo is an old one... too lazy last night to take a photo.
Naturally we needed something sweet too, while watching Sherlock Holmes and opted for these

Lighter, Healthier Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

So what do you do on a dreary weekend? And more important... what do you eat?

Terra Madre Day - December 10, 2010

I am a ... quiet ... that's the word... member of Slow Food Nova Scotia.... meaning, I follow the email newsletters, I shop as often and as much as possible at local farmers markets and always look for locally grown foods at the supermarkets. I like to showcase my sources here in the hope that you - if you live in Nova Scotia will do the same, and if you live elsewhere - that it will inspire you to check out your local farmers, fishermen, and artisan cheese, bread, wine makers, et al.

I missed the opportunity to attend the 4th annual Terra Madre Conference in Turin, Italy in October, where people from around the world gathered to discuss sustainability issues like biodiversity, energy production, social systems and more. But if didn't attend either, I thought I'd share another chance to take an active role in the Slow Food Movement. December 10, 2010 is Terra Madre Day and there are lots of ideas for you to celebrate it in your own community. So I thought the least I could do is to plant a seed... You have a whole month to organize or join in a scheduled activity.

Presto Pasta Night #188 - Short But Mighty

It’s my turn to host Presto Pasta Nights again, lucky me. Although there aren't as many dishes as usual, each and every one of them is marvelous and I can't wait to start cooking. There's even a dessert pasta - it's been quite a while since we've had any of that, but you don't need my blathering... check them out. And thanks all for your great contributions.

First in, Little Box of Eating Pleasure with a very pleasurable Penang Assam Laksa that is perfect for the blustery weather here in Halifax.
Ching of Little Corner of Mine shares a simple, easy and perfect Stir Fried Ramen that also will help keep the Autumn chill at bay.
Tigerfish of Teczcape (and last week's wonderful PPN host) shares her Indian style Veg Fried Noodles that look Heavenly. She also asks the question about knives. Personally I love my J.A. Henckels Don't forget to let her know your favorite.
KC of Kits Chow made the perfect pasta dish for me - great ingredients: anchovies, black olives, garlic; stunning photos and a new (to me anyway) pasta shape to try. Check out her Trecce dell'orto alla contandina. Doesn't it even sound fabulous?
Jenny of Tastes of Home whipped up a stunning bowl of Stir fried Macaroni with Oyster Mushrooms & Shallots. You can almost smell the earthiness from the photos.
Biren of Roti 'n Rice is a first time PPNer and shares a glorious Chocolate Pasta with White Chocolate Liqueur Sauce. It's been forever since anyone shared a dessert pasta and this one looks beautiful. I'm definitely going to have a dinner party just so I can make some!
Joanne of Eats Well With Others and one of my favorite storytellers - and pasta makers gives us this awesome dish of Pennette with Kale & Winter Squash Ragu. I feel healthier just looking at it.
And then there's my pasta dish, thanks to my new copy of the Barefoot Contessa's latest book Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?: the Spicy Turkey Meatballs with Pasta, which was easy to make AND smelled awesome in the oven. What more could you ask for? The book says Spaghetti is the pasta of choice, but then BC doesn't know my grandsons who love shorter pasta they can pick up with their cute, pudgy fingers.

And how could I have forgotten such a wonderful entry - Homemade Tomato Ravioli from Bergamot at Cooking Escapades. But as they say... "better late than never". This one looks excellent.


Next week's wonderful host will be Helen of Fuss Free Flavours, a great blog. Check it out and then send in a pasta dish of your own. Just mention Presto Pasta Night, Helen (and a link to Fuss Free Flavours) and then email your URL link to helen (at) fussfreeflavours (dot) com and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

Please let me know if you want to have some fun and take over the Presto Pasta Night Hosting reins for a week. 2011 is wide open.