A Twist for Chimichuri - Pasta with Mushrooms

Sometimes, like today, I really love how my brain works.  This pasta dish started out at least a week ago or maybe more, by pinning a delicious looking pasta dish created by Nigella Lawson and shared on Food52.   I mean, lemon, mushrooms, thyme and garlic - what's not to love?  Then life - and other recipes got in the way, but I've been obsessing about it ever since.

An Interesting Presto Pasta Night Roundup

When I first came up with the idea of a weekly pasta roundup, back in 2007, I was wondering if anyone would show up.

Meat Sauce is like the Little Black Dress

My entry for this week's Presto Pasta Night, hosted by Chaya of Sweet & Savory, is Chili Mac. I understand the "chili" part of the name - after all red kidney beans and meat sauce is the base for many a great chili, but where is the "mac" part? I mean, seriously, when I think of macaroni (which is what mac is short for typically) I think creamy and cheesy. And, as the picture shows, there's no sign of any of what is typically a mac dish. But while I have you musing over that ....
...I need to back this story up a bit...like they do in Crime shows on TV. A few weeks ago, my daughter was telling me that a local hot dog establishment called Steamy's, really reminded her of the best "steamies" from Montreal's greasy spoon take out joints on "The Main" or Rue St Laurent and the steamed hot dogs sold at the Montreal Forum (now defunct...or at least used for something other than hockey games) .

Naturally I had to try it out and in addition to regular steamies, they had another thing on the menu that I haven't had since I was a teen....Michigan Dogs! Needless to say, I was excited.... unfortunately, it isn't very popular and, although it's still on the sign board over the counter, they don't make them any more. So, I went off with my '60's style steamy and a burger that was reminiscent of the Orange Julep and went home, tasty, but not a Michigan.
And for those of you unfamiliar with a Michigan Dog -it's a steamed hot dog in a bun, topped with spicy meat sauce and raw chopped onion - and the very thought of it kept me drooling and obsessing. So...wanting to use up some of the frozen Italian sausages and ground beef in my freezer anyway, and because a hearty meat sauce like Grandma Hazel's is perfect winter food, I had all the fixings for a great Michigan Dog, which by the way, tasted as good as I remember.

And reminiscing naturally brought me back to a wonderful Montreal restaurant, long gone - Piazza Tomasso. For special family outings we'd get dressed up and enjoy Magic Tom do his tricks and, of course eat some delicious Italian food. The dish I remember best, and the one that wasn't even on the menu....and how did my father even find out about it anyway?...oh well, I'm just glad he did...was Chili Mac. Sometimes, he would even stop off on the way home and do a take out. Probably the first restaurant dish I remember and still drool over. In fact, if you're lucky you can find Tomasso's lasagna or meat sauce in you grocer's freezer. Unfortunately, not in Halifax, but then I can whip up a close facsimile of my own.

Which all brings me back to this week's Presto Pasta Night. Are you going to try something different than you usually do or something soul warming from your past? Don't forget to send your entries to chayathecomfycook (at) yahoo (dot) com and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

If you'd like to be a PPN host, just drop me a line. February 26th and beyond are open.

Presto Pasta Night #147

Presto Pasta Night #147

This week our fantastic guest host, Sara of Cupcake Muffin did a fantastic job of rounding up all those tasty pastas. And now the hard part....choosing which one to try first. Thanks everyone for all those fantastic recipes. And Sara, I do hope your first time hosting has you wanting to do it again.

Next week, the lovely Chaya of Sweet & Savory is back. Apparently she couldn't get enough of the job first time around and we're pleased to have her host PPN again. Please send all your pastas her way. Just mention Presto Pasta Night in the post, and send her your link chayathecomfycook (at) yahoo (dot) com and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

If you'd like to be a PPN host, just drop me a line. February and beyond are wide open.

Sweet Fennel Sausage & Pasta - Nothing Better

We all know I love pasta, and many of you know that I particularly love it when I can pick up some fresh homemade (okay, not MY home - made especially for the Abato Italian Market down the street) sweet fennel sausage. What a brilliant combination and the best part, is that you can dress it up or down so many ways.

In honor of this being the last Presto Pasta Night of 2009 with Reeni of Cinnamon, Spice & Everything Nice as our intrepid host, I decided to share my three favorite ways to honor the sausage. Last night's (photo at top of page) is a garlicy, spicy dish with olive oil and a little white wine as the base for the sauce.

Rotini with Sweet Fennel Sausages, Sundried Tomatoes & Black Olives

These sweet fennel sausages work so well with tomatoes that this one is always delicious

Last Minute with Fennel Sausages & Mushrooms in Tomato Sauce

And I love to saute the ground sausage meat, removed from the casing, until crumbly as the base for the most fantastic

Bucatini Bolognese

You still have time to send Reeni your dish by end of day today for the last of 2009 - email cinnamonyspice (at) gmail (dot) com and cc me - ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

Next time we meet over pasta, I'll be hosting Presto Pasta Nights - January 8th, to be exact. So save up your entries, or send them to me as soon as you're done and I'll start, what will be an awesome start to 2010! Email: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

In the meantime, enjoy an awesome Holiday Season and remember to be safe.