Carb Night Delight

As we anxiously await another dumpster of snow, George Carlin (The Hippy Dippy Weatherman) predicts it best. “Weather forecast for tonight: dark.” If you are grumbling about the winter and nothing feels like spring no matter how hard you try, cooking is a great option. What better activity to do than dig out your pots and pans and cook up a feast on a snowy Wednesday evening.

Here is a quick pasta dish that is great if you are tight for time. If you prefer to make your own pasta, make sure you use semolina flour and lots of egg yolks. But if you only have the energy for something out of the box, try this simple sauce. It is best for bowties or fettucine noodles. If you are making fresh pasta, prepare the sauce before you cook your noodles.

4 to 6 servings (1 lb. of pasta)

Sauce recipe:

½ cup quality extra virgin olive oil
Juice of one fresh lemon
½ to ¾ cup of freshly grated romano cheese *(You can substitute parmesan or asiago cheese – personal preference).
1 tsp. of drained capers
1 tsp. of freshly ground pepper
(Optional)
Add to sauce
1/2 tsp. of quality chicken base (Prefer Minor Brand; no MSG and not high in salt)
Add as a garnish
1 tsp. of freshly chopped Italian parsley
Or 1 tsp. of freshly chopped basil
Or 3 thinly sliced sundried tomatoes
Mix the sauce together. The sauce does not need to be warmed.
Drain the cooked pasta and put immediately back into the pan. Pour the sauce and mix. Serve immediately with garnishes.

This is a simple, hearty base recipe that you can add your own creative flair. For example, throw in some artichoke hearts or asparagus spears. This dish is also a great accompaniment to chicken or a white fish if you are really hungry.

And remember, the inspirational thought for the day is by Clyde Moore. “There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor's.”

Image of Pasta from Internet