Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Raisins, Pine Nuts and Parmigiano Reggiano Plus a Giveaway!

                                      "Parmigiano Reggiano is best eaten daily." (A. Odenwalder)




 I've had a lot on my plate this week and I wish it was just this pasta. Spring cleaning is in full force since I found out that I am going to have a full house for Passover this year! It is hard to believe that Alex came home last Thursday night from China; I know; and he already left! He is

Not My Mama's Noodle Kugel or Finally, the Daughter Likes It!

Sometime last week the kugel popped up on my Facebook. Seems someone didn't know what it was. A day later, the daughter asked me for my kugel recipe. Shocker, that she would. After all, she never liked it as a child. I used to always tell my children that just a taste would do, so they would, taste that is. I also told them that their tastes can change and so it was always important to

Not My Mama's Kasha Varnishkes

These really aren't my Mama's kasha varnishkes, because I don't even remember my Mama making kasha varnishkes. I'm not even sure I knew what kasha varnishkes were when I was growing up. But I know what they are now. Should I share? I think I will, because I'm guessing not many know. Kasha varnishkes are buckwheat groats toasted until crunchy, mixed with pretty bow tie noodles and golden

And So It Is and Grilled Lemon Shrimp Pasta

 What do they say about good intentions? Ah well, I don't think I have to worry about hell, but I do have a lot of recipes piling up. It appears that my ability to juggle kids and the comings and goings of said beings, has interfered with getting these recipes to you! In my younger days when said kids were younger too, my organizational capabilities were at their height. Since they have

Linguini with White Clam Sauce and Howard Johnson's

 Howard Johnson's is not a place I frequent very often. In fact, I'm not sure I've been to one since I was an under age teenager in Kankakee. For that matter, I'm not even sure Ho Jo's still exists. But when it did-well, let's just say it sufficed. I have good memories of Howard Johnson's.



It looked something like this!


(In case you have no idea what I'm talking about-Howard Johnson's

Summer Corn Pasta with Burrata

Summer Corn Pasta with Burrata




 There are many days I find myself getting caught up in being busy. Sometimes, busy for busy's sake, and that's not good for any of us. But last week, I did clean the garage by taking everything out and sweeping and then power washing the floor. Impressed, huh? Well, then you must be easily impressed. I also cleaned the basement which I hate more than

Dan Dan Sliders or Chinese Sloppy Joe

Dan Dan Sliders

 Did you see last month's Food and Wine issue where they used Pillsbury dough in the tube for a substitute for steamed buns of the Chinese dim sum kind? Well, I did. And I did it. Hard to believe that Pillsbury reduced fat biscuits are a perfect substitute for steamed buns. The recipe paired them with a pork belly type filling that is made with bacon. It was very good but

Not My Mama's Chili Mac or Chili Three, Four or 5 Ways

Not My Mama's Chili Mac or 3, 4, 5 Ways Chili





My husband grew up in Texas. He loves chili.
(I don’t know if this is a Teyxas thing or not but I suspect it could be.) He
loves chili however many ways he can get it. He loves chili for breakfast,
lunch or dinner. He loves it with eggs. He loves it with burgers. He loves it in
a bowl sprinkled with cheese and onions and jalapenos. He loves

Porcini Mushroom Lasagna or Treasure in My Mother's Pantry

I did not grow up liking
mushrooms. They seemed like slimy little creatures and they were brown. They
came in cans and one had to always pick them off of pizza or out of spaghetti
sauce. I DO NOT LIKE THEM said SAM, I AM. Until I had a gorgeous hunk of a
boyfriend. He was very tall and blonde and even my parents liked him. He played
basketball and had great biceps and drove a forest

Pasta and Chicken Gratin and the Flu

Pasta And Chicken Casserole





 My
daughter calls me often. She makes me happy. Yesterday she told me she cloroxed
her desk. It appears many around her have been getting sick with the flu. She
then went to get a flu shot. It was good thinking on her part as Pennsylvannia
is considered a high risk state. And then she started feeling achy. And she
couldn’t lift her arm. And she went home

Tomato Sauce

Tomato Sauce

The truth is that I hated tomatoes as a kid. My mother always kept them on the window sill in the summer and even had a few tomato plants. They  smelled so good but I just never wanted to taste a mushy ripe tomato. However I loved ketchup. I ate it on everything. I ate it on steak and chicken and turkey. I think my mother always wondered what I’d look like as an adult with

Spaghetti Bolognese and True Confessions

Spaghetti Bolognese or Ragu


                                                 

I have a confession to make. Yeah, I know everyone loves confessions. It must be our deep dark interiors that make us want those Oprah, Barbara Walters moments. Don’t get your hopes up. It is not that juicy. OK, already. It’s this simple. I’m not very good at taking care of myself. I’m a mother. Some mothers put

Ziti Al Fresco

Her return meant Ziti Al Fresco. Beautiful, spicy, rich, warm and basily, (it’s a new word) Ziti Al Fresco. The adjectives suit her and also the ziti. Yes, my daughter is home. There is no better feeling. At least until my son gets home. And then that is the best feeling because it means we will all be together at least for a short while until one of them leaves me again. I don’t know

Lotsa Garlic Pasta or Pasta 4444

It is one of those days-again. I haven’t gotten to the grocery so I’m left with my pantry and a few staples. My staples always include garlic and pasta. I make sure I never run out of these because then I’m guaranteed that I can eat. Actually with pasta there are many ways to go but today I’m sticking with the basics. Aglio olio as the Italians would say. I’m not sure that my recipe is