UPDATE: The winner is…Carol!
*~*~*
Sorry, I’m so late posting! My website was down this morning, and I had to wait for the hosting site to do whatever they did to fix it. It’s all good now. ~DD
Yesterday, I underwent a PET scan to see how all those rounds of chemo did. I read the radiologist’s report and instantly went into “Google-MD” mode with my daughter, but I’ll wait to see whether my pieced-together diagnosis matches my oncologist’s on Monday. Damn, I hate waiting! I’ll share whatever he tells us. You’ve followed me, supported me, and encouraged me all along the way; you deserve to know the good or bad that comes of all this.
So, onto today’s puzzle!
Maybe you don’t know it, but I love food. I’m a huge foodie. I’ll try anything. Traveling to so many different countries in my younger days, I was game for anything. I remember eating a shared sheep’s head sitting in the middle of a bed of couscous on a huge tray with half a dozen Saudis around me—so delicious. A Greek woman, who I visited in her home, made a lovely Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives—and octopus. I tried it, and guess what? I loved it! I have so many fond memories of food adventures.
These days, I’m a bit homebound, but my daughter has my foodie gene and finds exotic things to cook. The kids aren’t always so eager to experiment, but they probably have a more diverse palette than their peers at school.
I am a huge lover of pasta. The photo above? I make ravioletti with sundried tomatoes, onions, spinach, pine nuts, basil, oregano, olive oil, tons of garlic, and it’s so good. It’s one of my dd’s favorite things to eat. I like it with chopped up artichokes, too, but she doesn’t like them. *sigh*Â In that picture, she made the homemade focaccia bread. So yummy.
Of course, I make a very tasty spaghetti with meatballs. The 11-year-old recently went to the local Italian restaurant and ordered theirs and couldn’t finish it. She said mine was much better. Proud grandma moment there.
I’m always perusing pasta recipes on Pinterest. This looks so incredibly easy. Pasta with spinach, and it looks like bits of walnuts? I’d be all over that.
I digress because I’m hungry, and you’re here for a puzzle and contest…
Today’s puzzle features an aspirational (for me) dinner party. Pasta, seafood, all kinds of sides… For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me your favorite pasta dish that you think belongs on this table. If you have a link to the recipe, it would be much appreciated, but if it sounds good, I’ll Google the heck out it! Have fun!
Comment
I’m just a spaghetti or ravioli lover no particular recipe grew up with nothing fancy so sauce and pasta was it.
Comment
My favorite pasta is Orrechetti with pancetta or prosciutto with peas in a cream sauce with grated cheese. It is scrumdiliious! The orrechetti hug the sauce and the meat and the peas. Each spoonful is an absolute experience.
Wishing you all the best! And thank you for giving us the opportunity to support you in your journey, and continuously keeping us entertained.
Comment
Deb! You don’t know what you’re missing, but then again, I know some in my family love what’s familiar and hate to stray from it. You do you! 🙂
Margaret! I’m googling!!!!! The Orrechetti sounds gorgeous. And thanks for the good wishes.
Comment
Angel hair pasta with clam sauce
Comment
My favorite pasta comes from a restaurant here in Baton Rouge called Gino’s. It is the Veal Parm. the red sauce is the best. I also love the spaghetti and meatballs. Let’s just say their recipes are the best. It is old school.
Comment
Oh! Now I am hungry and I don’t have the ingredients for my favorite pasta – Fettuccini Alfredo, either shrimp or chicken. Red sauces don’t always agree with me, but white sauces, yum! As for my recipe? I am not as adventurous as you. I open a jar of Alfredo sauce, through in some shrimp or chicken, maybe some extra cheese, a bit of pepper and pour over Cooked fettuccini noodles. YUM! Bon Appetit!
Comment
Does Orzo count? I make a great black pepper and shrimp orzo with lemon!
Comment
spaghetti
Comment
I don’t eat any pasta! I gave it up years ago and don’t miss it anymore. My daughter likes Rachel Ray’s Broccoli Pesto Pasta.
Comment
I do like a home made lasagna.
Comment
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/245774/bucatini-allamatriciana/
We love bucatini because it is a little thicker than spaghetti but is hollow so it holds the yummy sauce. This is a classic preparation from Rome.
Comment
My son does chicken piccata we serve it over angel hair pasta. https://www.sipandfeast.com/chicken-piccata/#wprm-recipe-container-5964
Comment
I’m Ukrainian, so my favourite was my mom’s homemade noodles (kesta,) basically a basic egg noodle hand rolled and hand cut about a med egg noodle width . We ate it with chicken broth ( chicken noodle soup) and I loved because I could have more noodles than broth .
My son in law says that’s his favourite dish, when they come out , I have to have kesta ‘s youshkoo at least once a visit 😊
My favourite Italian pasta is Carbonara, in any form, mushroom, shrimp whatever
Comment
Anna! Sounds delicious. I’ll have to try it!
Elaine! Thanks for the suggestion. That’s a dish I don’t think I could try cooking. Sounds a bit intimidating. LOL
Pansy! I love anything with Alfredo sauce. I prefer it to red as well!
Comment
Eileen! Black pepper and shrimp orzo sounds divine!
BN! Gotcha. We love it too!
Jennifer! Pesto is a fave of mine, too. Doesn’t need meat at all.
Mary! I have to try that. Love lasagna, even the premade kind, but yeah, fresh is best!
Comment
Mary M! And you gave me a link! I’m writing down the ingredients for the next grocery shop!
Theresa! A link as well! The picture makes it look so yummy!
Barb! I’m going to seek out kesta on Pinterest! Thanks!
Comment
My dad used to do most of the cooking. He made homemade sauce. I preferred spaghetti, but he was big on rigatonis. It wasn’t the sauce itself, but what he added with the sauce. He and mom would bake pork neckbones. When they were done, they got added into the sauce. He also added whole small or halved potatoes and hard boiled eggs. The baked pork added so much flavor and richness to the sauce. This was always such a treat. Nothing compares. A hint: he always added a dash of ground cloves to the sauce. Just a DASH. And sugar. For the acid.
Another treat for another post was slicing onto meatloaf to find hard boiled eggs. Supper was always a surprise with my folks.
Comment
I love a good alfredo. I normally make mine and add cajun seasoning for a kick and then normally shrimp and serve with salad and garlic bread. I would share a recipe but I have not found one for a go to as of yet.
Comment
I went to dinner with someone who served spaghetti pie. I tried it once but it never came out as good as hers.
Comment
My brothers manicotti (stuffed shells). I’d have to get the recipe as I don’t know how he makes it. I just enjoy it when I get it.
Comment
I love making stuffed manicotti or rolled lasagna…
Comment
I love a cheesy sausage Lasagna, but I think Grocchi with a fresh tomato basil sauce would go better on that table. Good luck on your next doctors report!
Comment
6:11
Mmmmm… I love pasta (carbs are my friends, LOL). DS2 had cacio e pepe in Italy and loved it. Here is a similar recipe: https://www.spoonforkbacon.com/cacio-e-pepe-recipe/
And I still love even packaged ramen, LOL. Comfort food, for sure!
Comment
My favorite pasta dish is chicken Alfredo. I love it plain or wth broccoli.
Comment
Homemade lasagna
Comment
I love the traditional – lasagne & spaghetti bolognaise
Comment
I like fettuccine with chicken or shrimp covered in Alfredo sauce. But I’m one who will also enjoy any pasta….lasagna roll-ups are a favorite & a bit different than regular lasagna. Shrimp scampi with angel hair is also something I enjoy.
Comment
Thanks so much for sharing! Between the names of dishes to try and actual links, I’m going to be busy!
The winner of the GC is…Carol! I had shrimp alfredo last night. 🙂