Pasta Amatriciana

I have no idea what "Amatraciana" actually means in real life, but in my house it means "the pasta dish that the Southern husband loves above all others". Maybe because it is just a little bit tangy/spicy because it slow cooks with a lot of chopped onion and smashed garlic. Maybe because it includes a LOT of chopped Canadian bacon. Maybe because you simmer the whole thing in a deliriously amazing mixture of red wine and plum tomatoes with just a dash of sugar to take the edge off all the tangy stuff.

Well, whatever it is, I try and make it for him every once in a while just to show my undying love and devotion, and I always use the recipe from the Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook, because if you are going to make someone's favorite pasta dish you should go right to the heart of cookbook heaven.

This is not to say others in the house don't appreciate my efforts to make suppertime a significant experience as well, just for the record.

Meanwhile, back at the Pasta Amatriciana, this recipe is simple but perfect, and here's my best advice for this one: San Marzano canned plum tomatoes, and Jones Canadian Bacon. Trust me. That and a handful of really, really food fresh grated Parmesan cheese, and all is right with the world. The Silver Palate says "this is a splendid meal for the heartiest of appetites," and I really couldn't have said it better myself. Make it for suppertime for someone you love very soon.

Pasta Amatriciana, adapted from THE SILVER PALATE GOOD TIMES COOKBOOK

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 4 medium yellow onions, peeled and chopped
• 8 ounces Canadian bacon, chopped into one inch squares
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 cups drained canned plum tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 3/4 cup red wine
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound cooked pasta (I used ziti, but your choice!)
• Grated Parmesan cheese

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add onions and saute for 10 minutes. Stir in bacon and garlic and saute for 5 minutes more.

2. Stir in tomatoes, sugar and wine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with cooked pasta of your choice, sprinkled generously with Parmesan.

Click here for printable recipe

23rd Street

Tax time approaches and the dog is astounded.

The guitar shop next to the Chelsea Hotel.

My main blog is now here

It's Getting to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Even the parking garage booth is getting into the spirit of things.

And the girls at Billy's Bakery are extra busy.

Can anyone tell me what this little bird, spied from my window, is?

Dogs like snow, as I do....

my main blog is now here

Rat, Cat, Bird, Child etc.

A rat in the Meatpacking District.

Such beady eyes.

A cat who may or may not get adopted.

ASPCA van on 23rd St.

A present from Turkey. Blue indeed.

More blue. High Line.

Wednesday evening.

Buster usually lives in his own blog.

Here he makes a celebrity guest appearance.

Barking Mad

I am house sitting this week for my uncle, well if only it twas just the house! Unfortunately along with the house there are 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 tortoises, 3 newts and 3 full fish tanks. I like animals, in fact some animals I like a lot, but when it comes to pets erm not so much. 

Raining and Gray

Normal postings will resume soon.

Rain and the item above prevent anything sensible.

ps. His foster mother just told me that two of his siblings are still available....

Contact PetRescue and mention Sophie's Pups.

Not a decision to be taken lightly however.

Festivity Fatigue

A good time was had by all.

However, Joba's antlers no longer light up.

The paper hats have been crumpled up and thrown away along with the little pieces of paper with jokes and Trivia on. 

Example of Joke so old Methusalah might have laughed at it:

 Q. Why do bakers work so hard?

(Because they need the dough.)

Trivia. Q. Name four of the seven Von Trapp children from The Sound of Music.

Answer at the end of the post for those with time to waste pondering this.

A bouncy ball from the crackers has ended up with the rest of the tangerines.

After Lindt truffles and Toblerone, their simplicity seems rather attractive.

A. Liesl, Freidrich, Lousia, Kurt, Briggitta, Marta, Gretl

Two Good Things

Impossible to find anything bad to say about bicycles.
Eco-friendly, good for your health.
Blah blah.
This one is more than utilitarian; it is stylish.



This dog is also stylish. I'm not quite sure what it is exactly.
I think one of the new hybrid poodle- somethings who have hair instead of fur.
He/she was sitting on the window sill at either doggy day-care or the dog beauty salon looking about him or her.



I liked him.
Then he (I'll call him/her/it he for the purposes of brevity) stood up so I could get another picture.
Then a very polite young woman came out and asked me not to take pictures.
Perhaps she thought I was planning to dognap him.
Don't think I wasn't tempted.