4-12-16 Where’s the Parsley?

Tuesday is pasta night, as is Thursdays, Sundays, and occasionally Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.- and on other occasions, Saturday.  I decided yesterday that I have been in somewhat of a pasta rut, serving the same sauces over and over again, and wanted to try something different tonight.  After considerable thought (I like using the word “considerable”, it has an important ring to it.) I decided I would create a variation of Aglio Olio Crudo with a bit of an early Spring flare.

INGREDIENTS:

1.     Angel hair pasta

2.     Asparagus

3.     Grape or Cherry tomatoes halved

4.     Mozzarella cheese cut into bite size pieces

5.     Garlic, finely chopped

6.     Italian parsley finely chopped

7.     Olive oil

8.     Parsley

9.     Salt & pepper to taste

PROCESS:

I seared the asparagus on our electric grill, and cut them into bite size pieces and set them aside.  When the pasta was ready I placed it in the serving dish and mixed in all of the ingredients, plus about 1/3 cup of the pasta water and drizzled in the olive oil. To my dismay the parsley I bought this morning was nowhere to be found.  I even checked the trash to see if I could have inadvertently thrown it out.  It was only after noticing the bananas I purchased were also missing that I realized I left one of the grocery bags at the store.  I could do without the parsley and bananas, but the bag also contained a package of Broccoli Rabe!

However, even without the parsley, this dish was good, and it will definitely be seen on our table again.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PASTA

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It is hard to believe that the 5^th anniversary of the start of the Pasta Quest is only 2 months away.  Last evening I decided to visit the first of our 300 pasta meals, linguine with a sauce of pureed peas.

This, from May 2, 2011:

5-2-11 pureed peas and more

INGREDIENTS:

   ½ lb. spaghetti or linguini

   4 slices of bacon, chopped

   Package of frozen peas, thawed

   2 cloves garlic, chopped

   ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese

   ½  cup olive oil

   Optional – ¼ cup of chopped toasted walnuts

   

PROCESS:

    Cook the bacon, set aside and remove the grease.  Puree the peas, olive oil,

    Cheese, garlic, and mint and add to the pan with the bacon.  Mix the pasta

    when ready…al dente..and serve immediately.  Add pasta water as needed to

    thin the sauce to your taste.

COMMENTS:

   This was good, and Patience and I would both like to see it again.

   Patience gave this a 6.5, I gave it a 7 out of 10.  We both agreed on several 

   changes…adding fresh basil, pine nuts, and cream, and keeping some of the

   peas out of the puree.  P also suggested seared bay scallops…she was getting

   a little obnoxious and pushy at this point so I closed the discussion.

Now, almost 5 years later, the revised recipe:

                         

Linguine

Peas

Pancetta

Grana Padana Cheese

Garlic and Basil

Olive Oil

Toasted Pine nut

Heavy whipping cream

Cook the pancetta and remove and set aside.  Discard most of the grease and use the pan to cook the remaining peas in small amount of chicken broth.

Puree 2/3 of the peas with olive oil, cheese, and pine nuts.  Add to the pan with the peas and cook for about 5-10 minutes while the pasta is cooking.  Several minutes before the pasta is ready add the cream and stir well.

Add the pasta, with some reserved pasta water if necessary.  Sprinkle with fresh parsley and the pancetta and serve.

Comments – much better than it was 5 years ago.

NEW RIVER CURRENTS

I'm having fun preparing for next month's exhibit of river inspired art, working in watercolor and acrylic.

the Long View  watercolor  5x27"

Pushing On  acrylic  12x24'

Missing Philadelphia

After all these years Philadelphia continues to call me.  Fortunately Google street views allow me to span the 900 miles that  separates us, and I can wander the streets of the city at my leisure.

Center City Parking  waatercolor  10x10

Locust Street Parking Lot  watercolor  10x10

2 on Locust Street  watercolor  9x12

I plan on creating a new portfolio of Philadelphia watercolors, including the Italian markets on 9th street.

Abstract landscape

Certain colors, in combination with each other, or with black and white, fascinate me, and are the inspiration for a new series of abstract landscapes.  I have no plans regarding composition and size.  The focus will be entirely on the colors.

Bleeding Trees   acrylic on 11x14 panel

NATIONAL SPAGHETTI DAY - How did you celebrate

Spaghetti  alla Chitarra with peas and artichoke hearts in a butter - white wine - cream sauce.

Happy New Year from Gallery 5

2015 is about to become history, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.  On the bright side, I’m still here.  On the not so bright side, I’m one year older.  I know…old age is a privilege, and I do my best to remember that, but sometimes the aches and pains, and other rather delicate infirmities get in the way.

I set out to look back on the highs and lows of the past year, only to discover that I could not remember them.  Undaunted, I turned to my journal for help but found it difficult to read because of my scratchy handwriting (and I have not practiced medicine in 14 years!).  Now clearly, a lesser man than me would have given up on what appears to be a hopeless situation, but the tiger in me – have mentioned to you that I am a tiger – asserted itself and I rose to the occasion.  (Reminder to self to change the wording here.)

Using the studio/gallery data on my computer and my imagination to revive memory I have been able to create a summary of 2015.

I began the year working with watercolors, and by the beginning of summer had completed less than 163 small paintings!  I think the actual number was 10.  I received requests from several galleries in NYC and Chicago pleading with me to do a one-man show, but I told them no.  I was committed to a two man show in October with my good friend Keyth in Salisbury NC.  The show was very very successful.  I didn’t sell anything, but got lots of exposure, and everyone knows that is almost as important as sales for an artist.  Many people attended the show.  Unfortunately the Obama’s and Biden’s couldn’t be there, but Joe, my dear old friend and one time roommate from college, joined us and we had a grand reunion.

One week later I traveled to Philadelphia for the 50^th reunion of Jefferson Medical College’s class of 1965.  My painting of the old College building was unveiled to unbridled acclaim and thunderous applause.  I was impressed that the three classmates present could make so much noise.

2015 was also a year for commissions – lots of them.  I think I had 25 for the year.  No, that’s not right.  It was closer to 15…I think.  Okay, I just checked my inventory database – it was 5.  I had 5 commissions.

Finally, the year’s review would be incomplete without acknowledging the completion of the TRILOGY.  I cannot begin to tell you how many awards it might have won if I had submitted it for consideration in annual book award competitions.

My resolution for the New Year?   To overcome my extreme humility and reticence that comes through in these newsletters.

Happy New Year