Rating: 💋 💋 💋 💋
Hello hello! So you have all met Shannon, my lovely sister, before. This week she is back in the kitchen serving up an absolutely scrumptious bowl of pasta that was easy to whip up after a busy day, and just the thing for a cold night.
Baked Linguine with Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce
Time: 20 m Serves: 6 ppl
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tsp finely chopped garlic
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 14.5 oz can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/4 tsp & 1/8 tsp kosher salt, divided
- 2 (9 oz) package refrigerated linguine (or fettuccine)
- 6 oz (about 1 1/2 cups) shredded Italian 6-cheese blend, divided
- 1 pint (2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- torn fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to broil with oven rack about 4 inches from heat.
- Melt butter in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, for about 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 3/4 cups water, heavy cream, black pepper, and 1 1/4 tsps of salt; bring to a simmer. Stir in pasta. Cook, stirring constantly, until pasta is tender, about 2 minutes. Turn heat down to low, stir in 3/4 cup of the cheese until it is melted and pasta is fully coated. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup cheese over top.
- Pop skillet into the oven and broil until sauce is bubbly and cheese is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and remaining 1/8 tsp salt in a small bowl. Spoon tomato mixture over pasta.
- Garnish with basil and serve.
Shannon cooked this on my first night back in the city, so there was a flood of conversation and catching up while we listened to the Staves and she stirred up this gorgeous dish. It was such a great beginning to the adventure. As soon as I walked through Penn Station, my face exploded into this huge smile. You could not see it for my mask, but it was there, and I was so terribly excited. We did not have any huge plans, but it was all more than anything I had done in a long time, and I got to do it with someone new to my isolation world - my sister! Pure, unadulterated joy.
The pasta itself was incredible. I am still thinking about it. I am looking at these photographs and missing it. The sauce was super flavorful and not too heavy, so we did not have to worry about the pasta sticking together and congealing under a heavy layer of cream. The recipe perfectly balanced the cream with the other liquid and ingredients so the spicy tomato sauce danced on top of the fettuccine, the tomatoes and basil freshened up the dish, and the cheese was just glorious. I am a big fan. This recipe also reheats really well for a tasty Leftover Night.
A few days later, Shannon took me to the Met - she is fancy and has a membership so we did not have to deal with lines - and it was such a treat.
Here are some of my favorite paintings, as well as some photographs from the American Wing, which Shannon loves.
Edgar Degas is my absolute favorite painter, so I got absorbed in his room for a little. This was around the time that I accidentally lost Shannon, which was mildly concerning. She was my ride. Also, they told me when I arrived to stick with her since she had the membership. I had no pass of my own. I was like, "Oh no! The Met guards are going to think I broke in, chase me out, and ban me for life! I cannot handle being banned for life! I love The Met! I need her! I came in honestly, I swear!" But then I was like, "Ooh ballerinas!" so, you know, it was a conflict of interest. I frequented the Met a lot when I was studying art in college and have spent hours staring at these paintings, but they never get old. And nobody jumped me, because my imagination is more dramatic than reality. Shannon found me eventually and we left together, in pursuit of a good meal. After spending hours admiring gorgeous paintings and sculptures, we came home, nuked two bowls of the leftover fettuccine, and enjoyed. It tasted just as good as the first time.
On our way out, Shannon and I discovered this sculpture, 'Winter,' which perfectly replicates how I hold myself from November to March. We are just trying to survive here while icy winds threaten to blow us away! I appreciate how the hood-mask combo makes my entire face disappear. lol
At least where I am, the sun has come back to earth and is warming us up this week. Bless UP! I hope you are experiencing some of the same.
XX,
MK
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