One pot pasta

I decided to finally try the one pot pasta dish floating around Pinterest.  Now granted, not a big Martha Stewart fan, although Jen Lancaster made her tolerable for me, but she had a good idea with this.   I did try it and have some thoughts and modifications.  I will say that Ken did not see this as anything he's craving as being all cooked together, there is really one overall flavor.  I think it was neat.  But I am easily amused at times.
of note, I can make garlic bread out of just about any bread product.   In the pictures this round of garlic bread was brought to you by Against the Grain dinner rolls.  I find with those nuking them a bit with a wet paper towel, then toasting, works best.  They also have an AMAZING gluten free pizza.  Check it out.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 ounces gluten free pasta
• 12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (I used Roma tomatos)
• 1 onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (this was too much for me.   I had to half this, still had a bit of heat even doing that much)
• 2 sprigs basil, plus torn leaves for garnish
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 1/2 cups water
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. STEP 1

   Combine pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, basil, oil, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and water in a large straight-sided skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning pasta frequently with tongs, until pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes.

2. STEP 2

   Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide among 4 bowls, and garnish with basil. Serve with oil and Parmesan.

The second time I made it, I decided to use San Marzano tomato's and replace some of the water amounts with the liquid from the can of tomatoes.  I also used pecorino romano cheese to try and add another layer of flavor.  Both versions work well.

See Marha's website here: http://www.marthastewart.com/978784/one-pan-pasta

Pizza hodge podge

Yesterday I was at the hospital in the morning with my parents for some testing for Dad.   We got back to their place around 1ish.  I hadn't eaten anything since the breakfast sandwiches I made for Mom and I .   So it was time to eat something and I was craving pizza.  I had to go to the grocery store to get more apples for the apple crisp I was to make for mom, so I grabbed the Against the Grain pizza shell since all their products have been divine.  I topped it off with the Piazza Sorrento's marinara sauce mom had in the fridge and the Daiya dairy free mozzarella cheese and Sargento's Colby Jack cheese.  A total hodge podge of ingredients.  This was delicious.  Seriously good.  And by using the pizza tray to bake it, it was a floppy crust, almost like a pizzeria pizza.  I had to show some restraint eating it.  It was that good.   Mom agreed. She was loving it just as much as I was!

She also picked up some stuff at Made with Love Not Gluten.  OMG.  The strawberry filled cupcakes were amazing. I want a cake of this.  Soooooo good.  The orange cranberry scones were good too.  I have a few more items to try out, but it remains, I have yet to have anything here that was not good. 

 

Piazza Sorrento's, Against the Grain, BRCA

So I have fallen for more of the Against the Grain products. 
Most recently the baguette.   It's good plain or toasted, dipped in oils, toasted with cheese.  Good all around!  Also tried their dinner rolls.  Warm them up first.  It makes a difference. They worked great as a replacement for English muffins in my lazy and cheap pizza alternative. 

 

Totally excited to see that not only is Arooga's changing their menu, but have become gluten free certified.  Woo hoo!  See the article below:

http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/10/aroogas_hershey_new_menu_wings.html#incart_m-rpt-1

 

 

My cousin was in town last weekend to run the Hershey Half Marathon with her sister in law, who has recently gone gluten free.   I was totally excited to take them to Piazza Sorrento's, which I still feel is my all-time fave gluten free place in the area.  Flinchy's comes in second.  They would be tied for first if they had more bread offerings.  Although Flinchy's spinach and artichoke dip is so good, I would down a vat of it in a heartbeat.   But back to Piazza Sorrento's.  The girls seemed to really enjoy not only the gluten free bread, but the tiramisu and dinners.   We had a wonderful time.   Many laughs and full bellies! Just always make reservations on the weekends.  You may still wait just a little, but they try to accommodate everyone and make everything from scratch.  Well worth it !

 

After the half marathon, my cousin was going up to New York to partake in the P.Ink Day 2013 (P-ink.org) for a tattoo to cover up her mastectomy scars.  For her full story, check out her blog here :http://ponderingprevivor.blogspot.com/p/brca-previvor.html.  She was selected to participate not only in this day, but in a Huffington Post interview with her tattoo artist and the P.Ink founder.   It was a great interview and you will learn more about it here:http://live.huffingtonpost.com/#r/segment/pink-project-tattoos-for-mastectomy-survivors/5252c7c402a76017c50003f.   She has made some rough decisions at a young age, to avoid falling to the same genetic fate as her mother.   I always am impressed with her courage to make that decision, which, having her ovaries removed so young, ended her child bearing years.  Luckily, she has two babes already.  But anytime a woman makes drastic changes to her body, the landscape changes are not without emotional scaring.   I know what I went through just having a breast reduction.  I can't imagine what have a preventive double mastectomy and having your ovaries out would be like.  But she made the choice to save her life and to become and advocate.    She is more than willing to answer questions and try and help others in the same boat.   It's not always easy, but she does it well.  So if you or someone you know is facing some concerns testing positive for BRCA, her blog is a good place to start.  

 

Ok, that is it for now.  More soon to come, after my WildTree party in two weeks!!!