Chorizo Pesto Pasta

I can hardly believe that this is week #140 of Presto Pasta Nights . This week's host is Kait of Pots and Plots I'm amazed that the Grand Pubah, Ruth of Once Upon a Feast has been able to find the energy to keep this event going each and every week (even with help). You still have time - until Friday to submit your entry. One can never have too many pasta recipes.


Since I'm leaving to spend some time with Psychgrad and "R" and their new home, I've been working on not buying any groceries until I get back and using up everything in my fridge.
This pasta looked rather interesting so why not. OK, what's in the fridge - hmmm...some sausage, mushrooms - yup, we can do this.

Chorizo Pesto Pasta

Serves 4

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 pkg 375 g Pesto Rotini Pasta
2 links chorizo sausage (Italian would work too)
1/2 large or 1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
red wine to deglaze (optional)
1 tin (398 ml/14oz) tomato sauce
cherry tomatoes, as desired

Heat olive oil in fry pan and add onions just until they begin to be translucent. Add garlic and stir but don't burn.
Cut up 2 links of chorizo sausage; brown with onions and garlic, add mushrooms.
Deglaze with wine, add tomato sauce and cherry tomatoes

Optional: I added a mix of dried herbs and some chili peppers.


The one thing I most appreciate about pasta is its resiliency. You can throw together anything and always (well...nearly always) end up with something.

Louisiana Banana Bread

This is the time of year that I go through the freezer and think about what I need to clear out to make room for the mass quantity of holiday baking that will need a spot for holiday giving. Oh look, only a gazillion bananas in zip lock freezer bags that need to get used. As I combed the internet looking for a fresh new (to me) recipe I happened upon this Louisiana Banana Bread that looked promising.

Louisiana Banana Bread

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp lemon juice
4 eggs
2 cups bananas, mashed (about 4 medium)
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chopped nuts

Cream the butter with the sugar, add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, then add bananas. Sift all dry ingredients and add to wet ingredients, alternately with sour cream; fold in nuts.
Bake in two greased (or spray with nonstick coating) loaf pans at 350 F for 50-55 minutes.



Makes 2 loaves
I made 1 loaf and 8 mini loaves. The mini loaves were about 40 minutes bake time.

Verdict: No disappointments here. I'd never made a banana bread with sour cream before and the consistency that resulted was terrific. I think this is going to be my new "go to" recipe from here on in. It's light, nutty and very flavourful.

Celebrations

There are so many good things happening - lots of celebrations to share.

Firstly, the BloggerAid Cook Book is available for purchase on Create Space, an arm of Amazon.com. If you go to amazon.com, you won't find the book so follow the link below the picture of the cover to get there.

Create Space

After nearly a year of very hard work by so many, this 224 page book that contains approximately 140 unique recipes from over 60 countries is finally completed. 100% of the royalties have been assigned to School Meals with the World Food Programme.

We're incredibly impressed with the international efforts of so many who made this happen. A world can indeed come together with purpose.

Secondly

Psychgrad is on the move - I mean literally moving. She and "R" just got the keys to their new home. It's a celebration on two fronts. Firstly and most importantly, this is their first home. Visualize paint cans, ladders, moving trucks, boxes...more boxes, bread and salt on the kitchen counter (baba is superstitious about having this in a new home). I can hear lots of sighs as the paint rollers glide across the walls transforming the house into their own. Secondly and pretty exciting is that mom gets to go on a road trip - yipeeeee!!! With dogs in tow, we'll set out to help (read: supervise) the moving process and hope that I don't get clobbered within the first 24 hours of arrival. So, there's a very real chance that you may just get stuck with me until Psychgrad can find her way back to her computer.

Thirdly

Keeping with the theme of celebrations, last night we went out to celebrate!! My brother is one of the producers for the revival of the Broadway musical Ragtime

If you happen to be in the New York City area, Ragtime opens at the Neil Simon Theatre on Sunday, November 15th. We took baba out for dinner to share in the excitement. We went to our favourite local Italian restaurant; one we hadn't been to in a long while.

I loved the presentation on the appetizer so of course the camera had to come out. I asked about a source for these long handled spoons that come in two sizes - this is the small size. Apparently they're from Mexico.

I had shrimp diablo that was incredibly tasty with a pretty good kick.



followed by roast chicken



and tiramisu for dessert


They say things come in 3's - I'm pretty happy with these three good things :)