PASTA:: Perfect for GoodFood Gatherings

Pasta is such a perfect food.  And this is not only because Italian blood runs through our veins,...da vero!

Pasta - ever-so-versatile - can be:

• dressed up or casual, 
• fresh & light or rich & creamy,
• extravagant or budget-friendly, 
• room temperature or hot from the oven, and/or
• stuffed or strings or shells or BUTTERFLIES...

The options are truly endless.  And PERFECT for our idea of a GoodFood Gathering.

Don't know about our concept of GoodFood Gatherings? This is entertaining at it's most basic - providing good food, offering something to wet the whistle, but most importantly, allowing the time to share laughs, ideas, stories and life with those who have joined at our table. For this type of entertaining, we look for those recipes that emphasize fresh, seasonal ingredients - straightforward preparation - and interesting flavor combinations from different cuisines. Take a peek at prior posts listing dozens of menu ideas to springboard your own GoodFood Gatherings.

With a focused eye on pasta as a possible cornerstone for your next GoodFood Gathering, here are a few favorites we recommend adding to your entertaining repertoire:

Fresh & Zesty ~ Pesto
No-Fail Dinner Party - Summer Pesto (includes 8 recipes and variations!)
One of the easiest ways to bring summer freshness to the table for dinner guests? Pesto! A sauce originally crafted of basil and garlic in Genoa, Italy (Pesto alla Genovese), the name itself references to the "pounding" or "crushing" of herbs and other ingredients. Traditionally, pesto is made with a mortar and pestle - but it works as well in a food processor. 

A Classic Tomato Sauce ~ Marinara
Grace Parisi called it right in her Classic Marinara Sauce for Food & Wine Magazine
The secret to excellent tomato sauce? According to F&38;W's Grace Parisi, the trick is starting with superlative whole (not crushed) tomatoes and simmering them with whole (not chopped) garlic cloves. The result: A classic marinara that can quickly be spun into all sorts of variations.

Traditional Family Style ~ Lasagne
A go-to brand for easy, oven-ready noodles and lasagna "filling" options is Barilla.  We have been loyal to their lasagne noodles, and their basic interpretation of lasagne, for years (shhh...don't tell Nonna!!)

They feature five delicious options on their website under Lasagne, Oven Ready including:

• Butternut Squash Lasagne
• Lasagne Bolognese-style
• Lasagne with Meat Sauce
• Autumn Lasagne

Melt-in-your-mouth Luxury ~ Pasta with Robiola & Truffles
(we stand by this pasta dish as a veritable recipe RAVE!!)
Another exceptional interpretation of an Italian "nouvo" classic from Food & Wine Magazine.
This indulgent first course marries three of Italy's best ingredients: egg pasta, winter truffles and Robiola Rocchetta, a creamy cheese from northern Italy, which forms the base for an incredibly rich sauce.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Pasta Perfetto on Foodies Night In (#FNIchat)
Today's Foodie's Night In program, co-hosted by The Savvy Host and Cooking with Caitlin, was dedicated to pasta.  "Pasta Perfetto" covered Italian noodles from homemade recipes, to favorite sauces, to wine pairing,...ending with pasta DESSERTS!

Did you miss the delicious dialogue?  See below for this week's discussion questions:

• From shells to spaghetti and even farfalle, what shapes hold sauce best? Gnocchi or cavatelli? Fresh or dry? 
• Secret ingredients or tips for making homemade pasta? Add flavor and color? Recipes? 
• What is THE all-time best bowl of pasta you’ve had the pleasure of eating? What restaurant serves is right? 
• Raving about risotto – What’s your favorite recipe? Is it REALLY that hard to make? 
• Cooking tips – al dente or “mush?” Fling the fettuccine or taste the tagliatelle – how to know when pasta’s done? 
• Carbonara, arrabiata, puttanesca, alfredo – What’s your saucy style? Best way to season – super saucy or keep it simple? 
• What to pour with pasta – favorite wine - champagne - beer - or other beverage? 
• Ready to battle? What’s the BEST meatball recipe? Is your sauce homemade? Tips for doctoring up a jar? 
• Twirling technique: Is slurping acceptable? How best to get pasta into your mouth? Is a spoon necessary? 
• Can leftover pasta come back to life? Tips for par-cooking? How to store? How to perk up? 
• Chestnut vermicelli, rice pudding, pastira – how about pasta for dessert? 
• CLOSING QUESTION - Use your noodle now: Name what makes pasta perfect in three words or less.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti - Sophia Loren

Seasonal Hospitality: Ch. 2 - Cooking with Caitlin (& Bacon!)

This next example of Seasonal Hospitality is a very delicious one indeed!

Do you know this team of fun foodie professionals - Cooking with Caitlin - who we are so pleased to partner with for Foodies' Night In (#FNIchat) every Monday?

If this is your first introduction to this dynamic team of charming culinary creatives, here's how they describe who they are and what they do:

Discussing Good Food Pantry Essentials with Robyn Webb

Have to introduce you to the delightful and ever-so-savvy Robyn Webb, and her blog, Fabulous Food Finds.

Her creativity in cooking - her knowledge of nutrition - and healthful food preparation - have been a go-to resource for our entertaining.

We have the pleasure of discussing Good Food Pantry Essentials with Robyn today as a featured guest on her blog, Fabulous Food Finds.

Following the wisdom shared by Julia Child, 

you don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients, 

we explore 12 essential pantry items to have on hand to play up the freshest of ingredients, ensuring the mouth-watering success of many Good Food Gatherings.

Beets - Ruby Jewels for Fall Good Food Gatherings

Think the bright colors have departed with the summer wind?  Guess again.

Back to Basics | Abby Dodge Shares Dessert Magic in 4 Ingredients

Desserts 4 Today ($17.95, 188 pages)

Wow! Take a look at that photo. Are you salivating?...if not yet, we promise you WILL be ;-)

We have been test-driving the simple, yet ever-so-delicious ideas from Abigail Johnson Dodge in her latest culinary creation, Desserts 4 Today.

And we're ready to RAVE about her recipes.

First, an admission.  From the albeit limited virtual interactions we've had, we already find Abby to be a savvy host in her own right.  She's approachable and engaging. She's enthusiastic and willing to share secrets to success from her kitchen.  Her motto? Baking the world a better place one recipe at a time. (And, we ask you...so far...what's not to like?)

Eggplant. Scorpacciata. GodBlessYou. Good Food Gatherings (Menus #18-#20)

Scorpacciata.

Don’t get offended – we didn’t just invoke some old Sicilian curse.  As we learned from friends at Eatocracy – and as Chef Mario spoke of today on CNN - scorpacciata refers to consuming large amounts of a particular local ingredient while it's in season. (Jill Billante, Scorpacciata – Farm Stands, Eatocracy). 

Good Food Gatherings starring ZUCCHINI (Menus #15 - #17)

Maybe we’re the last to know, but zucchini is one vegetable that gets around!  From savory to sweet – from brunch to dinner – we’ve decided to focus an entire Good Food Gathering feature – including 3 new GoodFood Menus (#15 - #17) - on this veggie that has a pizzazz of its own.

Think we’ve wandered a little too far off into the vegetable patch with our enthusiasm?

Adding Saucy to your Entertaining Style

Versatility is a secret weapon we use to combat dreary, dull entertaining in so many ways.

While traditions can be wonderful, it's the "same old, same old" ho-hum that needs to be avoided at all costs.  We're going to explore versatility in dining decor, in Good Food Gatherings, in cocktail basics, and in holiday hostessing more in the coming weeks.

Today, we're suggesting a delicious way to accommodate diverse tastebuds and add a little zing at the table.  When our menu for a simple Good Food Gathering includes a traditional favorite such as Roast Chicken, grilled meats, turkey meatloaf, chili, or hamburgers, we add a few extras to the table - enter CONDIMENTS.

Good Food Gatherings (Menu #12 - #14)

Some new plans for Good Food Gatherings in the works that we wanted to share.

Don't know about Good Food Gatherings?  This is entertaining at it's most basic - providing #goodfood, offering something to wet the whistle, but most importantly, allowing the time to share laughs, ideas, stories and life with those who have joined at our table. For this type of entertaining, we look for those recipes that emphasize fresh, seasonal ingredients - straightforward preparation - and interesting flavor combinations from different cuisines.  Take a peek at prior posts listing Menus #1-#11 for past examples.

Relaxing into the Spa Kitchen: Foodies Night In (7/19)

Join us for a Foodies' Night In focused on the ultimate spa kitchen along with dynamic & vibrant Cooking with Caitlin gals, Girlfriendology, Cozi Family and this week's special host, Art of the Spa. 

A little about this special perspective from the founder, Candy - 

We’re taking spa out of the  bathroom and bedroom & spreading it around your entire home.   Take a tour on our website of each of our rooms to find design & living tips for every place in your abode .  

Or take your own Spa Around the World trip by exploring “In-spa-rational Spas”.  For an instant break check out Virtual Escapes.  Enjoy & stop by often.  

So, this Monday's FNI will focus on how to turn your house into the haven it should be beginning with the heart of your home - the kitchen.

Which experts will be joining the fun this week?
~ @cupboards - Home-grown Southern Kitchen & Bathroom Design/Consultation- Musings and activities from our day.
~ @NoirBlancDesign - creatively obsessed Social Media Evangelist. Luxury, Style, Beach, Historical Pres.,cause. Creator #IntDesignerChat. 
~ @Susanserrackd - Certified Kitchen Designer, Cert. Aging in Place Specialist.
~ @countertoplady - an interior designer/sales manager for the largest countertop fabricator (all types of solid suface, granite and quartz) in the southeast.

~ @sieguzi - registered interior designer, certified kitchen designer, writer,public speaker,mom, karaoke queen.

Do you know Chuck? 3 Recipes Worth a Taste

We don't believe that exceptionally delicious tastes only result from very expensive ingredients.  Admittedly, there are foods and drinks we enjoy that are both extraordinarily tasteful AND pricey (we'll leave this to your imagination...the list is too long...BIG sigh).

But there are also very expensive foodstuffs that we wouldn't offer a penny for - in fact, you might need to pay us a GREAT deal to even get close (happy to share that we're thinking sea urchin here...got the picture?).

Some of the most mouth-watering, satisfyingly delicious comfort foods require a minimal budget.  You have your favorites...we know...good simple foods that speak of a simpler time without frills or extravagance.

The next time you're pulling together a good food gathering, keep in mind that the WOW taste factor is not dependent on whether expensive ingredients were used to pull the meal together.  Let's all get back to the basics of finding flavor and culinary fulfillment without a predisposition to cost (as was the unfortunate trend at the turn of this century).

Time to introduce our good friend, Chuck Roast.

With a large extended family coming to dinner on Sunday after a full day of activities, we wanted to offer something that would give the entire crew a chance to sit together, fill up hungry mouths, and appeal to tweens as well as adults.

First thought was pasta, but the male contingent wanted BEEF.

Steaks were out of the question - didn't need to take out a loan to feed this crew.  Hamburgers got a turned up nose from another decision-maker.

Good Food Gatherings (Menu #9 - #11)

Here's the plan for our Good Food Gatherings coming up this week. Sharing some timeless favorites from our kitchen, modified a bit to suit our tastes and cooking style, the line-up includes:
~ Grilled Balsamic & Rosemary Marinated Florentine Steak,
~ Country-Fried Chicken, and
~ BBQ ribs (with our modified Southern Dry Rub)!!

Our concept of Good Food Gatherings shifts the focus away from party themes, decorations & decor details.

Instead, the focus is gathering people together over good food and beverage in enjoyable surroundings.

This is entertaining pared down from extravagance and fanfare.  These are the gatherings pulled together to provide #goodfood, offering something to wet the whistle, but most importantly, allowing the time to share laughs and life with those who have joined at our table.  Take a look at prior posts, including Good Food Menus #1-#4 and Good Food Menus #5-#8.

Featured #blogswelove in the recipes selected for these Good Food Gatherings - Smitten Kitchen, Southern Fried Chicago, The Pioneer Woman, Steak Perfection, The Perfect Pantry, Cooking with Amy, and The Hungry Mouse.

Good Food Gatherings (Menu #5 - #8)

More about our concept of Good Food Gatherings.

Entertaining for us is most simply gathering people together over good food and beverage in enjoyable surroundings.

Special events and occasions may require party themes, and decorations to match, but a good food gathering is about entertaining at its most basic.  These are the meals we pull together to provide good cuisine, and something to wet the whistle, allowing the time to share laughs and life with those gathered at our table.

Good food gatherings are impromptu business dinners or family weekend lunches or unexpected friends dropping by during the week. 

The trick is to have a menu in mind, incorporating fresh ingredients and flavors of the season, so that the good food part of your entertaining is under control freeing up time and attention to provide AAA hospitality while enjoying your guests.

8 Top Picks to Pour & Sip

With summer in the air, and the grilling game going on, here's a list of 8 refreshments we're pouring with friends, family and whoever else happens to drop by this week...

For each selection, you'll find a review or winemaker description we found useful, followed by what we're pairing in the way of food to serve.  Note that many of the pairings suggested are also listed in this week's Good Food Gatherings, along with their recipes and sources.


(1) Crispin Cider 

Always true to the apple, Crispin Hard Ciders are naturally fermented using apple juice, never from apple juice concentrate, from a premium blend of US West Coast apples, with no added malt, grape wine or spirit alcohol. Crispin’s unique flavors are smoothed with pure apple juice or from natural sugar sources like oragnic honey or organic maple syrup, and contain no added colorants, sorbate or benzoate preservatives and are filtered cold for crisp refreshment.

Good Food Gatherings: in the Beginning...(Menu #1-#4)

So many of you have asked about what we cook every week – whether we’re hosting a small gathering, family dinner/brunch or an impromptu dinner party.

Overall, our focus is simply good food (#goodfood) ~ straightforward recipes allowing us to take advantage of the best flavors of the season.  We also like to allow for flexibility ~ to be creative, to deal with last-minute mishaps, or to permit us the short-cuts sometimes necessary (if only to maintain sanity).  Lastly, we're planners (or try to be ;-) so we set out a plan for the menus each week to stay focused and take advantage  of limited time and opportunity to get to the market.