Wednesday, February 8, 2012

*I Cook Barefooted!* ~ Pasta Con Broccoli





Barefoot Love!




 I love pasta!
 Noodles and sauce are my go-to comfort food,
all warm and garlicky and generously sprinkled with cheesy goodness!
I particularly love it served up in a wide, flat-rimmed bowl
with a nice crispy-on-the-outside, warm-and-soft-on-the-inside
  hunk of french bread and real butter on the side.

A glass of Merlot,
good company
and I'm feelin' right as rain!

Ahh, Pasta!
Spinach Lasagna,
Spaghetti and meatballs,
and my kids' favorite, Macaroni n' Cheese
have always been staples on our supper table.
Filling, affordable and healthy in moderation,
they are a mother's dream!

I'm not gonna lie.
Pleasing my family at the supper table
is among some of my more sought after goals in life. 
It is also, ironically, a look into my ever-growing madness. 


I fantasize often,
while hovering over a rainbow of color in the produce section, 
of strolling through a comfortably busy, preferably European outdoor market 
(Italy would be nice)
with my ECO-friendly shopping tote on one arm
and the hand of a small child clinging to the other, 
smiling and sharing giggles and kisses,
(picture slow motion action here ~ a gentle breeze in my hair)
as we lovingly fondle
the perfect ingredients for our family's evening meal!

Reality, sadly, often rears its ugly head here, 
leaping frantically
to some poor woman and her screaming toddler four aisles over! 
(PS: Been there. You have my pity.)
(PPS: "Never give in ~ never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, 
never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. 
Never yield to force; never yield to the  apparently overwhelming might of the enemy 
*ahem... precious child*.")
   ~Winston Churchill


 My lovely daydream has now morphed into, something along the lines of, 
Me ~ *Lost* in Italy,
just like Elizabeth Gilbert in, "Eat, Pray, Love" ~
only... happily married,
and *not* so miserable 
that I resort to sleeping on my bathroom floor, 
and living my day to days, unhappy and unsatisfied with my life.
Really ~  just the Eat, Pray and Love parts.
***
Ciao! Amico!
*Hey, Friend!*
Buongiorno! 
*Good Morning!*
Come stai?
 *How are you?*
Bene, grazie!
*I'm fine, thanks!*


 Potresti aiutarmi?
 *Can you help me?*
Sono Affamato!
*I'm hungry.*

Sei molto gentile!
 *You're very kind!*
Io amo la Pasta!
 *I love Pasta!*

*** 
 What can I say ~ It's my dream.
Pasta, just has a way of making you feel like all is right with the world. 
Isn't it lovely!



 
 Happy Anniversary, Babe!
Here's a toast to Nineteen years of Bliss and Broccoli!




Pasta con Broccoli
 1 lb. Frozen Broccoli
1lb. Medium-sized "Seashell" Pasta Shells
1 qt. Half n' Half
1 pt. Meatless Ragu Pasta Sauce
3/4 Stick Butter
1/4 lb. Parmesan Cheese, shredded
1 small package Mushrooms, sliced
Garlic Salt, to taste (OR  2 Tbsp. Minced Garlic)
Crushed Red Pepper, to taste


Add pasta to rapidly boiling water and cook till done.
Combine rest of ingredients on list, (except Parmesan) into a large pot.
Cook slowly on medium heat until broccoli thaws. 
Drain pasta, and add to large pot.
Remove from heat; add Parmesan cheese and stir. 
Buon gusto!
*Enjoy!*



You want reviews?
    How 'bout, 
    "BRAVISSIMO!"




 How 'bout You?
Have a recipe you want to share on 
*I Cook Barefooted!*?
Show some Barefoot Love and...

Send it here:  scarlettcolleen@yahoo.com 
Want to include a photo? Fun!

What's on your table?



“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions.
All life is an experiment.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 *Barefoot Love*Airbrush By, Colleen 
2012

8 comments:

  1. That sounds delicious. I, too, had the same fantasy but I have the Atkinesque eater and the carb lover (sort of like Jack Sprat and his wife).

    In the last few years I've just begun to cook all my own favorites and everyone eats, or doesn't but at least I like what's being served. Tonight is black bean soup. Tomorrow just might be your pasta con broccoli!

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  2. It is Yummy! I am often asked for this recipe. I can't say it's not fattening, what with all that butter and half n' half and cheese! But in small servings, it's not so bad for you (and when I say, 'you', I mean me).

    Pasta con broccoli is just one of my guilty pleasures.

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  3. Oooh, I love Italian food. And yes, I'd love to wander Tuscan markets and make yummy meals and drink wine. My hubs can clean up afterwards :)

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  4. Alexia ~ genius! ...and while they do the scrubbing, you and I can catch up on our blogging and write the next bestseller from the window overlooking our vineyard. I'm liking this dream!

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  5. i love love love pasta too! it is one of my weakness'..i need to try this. ps, love broccoli too!!
    thanks so much for sharing. you are awesome!
    -m

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  6. Yeah, weakness pretty much sums it up, m. I cannot say no!

    You'll LOVE it! I like LOTS of broccoli and mushrooms. My kids, not so much. But they pick through them, because they love the rest.

    Love!

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  7. I love pasta too. I live in France and leanred how to make a mean 'pâtes carbornara'. Yum! Looking forward to your post for the origins blogfest!

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  8. Bonjour, Katie!

    Your'pâtes carbornara'sounds yummy! Bacon! I looked it up. Is it true the french place the yolk of an egg in the center of the pasta? Curious.

    I'll be here bright and early for the Origins blogfest, Monday Feb. 13th! Looking forward to hearing all of the stories!

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