Off the Rails Pasta

truccis.com

Off the rails only because it wasn't gluten free. It does make a difference unfortunately. Like most of the things I create in the kitchen this one came off the top of my head. This recipe was SO good I have to write it down for posterity. 

What I needed:. 

Olive oil
Onion
Yellow pepper
Package of prosciutto
Spaghetti
Fat-free sour cream
Chevre
Cream 10%
Pico de Gallo - prepared
Salt
Parmesan

So, I fried half a chopped onion in olive oil for about 12 minutes. Adding 1/2 chopped yellow pepper after 6 minutes. Then I tossed in 1/2 package of prosciutto also chopped into inch-sized pieces. I stirred this about while I started the pasta. 225 grams or 8 ounces of spaghetti was perfect for the amount of sauce. 

Okay, then I added 3 large dessert spoons of zero fat sour cream to the frying pan, one 1/4 inch medallion of chevre, and 1/3 cup cream (10%), and one tablespoon prepared pico de gallo salsa. Then I added a generous pinch of salt. 

I added the spaghetti to the frying pan which was now on low. Stirred the noodles around in the goodness and grated about an inch-sized cube of Parmesan over the top. 

In total this meal took less than 25 minutes to prepare. It was amazing. 

I didn't photograph the event. But the above photo from Truccis.com hints at the idea. 

Wish List 1

So dismayed was I in the Globe and Mail's (Canada's National Newspaper) Gift Guide that I decided to quickly learn how to make a collage and put together a wish list of my own. The content of the newspaper is so paltry these days they even took up a third of a page with the ugliest Christmas decoration as decided by their "style" editors.

Anyway, this is what I would like for Christmas - maybe it will be inspiring, maybe not. What I really wish for this year is good times with my little family, with lots of laughs, food and music. I wish the same for you too. And a dusting of snow.

OK, clockwise from top left - oooh sorry it's so blurry, I just learned how to do this -

Chanel No. 5. My Dad used to by me the spray cologne when I was a teen. I'd like some more.

David by Ray Robertson. Ray lives in my neighbourhood and is my favourite new Canadian author. I've been really pleased with all he's written, especially Gently Down the Stream, where he mentions my street! David focuses on the life of a man born a slave in the US who lives a full and interesting life in Southern Ontario.

Womanity by Thierry Mugler. . THE fragrance while I was in Paris. Don't know why I didn't buy it then. Womanity is a stupid name but the perfume has a salty/sweet fragrance that somehow reminds me of sugar mice.

A flan pan. This one's by Emile Henri, but I'm not picky.

A soup tureen. Ditto the Emile Henri, again I'm not trying to name-drop.

A magnifying make-up mirror. I can hardly see to do my eyes anymore.

A garlic press. I guess I don't know my own strength. I broke my last one in two.

A pedometer. I can walk 127 steps per minute. My husband doesn't believe me.

I'm hanging out at The Clever Pup's Paris Notebook. Please visit me there.

The Clever Pup's Paris Notebook

I started a new blog about my Paris trip. Anyone who's interested can find details and pictures of my recent solo trip plus facts and tips for traveling in Paris here at The Clever Pup's Paris Notebook. I'll be posting more in the next few days.

Reduce - Reuse- Recycle

In 1971 my 18-year-old brother joined Pollution Probe. He and his pals initiated a recycling program in our small town of Parry Sound. Being only 9 at the time I don't remember too much about it - but I do remember Steve and friends driving around town in a pick-up truck, collecting pop cans and baling newspapers from those residents who were interested in creating less garbage. I also remember a float in our Winter Carnival that the team had created, with a papier-mache globe dripping with garbage.

Was Parry Sound the first community to have recycling I wondered. In 1971 Pollution Probe published a book titled "Recycling Project". The report stressed the need for recycling but also offered various ways to implement such programs through household sorting and collection systems.  Parry Sound's chapter of Pollution Probe was one of 60 groups throughout Ontario concerned about garbage issues. It didn't last, but about 15 years later the "Blue Box" program was introduced all over Ontario.

Now Toronto has a waste diversion program. All my fruit and vegetable peelings, teabags, eggshells and garden waste go in my composter. Other wet garbage goes in a green bin. Now that I've given up on meat again, this output could be practically nil - if it weren't for the DOG. All other garbage gets picked up every two weeks. Again - that's practically nothing because we avoid those unrecyclable clear clam shell containers that salad and eggs are sold in  and I cook fresh 99% of the time. But one does have to get rid of furnace filters, light bulbs, holy socks.

Starting last year the city demanded that all retail outlets charge a nickel per plastic bag. A great deal of us in the neighbourhood take tote bags with us and speaking of tote bags, here's one.

Something I just learned from the City of Toronto website. Don't include biodegradable packaging in the Blue Box. It messes up the sorting procedure and cannot, obviously,  be recycled into anything new. It goes in the Grey Bin where the air can get to it later in a "fill".

More Shameless Self-Promotion

 Good Morning!

My Plum Tarts are featured on the Etsy Paper Goods Showcase today. I've added note books. Please click here if you are curious.http://www.etsy.com/category/paper_goods. 

Thanks. XO