EAT PRAY LOVE

So last Thursday I went to see "Eat Pray Love" with my friend and neighbor Ellie.  The first part of the protagonist's (Elizabeth) journey happens in Rome.  She is focused on food.  Not too difficult to identify with for a girl like me.  Anyway, ever since I saw her eating pizza and spaghetti, I've had a hankerin' for some good old Italian cuisine.  To that end, I made a heavenly pot of marinara today.  Heavenly!!!

Twenty five or so years ago my dear friend Madeline's mom Nanette Cellante taught me to make marinara.  Well, if she were with me right now, she would probably scold me for not doing it exactly as she taught me.  Fast forward to my friend Nick, who in my opinion owns the finest Italian restaurant I've ever been to (at least in the U.S.).  I didn't do what he told me to do either.  He always adds Italian parsley and usually I do too.  I was too lazy to get out into the weekend tourist traffic to go after it.  Sometimes you just have to make an informed decision.  Nonetheless, there's a theme here.  I have to make recipes and dishes my own!  I have taken advice, the best advice, and incorporated it into my cooking, but the bullheaded girl that I am has to do it her own way. 

Luckily I had all the ingredients that I needed at hand.  First of all, I grow basil, oregano, and thyme at home.  It's convenient!  Really convenient!  Tomatoes come in a can, but herbs have to be fresh.  First, I finely chopped some fresh garlic and yellow onion.  (For my Texan friends - I would have used 10-15 onions if I could have gotten my hands on them.  Just that Texan pride showing.)   I sweated the onion in organic extra virgin olive oil, added the garlic and then the tomatoes.  I always use San Marzano tomatoes.  You can't beat them.  They come whole, crushed, or pureed.  Today I used crushed.  Crushed and pureed just cut down on the cooking time.  I added some red wine, kosher salt, black pepper, crushed dried red pepper, (I like spicy food - arabbiata) a pinch or two of sugar, lots of fresh oregano and simmered for three hours on low to medium.  Toward the very end I added a ton of fresh basil.  Everything tastes better with basil.  The more the better.

I made a lot of sauce.  This afternoon I'm surprising Ellie with some gorgeous imported angel hair, a hunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and a container of marinara. 

This is a simple recipe.  Well, there really is no recipe.  Anyway, I love uncomplicated food with the best of ingredients.  Eat what sounds good, what's fresh, and what's in season.  Remember, it's your kitchen.  You're not making a mistake unless of course you have to call the Fire Department.

Depending on who might be around this week, I'm thinking of another Italian dinner.  Only this time, I'll do it at my dining room table.  That movie really got me thinking about Italian food - in a BIG way!  Stay tuned.

Time to eat.  I'm starving!