Pasta con Vongole on a Lazy Day

Lazy Day

I wasn't feeling 100% today but in the back of my mind, I kept thinking - I must post something. I must post. I must post before midnight! Sometimes I feel like I'm just posting stupid things, simply for the sake of posting! But it's good for me to be forced to write. I fall off the writing wagon too often, so a little discipline is good.

It was a very lazy day today with a late lunch - Pasta con Vongole (I'll post recipe at end of this post) and then a swim at the pool. Can't wait for Summer - hope we have lots of warm, beautiful days like today.

Thomas - testing the waters

 

Daniel - shivering poolside

Samuel - loving the water

This is my Pasta con Vongole recipe, adapted from Neil Perry's recipe. My husband told me he loves the way I make this! And my sister had leftovers with us tonight and also heaped praise on the dish. Nice for the cook to get some compliments for a change :)

Steaming hot...still on stove

 

Pasta con Vongole

Serves 4

400g dried pasta (I use fettuccine which is the long, flat pasta)

1kg Vongole (small clams)

125ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I use the light version)

2-3 cloves garlic (you can add more if you want a strong garlic flavour)

1 punnet cherry tomatoes, chopped in half

1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes (you can add more if you like things a bit more hot)

60ml white wine

Small handful of chopped flat leaf parsley

Sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

1. Clean the clams by giving them a quick rinse in water.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan that has a lid.

3. Add the garlic and fry. Don't leave for too long, otherwise garlic will burn and dish will be ruined.

4. Throw in cherry tomatoes and fry for a couple of minutes, again being mindful of not letting garlic burn.

5. Add chilli flakes and white wine and bring to the boil.

6. Add the clams and cover. Steam over a high heat for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan until the shells open.

7. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling, salted water until cooked to your liking, then drain well.

8. Add the pasta and chopped parsley to the saucepan and toss through.

9. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper and serve.

Eat and Enjoy :)

 

Delicious! One of our favourite dishes.

 

And that's another day down for NaBloPoMo! Phew!