Fettuccine Al Fresco Food

PASTA FRESCA

Steps:

• Assign 1 guest to pit the olives and another to dice the tomatoes.
• Bring 12 cups of water and 1 teaspoons of salt to a boil in a large pot.
• At the same time, in another large pot over medium-high heat, add 1/4 cup olive oil along with the garlic, shallots, and walnuts. Stir occasionally for 6 minutes, or until they just begin turning golden.
• Add the basil and stir for 30 seconds (to release their flavors).
• Add tomatoes, olives, remaining salt, pepper, chile pepper, and remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add yellow cherry tomatoes at the end.
• While sauce is simmering, add pasta to the boiling water. Cook according to package directions.
• Warm the second loaf of bread in a preheated 325 degrees F oven.
• Drain pasta. Add pasta to sauce in pot. Toss thoroughly. Put pasta pot directly on the table, or transfer to a large pre-warmed serving bowl.
• Serve with Parmesan. Don't forget the bread in the oven!

FETTUCINI ALFREDO

Steps:

• Cook fettuccine in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (see my article on reduced water pasta ) reserving 1/3 cup cooking water, then drain pasta.
• While pasta cooks, bring cream and butter to a simmer in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-low heat with salt and pepper. Add fettuccine and 3 tablespoons of reserved water, and cheese to sauce and toss. Add a touch more cooking water if sauce seems too thick to you.
• Serve garnished with chopped parsley and additional cheese on the side.

FETTUCCINE ALFREDO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, stir the clotted cream, butter and cornflour over a low-ish heat and bring to a low simmer. Turn off the heat and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, put the cheese and nutmeg in a small bowl and add a good grinding of black pepper, then stir everything together (don't add any salt at this stage).
• Put the pasta in another pan with 2 tsp salt, pour over some boiling water and cook following pack instructions (usually 3-4 mins). When cooked, scoop some of the cooking water into a heatproof jug or mug and drain the pasta, but not too thoroughly.
• Add the pasta to the pan with the clotted cream mixture, then sprinkle over the cheese and gently fold everything together over a low heat using a rubber spatula. When combined, splash in 3 tbsp of the cooking water. At first, the pasta will look wet and sloppy: keep stirring until the water is absorbed and the sauce is glossy. Check the seasoning before transferring to heated bowls. Sprinkle over some chives or parsley, then serve immediately.

TO DIE FOR FETTUCCINE ALFREDO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add fettuccini and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter into cream over low heat. Add salt, pepper and garlic salt. Stir in cheese over medium heat until melted; this will thicken the sauce.
• Add pasta to sauce. Use enough of the pasta so that all of the sauce is used and the pasta is thoroughly coated. Serve immediately.

PASTA AL POMODORO FRESCO

Steps:

• Boil the pasta in salted water according to package direction until al dente.
• In the meantime, in a large skillet, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic slices and cook them at medium heat stirring often just until lightly golden. Next, add the cut tomatoes, salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes at medium high heat. Stir the sauce gently a few times. The sauce should not be soupy.
• Before removing the sauce from the heat, taste it for flavor. When the sauce is ready, add the fresh chopped basil, turn off the heat and stir one last time.
• Transfer the cooked strained pasta in the skillet, and toss gently making sure that the pasta is fully ncorporated with the sauce.
• When serving the pasta, for a delicious fragrant finishing touch, drizzle extra virgin olive oil, and add more fresh basil, fresh cracked pepper and fresh grated cheese on top of each plate.