Seafood Stew

Yes, yes, I said I'd update more often, butttttttttt grad school is TIME CONSUMING. I *am* cooking, but the pictures have just been sitting on my camera...sowwie. Anyhow, this is a dish I made for my husband for his birthday dinner, adapted from something I saw online. It's a clear broth with shrimp and halibut and orzo pasta. The broth is flavored with basil, tomatoes, and garlic. It's a very simple dish to make, with most of the cook on the seafood coming from the heat of the broth. Serve it with a crusty bread and it's a quick weeknight supper!

What's in it:
-halibut, shrimp, orzo, basil, tomatoes, EVOO, garlic, S&P

Linguine Alfredo

Pasta is seriously one of my favorites things to eat. Lots of carbs = WIN. Sadly, I haven't made anything for over a month now. Things have been a little busy for me, but fear not! I am back! I was feeling rather hungry after class today, and decided to not spend dinero on food and actually make something with my own hands. This twist on the classic uses linguine instead of the usual fettucine (only because I had linguine on hand). I've never gotten around to making my own pasta (shocking, I know). Perhaps that will be my next feat.
Anyways, I don't like my pasta to be too saucy, especially with alfredo. I tossed the pasta with the sauce after it was cooked. Each piece should be coated well enough, but it shouldn't be drippy. There are very few ingredients that go into making this dish, but the flavor is substantial. I toasted my garlic and minced it very finely before adding it to the alfredo, giving it a very aromatic flavor. Nothing more than salt goes into this dish; and I topped it off with some dried parsley. It's been a very delicious afternoon for me.

What's in it:
-linguine pasta, cream, butter, garlic, parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, parsley

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Mac & Cheese

I have been craving a good bowl of heart-wrenching, stroke-inducing, arteriosclerosis-forming mac and cheese for the past week. Last night, I decided I wouldn't stand by anymore and went on a shopping trip just for some of that cheesy goodness. I used two types of cheese--sharp cheddar and monterey jack--for a fuller flavor. I always like mac and cheese with a bread crumb crust on top, so I made this in the oven. This is only the second time I've made it (the first was a 3 cheese mac and cheese casserole for Thanksgiving a while back). No wonder there's a problem with obese kids these days. Mac and cheese is addictive. And that's all they eat. Yay for southern cooking.

Also, the Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E Friends episode was coming on while I was making this! It was fate.

What's in it:
-macaroni shells, sharp cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, milk, eggs, ground mustard, salt, powdered black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, panko bread crumbs

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Lemon Tomato Penne Pasta

If you have ever lived with me, you know I love making pasta and trying to conquer every type of Italian cuisine out there. I've experimented and tried so many pasta combinations that I've lost track of what I have done and not done. Also, freshmen year of college I decided to try northern Italy and attempt a risotto, which to my surprise came out quite nicely! Pasta is very versatile and comes in different shapes and forms. There's linguine, capellini, fusili, macaroni, penne, ziti, rotelle, rotini, and sooo many more. My favorites to work with are penne and capellini, especially the latter because it cooks so fast. My sister, Saadia, absolutely hated pasta no thanks to the crap quality of food that Kinsolving serves. She swore it off until I made a lemon-herb chicken capellini and made her eat it. Bam. I changed her tastebuds. Obviously you're gonna hate pasta if all you've ever had was starchy, cold, tasteless, rubbery not-fit-for-dogs-to-eat shiat. Anyhow, if you're a carb watcher, then I pity you. Seriously, you're missing out on such lovely deliciousness. Just portion your amounts and you'll be fiiiine. This specific one I made is very light on your stomach but bold in flavor, and can be enjoyed at the family table or during a dinner for two.

What's in it:
-penne pasta (amber durum), tomato paste, tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, red chili powder, garlic powder, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, cumin seeds, grated parmesan

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