Scrump-del-li-icous!

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm a very picky eater! And as far as Gillian Grace is concerned, that apple didn't fall far from the tree. But there is one thing that neither of us allow to linger on our plates---carbs! Like Julia Robert's character said in Eat, Pray, Love, "I'm on a no carb left behind experiment." My sweet bean and I are nuts for noodles, bonkers for breads, and crazy for anything that would send Dr. Atkins or South Beach diehards into a tizzy!

One of my favorite pasta meals of all time is Dad's pasta, appropriately named for the master chef himself, my daddy! I'm not sure what it is about this meal that makes it so scrump-del-li-icious, but this pasta is pure comfort in a bowl!

And remember, if chopping and sauteing at the end of a long day on your feet doesn't sound like your idea of a good time (and let's face it, unless you're Rachael Ray, it doesn't),you can always prep all the ingredients the day before to make cooking a cinch!

Honestly friends, in true Vito Corleone (the Godfather) style, this is one Italian meal you can't refuse!

DAD’S PASTA

Ingredients:

One large onion
One large red or green pepper (red pepper makes it sweeter)
One clove garlic, sliced
One pound Italian sausage, formed into small balls
One pound mushrooms, sliced
Two 15.5 ounce cans Italian stewed tomatoes
One small can tomato paste (for thicker sauce, add more tomato paste)
Salt
Fennel seeds
Basil
Oregano
Cayenne pepper
Pasta of choice (ziti, shells, or twists)

Cooking:

Slice and dice onion and pepper.  Add 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil to large pan and cook pepper on medium heat until it starts to soften.  Add onion and continue cooking pepper and onion until onion starts to look transparent.  Remove onion and pepper from pan and place in bowl.

Add more olive oil, then add sliced garlic to oil and then add mushrooms.  Cook until mushrooms shrink and become soft.  Remove and add to bowl with onion and pepper.

Form sausage into small balls (if using link sausage, remove skin and then form into balls) and cook at medium heat until done.  Cut stewed tomatoes into smaller pieces using a fork or pastry cutter.  Then add stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, peppers, and mushrooms to sausage and simmer on low heat, stirring often.  Add ¼ teaspoon salt,  2 to 3 pinches fennel, 3 to 5 pinches each basil and oregano, and pinch of cayenne pepper (adjust spices to taste).  Cook for at least 30 minutes (longer is better) and then taste again.  Add seasonings as desired.

Cook box of desired pasta per directions on box.

Service:

Serve with green salad, garlic bread, and a good red wine.  Serves four adults

Yum-O!

See, even Gillian Grace gets excited when this is on the menu!

Like GG's outfit? Want a pillowcase dress in your team's fabric? Stay tuned, tomorrow I'll tell you where to shop!

{Don't forget to enter the Love Stamped Giveaway, ending 9/30!}