When the first good tomatoes appear, I buy fresh basil and a good sized chunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano, and whip up a no-cook pasta. It’s not the heat. It’s the deliciousness. I like it even better than the red sauce of winter.
pasta
Homemade Ramen Noodle Hack
Holy moly do I love ramen. And, by the way, I’m not talking about the “Peel off the lid. Pour boiling water into the cup. Let sit for three minutes. Stir well and serve” variety. I’m talking about huge bowls of chewy, luxurious noodles swimming in a flavorful, savory broth with an assortment of proteins, loads of garnishes, and a soft- boiled egg floating on top. Comfort food of the highest order.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Cacio e Pepe with Pancetta and Arugula
What makes this dish great is its simplicity. Traditional cacio e pepe doesn’t include greens, but I find some arugula lightens up the dish. Feel free to swap the arugula for peas or asparagus spears or even artichoke hearts. It’s an all-in-one meal, no salad needed!
Chris Prosperi’s Gluten-Free Stress-Reducing Chicken Soup
Aside from its comfort and restorative potential, it’s also just plain ol’ delicious.
Chris Prosperi’s Quick and Easy Tomato-Chicken Soup
This quick soup, one of Chris’s go-tos on a snowy day, uses a genius shortcut ingredient: tomato sauce, but a few plum tomatoes keep the flavor fresh. Chris’s favorite mini pasta, ditalini, adds the umph to make it a meal.
Creamy Mushroom Sauce on Pasta
Local mushrooms are all over the place, so now’s the time to make a simple creamy pan sauce for pasta with lots of grated cheese. Consider it your weeknight dinner, elevated.
