Thank you for coming back for more! hehe If you haven't seen the first and second part of this post - you don't have to! But if you're curious - here they are
Wednesday Walk: I'm not too late!
Ingredients of Life: The Missing One
But no need to go back there, just jump in here! 😁
So - we work about 1/4 mile from our house. My son usually stays down at work and eats - but on this day, he decided to come home. He ran into my room, kissed me on the head, and started chatting.
"Hold on - one sec... In a meeting... ok - one more minute...yeah? oh wait... one more second"
You know how it is. In the middle of a remote meeting, and you start juggling hehehee. Well, we chatted quickly and then he went out to have his lunch in the kitchen. I was talking to him back and forth in between - but I wasn't really FOCUSED. you know?
Later that evening, I went down the mountain with my husband and we were talking. I happened to say, "Oh - Mikey came home this afternoon for lunch."
Hubby said "Yeah! He mentioned to me 'Hey Dad, I'm gonna go home and see mom for lunch!' and then he rode his bike home."
Oh. Oh no.
He came home especially for me - and I was too distracted!!!!
I immediately texted him.
PARENTS: A QUICK WORD OF ADVICE!!!
Too often, one of these things happens to us - and we fall into the MOAT OF GUILT. "Oh nooooo I'm a bad mom!!! He was here - and I missed an opportunity gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
and we spend so much time bemoaning the mistake that we don't FIX it.
Our kids love us - and they make mistakes too. Don't moan - Own the mistake and CORRECT IT! You'll be much happier for it - and so will your kids! :)
Clam sauce with linguine! Yum!
So what is the ONE ingredient you should PROBABLY make sure to get from the store.
go ahead. think about it.... I'll wait. 😆
Yeah - I forgot the clams HAHAHAHA
So many of you asked WHY it was THAT important to make sure I had the clams???
Cuz.... i had a lunch date with a very special boy. And I was NOT going to disappoint him again! hehehehehe
so - 3 hour round trip - got the clams and..... well...
The story is almost over - but I figured I'd share the recipe :)
so.... if you want to see the MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT in ANY dish.... and skip the recipe? just scroll to the bottom!
CLAM SAUCE OVER LINGUINE (or... GF pasta haha)
First, let me just say - the first few times I cook from a recipe - I will follow it RELIGIOUSLY! But then, once I get the knack for it - It's more of "a little of this, a little of that". I will be showing you THAT method of recipe. If you can't handle that... then you might want to just google a recipe for clam sauce hahahahahahaha 😆
Here are our ingredients! Take a look - It should all be pretty self-explanatory! 😚 In the Pyrex jar - are the famous clams! hehehe
Time to start chopping -right? One of the BEST tips I can give is.. HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS. If you are struggling with your ingredients because you have bad tools - you'll make the experience frustrating.
I have chef's knives (because I am married to a chef! lol) But THIS KNIFE right here has been my FAVORITE for slicing tomatoes and onions. The serrated edge has never dulled and it slices PERFECTLY through anything. love it! Use good tools :)
Now the next thing you will do, is start heating up the oil on a nice low heat. We don't want the oil to scorch the garlic and onions. What we really want to do is flavor the oil with the veggies. So have that thought in mind as you're sweating them in the oil! mmmmmm so tasty! Then go ahead and do a small dice on those onions, and a chunky mince on the garlic!
Next, drain all the broth from the clams - but INTO A PAN PLEASE!!! Don't lose all that flavor. We are gonna simmer that clam broth down and concentrate it for the sauce!
See the difference? It turns from a milky color into a golden, thicker, creamy broth! yum!
We are also going to add some of this... If you have never seen it - ohhhhhh I'm going to turn you onto something that you will thank me for! It's called "Better than Boullion" and it is SO much better than dried seasoning. It's more like a concentrated paste filled with lots of flavor! They have all kinds - chicken, vegetable, beef, ham, turkey, clam... lots! I love using this for a touch of flavor because it's so layered with depth! Try it and tell me if you love it too! :)
Back to those veggies. Slide them off the cutting board and into the oil - careful - don't let it splatter on you! Then - stir them occassionally until they are nice and translucent and the house smells amazing!!! mmmmmmm Don't you just love the smell of onions and garlic simmering in oil???
BUT.... NEXT TIP COMING UP!!!!
We love the HOUSE to smell delicious and inviting and mouth-watering - but we do NOT want the hands to smell like that! hahahaha I know that people use lemon juice or just scrub with soap - but THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE FIND FOR ME! and you are about to THANK MEEEEEEEEE! hahahaha
yes.
YES YES YES.
It is a bar that is the size of a bar of hand soap - but thinner. You simply pretend that it's soap, and "wash" your hands with it under running water. Somehow the oils from the garlic, onion, fish - whatever!!! goes from your hands - to the metal - gets neutralized and washes away with WATER. It is amazing. And the edges of the bar fit under your nail so NOT ONE TRACE of food scent is left. Use it. Love it. Thank me later 😍
Now... as my Hubby's favorite Youtube home chef says....
"ahhhhh one-a forrrr- a the grrravy. and a one-a forrrrr- a Gina!"
hahahahahaha Just kidding - no alcohol was imbibed during the making of this sauce. I left a-one a forrrr-a Gina!
How much-a vino, you - a- like? Welll, a that's up to a-you! I poured in about a cup? and then simmered it down to get rid of the alcohol and keep the flavor! mmmmmmmmm molto bella!
NEXT TIP!
Are you a messy cook? hahahaha My mother is the most amazing cook - but she is like a TORNADO in the kitchen. And then when its time to eat - you have to see a very big mess near you. For me? I like to clean up while I cook. And its ok! Because the sauce takes time, so while its simmering - clean up? Then it makes for a nicer environment for the meal! :)
Now comes adding the sauce! As you saw from the cans - we had tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. What should you use? Well, if you want saucier - add more sauce! Chunkier? add more diced tomatoes! Thicker? Add more paste. It's all up to you my friends. You are the almighty creator! hahahahaha Add your choice of dried seasonings - I used oregano, basil, and parsley! Last thing? Add the clams! (I seriously almost forgot the clams again hahahaha) Its very simple. They are already cooked, so you're just going to heat them through! When that's done - taste your sauce and doctor it up with any additional pinches of salt/pepper/seasonings,or sugar you like!
You know how happy this makes me? Being able to go out into my patio garden and get some fresh basil? Ohhhhhhhhhhh so happy! So what did I do? I snipped a few leaves and then I used scissors to cut strips on top of the bowl of prepared pasta. Of course, I'm not going to show you how to cook pasta. I'm sure that's easy enough for you all! I served up the pasta, put a cup of sauce over top. Sprinkled fresh parmesan, and added my strips of fresh basil.
AND NOW.... THE MYSTERY INGREDIENT!
Every chef will tell you - the mystery ingredient in EVERY recipe - is LOVE. If you don't cook with love, it doesn't taste as delicious! Think about that special person you are cooking for and infuse every bit of that meal with love, love, love!!!!
