I went out Friday for some quick shopping.. a small family owned specialty store where I could get a card, candy, fresh meat, and bread (Ciabatta). This store also carries a wide selection of cheeses, with one on sale nearly every week(Baby Swiss!)
Originally the meal was going to be simple ground sirloin on the buns, with onions and Swiss cheese, but neither of us had much appetite, so I held off cooking until Valentines Day.
Remember the Christmas present my wife got from my son in Kansas City? The Aero Garden? Well, the fresh basil she grew was ready for harvest- which changed our menu completely! I made a red Italian sauce from fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and ground sirloin, with a red pasta sauce base. Spices and herbs were dried basil, dried oregano, celery seed, salt, pepper, crushed garlic- with a little red pepper and sugar thrown in.. Simmered for quite a while, we topped fettucini with the meat sauce, fresh grated Parmsean cheese, and of course, the fresh cut Basil. With a pieces of the Ciabatta bread made into toast, it was a little prettier than the last food post I did- Even though the photo of it was crappier! I made a banana bread in there somewhere for later...
27 comments:
I love basil with anything tomato....
Jeanne- By the time you buy an Aero Garden, have it on 18 hrs. a day, for 6 weeks- you now have the world's most expensive basil!
that is a nice plate of pasta......how nice to have fresh herbs from your own little garden.
Looks like a great Valentine's dinner. Hope you both had a wonderful night.
Sounds like a lovely Valentine's dinner Buff. :)
I love fresh basil!!!! I usually keep a pot of it in my kitchen window, I love to put my nose between the leaves and just sniff! Ah!
Yummmmmmmo.
(Did I just say that?)
Anyway....Happy Valentine's hugs to you~~~~!
Peace
are you available for hire?
you had me at basil! BASIL!!! (and all the other shit is great as well!!)
DogB- Real departure from my normal rich, sweet sauce.. wife liked it better!
K- truth is, I had tummy troubles all week-end, so I'm eating light!
Ake- All the colors of an Italian flag!
Anette- The aroma was superior to store bought!
Odat- Rach Ray travels and eats better than she cooks! Hope your day was a good one too!
Beth- I think about it more and more...
You should of both eaten it naked seeing as how it was Valentines day lol....... it looks so scrummie...... I have NOT been in the cooking mood of late......maybe next week :)
x
I'm so jealous of the mom n'pop specialty store. Also, we made omelettes this morning, in case you're wondering if you have any effect on your readers (sausage, red pepper, onion and cheddar.)
Marmy- I literally have only had V-8 juice and diet pop for two days... starting to feel better..
CDB- Neat little store with fresh produce, meat counter, good cheese, wine, candy, and coffee selection...
Happy Valentines dayu to you and the fam;)
What I would do for a plate of that gluten right now, and sauce or gravy as they say here in NJ is always on my menu...probably runs through my veins instead of of the regular red stuff! I think I am going to grow some herbs on the porch this year!
It looks scrumptious as usual. What I love about coming to see you Buff, is that you always inspire me to go away and cook something good for my Zombies.
Hope you and your wife had a great weekend.
I am sorry to say, but I hate basil & tomato sauce in anything ( Like I told you earlier about pasta)...
But the picture looks great! :)
Darngirl- Didn't do much, looked like yours was fun!
Chef- I'm no gardener, but herbs and spices appear to be pretty easy...
Belle- Hope you didn't mind me sending DogB over to your blog- he has dehydrated a few things I haven't, (That I thought you might want to try someday)!...
Mona- That's what makes the world go round- we're all different!
I didn't mind at all. Thank you.
I was going to get an aero garden, but then I realized - I'd need something like 5 of them to keep up with the hungry hordes around here.
Belle- I think you are just really cool!
Marjie- It's a hobby, like a 21st century Chia pet!
Ahhhh Pesto is in the air.....
You've been sick to your stomach now? It wasn't basil, my friend.
G-man- This toy can't generate enough basil for pesto!
Kate- I didn't blame basil... I never got the chance!
That sounds FANTASTIC!! Throw some marinara sauce and fresh basil my way :)
Happy Valentines to you and Mrs. B!!
Tav- Wife liked the "fresher" sauce, I have enough left to make a jack-leg pizza out of it..
ah, very lovely! i must have meat sauce.
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