Play & Book Excerpts
Savory Home Cooking:
From Our Sicilian Hearts to Yours
© 2017 Jayne Baratta-DuBraski
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FRIED PASTA with BREAD CRUMBS and GARLIC (Pasta cu Oliva Olio)
This is definitely a dish I have only had growing up, and in my home now. My mother and grandmother used to prepare this when there was leftover spaghetti or linguine in the refrigerator. This is such a tasty dish for lunch or dinner and you don’t have to limit yourself to making it only when pasta is leftover the next day! 1 lb spaghetti or linguine cooked ½ cup olive oil 6 large cloves garlic, peeled and flattened 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs ½ cup grated parmesan cheese (good quality) You will want to cook two batches of this in either two separate large skillets or one batch at a time. In skillet, heat 1/4 cup oil with 3 garlic cloves over medium heat. Sprinkle bread crumbs and cheese evenly in skillet and top with half the pasta. Allow all ingredients to cook evenly until lightly browned. Turn skillet mixture over and let other side brown until crunchy. You may add more or less of any of the ingredients to suit your own taste. Allow pasta to cook until crunchy light brown throughout. A mixed green or spinach salad complements this dish perfectly. |
Jayne's Fried Pasta with Bread Crumbs and Garlic
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ORGANIZATION IN YOUR KITCHEN
I highly recommend that all meals are planned in advance. As most of us like to store meats in our freezer, it is important to plan your main dish at least a day ahead of time. I suggest working your way from there and then branching out to the rest of the meal. Once your main dish is selected, you should decide on vegetables, starch and or salad to compliment the meal. Your approach to dinnertime will be far easier when you have already thought out your meal. Trust me on this, as I have experienced the late afternoon fumbling through the freezer and refrigerator searching for an idea, feeling the stress limit my creativity. You will reap the rewards as you confidently prepare your meal having taken a few moments to sort it out ahead of time. You will develop the habit of preparing all your meals this way and, instead of seeing it as a chore, view it as an opportunity to create another tasty menu; whether it's for you, family or friends.
The same applies when having company. You will benefit quite a bit if you plan as much of the meal as possible ahead of time. Any ingredients that can be prepared ahead will lessen your work on the day or night of your event. Remember that you want to enjoy your company and leaving only last minute preparations will give you more time with your guests. When entertaining, I make a schedule for the day and usually the day before my event. During the holidays, I create a schedule that covers the two to three days ahead to sort out exactly what needs to be done each day. This helps to lessen the work on the day of the festivities. There are numerous distractions once guests and/or family arrive, so being able to refer to a schedule is very helpful.
Making one or more floral arrangements two to three days prior to your dinner party will not only ease your workload, but the flowers will open up, enhancing the bouquet. This way you will also enjoy arranging the flowers more.
I highly recommend that all meals are planned in advance. As most of us like to store meats in our freezer, it is important to plan your main dish at least a day ahead of time. I suggest working your way from there and then branching out to the rest of the meal. Once your main dish is selected, you should decide on vegetables, starch and or salad to compliment the meal. Your approach to dinnertime will be far easier when you have already thought out your meal. Trust me on this, as I have experienced the late afternoon fumbling through the freezer and refrigerator searching for an idea, feeling the stress limit my creativity. You will reap the rewards as you confidently prepare your meal having taken a few moments to sort it out ahead of time. You will develop the habit of preparing all your meals this way and, instead of seeing it as a chore, view it as an opportunity to create another tasty menu; whether it's for you, family or friends.
The same applies when having company. You will benefit quite a bit if you plan as much of the meal as possible ahead of time. Any ingredients that can be prepared ahead will lessen your work on the day or night of your event. Remember that you want to enjoy your company and leaving only last minute preparations will give you more time with your guests. When entertaining, I make a schedule for the day and usually the day before my event. During the holidays, I create a schedule that covers the two to three days ahead to sort out exactly what needs to be done each day. This helps to lessen the work on the day of the festivities. There are numerous distractions once guests and/or family arrive, so being able to refer to a schedule is very helpful.
Making one or more floral arrangements two to three days prior to your dinner party will not only ease your workload, but the flowers will open up, enhancing the bouquet. This way you will also enjoy arranging the flowers more.
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Jayne Baratta-DuBraski has always been passionate about cooking, mostly because of the sheer enjoyment she derives from eating good food. Cooking fills her with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. A homemaker and entrepreneur, Jayne owes much of her culinary interest to the inspiration provided by her grandmother, mother and sister. She is grateful to pique the culinary curiosity of enthusiastic cooks and impart how to be the master of their meals.
Jayne and her husband John have two daughters, Jennifer and Rachel. Learn more about Jayne's passion for cooking and her experience
with publishing her first book by clicking the interview page below: |
