Smiling About. . .

this beach in albania...

photo credit: all things europe

eating like an Italian...

autumn lip colors. . .

preparing this for the weekend. . .

this cute photo of me and the husband...

have a fantastic weekend!!! 

Resto Spotlight: SOTTO...

photo credit: laweekly

Over the weekend, my friend Jen and I tried a new resto called Sotto.  My Dad went a couple of days before me and raved about how great the food and ambiance was.  So, when Jen said, "let's try something new"  I knew just where to go! I made a reservation with ease on a Friday which was great! I was the first one there and they sat me right away at a quaint table for two.  The ambiance was warm, room dimly lit with candles flickering and reflecting off the crisp clean wine glasses.  I was instantly relaxed and ready for girls night out.  We had the best waiter by the name of Skylar.  Rarely, do you find great customer service when out to dine lately, so this was refreshing.  While I waited, I ordered a cocktail called Pass the Buck, very fresh and tasty.  Once Jen arrived, we ordered some mixed olives to start, a couple of glasses of wine, Margarita and Diavolina pizza, and I ordered a Pumkin, Barley, Kale, and White Bean Minestra soup.  Best soup I've had in a long time.  Every bite was yummy!  We continued our girl chat and enjoyed every bite, food was amazing!  

I didn't take pics due the dim lighting in the restaurant.  So, here are some photos I found on their site as well as others...

photo credit: nytimes

photo credit: nytimes

What's in what we ordered...

Pass the Buck {Blanco tequila, fresh lime, Meletti Amaro, ginger syrup, mint, bitter lemon soda}

Marinated mixed olives {chilies, parsley, orange}

Margherita {tomato, mozzarella, basil, EVOO}

Diavolina {tomato, Calabrian chilies, 'nduja, pecorino, kale, onion}

Great ambiance, service, and food...I'm going back to Sotto real soon.  Hopefully this Friday! 

and I'm off and running...
 

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio...

We all have our busy schedules and find it so hard to figure out what to cook for dinner.  Marlin (the husband)  really likes when I surprise him with new dishes and they have to be quick during the weekdays.  I don't mess around with pre-made or pre-packaged foods to prepare meals.  I like to make everything fresh.  It just taste better and you get more nutrients.  Last week I was craving some pasta and decided to make Barefoot Contessa's Spaghetti Aglio e Olio recipe from her How Easy Is It? cookbook.  Super yummy!!!!!!

What you need...

• Kosher Salt
• 1 pound dried spaghetti, like DeCecco
• 1/3 cup good olive oil
• 8 large garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

What you do...

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package.  Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pasta.  

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pot large enough to hold the pasta, such as a 12-inch sauté pan or a large, shallow pot.   Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it JUST begins to turn golden on the edges-don’t overcook it! Add the red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds more.  Carefully add the reserved pasta-cooking water to the garlic and oil and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by about a third.

Add the drained pasta to the garlic sauce and toss.  Off the heat, add the parsley and Parmesan and toss well.  Allow the pasta to rest off the heat for 5 minutes for the sauce for the sauce to be absorbed.  Taste for seasoning and serve warm with extra Parmesan on the side.

Simple, Fresh, and Yummy!

and I'm off and running...