We're cooking now!

As some of you may already know, I am the main cook in our house. I really like to cook and Rosanne really likes the food I make, so it works out well.

Today, I picked up this book, Cooking by Hand by Paul Bertolli, at the library. I had placed it on hold after seeing it mentioned on the Splendid Table web site. I found several recipes that interested me, right off the bat. A lot of great general cooking information is also spread throughout the book. I don't think I will be making my own sausage or curing my own ham any time soon, but even that is interesting to learn.

One recipe sounded so good I actually made it tonight, Amatriciana Sauce. (page 111) I like spicy sauces, and this has a dose of pepperocini that does't hurt, but certainly warms you all over. Traditionally, this sauce is served with Buccatini, a large, tubular pasta (sometimes referred to as firehoses (SMILE)), but I made it with traditonal spaghetti that I had on hand.

All I can say is -- WOW! If you have a chance to make it, do it! A plate of this, with a simple glass of red wine, was a dinner fit for a king, queen or even peasant. Pick up this cookbook via Amazon or at your local public library, like I did.

Other books by Paul Bertolli