fall pasta

today i got to join in on the server meeting and taste farm dinner. of course it was delicious and of course it threw off my groove as far as figuring out what to make for dinner. anything i would make would not be as good. plus i have been trying wine all day so i'm a bit off. p.s being a bartender is kind of like getting paid to drink all day. not bad. 

i stopped by august looking for inspiration. i bought two parsnips, one portabella mushroom, a chunk of parmesan and one shallot. 

i had my idea. 

fall pasta

about 10 small brussel sprouts, cored and halved

2 parsnips, diced

1 shallot clove, minced

olive oil

salt and pepper

1 cup cream

parmesan cheese

3 tbs butter

2 dashes of flour

1 portabella mushroom cap

preheat oven to 395. on a sheet pan pile brussel sprouts and parsnips. salt and pepper them. drizzle olive oil and mix to get them coated. let them do their thing. 

in a sauce pan, heat up cream. 

in a saute pan melt butter and shallots. as soon as the butter starts to brown throw in flour and whisk in the cream. cook on low-medium heat to thicken it up. add as much cheese as you like. let that sit for a little while, whisking every so often. keep an eye on it so it doesn't boil over (it shouldn't be boiling, though). 

boil water for your pasta. you can use whatever you like. i don't like spaghetti or long pasta and my favorite is penne, but anything works. while that's boiling, turn off the oven but leave the veg in there. they'll keep cooking. if you have some bread you can put it in the oven too to crisp up. 

as soon as your pasta is almost done add your chopped up mushroom to the sauce and mix well. drain your pasta and put back in the pot. add the sauce to the pasta and coat well. 

serve the veg on the side. 

i really really liked this sauce. it's so easy and tastes so good. the cheese is so subtle and it picks up the mushroom notes that gives the pasta an earthy taste that mixes well with the vegetables. 

i think easy dishes that seem fancy are great. they make you seem like you're so crazy for making your own sauce but it's easy. promise. and sauces are great ways to try out flavors and add things that you like! don't eat prego anymore - this is better. 

i should mention that the dodgers are beating the phillies right now. just in case they lose, raul would be happy to see that i gave his team a shout out. 

enjoy! 

love,

keighty