More than One Thing Arrives a Little Early

Erin, this week's host for Presto Pasta Night is remarkable. She's due to have her baby in six weeks, but the little one seems to want to come home a bit early. In between contractions and water breaking, she still took the time to post this week's roundup. What a trooper!!!

I'll be hosting next week, so if there are any of you out there who thought you still had a little time to send in your entries for this week's roundup...just send them to me and I'll start next week's - #99 with your perfect pastas.

Just mention Once Upon a Feast, or Presto Pasta Nights with a link in your post and email them to ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

Sifting Through the News for Pasta

Usually Wednesdays are my favorite days to hunt through on line news...mostly for the recipes, or restaurants to visit or other interesting food items. If you're interested in seeing who talks about what food, when and where...here's my go-to site .

And today my focus is on pasta dishes. I love the SFGate (San Francisco Chronicle's online) especially this week. I can never say no to a hearty meat sauce -never! In my world, there can never be a bad meat sauce, but this Baked Penne with Meat & Mushroom Sauce...well, it sounds absolutely perfect. I've never added brandy or sherry to my meat sauce, but I will start now.

The Sydney Morning Herald whipped up a glorious trout with buckwheat noodles and tamari that looks stunning.

And although it doesn't SAY pasta, this Shrimps & Chorizo dish from The Baltimore Sun would be perfect tossed over your favorite noodle.

Just check out this article from Telegraph.co.uk...it's really about using your stale bread for a number of dishes. Frankly, I'd purposefully go out, buy and loaf of bread and leave it out just to make this Pasta with Chili, Garlic & Bread Crumbs.

Well, that's enough to whet your whistle for now...

What's your favorite on-line newspaper for food related articles? It doesn't even have to be about pasta. Please share the link in the comments.

And don't forget that this week Erin The Skinny Gourmet (I don't know how she accomplishes that with such great treats on her site!). Send your entries to skinnygourmet (AT) gmail (DOT) com and a cc to me, ruth (AT) 4everykitchen (DOT) com

Thanks again everyone for playing Presto Pasta Night with me.

Presto Pasta Night #97

Yet again, this week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup is fantastic. I have to find a new dictionary with only synonyms for superlatives! But fantastic is definitely the word for this week thanks to an awesome job of hosting by Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything. All the entries are to die for and I can't wait to start trying them all out. So a very big thank you to all of you who love to eat and serve pasta as much as I do.

Don't forget that next week Erin The Skinny Gourmet (I don't know how she accomplishes that with such great treats on her site!). Send your entries to skinnygourmet (AT) gmail (DOT) com and a cc to me, ruth (AT) 4everykitchen (DOT) com

Thanks again everyone for playing Presto Pasta Night with me.

What's Better Than Pasta - Especially Now

We Presto Pasta Nighters have known all along how delicious pasta is, how nutritious it can be and now the rest of the world is catching on to it. This article in the International Herald Tribune shares some interesting facts.

Did you know that the sale of pasta products rose 5% - $6.4 BILLION !!! So if you want to invest...may I suggest your favorite pasta maker.

And whether you're rolling in dough or counting every penny, there's nothing more satisfying that a bowl of pasta tossed with your favorite sauce.

Don't forget to send your pasta dish to this week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup host, the fantastic, Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything - hellohaalo (at) gmail (dot) com and a cc to me ruth (at)4everykitchen (dot) com by Thursday so she can post on Friday.

Pasta Puttanesca & Mark Bitten

I love Pasta Puttanesca, the salty flavors of olives and anchovies and the heat of red chili pepper flakes.

I've even made it with Shrimps and capers (when I can't trick my Honey about the anchovies) and a more traditional version from Jamie Oliver when I can.

(not the prettiest photo, but fantastic, none the less)

Mark Bitten shared his version in this week's NY Times article, very similar to Jamie's, but I love his intro and the potential origins of the dish. Enjoy!

Don't forget to send your pasta dish to this week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup host, the fantastic, Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything - hellohaalo (at) gmail (dot) com and a cc to me ruth (at)4everykitchen (dot) com by Thursday so she can post on Friday.

Check Out Presto Pasta Night #96

Ivy of Kopiaste, a wonderful blogger did an awesome job with this week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup #96. I don't know about you, but the two dozen recipes are so good and so healthful, that it will be hard to choose which one to do first.

Thanks a million Ivy, for putting it all together. And since it's after midnight in Greece, get some sleep, you deserve it. And thanks everyone for joining in the weekly Presto Pasta Night party and sharing such delicious treats.

Next week, another fantastic blogger, Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything will be hosting. Send your entries to hellohaalo (at) gmail (dot) com and a cc to me ruth (at)4everykitchen (dot) com by Thursday so she can post on Friday.

Plus...Don't forget to check all the Presto Pasta Night Roundups dating back to March, 2007, see who's hosting for the next four weeks and check out guidelines and tips for entering and hosting.

If you have any ideas for a topic for Presto Pasta Night, let me know. Facebook members, please visit the Presto Pasta Gang on Facebook

Pasta Making Made Easy

For this past week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup, Marija of Palachinka submitted a beautiful post on how to shape your own tortellini and Rosa of Rosa's Yummy Yums made some tagliatelle the old fashioned way...no machines required! And this morning, I saw that Chez Pim also had a great recipe and photo tutorial for making Strozzapreti, a glorious little pasta that originally meant....well, head over to read for yourself.

So I thought it was time for a little trip around the web and find some other great links to pasta making.

Last June I shared a link to a video from KitchenAid's own Peter Pasta doing a demonstration. And Ulricke of Kuchenlatein has been sharing her pasta making experiences with her sons (who now make pasta without her!) with Presto Pasta Nights for a long time. I'll let you wander around her site on your own.

I've even shared a glimpse of me and my daughter bumbling through our first attempt at fettuccine with her new pasta maker and then our Stained Glass Pappardelle that's a lot easier to make than you think...so easy that you'll be making pasta sooner than you think. That's Joanna at the top of the post, filling ravioli...both are great projects to do with kids, by the way.

So here's my newest shortlist of pasta making places on the web...just the tip of the iceberg!
Recipe Tips for homemade pasta

Newbie Pasta Making Tips from Daily Unadventures in Cooking

Canadian Living's fresh pasta recipe....no photos, but some great ideas to flavor your own...Saffron pasta, anyone?

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't send you to some of my favorite Food Experts for their advice and guidance:
Mark Bittman
Jamie Oliver
Mario Batali (much of the same, but check out his tip at the end)
Giada di Laurentis (she does hers in the food processor)

I think that's a good start...if you have any great links or tips on pasta making, share them in the comments.

And don't forget that this week's Presto Pasta Night Roundup host is Ivy of Kopiaste, who'll be putting a Greek spin on things. Send your entries to ivyliac (at) gmail (dot) com.

All The Presto Pasta Night Roundups

2010 Roundups

Presto Pasta Night #173
Hosted by Janet of The Taste Space

Presto Pasta Night #172
Hosted by Pam of Sidewalk Shoes

Presto Pasta Night #171
Hosted by Helen of Fuss Free Flavours

Presto Pasta Night #170

Presto Pasta Night #169
Hosted by Mansi of Fun & Food Cafe

Presto Pasta Night #168
Hosted by The Sweet Kitchen

Presto Pasta Night #167
Hosted by Kirsten of From Kirsten's Kitchen to Yours

Presto Pasta Night #166

Presto Pasta Night #165
Hosted by Rachel, The Crispy Cook

Presto Pasta Night #164
Hosted by Susan The Well Seasoned Cook

Presto Pasta Night #163

Presto Pasta Night #162

Presto Pasta Night #161
Hosted by Katie of Thyme for Cooking

Presto Pasta Night #160
Hosted by Cynthia, The Kitchen Slave

Presto Pasta Night #159
Hosted by Daphne of More Than Words

Presto Pasta Night #158

Presto Pasta Night #157

Presto Pasta Night #156
Hosted by Sherra of Our Taste of Life

Presto Pasta Night #155
Hosted by Aquadaze of Served With Love

Presto Pasta Night #154
Hosted by Kirsten of From Kirsten's Kitchen to Yours

Presto Pasta Night #153 - 3rd Birthday Bash

Presto Pasta Night #152
Hosted by Michelle, Italian Mama Chef

Presto Pasta Night #151
Hosted by Mrs Ergul Passion for Life & Food

Presto Pasta Night #150
Hosted by Susan, The Well Seasoned Cook

Presto Pasta Night #149

Presto Pasta Night #148
Hosted by Chaya of Sweet & Savory

Presto Pasta Night #147
Hosted by Sara of Cupcake Muffin

Presto Pasta Night #146
Hosted by Gay, Scientist in the Kitchen

Presto Pasta Night #145

2009 Roundups
Presto Pasta Night Roundup #144
Hosted by Reeni of Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #143
Hosted by Kevin of Closet Cooking

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #142

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #141
Hosted by Deb of Kahakai Kitchen

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #140
hosted by Kait of Pots & Plots

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #139
hosted by Chaya of Sweet and Savory Says It All

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #138

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #137
hosted by Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #136
hosted by Girlichef

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #135
hosted by Abby of Eat the Right Stuff

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #134
hosted by Joanne of Eats Well With Others

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #133

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #132
Hosted by Sara of I'm a Food Blog

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #131
Hosted by Sweet Kitchen

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #130
Hosted by Rachel, The Crispy Cook

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #129

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #128
Hosted by Helen of Fuss Free Flavours

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #127
Hosted by Katie of One Little Corner of the World

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #126
Hosted by Psychgrad of Equal Opportunity Kitchen

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #125

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #124
Hosted by Amy of Very Culinary

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #123
Hosted by Pam of Sidewalk Shoes

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #122
Hosted by Joanne of Eats Well With Others

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #121
Hosted by Graziana of Erbe in Cucina

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #120
Hosted by Katerina of Daily Unadventures in Cooking

Presto Pasta Night Roundup#119
Hosted by Kait of Pots and Plots

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #118
Hosted by Daphne of More Than Words

Presto Pasta Night Roundup #117
Hosted by Katie of Thyme for Cooking

Presto Pasta Night #116

Presto Pasta Night #115
Hosted by Sara of I'm a Food Blog

Presto Pasta Night #114
Hosted by Kitchenetta of Got No Milk

Presto Pasta Night #113
Hosted by Patsy of Family, Friends & Food

Presto Pasta Night #112
Hosted by Tigerfish of Teczcape

Presto Pasta Night #111

Presto Pasta Night #110
Hosted by Hillary of Chew on That

Presto Pasta Night #109
Hosted by Katie of One Little Corner of the World

Presto Pasta Night #108
Hosted by Marye of Baking Delights

Presto Pasta Night #107

Presto Pasta Nights #106
Hosted by Aquadaze of Served with Love

Presto Pasta Night #105
Hosted by Pam of Sidewalk Shoes

Presto Pasta Night #104
Hosted by Ben of What's Cooking

Presto Pasta Night #103 - Birthday #2

Presto Pasta Night #102
Hosted by Theresa of Food Hunter's Guide to Cuisine

Presto Pasta Night #101
Hosted by Wiffy of Noob Cook

Presto Pasta Night 100

Presto Pasta Night #99

Presto Pasta Night #98
Hosted by Erin The Skinny Gourmet

Presto Pasta Night #97
Hosted by Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything

Presto Pasta Night #96
Hosted by Ivy of Kopiaste

Presto Pasta Night #95

2008 Roundups

2007 Roundups

Ushering in a Great 2009 Pasta Year

I just know that 2009 is going to be a great year for everyone...especially the pasta lovers out there.

Here's the first Presto Pasta Night Roundup for 2009. Let the good times begin!

Next week's gracious host will be Ivy of Kopiaste and you can send your entries to her directly at ivyliac (at) gmail (dot) com. Please send me a cc as well to ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.