by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Favorite Recipes, Pastas
Traditional “Pasta Alle Vongole”, spaghetti with clams, is almost impossible to make here is the US, as “vongole” (the small, Mediterranean Wedge Shell, also known as the Tellina or “bean clam”) are hard to come by in Boulder, CO. So, in this dish, I used little neck clams, which are slightly larger and have a thicker shell. My mother-in-law adds ginger to this dish, which makes it a little different than the traditional version. The following recipe serves 4 people.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 40 littleneck clams in the shell (scrubbed)
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 8 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp pureed ginger
- 3/4 cup dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, soak clams in cold water and make sure they are scrubbed clean.
- Add spaghetti to boiling water, and cook until slightly underdone; pasta will finish cooking in sauce. Meanwhile, place a large saucepan over medium-low heat, and add olive oil, garlic and ginger. Sauté gently, reducing heat if necessary so garlic does not brown.
- Add wine and clams, and cover. Clams should open in about 2 minutes. (If pasta is ready first, drain it and toss with a small amount of olive oil.) Add hot drained pasta, cover, and shake pot gently. Allow to simmer for another 1 or 2 minutes until it is done to taste.
- Discard any clams that have not opened. Add half the parsley, and shake pan to distribute evenly. Transfer to bowls, and sprinkle with remaining parsley.
- Other versions add peperoncino flakes (1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes for a little kick). Serves 4
by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Favorite Recipes
Watermelon margaritas are a great summer cocktail! We made these on our girl’s trip in Mexico, but ironically it was hard to find fresh limes! Definitely start with 100% Agave Tequila, fresh limes and use seedless watermelon to save time. I always use Agave Nectar for my margaritas over sugar or simple syrup. My favorite tequila for margs, that won’t break the bank, is Espolon Silver Tequila. It’s a great value and perfect for mixing into a marg.
When it comes to measuring out my ingredients, I always start with the fresh squeezed lime, as it’s harder to squeeze limes than pour the tequila, or add the agave. Best to buy an entire seedless watermelon, and chop into pieces and place half into food processor. Save the other half to cut into wedges for garnishing the glasses. This recipe is a little different from the 1,2,4 margarita recipe I posted as we replace the soda water with the watermelon puree.
Measurements for a single Watermelon Marg:
- ½ oz. Agave nectar
- 1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice (not bottled – please!)
- 2 oz. 100% Agave Tequila
- 1 oz. fresh pureed watermelon (No seeds!)
- Salt for the rim, and sprig of mint or watermelon wedge for garnish
Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for 30 seconds at least, then pour into glass, with or without salt or a mixture of salt and sugar. I also sometimes add a sprig of fresh mint.
Measurements for a Batch of Watermelon Margaritas:
- 1 cup Agave nectar
- 2 cups fresh squeezed lime juice (not bottled – please!)
- 4 cups 100% Agave Tequila
- 2 cup Fresh pureed watermelon
- 2 large scoops of ice
Combine lime, agave, watermelon and tequila into a drink dispenser. Stir in the ice, making sure it is mixed well. Add a little bit of club soda at if you want to dilute it. Make sure to stir occasionally as the lime and watermelon tend to settle. Enjoy! And please drink responsibly!
by zan@zeliciousrecipes.com | Favorite Recipes, Smoothies
I try and start most mornings off with a healthy antioxidant green smoothie that has a balance of veggies, fruits, and protein. As I get older, I realize my body is not recovering from exercise as quickly as it used to, so I make it a point of including antioxidants into my diet that have anti-inflammatory effects, It may help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer and brain function decline. Here is one of my favorites; not too sweet, and has a little bite to it.
INGREDIENTS:
Spinach: high nutritional value and is rich in antioxidants. It is a good source of vitamins A, B2, C and K, and also contains magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, calcium and potassium.
Green Apples: a great source of fiber, vitamin C as well as minerals – iron, zinc, copper, manganese & potassium and high in antioxidants.
Ginger: helps with inflammation and digestion.
Cinnamon: contains large amounts of highly potent polyphenol antioxidants. The antioxidants in cinnamon have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower the risk of disease.
Hydrolyzed Collagen: Great Lakes Gelatin has my favorite type of Collagen powder, it provides 11 grams of protein, is non-GMO, water soluble, and unflavored, so will not change the taste of your smoothie. It has claims that it “helps regulate the body’s metabolism by providing protein of low molecular weight that is quickly absorbed in the digestive tract. It contains amino acids such as glycine, lysine, and proline, which are important amino acids and can be used by the body to build connective tissue structures to support the functions of the cells. Collagen is important to nitrogen balance, and may prevent age related cartilage damage and collagen loss.”
Vanilla Stevia: Just 5 drops is as sweet as 1 tsp of sugar, with the added taste of real vanilla extract.
