Pasta with Mozzarella and Olives

 

2 + cups dry bow tie pasta

½ pound mozzarella, sliced into small cubes

16 – 20 green olives, Castelvetrano, pitted and sliced in half or quarters

2 Tablespoons red onion, diced

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 Tablespoon orange juice

1/16 teaspoon lavender salt

1/8 teaspoon lavender pepper

Directions: In a small sauce pan sauté diced onions in olive oil; this is way too much olive oil for the amount of onions but fear not as this becomes the dressing. Stir until limp and translucent, a tiny amount of salt may be added; then add the tablespoon of orange juice and continue to stir and then remove from heat. Meanwhile cook the pasta al dente. Using a slotted spoon carefully move hot, al dente pasta to a heat proof casserole dish or bowl. A tiny amount of salt may be added to the pasta. Pour onion, olive oil, orange juice mixture over pasta and toss. Add mozzarella and toss and then and slice olives and toss. Dress with lavender pepper.

Notes: This is a nice dish to serve warm on a cold winter day. The onion slivers will adhere to the al dente bowtie pasta. Do continue to toss occasionally to prevent the cheese from settling to the bottom of the bowl and to help the mozzarella slightly melt onto more pasta. This is fast, easy and delicious.

Serves several people as a side dish; 4 people as a main dish.

Book Review: "Smelly" Kelly and His Super Senses

 

 

Beth Anderson writes a delightful story about an immigrant with an unusual talent and an even more unusual career in “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses: How James Kelly’s Nose Saved the New York City Subway published by Calkins Creek. Danger, coupled with an extraordinary amount of exercise, abounds in Kelly’s life. Ms. Anderson describes the NYC subway system of the first half of the 20th century which is ancient history to a child. Illustrator, Jenn Harney, evokes the New York City subway system darkness, smells and noises with bright colors against dark blue and gray backgrounds. Bile colored swirls waft through the pages leading the reader on an interesting path. As always Ms. Anderson includes a collection of facts and primary and secondary sources in the end papers. 

 

Visit author Beth Anderson:  https://bethandersonwriter.com 

Visit illustrator Jenn Harney:  http://jkharney.blogspot.com/

Boulder Book Store:  https://www.boulderbookstore.net/book/9781684373994

Previous posts about Beth Anderson:  http://bethsbiblio.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-inconvenient-alphabet.html

Cherries in phyllo pastry

 

16 ounces frozen dark sweet cherries, slightly more than 3 cups

8 ounces phyllo sheets (1/2 of a box of phyllo)

1 Tablespoon olive oil, to be divided

2 Tablespoons butter, to be divided

Sprinkle of nutmeg, less than 1/16 of a teaspoon

It is best to have all the ingredients out on the counter before opening the phyllo.

Generously grease a 9 1/2 inch pie pan. Layer 2 to 6 sheets of phyllo pastry in the pan, edges will hang over. With your fingers, gently and rapidly spread olive oil over the top sheet of phyllo. In the opposite direction layer another 2 to 6 sheets of phyllo and spread olive oil over the top sheet. Continue until all 8 ounces of phyllo sheets are in the pan. Do not add olive oil to the top layer. Add all the cherries; dot the cherries with slivers of butter. Carefully fold the excess phyllo over the cherries. The cherries will be visible in the middle. Dot the folded over phyllo with slivers of butter. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes. Remove from heat; cool for 5 to 10 minutes and then serve.

Serves 6 people.

Notes: Very good and a fast, easy way to eat warm fruit at breakfast on chilly mornings. Serve in bowls and spoon the excess juices over the baked phyllo pastry.

Individual Quesadillas

 

6 white corn tortillas, small

6 yellow tomatoes, smallish

6 slices provolone cheese

Grease baking sheet. Lay out the corn tortillas. Slice tomatoes and place on tortillas. Top each tortilla with a slice of provolone cheese. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.

Serves 2-6 people.

Notes: Grilled cheese variation 2

Grilled Cheese and Pink Lady Apple

4 slices Swiss cheese

1 Pink lady apple

4 slices of brown bread such as wheat and oats or pumpernickel

Whole grain mustard

Grease cookie sheet or flat cake pan. Place bread slices on pan. Spread each slice with mustard. Slice apple. Divide apple slices and place on bread. Top with Swiss cheese. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.

Serves 4 people.

Notes: Grilled cheese variation 1

Date: 27 October 2020