Today when I woke up I felt like it was game day. I’ve been anticipating this day for a while now. Aside from planning out the logistics of what dish I was going to make and where to get the ingredients, I’ve also had to prepare myself mentally. I’m probably just psyching myself out, after all, I’m just cooking for myself, but it has been about five months since I’ve cooked anything. My first dish after this five month sabbatical is going to be a simple one, it’s a dish I love making, pasta with basil and sausage. So simple but oh so good. It’s all about the ingredients and not fussing with them too much. To accompany my meal I’ve purchased a fine bottle of Italian wine. Her name is Rocca delle Macie and she’s from Tuscany. Here’s a pic of her:
Doing some research on Tuscan wines I discovered that the Sangiovese grape is what makes a Chianti. Similar to the French AOC, the Italians have their own DOC but with a special higher ranking for certain bottles that they guarantee ‘the stylistic authenticity of the wine through tasting-control boards’. They brand these bottles with the designation DOCG (G for Garantita). Without knowing it, I purchased a Chianti Classico with a DOCG rating for under $20. The wine, it tasted great, but to be honest with you, I didn’t think I could finish a whole bottle by myself (I surprised myself here).
But I digress, getting back to cooking, it’s like riding a bike, jump on and everything comes back to you. First you start with great ingredients:
Then you prepare your mise en place:
Now brown the sausage, then drain it (smells oh so good!):
With the sausage cooked and draining get that garlic in the same pan:
When the garlic is just slightly golden get the canned tomatoes in there with a pinch of fresh basil, break up the tomatoes then add the sausage to simmer:
Don’t forget to get your pasta going and to keep your drink on:
Now wait patiently for the sauce to get to just the right consistency:
When the sauce is just right add the pasta (cooked perfectly to al dente) with a shot of basil and toss:
Now serve it on a platter and enjoy!
Like a man who has been lost in a desert for days and has just stumbled into an Oasis to find a well and drinks greedily, I inhaled this dish with such hunger and greed that I almost felt embarrassed that my blinds were open…almost.
Did I go back for seconds? Absolutely! Enjoy it while it’s good my friends, who knows when your last meal will be.
that looks delicious! will definitely try this out on my own one day