Pasta

Thumbnail image for Spring Pasta with Leeks, Green Peas, Asparagus and Sausage

Spring Pasta with Leeks, Green Peas, Asparagus and Sausage

May 16, 2012

Mariel here. We haven’t forgotten about Feast…just reveling in a little pre-Memorial Day mania, complete with, packing, moving, a full-scale kitchen renovation and a late-stage pregnancy. Feeling a little uninspired as of late, I turned to this easy-as-one-two-three dish brimming with loads of seasonal green veggies and a no-fuss sauce. Serve this alongside a simple [...]

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Thumbnail image for Rigatoni with Sundried Tomatoes, Pancetta, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil

Rigatoni with Sundried Tomatoes, Pancetta, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil

May 3, 2012

Mariel here. I’m not sure if it was Lana’s BLT Pasta over at Never Enough Thyme or How Sweet Eats‘ Creamy Caprese Pasta that originally inspired me, but somewhere, somehow this dish occurred to me while standing in front of the fridge. I was hemming and hawing over what to make for lunch – a [...]

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Thumbnail image for Tortellini Soup with Prosciutto and Spinach

Tortellini Soup with Prosciutto and Spinach

May 1, 2012

Mary Anne here. My generation got to enjoy the very first super-warehouse grocery stores like Sam’s and Costco. Actually, Costco was initially dubbed Price Club so I still find myself calling it that.  But the point is, I began to love a chore I had always hated – grocery shopping. The aisles brimmed with all [...]

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Thumbnail image for Meyer Lemon Pasta with Fresh Herbs, Shallots and Toasted Walnuts

Meyer Lemon Pasta with Fresh Herbs, Shallots and Toasted Walnuts

February 16, 2012

Mariel here. I’m a creature of habit. I wake up at the same time everyday – 7:45 – whether it’s a weekend or a weekday; I always kick-start the morning with a big bowl of berries and cereal; and the Today Show eases me into my routine before hitting the road for a run with [...]

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Thumbnail image for Crab Stuffed Ravioli with a Duxelle of Mushrooms, Shallots, Red Peppers, and Pistachios

Crab Stuffed Ravioli with a Duxelle of Mushrooms, Shallots, Red Peppers, and Pistachios

January 24, 2012

Mary Anne here. When I sent Mariel the pix for this recipe, I unabashedly called it the best creation yet! Now that’s pretty big talk, considering I’ve been cobbling together culinary inspirations for more than 25 years, but seriously folks – this recipe rocks! It was born on the eve of this weekend’s snow blast [...]

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Thumbnail image for Roasted Bell Pepper and Tomato Sauce

Roasted Bell Pepper and Tomato Sauce

November 21, 2011

Mariel here. So far for Secret Recipe Club, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of meeting new bloggers, or should I say, new to me. But this week, I was assigned none other than Family Fresh Cooking, one of the very first food blogs I ever started browsing. Marla is a busy So-Cal transplant from Long [...]

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Thumbnail image for Butcher’s Bolognese

Butcher’s Bolognese

November 15, 2011

Mariel here. Like most people, when I receive promotional offers in the mail, I rip ‘em right up. They’re insulting – how dare you waste my time with your meaningless spam! But I guess I was feeling generous one day and decided to read through marketing material from American Express. They were shelling out a [...]

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Thumbnail image for Harvest Lasagna with Roasted Squash and Caramelized Onions

Harvest Lasagna with Roasted Squash and Caramelized Onions

November 3, 2011

Mariel here. This past weekend, I spent some time down in Charlotte celebrating the engagement of my best friend…I just happen to be her maid of honor so it was an event I couldn’t and wouldn’t wanna miss. Unfortunately, the weather here in NYC had other plans. As many of you no doubt know, we [...]

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Thumbnail image for Orzo with Creamy Brie, Bing Cherries and Fresh Basil

Orzo with Creamy Brie, Bing Cherries and Fresh Basil

August 2, 2011

Mariel here. Recently I’ve been feeling like a neglectful bloghost. Where I’d normally stop by the back-end every other hour to tend to Feast‘s stat log and answer any reader questions, now it’s more like every other day. I’m in the throes of several new work projects and they’ve been all but consuming my life….which [...]

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Thumbnail image for Tortellini Salad with Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes, and Eggplant

Tortellini Salad with Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes, and Eggplant

July 5, 2011

Mary Anne here. My family often accuses me of being a hoarder, and if you ever took a peek into my freezer, I’m afraid you might just have to agree. This past weekend, I decided to clear out some of the “stock” that was taking up space…while simultaneously acquiring a deep-freeze burn. Out went enormous [...]

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Thumbnail image for Farfalle with a Shrimp Pomodoro Sauce

Farfalle with a Shrimp Pomodoro Sauce

May 12, 2011

Mary Anne here. Dining al fresco is one of my favorite signposts that spring has sprung in earnest, and this creation beautifully captures the promise of warm weather staples like fresh basil and rosy tomatoes. It’s a simple repast that tastes as bright as the new season. I’ve been making this sauce in various forms [...]

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Thumbnail image for Easy Whole Wheat Mac ‘n Cheese

Easy Whole Wheat Mac ‘n Cheese

March 24, 2011

Mary Anne here. This past weekend the Rittenhouse/Baker/Goodson clan regaled Mariel with a birthday celebration fit for a princess. It’s not every year you face the daunting 3-0, so it needed to be a memorable occasion that would continue to make her smile for years to come. Since she was dreading the onset of a [...]

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Thumbnail image for Brisket Ragu

Brisket Ragu

February 24, 2011

Mariel here. That Beer-Braised Brisket I made last week? Well I finally finished it off. After transforming it into delicious little sliders, I explored my inner Italian and whipped up a homemade ragu that far exceeded my expectations since a) I’m not Italian and b) I don’t have much patience when it comes to letting [...]

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Thumbnail image for Penne alla Vodka

Penne alla Vodka

February 10, 2011

Mary Anne here. I realize that we’re only just recovering from Super Bowl splurges and now Cupid’s arrow is aimed squarely at our sweet tooth, so it only seems logical to eat light, lo-cal meals. But I’m sorry, the thermometer has been plummeting here on the East Coast and the wind chill is dancing with [...]

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Thumbnail image for Tagliatelle with a Creamy Portabella Mushroom Sauce

Tagliatelle with a Creamy Portabella Mushroom Sauce

December 7, 2010

Mariel here. This was a charity creation, a recipe I whipped up solely for the sake of my mushroom-loving husband. Much to my delight however, I fell head-over-heels in love. While cream sauces can sometimes be heavy, cloying and, well, too creamy – this one is light and lively, topped off with a handful of [...]

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Thumbnail image for Ravioli with a Pumpkin-Spiked White Wine Reduction

Ravioli with a Pumpkin-Spiked White Wine Reduction

November 11, 2010

Mariel here. This is what I make for guests when I really don’t feel like making anything at all. These are – gasp – frozen ravioli, but I’ve dressed them up with a little pumpkin reduction that tricks people into thinking I’m a thoughtful, well-prepared host. In reality, this entire meal takes maybe 20 minutes. [...]

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Thumbnail image for Portabella Mushroom Risotto with Fresh Thyme

Portabella Mushroom Risotto with Fresh Thyme

October 11, 2010

Mariel here. I hadn’t made risotto in a dog’s age and since a recent trip to Costco left my fridge stocked with more ‘shrooms than a Phish concert, I figured it was high time to put them to use. My husband happens to be a huge fan of portabellas – and rice…and pasta…and butter – [...]

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Thumbnail image for Pumpkin Ricotta Lasagna

Pumpkin Ricotta Lasagna

September 27, 2010

Mariel here. A sudden 20-degree drop in the temperature left me craving something a little warmer, a little heartier, a little autumn-ier. While I initially planned on making savory pumpkin ricotta pancakes – I’ll never grow out of breakfast for dinner – I got sidetracked by the pasta aisle. Pumpkin Ravioli happens to be one [...]

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Thumbnail image for Pesto Plain and Simple

Pesto Plain and Simple

July 12, 2010

Mariel here. Pesto is the type of thing that does wonders for sprucing up a lackluster meal. Pop it on toasted bread and you’ll instantly add pep to a Tomato Salad; spread it on chicken breasts for a little zest; or just blend it with your favorite pasta. And, there are more pesto renditions than [...]

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Thumbnail image for Garden Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Dried Apricots, and Walnuts

Garden Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Dried Apricots, and Walnuts

July 6, 2010

Mary Anne here. The weather outside is frightful – and I’m not talking snow. Here in the Northeast, we’ve been hitting 90-degrees almost daily, and the Weather Channel is predicting we’ll top out at 100 by the end of the week…and it’s only the sixth of July! This past weekend, I was hankering for my [...]

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Thumbnail image for Four Cheese Crab Macaroni

Four Cheese Crab Macaroni

May 24, 2010

Mariel here (on behalf of Mary Anne). This is a new take on a family favorite, courtesy of my multi-talented mamacita. While this is HER recipe, I decided to do her a solid and write the intro – I’m certainly not trying to pass off her work as my own… By now you probably know [...]

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Thumbnail image for Pasta with Spinach and Ricotta Cheese

Pasta with Spinach and Ricotta Cheese

March 11, 2010

Mary Anne here. Recently I attended a casual dinner party at a friend’s fabulous home in Bridgehampton. One might assume the highlight of the night was the spectacular setting, the wide-open ocean views or the scintillating dinner conversation, but the true star of the event was the second course: Debra’s pasta smothered in a dreamy, [...]

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Thumbnail image for Linguine with Spicy Red Clam Sauce

Linguine with Spicy Red Clam Sauce

February 23, 2010

Mariel here. While my mom steered clear of a set weekly menu when I was a kid, Linguine with Clam Sauce (courtesy of Progresso) was definitely part of the regular rotation. Always one of my faves, I decided to try my hand at an Italian-style red clam sauce since we only dined on white clams [...]

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Thumbnail image for Fresh Tomato Sauce with Garden Vegetables

Fresh Tomato Sauce with Garden Vegetables

November 13, 2009

Mary Anne here. This recipe is yet another inspired by my dear friend, Mrs. A. When her garden tomatoes were ripe on the vine this past August, she prepared her “house specialty” sauce, sharing several unforgettably delicious portions with me. Naturally I tried to wrangle the recipe from her, but alas, she doesn’t measure when [...]

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Thumbnail image for Lasagna on the Lighter Side

Lasagna on the Lighter Side

November 2, 2009

Mariel here. This lower-fat lasagna happens to be one of the first dishes I learned to cook – right alongside enchiladas and turkey chili. While lasagna is typically the consummate high-calorie comfort food, I decided to try my hand at a lighter rendition, one I had stumbled across on Good Morning America. After an initial [...]

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Thumbnail image for Lazy Man’s Pasta all’Amatriciana

Lazy Man’s Pasta all’Amatriciana

September 9, 2009

Mariel here. If I was Italian, this recipe would have my relatives rolling over in their graves. But I’m not, so I have no shame in sharing it! While I clearly doctored a traditional Amatriciana recipe – and gasp, used store-bought tomato sauce! – I contend that this makes an apt imitator. And with minimal [...]

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Thumbnail image for Out-of-the-Kitchen Asian Noodles

Out-of-the-Kitchen Asian Noodles

September 3, 2009

Mary Anne here. Ahh! It’s Labor Day! How is this possible? I feel like I only just wrote our Memorial Day menu. I knew the summer was swishing by in a seemingly endless downpour of rain, but to wake up this morning and realize that the last official weekend of summer is upon us – [...]

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Thumbnail image for Farfalle with Fontina, Prosciutto and Crispy Leeks

Farfalle with Fontina, Prosciutto and Crispy Leeks

August 13, 2009

Mary Anne here. Last summer was one for the record books – and not in a good way. During June alone, it rained 26 out of the 30 days – I signed up for New York, not Seattle. Given the lack of sunshine, I found myself constantly craving comfort food, something to take the edge [...]

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Thumbnail image for Summer Ratatouille

Summer Ratatouille

June 1, 2009

Mary Anne here. As the Memorial Day weekend drew to a close, Mariel and I were hankering for lighter fare after feasting on Fried Chicken and Macaroni Salad. In the spirit of celebrating summer, we decided to prepare Ratatouille, another staple of my catering business. Mariel had never made this dish before, and it was [...]

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Thumbnail image for Macaroni Salad with Tuna and Sweet Pickles

Macaroni Salad with Tuna and Sweet Pickles

May 22, 2009

Mary Anne here. This can be made the day before and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. There were six kids in my family, and to this day we all prepare it in our respective homes and when there is a family reunion, the salad is always an attendee! Macaroni Salad with Tuna and Sweet Pickles Serves [...]

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Thumbnail image for Penne with Spinach and Prosciutto

Penne with Spinach and Prosciutto

April 30, 2009

Mary Anne here. This past weekend I hit the jackpot when I went grocery shopping at my local Stop & Shop (a.k.a. Peapod online). I went with the intent of creating a couple of meals that would carry me through the week, but I went shopping with just a vague idea about a pasta dinner [...]

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