Mark Preston is a food writer, a blogger, and the author of California Mission Cookery, a cookbook on the early cuisine of the Californio population, which he discovered while working as an archivist for the UCLA library. Last October, he got in touch ... Continue reading
Tag: penne
Saffron Penne
Roasted zucchini and/or shrimp are common additions to saffron-based pasta sauces. This recipe, however, is about the simplest saffron sauce, which is just made of saffron and cream. The fat contained in the cream has the ability to bind with parts of ... Continue reading
Vodka Pasta (Made Vegetarian)
I’ve been away for so long that I feel almost ashamed of myself! Luckily, this is not sufficient to stop me from posting again :) As you can see from the pictures below, I’m cooking in a different kitchen :) – this is part of the ... Continue reading
Tortiglioni all’Arrabbiata
Sugo* all’Arrabbiata is a classic pasta sauce from central/southern Italy that can be prepared very quickly, while the pasta cooks. This sauce is traditionally quite spicy, and this is at the origin of its name (all’arrabbiata, in Italian ... Continue reading
Pasta Names Explained
In this atypical post, we will go over some of the most common pasta cuts and describe the origins of their names. We will use the following template: Italian Name (Literal Translation) Photograph* (photos are at scale) The root word that ... Continue reading
Pasta with Gorgonzola
This quick and versatile recipe is another great representative of the cuisine of northern Italy. With any kind of strong, creamy cheese and a handful of always-ready ingredients, this delicious sauce can be whipped together from scratch in minutes. In ... Continue reading
Pasta 101 – A Primer on the Most Iconic Italian Food
Pasta is probably the most recognized Italian dish. And for good reasons. Pasta plays a fundamental part in the diet of every Italian – even daily! This article describes all main pasta types. Italians like pasta because they know it’s a ... Continue reading