Spaghetti Aglia OlioMy friends were picking olives this past weekend in New Zealand on Waiheke Island and then I had this dish at Momma Dolce's so thought I would post this simple recipe.

Two simple ingredients make a fantastic, quick dish which is one of my favorites.
Garlic and olive oil.

When you are tired and want to eat something quickly do this:
>Boil your spaghetti in salted water, make it al dente.

>In a seperate bowl chop 2-3 cloves of garlic and douse with 5-6 heaping tablespoons of olive oil more if you please. Use the best quality olive oil you can get as this makes a difference. Use extra virgin olive oil if you can.

>Add a few tbsps of the boiling water that is cooking your pasta, with a fork mash this all together so the garlic infuses in the olive oil.

>By the time the pasta is cooked your little olive oil concoction can be dumped into the pot, stirred up and served.

For those who like it spicy add some hot chili peppers, and salt and pepper to taste. Add fresh basil if you want to add another gorgeous, fresh flavour.

Et voila!
You have a delicious dinner...

Groundhog day

With all the choice in the world some people like to stick to the tried and tested, old reliable, familiar comfort foods. The Graci's seem to have this trait. Like grandfather and granddaughter they have spaghetti every day! It is tough to beat as they enjoy it while the rest of us pick and push at the exotic item that has landed on our plates. I once got a quarter of a pineapple with pink colored coconut sprinklings over top of a banana as an appetizer?! Maybe this is the Caribbean way? Mind you it was good - it just felt wrong to have at the start of my meal.

At least the waiter knew her order each night! The maitre d' loved her so much he always came around to give her a kiss, ask about her meal and make the rest of us gag at the love-bond. After a few nights of constant 'bella, bella' comments we plotted to throw her overboard so that we would perhaps receive some compliments the next evening. The plan failed so we listened to more sickly sweet comments about our braided little friend....admittedly, she is cute.