One Year Ago today...

[[or in the last couple days..]] :D

I was in South Florida, visiting my family, and learning how to cook from my GREAT italian aunt. She's wonderful, her and my uncle both are, and i miss them very much.

We were learning how to make a proper "Aioli". Which is a combination of garlic, onions, olive oil, olives, pine nuts, parsley and basil. She makes hers with macaroni and broccoli.





Aunt Kiki's Aioli

Put oil in pot, put heat on medium (this will be a sauce) (this is for less then 1/2lb or a package of macaroni) a little more then a quarter cup of oil.
Add 5 or 6 cloves of FRESH garlic
Slice them thin, and brown them.
Then add Parsley, a level table spoon.
1/2 teaspoon basil.
6 olives cut into small pieces. (quarter pieces)
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic.
Some pine nuts (or you can add walnuts). Add a table spoon.
Let it simmer on medium.
Boil macaroni for 10 minutes.
After 6 minutes take 3/4 cup of the pasta water and add it to the oil.
Take a little at the time so it doesn't splatter at you.
Drain macaroni, then put it in dish and poor the sauce over it.

TA DAH!

Aunt Kiki Tip!! *Buy [very white] garlic, put it in the jar, whole with skin on, without cover to keep them up to 9 days.**



I learned MAD card skillz playing with my Aunt over the last 20 some years, and it's always cool to see how close the game gets AND to see who wins... I WIN!! :D :D



This meal is really great, and very inexpensive. Add whatever veggies you have on hand, add a different type of nuts, use your imagination! You will be happily surprised at how wonderful this pasta dish tastes. :D

What I have learned...

Actually, i have learned an abundance of things. Today particularly, i am learning about being random. Or "Irregularly" is what we're calling it at work. Did you know it actually takes WAY more planning to create irregularly then it does to just create with structure. You need to not only consider the actual composition, but the shape, negative space and color as well. It is RACKING my brain, but it a wonderful wonderful way.

I can't show you quite yet what i've been working on, but for now i can show you what Riley and I have learned in the kitchen.



My wonderful boyfriend who once stated he was going to cook dinner because i was in a frenzy, had his keys in his hands, and was prepared to slip out the door unnoticed. When I came downstairs and asked him where he was going, he said he didn't know what to do in the kitchen. A couple weeks later, he and I are visiting my family and cooking with my Great Aunt Kiki. (That really should say GREAT!!! because she is one of my favorite people in the world.



She taught him how to make her infamous chicken nuggets. The Italian Way.



Don't they look perdy? Even I think so!! (how strange...)



She taught me to cook Italian Pasta Fagioli. [pasta and bean soup]

Twas a great time, and it taught us to cook some new things that aren't that expensive to make. (always a good thing!!)