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Big Black Dog: Festa Italiana!!!

March 18, 2008

Festa Italiana!!!

I have 2 good friends, Lucy and Maryanne, that happen to be excellent cooks and ITALIAN...am I fortunate or what!!! I am constantly picking their brains for ideas and even though I am English with a bit of a French twist, I do make a mean pasta dish every once in a while.

I have wanted to try a pasta dish with balsamic vinegar forever and last night I set about experimenting. I adapted my own pasta sauce recipe and it turned out outrageously good. I rarely ever use a full lb of pasta but I did last night and there was not a strand left nor any sauce.





I am very excited to enter "Festa Italiana" hosted by Maryann of Finding La Dolce Vita and Marie of Proud Italian Cook, 2 of my very favorite bloggers!! Oh my, I've spent hours reading their blogs and enjoyed every minute.





Linguine with Chicken and Balsamic Vinegar
Recipe developed in the kitchen of Big-Black-Dog with a little help from my "pack"

2 deboned chicken breasts
1-28 oz can of Marconi Italian Plum Peeled Tomatoes
1 lb. linguine
2 TBL butter
1/2 c. plus abt 2 TBL EVOO
5-6 cloves of fresh garlic
1 tsp dried tarragon
1/2 tsp hot Hungarian paprika
1 TBL dried basil
2 TBL Balsamic Vinegar
1/8 tsp anchovy paste
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning or Pinch of oregano/marjoram/sage/rosemary
1/2 c. minced fresh parsley or 2 TBL dried parsley
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Heat butter in heavy bottomed pot. When butter is bubbly but not brown, add a splash of EVOO and saute chicken pieces until lightly browned. Remove chicken.

2. Using the heavy pot that you cooked the chicken in add 1/2 c. EVOO and turn the burner down to low. Add whole garlic cloves to EVOO and simmer on low heat until golden brown and soft. Turn the burner off and remove garlic cloves but retain pot with EVOO for Step 4.

With a fork mash garlic cloves and mix in anchovy paste until well blended.

3. Start your pasta water, abt 8 cups, and bring it to a boil. Add a shake or 2 of salt and I always add a splash of EVOO. Add linguine and cook to package directions.

4. While your pasta water is heating, drain whole tomatoes but reserve juice. Heat heavy pot with EVOO and add whole tomatoes and break apart with a fork. Add chicken, tarragon, paprika, basil, Italian Seasoning, fresh pepper and garlic/anchovy mix and about 1/2 the reserved tomato juice and simmer for about 8 minutes.

5. If you want a thinner sauce you can add the remaining tomato juice at this time.

6. At the last minute add parsley and balsamic vinegar to sauce gravy and stir.

7. Top linguine with sauce gravy and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.


All Rights Reserved 2008 © Big Black Dog

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8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great job! I'm hungry now :)
Thanks for joining in on our festa, Michelle!

March 18, 2008 at 4:09 PM  
Blogger Proud Italian Cook said...

Thanks so much Michelle! This looks delicious, and it will be a great addition to our Festa Italiana table!

March 18, 2008 at 4:10 PM  
Blogger Thistlemoon said...

This sounds great! I often put a little balsamic vinegar in my pasta sauce - it just adds another element to the sauce!

Welcome to The Foodie Blogroll!

March 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM  
Blogger Michelle said...

Maryann and Marie...you guys are fast. I just sent in my entry and a few minutes later I received your comments.

So sweet of you and I can't wait to sit at your table for the Festa!

And thanks Jenn for adding me to the Foodie Blog Roll so quickly. WOW...slow down girl! :))

March 18, 2008 at 4:51 PM  
Blogger OhioMom said...

Isn't it wonderful how "we get a little help from our friends" ? Love the dish Michelle.

March 19, 2008 at 7:31 AM  
Blogger Lucy..♥ said...

Oooh, it does look good ! I will fit this into the menu for next week ;-)

March 19, 2008 at 3:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SAUCE????????????
it's gravy ;-)

Can you see me now LOL

March 19, 2008 at 8:00 PM  
Blogger Michelle said...

You stinker Maryanne!! Yes, I can see you!!

I fixed my "sauce" mistake. Hey, I'm still learning here. LOL!!

Michelle

March 19, 2008 at 9:05 PM  

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