I have a rule in my house. No fighting in the kitchen. No tantrums or moodiness. I tell little boys, if you’re going to pull a fit, you have to leave the kitchen. This is our happy space. This is where we cook, bake and love.
I’m firm about protecting this space in my home and this is why I’m fed up with most the cooking shows that are challenge shows.
As I’m writing this, I’m watching the Next Great Baker. Most of these contestants are not people I would want in my kitchen. Although divided into teams, one girl is trying to get her team to lose because she has immunity and wants one of the other girls to go home. She is planning sabotage. One guy just said, “it’s going to be an all out blood bath.” Another guy tells the judges he shouldn’t be sent home because he has devoted his life to baking, has no family and no friends and, thus, has the time to “make it far” in this business. No one seems to like him. He doesn’t care.
Many of these challenge shows feature toxic people looking for their 15 minutes of culinary fame, stepping over each other, screaming the F bomb, and taking each other down.
No thanks. I know the producers push these fights, because viewers enjoy them. Yuck! I might be in the minority here, but I don’t think any prize is worth losing your soul for, especially if it involves food. It’s antithetical to everything I believe.
Back in my own kitchen, the only thing that gets heated up is the oven, often to a very high heat, because I like to roast. I even roasted a salad in my last post. Today I’m giving you roasted pasta. The fettuccine noodles are cooked first, then roasted to get that crispiness on the edges, the way lasagna gets. It’s something different, not for everyone, but we love it.
It happened by chance. I had some fettuccine in olive oil in the refrigerator and thought that will work for tonight’s dinner with roasted broccoli. Instead of heating up the pasta, after the broccoli was done, I just threw it on top. Who knew we would love this so much? Who knew that when pasta crunches up on the ends, it adds in a fun texture?
We’ve made this again and again. It’s fast, simple, yet a worthy meal for a Monday night.
So tell me, do you enjoy the kitchen fights on television?
- ½ pound fettuccini
- 4 cups of broccoli pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- sea salt
- red chile flakes
- Preheat oven to 425
- Cook fettuccine according to directions.
- Toss with half of the olive oil, salt, pepper,
- While pasta is cooking, toss broccoli with other half of olive oil, chile flakes, roast for 15 minutes or until almost done.
- Once pasta is cooked, toss with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper.
- Toss over the broccoli and roast for 5 -8 minutes. Edges will get crispy.
- Serve immediately.
Lora says
January 20, 2013 at 9:29 amAgreed. I like to think my kitchen is an oasis of creativity and love. No negative vibes in the kitchen. Even though I was a TV producer for many years, I still don’t want any of those shows. Now I know why. Thanks for pointing that out. I love the idea of roasted fettuccini!
Nina says
January 16, 2013 at 8:36 pmOh wow…looks yum. Roasted pastas are always fully flavored ones:).
About the kitchen rule, yup I agree with you. I have told my little one so many times that now she comes to the kitchen and says – mommy no no kitchen:) btw she is just 2yrs old:)
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
January 16, 2013 at 3:37 pmRoasted pasta, what a great concept!
Shanna says
January 16, 2013 at 1:07 pmHa! Angela, I love the parallel between hot tempers and the hot oven–I’m definitely with you and want only the latter in our kitchen. I think there’s something really lovely about the way you want to protect your food space and keep it peaceful and full of love. I bet that’s something little boys will grow up and remember well.
Sanne says
January 16, 2013 at 3:55 amI love the roasted pasta! The one cooking show I love is Masterchef Australia. The judges and contestants are truly passionate about their foods and friendly towards each other.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
January 16, 2013 at 3:08 amI love that rule Angela! And I just watched the first season of the Great Food Truck Race and many of those people I wouldn’t want to be in the same kitchen with, let alone buy food from!
Norma-Platanos, Mangoes and Me! says
January 15, 2013 at 4:14 pmI am so sick and tired of these shows that I rarely watch them. There are a few I still watch. Roated pasta…how freaking cool…
Joan Nova says
January 15, 2013 at 3:57 pmI haven’t done this, but I totally ‘get it’! The problem in my kitchen is that there is never leftover pasta!
bellini says
January 15, 2013 at 11:11 amThe answer is no. I even eliminated my favourite Food Network Channel because it was more reality TV than cooking. I miss my favourite cooking shows where I found good recipes and techniques and felt a rapport with the chef. As for roasted pasta I would never have thought of it.
Rosa says
January 15, 2013 at 8:38 amScrumptious! Roasted pasta are so flavorful.
Cheers,
Rosa