Wednesday, September 12, 2012

A Week of Pasta

Homemade biscotti, homemade yellow squash and tomato sauce,
and penne (not homemade)

Last week I was away from blogging. After a quiet time with family on Labor Day, rest of the week turned into a chaos: teenager's school activities, college search, ACT, scholarships search, a job search for husband, helping our daughter with her college, my own job hunt, interrupted by couple of power outages were less than blog friendly. Each time I started to respond to the comments, I would be interrupted by some emergency. After it happened third time on the row, I decided it was a sign to take a break and take care of all things required my attention.  We were able to sort things out and make plans, and now I can get back to blogging and share some recipes. 

Homemade fettuccine and homemade pesto
My dear friends, please, come back for biscotti recipe... :)

See you,
Marina

64 comments:

  1. Oh My! YUM!
    Beautiful Dishes!
    You could use some comfort food. Sounds like you have had "one" of those weeks.

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    1. Sometimes it happens, and I just need to pause and sort things out, or just wait. Thanks Sheila, for your compliment on my dishes :)

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  2. Hope it's smooth sailing and quiet in your home for some time to come! The pasta looks wonderful!

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    1. Hi Della, it's never completely smooth and quiet, but it gets better. :)

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  3. I am already hungry looking at all those pasta dishes. Looking forward for some biscotti. I absolutely adore those cookies, I can eat tons of them but actually have never baked them myself :-)

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    1. HI Joanna, check out the biscotti, I already posted the recipe. :)

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  4. Those pasta dishes look mouth wateringly delicious! The sauce with squash is different than the ordinary tomato sauce I use. Squash and pasta are favorites at my house so the combination sounds great. I hope you have a peaceful day!--------- Shannon

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    1. Thank you Shannon! when I make tomato sauce for my pasta I always add some vegetables to it: this way our teenager will eat it... :)

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  5. That biscotti looks so good!!! And this week I have been craving pasta badly! Great post.

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    1. Thanks Jess. I make pasta probably every week, different shapes and fillings, and then I have it when one of those week happens... :)

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  6. Sounds like a hectic week and what could be more comforting than a bowl of pasta.

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  7. Perfect, Marina! You're talented! :) Kisses, good day and thank you for your always kind comments! :) :*

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    1. aww, Valentina, thank you! your comments are so sweet... :)

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  8. Pasta is seriously the best, a week of pasta is one commitment I could get behind!

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  9. With all that's going on you still found time and energy to make homemade fettuccine and homemade pesto????? Please send me some of that time and energy.

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    1. Lol, Norma! You are so kind! Making pasta during one of those weeks is like a meditation, calms me down, gives me time to think... And I have pasta roller attachment, that is like a music to my ears. .. :)

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  10. One of my daughters new school friends has an Italian nonna who has introduced my daughter to biscotti and she loves it so I super keen to know how to make it, looking forward to your recipe.

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    1. Hi Liz, the recipe is posted, come check it out. Would be interesting to learn that recipe from your daughter's friend's nonna... :)

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  11. Ohh the first pic literally threw my tongue off ! !:P.. Very captivating pitures and a nice way to Enjoy Pasta

    Hey , please try and participate in my new event

    Cook with-Poppy Seeds

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    1. Thanks Nupur, I will check out your event. :)

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  12. It sounds like you were being told to step away from the computer for awhile! I like your china.

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    1. It sounds like it indeed. Thanks for the compliment on the china, it's Italian. Deruta... :) Love it!

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  13. Pasta is definitely a comfort bowl of love to me!! These look so fabulous, love your dishes! I'm excited to see your biscotti recipe, I don't go a day without my biscotti!

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    1. Thank you. I am glad you like biscotti, I love them too. Homemade taste definitely great. Especially with lemon! Come see the recipe, please... :)

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  14. Perfect dishes for a crazy week! Can't wait to read about the biscotti.

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    1. And no waiting needed: come see the recipe, it's posted... Thank you for your comment! :)

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  15. what a wonderful looking pastas!! I'll definitely be back for the biscotti!

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    1. Please do come back, I would love to know what you think. Have you changed your blog to wordpress?

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    2. Yes, I am still getting to know wordpress as it is different to blogger (still improving the site too). In time I will see which one of the two I prefer. I have set up networkedblogs, blogloving and RSS posts to follow me. I will link it to facebook too.
      Hope I won't lose you! It takes time to make friendships with fellow bloggers and you get kind of attached and look forward to each other's posts. I will certanly keep following you!
      Have a nice weekend!

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    3. I wish you all the best in that transition. I will make sure to check your blog so we don't loose each other. I am attached to all my blogging friends indeed. Sending you a big hug, Alida! Have a great week! :)

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  16. Marina, those look delicious! And I've got plenty of basil in my herb garden. I make biscotti a lot - don't think I've blogged it yet, though. A good dessert for the pesto pasta! Didn't grow any yellow squash this year, but I can pick some up at the farmers market. Hope you have a less hectic week next week!

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    1. Hi Jean, herbs are all I have so far in my garden! Heat killed almost all vegetables, despite extensive watering... :) I would like to see your biscotti recipe.

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  17. A very busy week and a very delicious plate of pasta! This looks just delicious, my friend. Thank you for sharing!

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  18. Glad you were able to take care of all your problems Marina - we all need a bit of time occasionally to sort things out in life! Looking forward to seeing the biscotti!

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    1. Hi Charles, glad to see you here: I've been missing you! :) Hope things are going well and we'll see you soon on your blog with something tasty or with a book review.

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  19. Don't you just love those inconvenient power outages?

    Both of your pasta dishes look incredible...even at almost 1am. :D (And I'm crushing on the beautiful plate! Love.)

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    1. Thank you Valerie! I think first power outage was somewhat convenient: we had a little time to reflect... :)

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  20. complimenti un blog carinissimo ti seguiro' se ti va passa mi farebbe piacere buona giornata

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  21. Oh dear, those power outages sound very inconvenient! I hope they fix whatever the problem is Marina! :D The pasta looks delicious!

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    1. Hi Lorraine. Well, I think this time power outage was very 'appropriate': After several day off my blog I finally found some time to respond to all comments, and ... suddenly the power went off. I thought it was a sign to take a break... :)

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  22. I have had those days where it is so overwhelming with scheduling the children and working out their comings and goings and coping with their interruptions etc - it's all not conducive to trying to get anything done. I love your pasta bowls - they're so pretty xx

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    1. Thank you! Yes, with kids those days happen from time to time. My teenager keeps me on my toes: he often tells me of an event he has to attend just a few hours before. Than I have to think like a fast running machine how to adjust my schedule and everything to fit his 'event' in. Kids... :)

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  23. Life's inconveniences:(
    I will come see the biscotti recipe:)

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  24. mmmm looks so good and beautiful plates!!

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    1. Thank you Lynn. Those plates make me smile... :)

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  25. I love these pasta dishes Marina, they look so fok worhty. Glad to here things are getting back to normal. Have a lovely weekend.

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    1. I don't know if with kids, especially big once, life could be normal. Tonight our teenager informed us that he has to be at school event tomorrow at 6:45 AM. Impressive, ha? :)

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  26. Oh these things happen don't they! I know I'm easily distracted when I've decided to do something! Looking forward to the biscotti!

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    1. I don't like to be distracted when I am on the project. I try to sort things out, then continue with the project! :)

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  27. I'm glad that things have settled down. Both your pasta dishes look fabulous. You've succeeded in making me hungry. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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    1. Thank you, Mary, for your kind words... :) Have a great weekend!

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  28. It all looks so good and your photos are so crystal clear & vibrant that I just want to reach thru the screen! :)

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    1. Thank you, Averie! Your compliment on the photo especially is greatly appreciated. As I am making my baby steps in photography it's important to me to hear the honest feedback from my friends... :)

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  29. Pasta looks divine! Dishes are beautiful too-))

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  30. Your pasta looks incredible my friend! And I understand how it would be hard to constantly blog under your conditions!
    Glad to have you back though :)

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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    1. Thanks Uru. You are such a sweet person! :) Have a lovely weekend. I hope all your exams are behind and you have some time to rest and enjoy more than just textbooks... :)

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  31. Marina, Both of your pasta dishes look amazing...I can relate to you on the busy week, although I sure don't have teenagers in my home any longer; all grown...married, with young children of their own, but either way, I do get involved in the little ones' busy school activities.

    Various, and endless pasta dishes are always a welcome in our family, and everyone loves pasta!

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  32. Great looking dishes (both the pasta dishes and the actual dishes holding them!). Sometimes real life makes blogging difficult, alas. But no worries - we'll always be back to read your great posts and learn new recipes. Losing power stinks. When I lived in Florida that happened too frequently, so I learned and got a battery backup for my computer - it gives you enough time to save whatever you're doing and shut down.

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Your warm comments put a smile on my heart.