Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Lemon Garlic Pasta and Simplest Garlic Bread

This Lemon Garlic Pasta is from ed&bv. I've posted about it before, and wanted to show you another pic because it's just so easy to do, especially on hot summer days. Plus...
... I've added and edit to the recipe, which I'll include in the next reprint. Before juicing the lemons, grate some of the rind using a kitchen rasp if you have one. Then, after pureeing/whisking the sauce (as you see here), add in a teaspoon or so of the lemon zest. It adds just that extra POP of lemony wow!

Also pictured is a slice of Simplest Garlic Bread from ed&bv, which I haven't talked about much - but need to! This really is the simplest garlic bread you can make. Here's the trick: Freeze your bread (sliced)! Then, remove bread from the freezer, and when still very frozen, peel a garlic clove or two and rub it against the slices of bread. Be sure the bread is just out of the freezer. Even if it thaws five minutes or so, this trick is not as effective. When very frozen, the bread acts like a grater and will wear through the garlic allowing it the flavor to absorb into each slice. Then, you either drizzle the slices with extra-virgin olive oil (or spread on some Earth Balance), sprinkle with sea salt/pepper, and add anything else you like! I tend to keep it simple with olive oil and salt, but sometimes add a touch of Parma or a scattering of chopped fresh rosemary... or some olives or sun-dried tomatoes.

I'll be taking a wee break to get a few things organized for hubby's party and also for school starting soon (hard to believe, huh? moms and dads out there). Since it will be late August before I'm back, if you haven't yet voted in the VegNews awards, please do so (polls close Aug 31st). Also, if you'd like to keep on with the luv, please add a review to Amazon... always can use lovely reviews from folks that are truly using my books!

When I return I have a giveaway to tell you about! Something I've arranged that's nothing to do with my books! And more than one opportunity to win! You'll just have to hang tough (hint) for a couple of weeks to find out more!

18 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

I'm a garlic FANATIC, so this post excites me :0)

Everyday Superhero said...

Hang tough, eh? Does the contest have something to do with The New Kids on the Block? :-)

Love the garlic bread. I make it all the time.

I'm getting The Pea ready for school too. Agh! It's her first year. I'm ok with it. Just trying to get used to the idea of the school bus.

Lauren said...

Hey Dreena,

I am a huge fan and I have been reading your blog for a while now and thought I would de-lurk myself! Mmm.. I LOVE GARLIC!! Nice post!

Judy's Nutrition said...

Yummy.

Dreena said...

vegnextdoor, you're soooo close! You're on the right track with nkotb!

Lauren, big hello back! Glad you've come out to say hi... hope to hear from you again. :) (and you'll definitely taste the fresh garlic on this bread - esp if you use thinner sliced bread, and esp if you really apply pressure to the garlic when rubbing over the frozen slices)

jess (of Get Sconed!) said...

I could totally go for a bowl of that for lunch. Thanks for the foody thoguhts!

Animal-Friendly said...

Garlic, pasta and bread certainly go together wonderfully! I can tell that my omni family would love this meal.

Everyday Superhero said...

No way! Joey from NKOTB is vegetarian and you're collaborating with him on a new cookbook!?

Seriously, I can't think of anything. Looking forward to reading what it is.

Dreena said...

vegnextdoor, ha, I like that one... but I'm afraid I'm not quite that "in" to have that collaboration! :) Ha! Like the creative guess though. Still, you're so very on track with nkotb. What's with everyone else not guessing??! Party poopers! :)

Anonymous said...

ok, try this. You went to a NKOTB concert, meet them, took your picture with them and are giving away the pictures? If not, does it have to do with food?
Heather

Dreena said...

ha, funny! Heather, that's precious. Nope, I wasn't at a nkotb concert... my younger sister was the big nkotb fan, my early teen days it was Duran Duran! Sorry to disappoint that it has nothing to do with meeting or interacting with nkotb, and no nkotb giveaway. It's a food related thing, but the hint of hangin' tough & nkotb still stands!

Anonymous said...

I am thinking a new way now....hummm. Could NKOTB be new foods?maybe videos? Not the band NKOTB
Heather

Dreena said...

Heather's getting hotter... not about the band... instead about food... :)

Everyday Superhero said...

New food, eh? Perhaps you're given away truckloads of Salba and Goji berries b/c they're so expensive and relatively new products on the store shelves.

Dreena said...

Ding! Ding! Vegnextdoor has hit it! We'll be having a Salba giveaway - details to come. :)

Carrie™ said...

Great (grate-harhar) idea for the garlic bread!

Everyday Superhero said...

Yeah, I guessed it! That's even better than winning the prize. :-)

My Pea always says, "Never give up". I was determined to guess the contest.

Caroline S. said...

the lemon zest really transforms this dish...thanks for reminding us of such a simple and powerful ingredient!