I ate at Spur ...

From N

I've been dying to go to Spur since it opened, but the aforementioned budget has thwarted me. But a special visitor, H., who lives in New York, was a good reason to see what all the fuss was about.

The fuss was worth it. I heart Spur.

It's an airy space in Belltown that feels sophisticated but down to earth, with lots of wood tones and curving wood bar tables. Our server was really knowledgeable and helped me pick out a cocktail from the extensive list (only $6 at happy hour, which goes until 7 p.m.)

I loved my cocktail. I had the Foreigner, a mix of rye whiskey, flamed orange peel, two kinds of bitters (blood orange and peach) and something else that I can't remember but know for sure is delicious. The world, and especially Belltown, is awash in bad, overly sweet cocktails, and I'm a sucker for any place that knows how to serve a good, balanced one that doesn't instantly give me a sugar high. The Foreigner had a deep orange tone and was so good it practically knocked me out of my sticky(ish) booth seat.

The meal started with a little glass jar of fried hominy, which is basically fancy Fritos. Even the pickiest eaters will approve. We'd already done the great happy hour at Umi Sake House, so didn't delve too deeply into the menu, but I was drooling over veal sweetbreads with fava beans (I love any place where other people peel fresh fava beans -- it's one of my least favorite kitchen tasks), chicken confit and an ostrich burger.

I'm hungry.



We limited ourselves to the pork belly sliders. $12 only buys you two, but they are rich and succulent, with thick cubes of pork belly resting on a warm brioche bun lathered with mustard and topped with diced apple. The mustard cut the fatty pork belly and added depth, while the apple had a sweet tang. We also did a little bit of greens, picking the Yakima asparagus over the boring baby lettuces. $10 seemed like a lot for asparagus, but I would do it again for that lemony Hollondaise. It was drizzled over the asparagus, along with buttermilk-battered spring onion and a bit of miners lettuce. And that was holy hollondaise, elevating the asparagus far beyond its Yakima roots, while the fried onion added a nice bite and complexity. It was a beautiful dish.

I want to go back. Now. My wallet (and Mint.com) is grateful for happy hours...

I watched Wes stay on the Bachelorette...

From N.

Forgive me for the tardy post.

I can't believe Robby got kicked off the train. It's one thing to get booted by the Bachelorette. It's another to have an entire train stop so it can unload you like that day's trash. I never dug Robby, but he deserved better.

Moving on. So on this episode, Jillian takes the guys on a private train ride (yeah, I know I'm falling for ABC phrasing everything as if Jillian actually planned it) from Vancouver to Banff. She ditches Robby early and then parcels out a snowshoe date with the rest of the guys and has a solo date with Reid, who is beyond neurotic about raw meat and fondue. Get over it. Oh, and Tanner drops his pants. ABC fuzzed out most of it, but apparently he is blessed. But he loves feet, so really, I don't care. Tanner has outlived his usefulness.

This episode was strangely boring except for Wes. And the Wes scandal is getting old. Yes, he's on the show to sell records. Yes, Jillian is blind and doesn't see Wes is a liar. Yes, Wes is soooo obvious. But I can't believe she kept Michael over Jake for the hometown dates. Break dancing Michael is sweet, endearing and beyond puppy-ish in his adoration for Jillian. Why not give handsome, "perfect" Jake a chance to prove he can open up a bit and be more normal than his perfect self? I know it's getting a little cloying, but come on Jillian, you like Michael better?

Isn't it usually just four people get hometown dates? How did it grow to five? Have I forgotten the ways of the Bachelor(ette)?

Also if you like to get your reality theory on, check out realitysteve.com. He has a scandalous theory (stop reading now if you hate spoilers!) that producers set it up for Ed to leave and then come back because Jillian liked him the most. I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but I would LOVE it if Ed returned. I just don't like the rest of the guys as much. And for more insight - and occasional posturing - read Chris Harrison's EW blog here.

I ate at Anchovies & Olives...

From N.

I have been taking it somewhat easy with restaurants lately, trying to keep things within my Mint budget, which loves to remind me just how much I spent this month. I need and loathe Mint.com. When on budget, I tend to eat a lot in the ID for cheap, delicious Chinese or Vietnamese.

But I joined up with some friends to revive a moribund Dinner Club and finally made it to Anchovies & Olives on Capitol Hill. The latest restaurant from local superstar Ethan Stowell is more casual than his swanky Union. It's more akin to Tavolata, but also has big open windows great for hanging out to wave to friends walking by and offering a decent view of downtown, even on a rainy evening.

Here, the menu boasted several cold plates with beautiful raw fish, some small appetizers, pastas and a few additional cooked fish dishes. The escolar ($14) from the cold menu was my absolute favorite of the night. Meltingly soft, raw sliced escolar, or butter fish, was combined with slivers of white peaches, crunchy pine nuts, coppa and olive oil for a mesmerizing dish. The layers of crunchy, sweet, tart and buttery fish was amazing, and I could eat it over and over and over again. I also adored my uni pasta (pictured, $14), or tagliari. Uni was cooked with butter and then mixed with fresh pasta and bread crumbs for a whiff of salty, buttery sea air that wouldn't turn off even uni-haters. I do think the pasta should have been slightly more al dente, but it was a generous serving and I was not about to complain.

A cauliflower salad with ingredients I can't remember beyond pine nuts also had a nice mix of textures and a salty anchovy dressing. We also had some raw oysters, served with diced apples, and a spoonful of uni that arrived with sweet cantaloupe and crisp cucumber.

I love the style of food served here; Mediterranean with its focus on fish and pastas, and a really great cold menu. But the prices are high. I would rather pay a lot less for some of the food. The server sold the place as small plates for sharing, but I don't think small plates should cost $14 or $16 a pop. In my world, that's the price for an entree, and most of the plates were legitimately small.

But if someone else is buying, I'm definitely there.

I went to K's rehearsal dinner and wedding..

I'll leave this blog to K this when she gets back from her honeymoon, if she so desires, but wanted to put up a picture of the gorgeous table she put together from the rehearsal. It was at DeLille Cellars in Woodinville, catered by Green Leaf. It was stunning. Great job, K!!

I watched Ed leave the Bachelorette...

From N.

K is in the throes of wedding week, and I have not been picking up the slack. But I promise to post soon about topics other than the Bachelorette.

But for now, the Bachelorette. (I'm addicted, leave me alone.)

Ed, I heart Ed. And I would have called him an idiot if he hadn't left, though Jillian at least advised him to one day should remember to put love before work.

Then Jillian let herself wallow, wondering what was wrong with her. Snap to it, Jilly. Look at the odds. The guy basically had no choice. Smart Ed. Sad Jilly. And sad N.

Now that he's gone, I feel morose. Jillian had a great date with winemaker Jesse, who is now a frontrunner along with Kiptyn. I can't imagine her picking anyone else beside Kiptyn, but the producers have certainly tricked me before. And I really don't like the rest of the bunch. She clearly regards breakdancing Michael as a little brother with no heat or passion. Reid doesn't do it for me, and perfect Jake looks less and less like a match the longer the show goes. While for her sake, I hope Jake outlasts Tanner and Wes, I can't imagine how boring the show could possibly get if those two leave. All I have to live for is Kiptyn and Jesse? It's gonna be a long finale.

Fashion commentary: I really disliked her green satin dress tonight. I disliked the shiny satinness of it, I disliked the ruched folds and I disliked the mermaid shape. Jillian has been a bit up and down on the fashion. I adored last week's gold mini dress. It was hot and looked great on her. But she also sometimes shows up on outfits that I question. Tonight's was the worst.

I went camping at Lake Crescent....

From N.

I always worry about campsites whenever I go car camping. I've spent many a holiday weekend driving in slow circles around a campground, fingers crossed that I'll find a site. I almost always do, but every time I tell myself to reserve a site before I head out. After I discovered the state park online reserving system, I started obsessing about staying at a state park and contemplating staying at Battleground Lake, even though I had no idea where it was. A. told me to stop being obsessing and being Patty Planner. It was going to be fine.

He was right. A chance of thunderstorms east of the Cascades drove us west. We headed out to the OP (the Olympic Peninsula), aiming for Fairholm campground on the far west end of Lake Crescent. (The lake is west of Port Angeles about three hours via Bainbridge Ferry.) We discovered a tent-only area on the shore, and staked the tent with this view.

I have to admit I sort of dragged A out to the woods. He calls camping sleeping in rocks and dirt and hiking ridiculous. He also needs some critical gear, like an air mattress so you aren't actually sleeping among the rocks. But he humored me for this trip because I love both and wanted him to do it with me. And once we got to Lake Crescent, which is stunningly beautiful, we had shared ADD: we wanted to rent a rowboat, we wanted to go on a walk, we wanted to go to Sol Duc hot springs.

We found out rowboating was 7 miles away at Lake Crescent Lodge, and the hot springs cost more than we wanted to spend. So we went on a leisurely walk and admired the turquoise waters before settling in with burgers and Caesar salad from a bag and a campfire.

It wasn't the most comfortable night on hard ground, but on Sunday, A. still insisted he wanted to go on a strenuous hike with me. I gave him one: Pyramid Peak was 2,500 feet elevation and 7 miles round trip. But the views at the top were worth the sweat and blisters, even if A. also came out with a scraped-up knee.

But he says he'll do it again. I win.

I watched the Bachelorette take Vancouver ....

From N.

Jillian had her hands full tonight. I felt bad for the girl. Until now, she seemed really grounded and perceptive, but I can't blame a girl for being starry eyed about a guy who wrote a song for her. Even if he is smarmy.

This week's cliffhanger was supposed to be a big reveal of the guy(s) with a girlfriend. But when confronted, nobody *cough, Wes* stepped forward at the rose ceremony. Poor Tanner of foot fetish fame got the brunt of it by coming forward and saying someone had a girlfriend. The foot thing really bugged me last week, but I liked his honesty and felt sorry for him as he worried the guys would know he did the ratting.

But there was plenty of other fun as Jillian took the guys to her hometown of Vancouver. She had a lovely kayaking and cooking date with Kipton, who I like more all the time. Jake has been a frontrunner to me, but she had a weird discussion with him about his "too perfect" status. Jake reminds me of heartthrob Bachelor Travis, who remains in a neck-and-neck race with Andrew Firestone as my favorite bachelors. Since when is too perfect bad? But it does put a kink in Jake's early lead.

Much was made in previews of the confrontation about the girlfriend situation, but in the end no one confessed. *Cough, Wes.* At least Jillian was smart to send the contractors home. Goodbye a**hole Dave. His arrogance and aggressiveness did not bode well. Juan, we hardly knew ya but it was already too much.

And Wes remains, so we are still guaranteed some drama. I don't want Jillian's heart totally broken, but the Bachelorette would not be interesting if drama-free. And there's a lot of crying next week, and I really, really, really want to know why.

For now, Ed is my favorite, maybe because he reminds me so much of Denny from "Grey's Anatomy." Jake and Kipton also are my top contenders, though Jesse is coming on strong. Am I forgetting someone? Who do you like?

I had a no good, very bad food day ...

From N.

I must confess my food sins. The day started off harmlessly enough with a croissant and coffee at Caffe Vita. I do that once or twice a week, no harm no foul. That's what working out is for. But then I moved on to lunch from Skillet, feasting on a burger topped with delicious, delicious bacon jam and cambozola. And fries. I decided salad for dinner or bust.

Bust.

I should have known better. I was heading out to happy hour with K and friend T. to hash out final wedding details. When is happy hour ever healthy? And we had picked The Saint on Capitol Hill. The choices there were either carne asada tacos, mole enchiladas or nachos with queso fresco, fresh guacamole and beans. And for some ridiculous reason, I wanted those nachos.

K. and I ended up later that evening at the Sorrento. The very nice, air-conditioned Sorrento, which was so relaxing on a hot evening. Someone mentioned ice cream. K. turned it into a Coke float. I succumbed. K and I topped off the evening with the floats, with extra Coke in the white pitcher.

There's always tomorrow.

I *was* the bachelorette, LOL! ;)

From K

And I think that might help explain why I've not written since the weekend :)

Truth be told, I wanted to go to Miami to celebrate my upcoming nuptials. But between the economy, friends having babies and a variety of other factors, staying close to home seemed the better plan, and it ended up being so much fun! We started the party relaxing in the 35th-floor pool at the Seattle Sheraton (nothing quite like being a tourist at home), where you're at eye-level with most of the downtown skyline. My friend R kept commenting that she felt like she was in Denver. I felt calm and relaxed for the first time in weeks since this whole wedding-planning adventure began!

We got all dolled up and scooted up the hill to Oddfellows, one of my favorite spots to dine as a big group. The pulled pork sandwich was yum as usual, though I think the one at Skillet remains the sandwich to beat. It was a delight connecting with so many girlfriends! We drifted to Molly Moon's for ice cream, upstairs to the Century Ballroom for salsa and then to Havana to get our groove on. After a brief, yet lovely, sleep, we walked to brunch at Lola, where I capped off one of the happiest weekends to date with this amazing concoction:



By all means, next time you're at Lola, get the eggs benedict. Light, lemony, dilly, dainty even. Those perfectly poached eggs you tap with your fork to release the luscious yolk. That perfectly chewy English muffin that doesn't fight your knife. A sauce that does not overpower the bite-sized, thin layers of ham. Perfection!

I watched the Bachelorette...

From N.

I'm finally caught up on the Bachelorette, thanks to some extreme peer pressure. I may even be back every week. (Even though Jillian isn't from here, I'm milking that Kirkland connection.) Here's a recap of what we've got so far on Jillian and her men.

The Bachelorette is turning into The Amazing Race. Last week, the guys had to scramble to find Jillian using clues, and the scene even included the obligatory driving-madly-around-a-city shots. I almost expected to see Phil Keoghan at the end.

Then this week, Ed and Jillian landed in a helicopter on the top of a very tall building with ropes stretching from the roof to the ground and I forgot which channel I was on. I always fall for the guys on the solo dates. Ed was adorable. And I understand his fear of heights, although I still don't understand the "activity" involved in being lowered from the top of a building to the ground on a rope. It didn't seem to involve any effort on Ed or Jillian's part, but I kind of like the synergy. Oh, right, The Amazing Race is on CBS.

Jillian's dates this week also included a photo shoot at a car museum with Sasha and "acting" on a cowboy set. I am over "acting" out a television show or movie on group dates, but Jillian has had some fun dates so far, including a honky tonk one with Jake, that are better than past Bachelors or Bachelorettes. I attribute it to her spunky personality. Her kissing spree has been surprising, but I'm surprisingly OK with it. High five Jillian!

And then there's David. And Juan. And Tanner and his foot fetish. Shudder. I suppose boring must go first. Goodbye Brad. David's testosterone is out of control. He wants too much to beat up Juan. Though I sort of want to beat up Juan. I can't decide if they should fight. OK, yes, they should.

I'm rooting for Ed and hot pilot Jake and can't remember anybody else's name. What say you?

I got a pedicure at Julep

From K.

My toes are twinkly once again after a visit to Juelp. I was supposed to be at bridal bootcamp at the Olympic Sculpture Park (more on that later). Instead I cried "uncle" on my pre-wedding/new job stress and made my way downtown to the perky little salon run tucked between the Red Lion and Betsey Johnson.

Let's get some things out of the way. Yes, Julep's expensive ($48 for a basic pedicure that comprised a brief soak, foot-and-calf massage, cuticle work, shaping and polish. A much fancier one, replete with scrubs and essential oils, is $74). You could get a spa mani/pedi at many joints around town for the same price (Diamond Nails in lower Queen Anne comes to mind). What comes with the higher price at Julep, though, is peace of mind. All those tools are sterilized. All the seats are clean. All the bowls are washed. No nicks, cuts, scratches or other reasons for squeamishness. And, they have movies on a flat screen, plus Fran's chocolate. And with a state banquet permit from your local liquor store, you and your ladies can nurse the beverage of your choice while they go to town on your tootsies.

They also have this new deal which seems good if you are a monthly service type of gal.

Can't wait to show off my new pedi at my bachelorette tomorrow night! ;)

I have bike guilt...

From N.


I have a bike. I have ridden it less than 10 times since I bought it two summers ago. I know I should "bike to save the world," especially to work, but I am vain. I like dresses. I don't like being wind-blown and sweaty when I arrive. It's a nuisance.

But in L.A., biking can be a lot more casual. Over Memorial Day weekend, I biked from this fleet on this beach. It was easy to bike to yoga and to the farmers market, and I thought, "N, what is your problem? Others do it all the time."


I don't have a lock, which my main lame excuse for not biking outside of occasional weekend rides. I'd like to change my gas guzzling, kill-the-world ways, but am baffled by conundrums like how to bike with my yoga mat, still wearing dresses to work, and how to deal with getting from work to yoga quickly. Is it time to get a step-through so I can bike in a skirt like the Dutch? I have some thinking to do. All suggestions appreciated.

I made lemon poundcake...

From N.


I think baking is messy (I blame flour) and not always rewarding (savory over sweet). So when the baking impulse strikes, I have to run with it.

My sister and I were in L.A. over Memorial Day, plotting a grilled dinner from Food & Wine magazine when I saw a recipe for lemon poundcake. We had already decided on a dinner of steak with avocado cilantro sauce, grilled veggies and heirloom tomatoes with basil vinaigrette, but I really wanted to make that poundcake. She was not enthused.

Then we found the sweetest, most delicious strawberries ever at the Santa Monica farmers market and I was determined to do it.

I didn't have an electric mixer, so had to combine butter and sugar by hand (a fork) until pale and fluffy. Not recommended. But the cake, which includes six eggs and lots of zest, bakes for an hour and a half at 325, which results in a beautiful golden crust and tangy lemon punch. With freshly whipped cream and those amazing strawberries, I was proud of the results.



It also completely burned up all my baking gusto.
You won't see me baking anything sweet again until Christmas.

I finally visited Luly Yang

From K.

I've passed its dainty windows many a time, gazing in at the lofty creations. On Saturday, I finally stepped inside.

Luly Yang reminds me a bit of Tiffany but mostly bridal. Glass cases scattered hither and thither hold such delicate treasures, like shoulder duster earrings of the very best crystal, whimsical seed pearl creations that seem to belong in an art gallery and bags so precious I'd be nervous to carry them lest they drop into a Seattle puddle. It also resembles Tiffany in that it's difficult to browse without a handler of some sort. A willowy, stylish, Vera Wang look-alike in a pale tan trench dress and lofty heels guided me through the boutique on my quest for perfect earrings. Upon finding them, I realized perfection has a price, and sadly, not one I can afford just this moment.

Here's one of the fantastical gowns at the shop (they are redoing the costumes for Teatro Zinzanni)



Someday, if my fiance or I have reason to attend a fancy gala in a major East Coast city I may spring for a custom gown and shoes. How delicious. Here in Seattle, my BCBG frocks serve me just fine :)

I got a new dress (and more)...

From N.

I will never not shop, but I have had incredible restraint lately. Until Saturday, I hadn't bought anything related to my wardrobe since April 5 (except for the unfortunate eluxury incident when I ordered a $113 Loeffler Randall dress and the company called to say it made a mistake and it wasn't in stock. I shook my fist at them, but my checking account thanked me). I can't remember the last time I lasted so long.

Then there was this weekend. My parents were in town visiting, so I dragged my mom off to Nordstrom Rack. I have three weddings this year, am in two of them (one as maid of honor, one as a reader), plus have two rehearsal dinners and two bachelorette parties. It's a lot of dressing up, and Facebook makes me look like I only own two nice dresses. Yeah, the whole world doesn't need to know.

We combed through the designer racks - plenty of stuff marked an additional 50 percent off - but those designer sizes ain't always flattering. Instead, I found a shimmery bronze, loosely flattering Theory dress for $120, Earnest Sewn straight leg jeans for $49, and a purple James Perse button-down for $40. (Full disclosure: my mom bought my clothes. Moms are the best.)

But when I got home, I realized the dress looked very similar to a gold one I already own. Then shopping guru lookrichbitch told me about a Diane Von Furstenberg dress she tried on at the Bellevue Rack. I made a beeline out there. I didn't find the DVF, but instead picked up another Theory dress called Pixel Flower. It's silk, fits great and I love it. Perfect! (I won't reveal it since it'll be on FB soon enough, but the pattern is at left).

I'm still going to run it past My Fashion Barometer, i.e. my fashionista sister this weekend when we meet in L.A. She's also bringing me a couple of designer dresses from her extensive closet for back up. Flirty and Fabulous, here I come.

I survived Day One of the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

From K.

You wouldn't believe how much loot I got. Five pairs of earrings (three of which I'll likely return -- this IS Nordstrom, after all!), a gorgeous pave bangle, a flowery rhinestone bracelet. Man is the shopping section of my brain TIRED...



My main goal was to score a bunch of good jewelry options for my wedding (31 days to go!) but being me, I ended up finding a lot of fun casual pieces as well. And a Chanel lipstick. And adorable "something blue" panties from the lingerie department. And garters. I almost even walked out with bottles of Chloe and Bulgari fragrance, though I opted to wait since I sniffed each so many times I grew confused which essence was rose petals and which was peonies.

Ladies at the counters looked bleary-eyed by 7 p.m. Many had been on their feet since 10 a.m. and said it was the busiest the downtown store had been in some time (you could tell from the dwindling supply of costume jewelry, handbags and shoes in popular sizes). Perhaps a sale makes everyone feel less guilty about the economy? Who knows. I'm just happy to have some new (affordable) fun for my jewelry box :)

I ate crawfish...

From N.

Damn you Alton Brown.

I struggled the first time I made a pit stop at Crawfish King in the International District. It's hard to get the tail meat out of those spicy little buggers. But then Alton featured crawfish on an episode of "Good Eats" on the Food Network, and he made the crawfish (sustainable seafood!) look so good and so easy. I was ready for another round. Crawfish, you are mine.

But it was not so easy. It was so hard. Alton showed this simple twist, open and squeeze, and the tail meat looked like it popped right out. Instead I had to peel the tails, which was slow. I also tried to squeeze the deliciousness out of the thorax, but the spiciness made me flinch and I couldn't get anything out. I resorted to digging stuff out with my fingers. It wasn't pretty.

The server also claimed people eat two to four pounds each. At $8.99 a pound, that ain't cheap. We ordered 6 pounds for four people and by the end of my 1 1/2 pounds, I was exhausted. And not quite full.

So we went to that savior of all frustrating meals: Molly Moon. Ginger ice cream and fresh waffle cones fixes everything.

I picnicked at Seward Park

From K.

Some May days are almost agonizing in their perfection. Such was Saturday, a day for dresses with flowy skirts, T-shirts, sandals and picnics.



The sun blazed overhead but below was that signature Seattle salty sea breeze that tickled the grass and leaves and our skin. Me and fiance J hit up Ezell's for fried chicken and baked beans then motored over to Seward Park. J found a peaceful, shaded glade focused on Mount Rainier. It loomed in the distance across Lake Washington, snowy and majestic. Motown thumped in the background from another nearby picnic. We lounged in our beach chairs, watching kids play a goofy game of soccer.

Bliss.

I picked out a wedding band (finally) ...

From K.

That was me standing in a certain engagement ring store in Belltown on Sunday, frozen in place, flanked by Mom and J, my husband-to-be, staring first at one ring, then another. And as I visualize my (ideal, I think) wedding band for the umpteenth time, I realize the source of my confusion: Too many options.

Too many options makes me fret how the design of one ring could possibly suffice throughout a lifetime of metamorphosis. Yet, it worked just fine for many of our parents and grandparents. They took what was available and made the best of it, whether jewelry, shoes, bags, cars, homes or even spouses. They probably would thrill at the options now available. But not having to endlessly comparison shop and then second-guess freed them up to spend more time doing than thinking. It calls to mind a recent read, "The Paradox of Choice," which suggests the wealth of options we enjoy actually leaves us poor -- in finances as well as spirit. I know I feel poor after a week of double-checking online to be sure I found the cutest softshell available, even though I already loved the one I bought at the REI anniversary sale!

This summer, I'm going to make the shift from maximizer to satisficer. I'm going to embrace my first choice and stop checking so many times to make sure I'm not missing out on something better. And I'm going to use all that time I save to spend more QT away from Shop It To Me with my greatest investment: My beloved J.

I made roast chicken pasta...

From N.

I'm compulsive about roast chicken. It's partly because I love the crisp skin and succulent meat, but also because I secretly hoard stock. I know stock is like 10 steps beyond normal for most people, but once I started making and freezing my own, I turned into the Crazy Chicken Stock Lady. If I start to run out, I panic. (OK, it's low-level, but there's still a minor freak-out.)

Since A. and I can easily gobble up a chicken in one sitting (unless someone stops us, and sadly, nobody ever does), I was excited when I discovered a recipe that makes the chicken last longer. It was part of a New York Times series following a home cook-off between New York Times writers Kim Severson and Julia Moskin showing how to cook a meal for under $50 for six people.

A lot of what they did was way too much effort -- fresh tortillas? Hell no -- but the pasta makes enough for four or more. The recipe is great for a Sunday night, when you have time to roast (don't forget the stock, it will change your life.) The pasta soaks up all those delicious, gooey drippings, and currants and pine nuts add sweetness and crunch. Serve with a spicy arugula salad.