Wednesday Hodge

1. The popular saying, 'All is

fair in love and war' is

originally credited to English

writer John Lyly. Is he right?

No there are things you say and do that you can't it take back.

 I asked my husband this question and he agreed with me. He

said there are rules to everything. There are limits to everything.

2. Are you a cereal eater?

I do like cereal.. most the time late at night. I never seem to eat it

for breakfast!

3. A five year old in Pennsylvania was recently given a ten

day school suspension for talking with 

friend about shooting one another with a Hello Kitty

Bubble gun (the gun blows bubbles).  She did not

have the gun with her at school.

A psychological evaluation was also ordered and the

incident was recorded on her permanent record.The

suspension was later reduced to two days and her parents

are suing to have the incident removed

from her file. Your thoughts? 

 I think that’s a little ridiculous. I understand them wanting to make a point and being on high alert but

that’s silly. They should have kept her in school. Hopefully her parents have the hard talks with her about

why that would be so upsetting right now. Around here.. the day after all the school shooting where all

the 10 years old died.. my son tried to wear a call of duty shirt to school. That morning we ran a little late

picking something out and having the hard talk about why it wasn’t appropriate. In my opinion, that is a

fear based decision. People are scared right now.. and I don’t blame them.

4. Whatever happened to________?

Manners? At the store today I was hit in the heels with a cart.. a kid was running around grabbing all

kinds of stuff off the shelves.. and when I was checking out a man kept getting really close to me.. he

smelled really bad.  It wasn’t a good time.

5.  January 23rd is National Handwriting Day, billed as a day to reacquaint yourself with a pen and

pencil.  Do you like your handwriting? Do you prefer to print or write in cursive?  This date was chosen

because its the birth date of John Hancock. What's the last thing you signed your name to?

I prefer cursive. Printing just takes so long while cursive flows. Handwriting letters is a lost art. Now

days its all emails and text messages but I still prefer pen to paper. Even my day planner is the old style..

I just can’t go digital. The last thing I signed was a note for Jackson’s School. I am always signing papers

for Jackson! But I also signed my credit card receipt at the market and for some mail today too. ( Got

a package in! )

      6. Speaking of John Hancock...ever been to Philadelphia?

          Do you have any desire to visit the city of Brotherly Love?

 Yes.. I have been to Philadelphia while I was working with my husband. we traveled all over for the first few years. And what i can remember is it was super cold when we were there.

7.  Share something funny you've heard a child say.

Not too long ago at the grocery store.. I was shopping with Jackson when this guy kept hitting on me..

and Jackson looked right at him and said..

"She's married to Scott "

I about died.. As we were walking away.. I was telling Jackson that wasn't too nice.. and he said..

someone needed to tell him!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I just watched Rachel Ray and she made this

amazing looking pasta dish! Here's how to make it!

Ingredients

1 rounded cup dried ceci (chickpeas)

1 quart chicken stock

2 cups water

2 onions, 1 halved and 1 peeled and chopped

1 large bay leaf

1/4 cup EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus some for drizzling

1/4 pound pancetta, speck or guanciale, diced

2 to 3 ribs celery, diced

2 medium carrots, peeled and diced

2 tablespoons rosemary, chopped

2 tablespoons thyme, chopped

4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced or chopped 

1 small chili pepper, finely chopped or 1 scant teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

1 pound mezze rigatoni or mezze penne (Buon Italia), ditalini or other short cut pasta

1 rounded tablespoon tomato paste, optional

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Preparation

Soak beans in water 4 hours or overnight. Rinse beans and place in pot, cover with stock and water; add the halved onion and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat a bit and simmer at a rapid bubble for 35-40 minutes until tender. Remove bay and onion, and purée half the beans and half their stock.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with EVOO, 4 turns of the pan. Add chopped pancetta and render 2-3 minutes then add the chopped onions, celery, carrots, rosemary, thyme, garlic, chili pepper and season with salt and pepper. Cook vegetables partially covered to soften, about 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. When water is boiling, salt it, drop the pasta and cook to al dente.

While the pasta is working, stir in tomato paste to vegetables until fragrant, if using. Deglaze the pan with white wine. Add bean purée and whole beans with stock; stir to combine. 

Reserve 1/2 cup starchy cooking water, add to sauce. Drain pasta and toss with sauce and parsley, cheese.

Serve in shallow bowls topped with a drizzle of EVOO. Pass more cheese at table.

Happy Wednesday!

K Jaggers
♥