One Pan Pasta with A Side of Slang

**note: I thought it would be fun to post a recipe while brushing up on some modern slang.  All links direct you to UrbanDictionary.com, which will, as I'm sure you can guess, give you the definition of the highlighted word if you don't already know it .  

**another note:  The UrbanDictionary can/does contain strong and/or explicit language at times along with some raunchy definitions.  Consider it an NC-17 website, depending on the word.  The definitions are submitted by your common, everyday, immature teen/twenty-something/thirty-something that still lives at home with their parents, so just be aware. 

Here we go....

I owe a lot to Martha Stewart.

Though she's done time in the clink (Let's be honest, so has Nelson Mandela, though the two should never be compared. My bad.), she's never failed to woo me with her effortless decorating style, her OCD organizational tactics, and even her vivid interior paint selection found at the Home Depot.

The Martha Stewart Living magazine is my ATF (definition #3). 

Which brings me to the actual reason for my post. Martha's One Pan Pasta recipe, found in this month's Living issue.

I'll be honest, quite frequently, her recipes (and other magazine recipes) can be a little too time consuming and require too many strange, hard-to-find ingredients. That's just not my jawn.

But this, most certainly, is.





I don't even LIKE tomatoes. But isn't it so pretty?!

Also, you can disregard the feet in the pic. My friend Janell, a shameless instagram addict (though I'm thankful for her vice because I would not have this beautiful pic), has a thing for taking said photos with feet in them. I hope you're not grossed out. I'm not.  I'm more grossed out by the condition of my hardwood floors.  They are original and very old and everlastingly grody (they look this way even when they're clean!).  I've scrubbed that floor Cinderella-style (on hands and knees, mop bucket, and scrub brush...minus cheery birds and mice.  They're too ghetto around here to sing and dance with.) a couple of times, only to be rewarded with less dinge and no sparkle or shine.  Was it even worth it?  I don't think so; I need sparkles.

Back to the point....

If you're a crockpot-aholic, this is your kind of recipe. Basically, it's a pasta that's cooked in a straight-sided skillet along with all of the other ingredients. There's no draining. The water will cook out, leaving it's fortunate consumers with a creamy, al dente pasta.

It's stinkin' FABOO!

And what makes it even better....there are minimal ingredients and only TWO steps.

Check this beast out (defintion #2):

ONE PAN PASTA
Serving Size - 4 (but really it's more like 6)
Prep Time - 15 minutes
Total Time - 20 minutes

Ingredients
12 oz. linguine noodles (I used spaghetti noodles)

12 oz. cherry or grape tomatoes - halved or quartered if large

1 onion - thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic - thinly sliced (I used minced garlic that comes in a jar, but fresh garlic is much more flavorful in my opinion. Do it if you can.)

1/2 tsp. red-pepper flakes

2 sprigs fresh basil, more for garnish if you're in to that

2 Tbs. EVOO, plus more for serving (you won't need the extra, promise)

2 tsp. coarse salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper (I used the reg. Don't stress yourself)

4-1/2 cups of water

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (Okay, I do prefer the fresh stuff, but the powdery kind is just fine. That's what I had on hand.)

Directions
1. Combine pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, basil, oil, salt, pepper, and water in a large straight-sided skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning pasta frequently with tongs, until pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes.

2. Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide among bowls, and garnish with basil. Serve with oil and Parmesan.


SHESH!!!! (definition #2)



- the rave