MM in the Kitchen: Bucatini with Butter-Roasted Tomato Sauce

Here's a great little pasta dish. Serve with a crisp green salad. Enjoy!

MM in the Kitchen: Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Hmm, worth a try, I think!

I Prefer New York-Style Pizza Myself

When the moon hits your eye like a pizza pie, that's amore your stupid Detroit political fundraising du jourrrrrrrrr!

The World's 50 Most Delicious Foods

Let the debate begin!

Breakfast Around the World!

Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!  Here's a gorgeous photo essay of 50 different delicious breakfasts from around the world.  Add a big steaming cup of coffee or tea, and we are all set.

MM in the Kitchen: Fettuccine Alfredo

Faster and easier than you might think.

Photoblogging Umbria

I have no idea who "Bird Dog" is, but his gorgeous photo essay from his vacation in Umbria is making me absolutely green with envy.  Take a look!

MM in the Kitchen: Single-Serving Tiramisu

Mangia, mangia!

MM in the Kitchen: Potato Gnocchi

Easy and yummy!

MM in the Kitchen: Arancini

Mangia, mangia! I remember the Cine-Sib and I having some the last time we were lucky enough to be in Euroland!

MM in the Kitchen: Potato Gnocchi with a Butter-and-Sage Sauce

So simple. So good. (And not expensive!)

And, serendipitously, it's Thursday! In Rome, Thursday is traditionally the day for gnocchi!

MM in the Kitchen: Italian-Inspired Pasta with Cream and Smoked Salmon

YUMMY!

MM in the Kitchen: Fried Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

This is for Italophiles La Parisienne, Coffee Pot Dictator, and Thalia. I love these blossoms too!

Mangia, mangia!

Oh, and fry the little beauties in olive oil. No, I don't care if "cooking experts" tell you not to fry anything in olive oil. DO IT! Just be careful. The end result is fragrant glory fit for the gods.

MM in the Kitchen, Stimulus Bill Edition -- The Audacity of Pork!

Well, Obama signed the much-maligned (and much-unread) stimulus bill today.

I'm thinking, MAN, that's a LOT of pork. What to do, what to do? Oh, I know! I give you . . . PORK RECIPES.

Bite me.

• Porchetta -- some info to go with the photo above. Cine-Sib and I had some last summer, and it was divine.
• The glories of bacon are available to all at Bacon Today
• Smithfield hams! A culinary masterpiece.
• Prosciutto di Parma, a favorite of the Cine-Sib. Try it with sweet, ripe, juicy cantaloupe. Really!
  
• Nearly 5000 pork recipes at Food Network
  
• The National Pork Board has a gazillion recipes online. Pork -- the other white meat!
• Haven't you tried this splendiferous carnitas recipe yet? Make it at once! I personally vouch for it.
• Try some Southern pulled pork sandwiches. Awesome. Messy, but awesome.
• Perhaps you will like these step-by-step directions for making pork potstickers. YUM.
• Char sui bao. The apotheosis of bread + meat at dim sum. Oh, man!
• Pork belly sandwiches Chinese-style, with mantou for the bread.
  
• Learn something about the very British thing known as pork pie. It's got its own historical association, you know.
  

Now I often have a DVD playing while I cook. If you're in the mood, try one of this porcine productions:

• "Babe" (1995) -- That'll do, pig!
• "Charlotte's Web"(1973 cartoon or 2006 live action)
  
• any of the "Shrek" flicks -- look for the Three Little Pigs
• "The Lion King" (1994) for Pumbaa the warthog.

UPDATE 1: OK, this made me laugh. Some anti-pork protestors roasted a pig in front of the Capitol Denver today. Creative and delicious dissent, I must say!

UPDATE 2: Can I get some government money so I *don't* get pork?

Quirky Euro Files: "Gastronomic Racism" in Italy?

Oh, my!

Quirky Euro Files: Italy's Great Parmesan Cheese Bailout

OK, this is possibly the only government bailout I could even think about supporting! Yes, we're talking about Parmigiano Reggiano, the undisputed king of cheeses -- and a 50 million euro bailout.

Link via Serious Eats.

In all seriousness, though, I would buy more of this glorious cheese, but it is so dreadfully expensive.

(At least the online Parmigiano cheese game is free. Oh, those darn Italians!)

Nerd Journal + MM in the Kitchen: Nerdette and Penne all'Arrabbiata

I think I've become a rage-oholic. I already knew I was a chocoholic, workaholic, bookaholic, and coffee-oholic, and those were all OK with me, but this rage-oholic thing?

It's kind of . . . worrying, isn't it? Between Nerdworld and the "real world," I am angry all the time now! This can't be a good thing. Everywhere I look, I see more infuriating factors that make me want to scream. What in the hell is going on? (Aside from too much work and not enough time?)

Plus, I hate everything. I think I've said this before. I'm also in no mood to tolerate anybody's garbage. Unfortunately, everybody seems to be flinging out all kinds of garbage nowadays, from undergraduates giving me stupid excuses to Nerd Lords giving me the Evil Eye to politicians (of both parties) acting like feckless clowns. I can't bear people right now. In my misanthropic fury, all I want is to lock myself in my apartment in some peace and quiet. I actually get far more work done when I'm home than when I'm on campus. Plus, I can make coffee whenever I want. And grab a pillow and scream into it whenever I want, as loudly as I want. And listen to really loud, obnoxious music that would make the Opera Diva cringe.

So, I'm taking out my frustrations in the kitchen with an appropriately named recipe. I give you that lovely old Roman recipe, penne all'arrabbiata!

MM in the Kitchen: Eggs in Purgatory

Eggs in Purgatory! Who knew eggs were capable of sin? But . . . hey, is it a sin to be too delicious?