New Year and New Blog Entry!

You may had noticed that we have taken some time off and have not been regular bloggers in the recent months. But we have now regrouped and are ready to return to the blogosphere :) and to hopefully return to a regular schedule.
Tonight's dinner was predominately from the recently published Gourmet Today. SB stared off the evening with a great ricotta cheese appetizer that was creamy and hard to stop eating!Next we had a butternut squash soup, a wonderful recipe from Gourmet Today . The soup was simple and flavorful and was topped with a luxurious roasted red pepper mousse. This was warm and comforting while also providing refreshing new textures and flavors.The main course tonight was a simple pasta dish. This is probably one of the simplest main dishes BIV has ever put together! The Spaghetti was simple in the amount of time and technique required, but did not deliver a simplistic result. I can not recommend this dish enough - in less than 30 minutes you had a flavorful and hearty main dish. We served the pasta with roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with lemon - a perfect accompaniment.

Spaghetti with Pecorino Romano and Black Pepper Gourmet | March 2003c

Cacio e Pepe

For this recipe, you need to grate the cheese with the ragged-edged holes of a box grater for ease of melting. Don't use the small teardrop-shaped holes or a rasp, as your cheese will clump up in the bowl.

Yield: Makes 4 first-course servings
Active Time: 20 min
Total Time: 20 min

2 teaspoons black peppercorns
1/2 lb spaghetti
2 1/2 oz very finely grated Pecorino Romano (3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) or Parmigiano-Reggiano plus additional for serving

Toast peppercorns in a dry small skillet over moderately high heat, swirling skillet, until fragrant and peppercorns begin to jump, 2 to 3 minutes. Coarsely crush peppercorns with a mortar and pestle or wrap in a kitchen towel and press on peppercorns with bottom of a heavy skillet.

Cook spaghetti in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente.

Fill a large glass or ceramic bowl with some hot water to warm bowl. Just before spaghetti is finished cooking, drain bowl but do not dry.

Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta quickly in a colander (do not shake off excess water) and add to warm pasta bowl. Sprinkle 3/4 cup cheese and 3 tablespoons cooking water evenly over spaghetti and toss quickly. If pasta seems dry, toss with some additional cooking water.

Divide pasta among 4 plates, then sprinkle with pepper and 2 tablespoons cheese (total). Serve immediately with additional cheese on the side.

And what would a BIV dinner be without a great desert? I don't know because we never finish the evening without one! Tonight we had homemade brownies topped with a scoop of peppermint ice cream. Again simple, yet delicious.