almost better than the phils beating the yanks !

What better way to wash down an exemplary dinner, as this spaghetti with baked clams and roasted cherry tomatoes, then to watch the Yankees loose Game 1 of the World Series to the Phils...I mean...really, that's a tough night to beat. So if tonight, you're looking to create your own magic dinner and game combo...might I suggest looking at my box score from last night. Pivotal performances were given by clams, cherry tomatoes, basil, and my old standby...sun dried tomatoes. Together they proved to be an unbeatable combination and overpowered my taste buds in a knock down drag out dinner which is sure to be repeated. Preferably 3 more times out of the next 6 dinner attempts.

All joking and sports analogies aside...this dinner really was excellent. And kind of a last minute spur of the moment decision which came together quickly and easily. A simple saute of some chorizo and garlic baked off with clams and cherry tomatoes in the oven...then tossed with some spaghetti, fresh herbs and served. It creates a light olive oil and garlic sauce with fresh herbs, perfectly cooked clams and a little kick from chorizo and pepper flakes. I paired it with a baguette topped with my sun dried tomato pesto and baked to create a garlic-type bread with a little more flavor and body...plus it gave me something to soak up the sauce when I was done with the pasta. Here's a recap of last night's action.

Spaghetti with Baked Clams

12 little neck clams, cleaned

1/4 C olive oil

1/2 C chorizo, chopped

5 cloves of garlic, rough chopped

pinch of red pepper flakes

handful of fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 C white wine

1 pint cherry tomatoes

freshly ground black pepper

handful of fresh basil

1 lb. of spaghetti

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil and cook then drain the spaghetti.

Heat olive oil in an oven safe skillet over medium heat. Add chopped chorizo and saute for 3-4 minutes until it starts to brown. Add garlic, pepper flakes, and parsley, mix well and saute another 1-2 minutes. Add white wine, cherry tomatoes, clams and a good amount of fresh cracked black pepper, and place in oven. Bake for 18-20 minutes until clams are open and tomatoes have begun to break their skins. Remove from oven, add to the pasta along with a handful of fresh basil leaves roughly chopped or torn, drizzle with olive oil and serve.

For the bread, slice a baguette lengthwise, top with sun dried tomato pesto and bake for 8-10 minutes. Top with fresh grated Parmeggiano Reggiano or Grana Padano cheese and serve along side pasta.

Now that's almost as good as throwing a 10 K, 1 run (thanks Rollins) complete game win in the first World Series game ever played at the New Yankee stadium. Of course my meal was cooked without any behind the back shenanigans...so I've got to give the better performance to Cliff Lee. However, as the Phillies game left me hungry for more...this dish left me completely satisfied and looking for a new opponent tonight...

Mangia et statti zitto...

cheers...

dunkin