Mangia Con Elena

  Pasta with Italian Sausage and Fennel/Pasta con Salsiccia e Finocchio IG @ mangia.con.elena Fennel is as Mediterranean  as the sea itself. Eaten raw it has a slightly black licorice flavour and a crunchy texture. When cooked, the flavour becomes  more delicate and the texture is softened. It can be sautéed, baked, braised and added to pastas, soups and stews.  Fennel tea is a great digestive tea when your tummy is feeling upset.  Fennel  is a large part of the Italian Mediterranean diet as it is packed with  plant based nutrients and aids in digestion, bloating and inflammation.  My mother always served fennel as part of the antipasto platter that stayed on the table throughout our meal. We snacked on it between courses and afterwards. Another exceptional pairing with fennel is Italian sausage when cooked with caramelized fennel, toasted tomato paste, spicy peperoncino and a good sprinkle of parmigiano reggiano. I first tried this pasta dish several years back and it quickly became a

  Goat Cheese, Parmigiano and Grape Tomato Pasta Mista IG: @mangia.con.elena We like to call this "Italian Mac n' Cheese." This pasta dish is incredibly simple and can be ready and on your table in less than 30 minutes! Definitely a go to dish in my house when I am craving pasta but have little time or energy. In addition, the smell of the garlic and tomatoes simmering definitely perk me up!   Goat cheese and grated parmigiano- reggiano are blended with the flavours of grape tomatoes simmered in garlic and olive oil to release its juices. Add a bit of pasta water to thicken the sauce and you have a creamy, flavourful and delicious bowl of pasta.  When I have as assortment of half full pasta bags in my pantry, it is time to make "pasta mista," which means mixed pasta.  This one is farfalle and tortiligione.  When making this dish, choose a pasta shape with crevices or twists as it is the best vessel for this wonderful sauce. Trust me, you will be glad you did whe