Signore e signori (ladies and gentlemen), roll out the red carpet because we’re getting fancy this week with a bow tie (like the clothing on the red carpet), prosciutto, parmesan, and fennel pasta recipe. I don’t know what fennel is exactly but it tastes like licorice so it could be a lot better.

What you need:

- 1 Fennel bulb (sliced ‘n’ diced) - Parmesan - Prosciutto (IMPORTANT: make sure your butcher cuts it bible-paper-thin. Also make sure to say thank you.) - Lemon Juice - Our good friend EVOO

This one is a quickie but goodie. Crack some pepper on top for a special touch. Bravo (good job).

Before I forget…“Al Dente” is really coming full circle—it’s almost National Pet Oral Health Month (February). Get with the program and stock up before it’s too late.

Instead of rating this recipe, I’m rating Dr. Sheldon Rubin’s video.

Total:

Bonus: Me cooking.

Did you know there's a Black Labrador in Seattle named Eclipse who gets on a bus by herself and takes it to the park all the time. Do NOT let this happen to you. That’s so sad.

It’s National Walk Your Dog Month,which means you should be walking your pet right now. Get out of the house people (unless your dog is cleaning itself--it might be gross, but it’s vital to their hygiene).

You and your canine should do everything together.  The Dancin’ Dog Blog has a recipe for Snoopy Spaghetti you can eat with your dog(s). All you need to get is:

I’m gonna be honest. I didn’t make this recipe because I don’t have a dog.  But if I did I KNOW it would get:

Did you know it was National Pet Safety Day AND also National Dress Up Your Pet Day? Take a hint and style your furry friend this year—pets are people too.

I’m 0/0 on New Year Resolutions but tomorrow is another day. Tryna keep it tight with a recipe from a classic waiting room fan favorite—Fitness Magazine.

Farfalle with Watercress, Cherry Tomatoes, and Feta (cheese)

Taste:

Food Guilt:

Total:

Crushed it.

Xmas Leftover Pasta

Every year our receptionist clears my schedule for the necessary three-day head start for Christmas cooking. This year I didn’t go outside for 49 straight hours (which weirdly is exactly how many recorded hours of Tori Amos I own, so that’s good.) Anyway, this Sunday’s pasta is a quick n easy recipe from #3 on my celeb crush list: Rachael Ray. Rachel, if you’re reading: I know you see my tweets. ;)

Basically:

Rachael gets 10/10 meatballs NMW (no matter what).

Comfort:

Word of the week: Festivitá  (English: holiday)

Squid Ink Pasta with Walnuts, Shallots (aka lil onions) and Mustard

This was delicious but man it is not worth it. My apron is now 99% squid ink, 1% my mom’s original embroidery. Really hope my mom’s not reading this because it is a family heirloom.

I can’t deprive my readers from this recipe but cook at your own risk. 

Instead of telling you how to make it, here are some kitchen cleaning tips for your post-pasta ink covered kitchen from House Beautiful. My tip: Do yourself a huge favor and stock up on white vinegar, Oxyclean, and rubber gloves (3 pairs minimum).

Taste:

Recipe: (great recipe @Jeff of Epicurean Planet)

Cleanability: (I am being generous)

Total:

I would not make this again. I might be late to work tomorrow. The guy who does my laundry’s gonna be pissed.

If fettuccini and spaghetti had a pasta baby it'd be the holy grail some dare to call tagliolini. It’s really really hard to make and looks like spaghetti but is so much more than that—the key is keeping those pasta ribbons between 6.5-10mm each.

Steps:

Word of the week is aiuto (English: help). Because even an MD needs it sometimes.

And uChef_tv’s tutorial gets 4/5 meatballs because if you forget to turn on the subtitles you can't understand a thing that guy says.

Tutorial:

Lasagnaaaa. The birthday cake of pasta.

Really need to pay attention to detail on this one. Root-canal detail. It goes meat sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, pasta, meat sauce, repeat. Like this:

*Note: Lasagna is a dish you must remove from the house…or else you will slowly eat the entire thing. Bring it to work, people!

Italian Word of the Week: diagramma (diagram)

How did i do?

Layering:

Taste:

Aroma:

Total:

I'd normally give this four meatballs, but I really ate more than my fair share.

'Til next time.

Went with “Pasta Alla Vecchia Bettola” from my girl The Barefoot Contessa’s book Recipes I Can Trust on my kindle.  Tens across the board, but I could have gone with a more full-bodied vino (wine).  But as they say in the olde country “Che sarà sarà” (English: What will be, will be).

Italian word of the week:  Amicizia (Friendship) The moment of truth.

Taste:

Smell:

Followed the Recipe:

X-Factor: (Snuck in some shaved pecorino—highly recommend it).

Total:

P.S. Got stuck with a bunch of swag from The Greater NY Dental Meeting—PM me if interested. Feel like a real coupon queen—gotta unload. Haha.

♫ Peas, peas, the magical fruit ♫. haha. Italian word of the week: Piselli. It means peas. So you could say: ♫ Piselli, piselli, the magical fruit ♫. I hosted my Triannual Robin Williams Trifecta Marathon Weekend this weekend. Really needed comfort food so I went with my grandma’s classic Peas & Penne recipe. She said I can’t put her recipe on the internet, so I’m not. Comfort: Taste: (The Best!) Ambience: (Sad day) Total: Check the official tallies of my T.R.W.T.M.W.

Today I made a dish from one of the most romantic moments in cinematic history. When Tramp and Lady share a plate of spaghetti and meatballs in a dark alley in Lady and the Tramp (1955). The tramp is a classy dude but he should have let Lady order for herself— it’s 2014. The sauce took a long time and the meatballs were probably dope but I didn’t eat them because I’m trying to cut out red meat. Okay you got me… I did try a meatball. But the pasta was the best part because it was al dente (translation: cooked but still firm).

Taste: Smell: Shareability: Ambience: (Lit an awesome Yankee Candle candle I got at the office potluck) Total:

Arrivederci! (See ya!)