An ode to Giada and DVR

So we have DVR…did I already tell you that? It’s so exciting…I watch so much less television now, and only the shows I’m really interested in. I record Everyday Italian, and I can fast forward through the recipes I don’t like, or delete the shows I’ve already seen. I’ve got Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie on PBS (an AMAZING show, by the way) and Nigella Feasts, plus various PBS specials and HBO films, and I’m set up for future Iron Chef episodes and Jamie Oliver’s new travel channel show. I love it! Justin’s been recording NOVA and football and Survivorman, and each night we just flip through, check things out, and watch only what’s really good. So thank you, my lovely landlords, for setting it all up!

It makes such a difference to me when I see a recipe made on television versus just seeing it in print. I will often overlook a recipe of Giada’s, for example, but after seeing her make it on her show, it seems more do-able, more accessible somehow. I watched her make this sausage-pasta dish, for example, and it looked so easy and so good that I had to try it out myself (with soysage, of course). The dish was really good, though next time I’d use canned artichoke hearts, cut into smaller pieces, instead of the frozen ones (they seemed a little bland and very big). I adapted and halved the recipe a bit for Justin and me, and we still had lots of leftovers.

Did anyone catch Nigella Feasts today? It was all about chocolate. Oh my, that cake she made looked divine. I think I’ll try it the next time I’m invited to a potluck. Or maybe I’ll just make it tomorrow and eat it all myself.

Fusilli with Soysage, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

  • 1/2 cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, sliced, 2 tablespoons of oil reserved
  • 7 ounces soysage (I like Gimme Lean Sausage-Style)
  • 1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (or one 8-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts)
  • 2 large cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 8 ounces fusilli or rotini (corkscrew) pasta
  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
  • 4 ounces water-packed fresh mozzarella, drained and cubed
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil reserved from the tomatoes in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the soysage and cook 2 to 3 minutes, crumbling with a potato masher or a wooden spoon. Add the artichokes and garlic to the skillet and cook 2 minutes more. Add the broth, wine, and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer over medium-high heat until the sauce reduces slightly, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of boiling salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and add to the soysage mixture along with Parmesan, basil, parsley, and mozzarella. Toss until the sauce is almost absorbed by the pasta and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Makes 4 servings.

Adapted from foodtv.com.

5 responses to “An ode to Giada and DVR”

  1. she does do a good job making everything look good. and Nigella…well, she’s the queen of making everything look good!

  2. What kind of soy sausage did you use? The pasta dish looks delish. Giada is one of the best chefs out there in TV land.

  3. hello my precious tia! mmm GIADA! her show is so amazing like we said i love how you can still hear when she cuts into things i just love her food! mmmm i am hungry now i guess its time to eat but i have two more classes! :Z love you!

  4. Ignore my previous question. I didn’t notice that you mentioned the brand of soy sausage in the recipe. My eyes were playing tricks on me.

  5. Isn’t DVR the coolest thing ever?! We just got it a couple weeks ago and are in love! I’ve recorded all the same shows you have, great foodies think a like =) The pasta looks great!

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