Aw shucks!

Kathy Gori at The Colors of Indian Cooking awarded me with my first award. Thanks so much Kathy. Coming from you this award means a lot to me.

I am suppose to tell 7 things about myself and I find this tough. Nothing much to really tell that anyone would care about but here it goes.

1. I hate chocolate
2. My favorite drink is a Manhattan
3. I love artichokes and could eat one every day
4. I am terrified of clowns and dolls
5. Music is one of the most important things to me in life
6. I am short
7. I love cooking more than I like eating

Pfft. Ok, now that is over it is time for me to nominate 7 blogs for this Kreativ Bloggers Award

Jeroxie
Short and Bald
Guilty Kitchen
Are You Hungry?
Citron & Vanille
Keep Learning Keep Smiling
Chickenless Chick


You must thank the person who has given you the award.
* Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
* Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
* Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
* Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
* Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
* Leave a comment in the nominated blogs to let them know they have been nominated

Ok, onto the food. My neighbor pal Denis lost his mother this week. I wanted to do something to make the family feel better and the only thing I know of in this instance is to cook. I made Pot Roast Pasta out of the "New Basics Cookbook" by Julee Rosso & Sheila Lukins

First I chopped the vegetables



Browned the meat



Then did what I spend most of my time doing



Vegetables are ready



and because I was cooking and consoling my neighbor Kim with a little wine, I might have forgotten to take a picture of the finished dish until it was too late. So here is a picture of what it looked like after we ate and it was time to stow the leftovers



*I* got the Kreativ Blogger award so I can't be ALL bad. I do have to say that the Kreativ spelling makes me a little bit sick to my stomach since I did work for years in the publications department at RAND

Ok so here is the recipe. It is fantastic and you should make it when you are in the mood for something hearty and warm to eat.

Pot Roast Pasta

3 Tbl olive oil
2lbs beef bottom round roast
1 1/2 C chopped onions
1 C chopped carrots
1 C chopped celery
4 cloves garlic, slivered plus 1 tsp minced garlic
1 C beef stock
1 can (28 oz) plum tomatoes, drained
3 Tbl tomato paste
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dred thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
1/2 C dry red wine
1/4 C chopped fresh Italian (flat leaf) parsley
1 lb penne or pappardelle

1. Heat the oil in a dtuch oven over medium-low heat Add the pot roast and brown on all sides. Reove the meat from the pan, and set aside.

2. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and slivered garlic and saute until soft, 10 minutes. Remove the vegetables and set aside.

3. Set a rack in the bottom of the pot and place the roast on top. Pour the stock into the pot. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hours.

4. Preheat the oven to 350

5. Remove the roast and the rack from the dutch oven, and cut the meat into 1/4" thick slices (they will be quite rare). Return the slices to the pot, layering them evenly.

6. Crush the plum tomatoes slightly, and add them to the pot along with the tomato paste, the 1 tsp minced garlic, pepper, salt, thyme, bay leaf, red wine, and reserved vegetables. Bring to a boil, transfer to the oven, and bake, covered, until the meat falls apart, 1 1/2 hours.

7. Remove the meat and bay leaf from the pot, and allow to cool slightly. Discard the bay leaf. Shred the meat and return it to the pot. Add the parsley, and heat through.

8. Bring a large pot of water to a boil Add the pasta, and cook at a rolling boil until just tender. Drain and serve sauce over pasta.

So there ya have it. Thanks Kathy for the Kreativ award.