Puglian Dreams in Quarantine

“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” – Anthony Bourdain

Summer 2020, the summer of extreme heat, staying home and staying in the social distancing bubble.  I think we can all agree it’s not how anyone planned to spend their summer. As a nation we are banned from travel to most countries, wondering if it’s actually safe to go to the beach, stay in a hotel or vacation rental, or use a public restroom.

We were all having a severe bout of melancholy over canceled summer plans, maybe going a little stir crazy within our four walls, so a trip to Italy with friends seemed like the perfect RX. Small issue, none of us are celebrities with private jets to fly us to Italy. I don’t know why the boys can’t just buy a little jet and villa in Italy for these quarantine occasions. They certainly shop online for them enough – but that’s a story for another day. Fortunately, with food and wine, one can virtually travel the world when suffering from wanderlust.

HRH requested cuisine from Puglia, and I was happy to oblige. As a cookbook bibliomaniac, and recovering food blogger, locating a menu and suitable recipe with easily accessible ingredients was not an issue. The Silver Spoon Puglia published by Phaidon is filled with delectable recipes you can easily prepare at home or use for inspiration to adapt to your taste. I settled on Pasta E Pomodori Al Forno for our entree. This is a baked pasta dish made from fresh tomatoes. It is light and absolutely perfect for summer when there is an abundance of fresh tomatoes, and easy entertaining is in order. The freshness and simplicity of this dish made us all reminisce about our favorite meals in Italy and other European countries. Truly, the best meals are those that are simple with good ingredients, and shared with those we love.

A few tips:

The sauce can be made earlier in the day.

The tomatoes need to be cut in half, scored and sprinkled with salt to sweat the excess liquid for at lease 30 minutes prior to baking.

The tomatoes can be baked in to separate baking dishes and married together if you want more of a baked tomato consistency on both layers. The recipe as written in the cookbook gives the top layer a  more fresh, less baked, firm consistency, which Peter Pan and I both enjoyed.

For those who completely need to change concepts:

If you love cheese, you can always add  more. It will make it a heavier/heartier dish. HRH suggested adding mozzarella and broiling the top.

If you have someone in your family who needs meat with their meal, a nice side of meatballs can accomplish that, and if you are set on one dish cooking, cook some Italian sausage and add when you mix the sauce and pasta together.

Perfect recipe for entertaining, potlucks or family gatherings.

Other Tips:

Candles make simple dinners elegant and your guests feel special.

Don’t put candles under Hydrangeas. They will burn the blooms (yes, I burned those perfectly beautiful flowers).

Using a variety of dishes, glasses, flatware, allows you to feel like you are having a different experience. Even if it is something like the thousandth meal you’ve cooked and eaten at the same table since March 2020.

Music is a key element. Apple Music, Spotify etc. are great for sharing music, creating custom themed playlists to suit the mood and food.

Lastly, sometimes it’s a team effort. That’s why the kitchen is the heart of the home. Don’t be afraid to let people in to see the mess, help interpret recipes, or hold a heavy pan for you.

Cibo delizioso per tutti!