i heart cooking clubs ~ linguine w/lemon, garlic & thyme mushrooms


This week's theme over at I Heart Cooking Clubs is A Little Romance. What food says love to you? What would you cook for your love?

Well, in my house food is love. There is nothing my honey loves more than a home cooked meal shared with his family. So when I was thinking about this challenge, I thought what would I want someone to cook for me?

30 seconds later I knew. Pasta...yummmm...I Love Pasta!!

Nigella has many recipes to chose from but this one hit the right note for me. Mushrooms, garlic and lemon. Heaven on a plate. Now in her original recipe, she does not cook the mushrooms. She allows the heat from the pasta to soften them. I don't like my mushrooms that crunchy, so I sautéed them with the garlic and lemon. I also used whole wheat linguine. It was fabulous!

My guys had one complaint. No meat. They would have loved it as a side dish better. Next time I might add some shredded chicken to make it more hearty. For me though...it was perfection.

Celebrate the Feast!
Mary
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Linguine with Lemon, Garlic and Thyme Mushrooms
Recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson

Ingredients
4 cups finely sliced chestnut/cremini mushrooms
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Maldon/kosher salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
Small clove garlic, minced
1 lemon, zested and juiced
4 sprigs fresh thyme stripped to give 1 teaspoon leaves
1 pound linguine
1 bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped, to give 1/2 cup
2 to 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Slice the mushrooms finely, and sauté them with the olive oil and garlic. Toss in lemon zest and juice, salt, and gorgeously scented thyme leaves.

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions and drain loosely retaining some water. Quickly toss the pasta with the mushroom mixture.

Then add the parsley, cheese and pepper before tossing again. Eat with joy in your heart.

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