The Strangest Pizza

During our time in Brighton, we went to a pizza place called Pinocchio. A family place with a typical Italian restaurant menu, nothing fancy, but honest food. That said, their trademark pizza, named (of course) Pinocchio Pizza, might have had the strangest mix of ingredients. It had mushrooms, olives, sweet peppers, prawns, anchovies, sausage and artichokes. So it was like a combination of two or three different pizzas. Of course, I had to try it. Quite an experience. Surprisingly, Wolfie wanted to try it, so I had to share a few bites. And he liked it too. Moral of the story: you can get creative with a pizza.

Creative pasta

An Italian wise man (at least wise when it comes to food) once told me that there is no such thing as plain pasta. He was right of course and I add that the main virtue of pasta is that it can be delicious as well as filling. The one who cooks pasta does not know hunger anymore. All this to say that I made this weekend a pasta recipe of my own invention, which I blogged about before: tortoglioni, fresh cherry tomatoes (halved), olives (halved), artichokes (cut) and cubes of feta cheese. I love it, although it is more fitting as a summer meal. And unfortunately, I am the only one in the household to love this dish: my wife finds it too oily, too full of olives and artichokes, my son likes only the pasta and the olives, but not the rest. If you want to try it, tell me what you think of it. And give me suggestions for a name, if you have any.

Improvised pasta

I made this improvised pasta dish at the end of last year, partially inspired by what my Italian friend had cooked for us when she had invited us to eat at her place.It is dead simple: you make it with tomatoes, olives, feta cheese cut in dices and artichokes also cut on pieces. And you keep the oil from the artichokes jar for the "sauce". I used tortiglioni for the pasta, I think. It was actually delicious. So anyway, I think I might make some tonight.