In the small town I live in we have several grocery stores and the one that is closest to my house only has button mushrooms but they will have to do. I really wish my cravings would begin around 4:00pm so I could go to the grocery store with more variety but it never works out that way. Also, I suppose it would be nice if I knew where to go for mushroom hunting. In my area there are many mushrooms that grow wild and can be gathered. The ones I am most familiar with are "wisi" and "morels". Actually I think fancy restaurants serve morels so they probably can be grown as well. Anyway someday I will venture out, keep it real and hunt for some mushrooms. And hopefully I find morels and I will make this pasta again and it will taste even better! Of course they aren't in season right now but I am betting you can freeze them. When I was younger my mom had a friend that would always give her morels and they were the most delicious things you have ever eaten. You can buy wisi at the local farmer's market but the morels are a different story. If you know where they grow you aren't telling and you only get morels given to you if you are an awesome friend or you have something to trade for. Mom used to trade our farm fresh eggs for these mushrooms. I do have a good friend that knows where they grow. I think someday she will take me, although a blindfold of some sort may be involved.
So tonight I needed a quick and dirty mushroom pasta. My DH cannot fathom why I wouldn't put meat in pasta but I am really don't eat meat that often. What I mean by that is I probably only eat red meat once during the week. I live in small town Oklahoma so only eating meat once a week is really not that often. Actually it's downright weird! Anyway so here's how my mushroom pasta went down.
Boil some water. Put the lid on it so it will come up to a boil much quicker...salt the water and add whatever type of dry pasta you prefer...I perfer thin spaghetti. Boil for 8-10 minutes...
While the pasta is cooking...chop up about a pound of mushrooms...oh and be sure to take plenty of red wine breaks while chopping...
Put some extra virgin olive oil in a medium skillet on medium high heat and add mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes or so. Mince 3 large garlic cloves, or less if you don't like garlic but I love garlic. Serioulsy roasted garlic and fried bacon are gifts from God! Eat it! Anyway, add the garlic to the mushrooms and cook until fragrant...
Add small container of half & half...a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice and a little flour to thicken...turn heat to low and cook until cream is the consistency that you prefer...
Add cooked spaghetti...
Add some chopped parsley...
Mix and combine. Here I would also add some parmesan cheese but my small grocery store doesn't sell the good stuff and I couldn't bear to buy the sprinkled stuff for pizza. It just doesn't taste the same...
This pasta is quick and easy. Only took 15-20 minutes from start to finish and it was delicious! But let's keep it real...if sipping of wine isn't involved this really could be a ten minute meal! On the agenda for tomorrow, I'll be running 6 miles and this carb heavy meal is sure to give me some pep in my step...
Happy Friday!
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