What a Day to Be Alive!

Today is a great day indeed. For one thing, it’s Friday. As a Catholic this means just one thing – a chance once again to give up something worldly for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who gave up all for me. Yeah, it’s a Meatless Friday in our house. That is just fine.

It also happens to be the Memorial Feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr. Like I’ve said before, every day is a feast day of some kind within the Catholic Church. Just in case you need more inspiration, it happens to be National Pasta Day.

It’s funny how we evolve in the kitchen. I can remember when darn near everything I cooked came from a box of some kind. It wasn’t that I grew up with the conveniences of box cooking. Hardly, but I was fascinated by the concept. I can remember when all my pasta sides came from a box. I mean how convenience is that – boiling water was the only skill required. Now I stand in the box section of the grocery store and wonder what in the world was I thinking? Or I wonder, just how bad will Pasta Roni taste now that I know the difference?

I can remember during Covid we stocked up on a few canned meals such as Spaghetti-Os just in case the world came crashing down. One day we decided to open a can and serve it up. Oh my – how can anyone eat such a boring rendition of Spaghetti? And it really didn’t seem to matter how much seasoning or wine I added, there was just no helping that sauce.

Like life, in the end there aren’t any shortcuts that can produce the same results as putting in the time and effort. We are surrounded by instant everything. And it seems everything that is instant is also disposable, including relationships. When you aren’t invested, you don’t feel connected. In the pursuit of our own happiness we often miss the rewards that await us.

Listen to me, rambling on about the importance of putting in the time. When I was a girl, we didn’t think about our friendships as an investment in time. Yet that’s exactly what we had. Today (thanks to social media) my childhood friends are very much a part of my life once more. These are friendships that were forged over 60 years. The laps of time and distance has not diminished our connection. The ties that bind us together are the values we instilled since childhood – a deep sense of faith, family and community. I thank God every day for the people I am blessed to call friend.

Oh wow – did I ever take a turn down nostalgic sentiment! Does this old gal some good every now and again.

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Angel Hair Pasta Shrimp in White Wine
1 lb (13 count) large Shrimp
2 (14.5 oz) cans Italian-Style Diced Tomatoes
2 Garlic Cloves
8 Basil Leaves
1/4 cup Olive Oil, divided
8 oz Angel Hair Pasta
1/2 cup White Wine
1/4 cup Italian Parsley
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

Peel shrimp, devein if necessary and remove the tails. Keep chilled until ready to use. Drain tomatoes. Peel and mince garlic. Snip parsley and chiffonade the basil, set aside.

In a large stock pot, bring lightly salted water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. (For pasta to cook properly, there needs to be a large amount of rapidly boiling water. The pasta should “toss about” in the water as it cooks). Let pasta cook about 4 minutes, until tender but firm. Drain pasta and set aside.

Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic, stirring constantly, until garlic is tender, about 1 minute. DO NOT let garlic brown.

Add shrimp to skillet and cook for about 4 minutes or until just beginning to pink. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.

Add diced tomatoes, wine, parsley and basil to skillet. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes.

Return shrimp to skillet. Add pasta and toss until pasta and shrimp are heated through, about 2 minutes or so.

Place pasta on a serving dish. Grate Parmesan Cheese over dish and serve immediately. This is a beautiful dish served alongside a salad, warm bread and a crisp bottle of late harvest wine.

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I turn to You, Lord, in time of trouble, and You fill me with the joy of salvation.