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Monday 25 July 2011

My Mother-in-law's Macarones

My mother-in-law, nicknamed Chelo, would always call penne pasta: Macarones. I thought it was only her way of calling them until I moved here and everyone calls them like that. So, pennes are called macarones in my house now!

This is one of her recipes that her sons love. David and Oscar always rave about their Mom's macarones. I must admit, being the pasta lover that I am, I am a huge fan as well. I have been making this recipe often for David (of course, with a few "adjustments" to give it my little touch). Chelo knows how much her kids love this recipe that she actually gave it to me titled: Macarones de Oscar y David, in my First Recipe Book that was given to me by the wonderful ladies that attended my shower. :)

Los Macarones de Chelo



Ingredients:

500gr ground beef
500gr penne pasta
3 chorizos
200gr pancetta or jamon
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup white wine
1 can of ground tomatoes
parsley
salt and pepper
oil

Heat water into a large pasta pot.

Chop the onion and garlic and slice the chorizos and pancetta. I use my paellera to do this dish as Chelo always uses hers and it calls for a nice presentation on the table.

Heat some oil in the paellera. Now, since my stove is not wide enough to heat the whole paellera, I use it to my advantage. I cook in the middle and then move the ingredients aside instead of dirting another plate.

When the oil is ready, add your pancetta or jamon (I used pancetta this time but usually use jamon).


When they are lightly brown, move to the side and add the chorizo to cook.


Same process once they are lightly cooked, move aside and add the ground beef.


Same process. When lightly cooked, move aside and add the garlic and onions to the middle.


When they have sweated, mix all the ingredients together and add the white wine. Chelo doesn't add wine but you can go wrong adding a splash of wine ;) Let it evaporate for a few minutes.


Add the tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook well for about 20 minutes.


While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta in the boiling water. When al dente, remove, drain and add to the paellera.


Mix well.


Now, this is the crucial part as per David. Broil the pasta in the oven at high until it becomes crispy on top. Chelo always adds a few pieces of butter to help it get crispy but I have found that you don't really need to because of the sauce.

So here is the final result after all that broiling. For David, the more burnt, the better!


So here you go, one of my Mother-in-Law fantastic Spanish recipes. Hope you enjoy it as much as the whole family does!

Tuesday 19 July 2011

I'm BACK!

Hey everyone!

I am finally back to our little routine here in Madrid! Our return home has been quite hectic but we have managed to settle back down perfectly. We have spent an amazing time in Montreal with family and friends and could not be happier with our 4 week vacation. We went camping, fishing (and eating our prizes) and boating with friends, went for a family weekend at my sister's place on Canada Day, went to St-Sauveur waterpark with my brother and his girlfriend, had a BBQ home (as you can see... no break from cooking, just from blogging) with all of our friends, made a special Spanish meal for my Nonno's 75th birthday supper with the famiglia, and lots of food events here and there.

Let's just say that I came back the same as I left but David brought back a few extra pounds from all that "I have to compensate for the year and a half of not eating this" food. Men.

Here is a short list of our must have foods that we managed to acheive: Poutines (note the S at the end), Costco hotdog and poutine, Marathon's gyro pita, Mikasa sushi (TWICE), Schwartz's Smoked Meat, St-Aviateur Bagel with cream cheese, Allo Mon Coco's breakfasts (TWICE)... aside from my ongoing BBQing, paella making and squid frying. My Mom was quite please to have a live-in "cook". :)

Here are a few pics of our wonderful trip. Of course, keeping in sink with my food blog, pics are mostly about food :)

Old port of Montreal

Mark working his magic with the BBQ

All the wonderful food for the BBQ

Me ready with my Eggs Benedictine

Mikasa Sushi Boat with the Spain Crew :D

Montreal from the Mont-Royal Belvedere

Beautiful St-Sauveur

My family at Ham-Nord

Family friends enjoying another of my BBQs

The complete family :)

My sister's chickens

And her lovely Titan

So that's it! Not many pictures to share as we were more busy enjoying our time :)

Now, time to get back to taking pics while I cook :)