Orecchiette w/ broccoli, pine nuts

This book was a gift from S+S, It's big, beautiful, and bountiful of really wonderful recipes. I've learned from this book, and hope to continue doing so. 

Lots of oil and garlic. The pasta is boiled in the broccoli pot. 

Simmering this pasta sauce was incredibly lovely, it smelled glorious and I couldn't wait to mix everything together. 

The finished product... there are leftovers for tonight and I'm hanging out for it. Will definitely put this on the list of 'to serve at dinner parties'. So, if you want to try it.. hint, hint. 

A little note about the pasta used here (for interest's sake)... 

Orecchiette

"Orecchiette (singular, orecchietta), from orecchio (ear) + etto (small)) is a kind of home-made pasta typical of Puglia or Apulia, a region of southern Italy."

&

"In China a similar type of pasta is called maoerdo (cat's ears)."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orecchiette

Autumn / Early Winter Meals

I've been doing a lot of cooking lately in my little apartment kitchen...

Mind the teabags...

Zucchini cake with honey and Margaret River chocolate powder. Made for a friend's going away afternoon tea. 

A nice chicken lentil stew. I could live off this.

My second attempt at Japanese style fried chicken and omelette. Rice and omelette roll seasoned with Mirin, and served with an instant Miso. Oh... and some leftovers from the night before (which was a Chicken and Chorizo Paella)...

Vegetable Curry with Fried Noodles

This was a vegetable curry served to compliment some fried noodles I had been able to make from the cupboard stocks. It turned out really well and I am enjoying this style of food very much. I hope I can remember where to find the recipe...