Pasta con le Sarde (pasta with sardines)

If you really, deeply despise fish, you won't like this one. The rest of you who are more neutral might find that you really like this delicious and healthful pasta dish. You'll never regard sardines the same way.

This is a cheaper version of the traditional Sicilian recipe.

Ingredients:
Pasta, any kind. I usually use spaghetti, but macaroni works, too.
Fresh fennel, finely chopped
Onion, finely chopped
Garlic, sliced or minced
Olive oil
Tomato sauce
Fresh tomato, chopped
Raisins
Fennel seed
Italian herb blend, or basil, oregano, rosemary, etc.
Salt and black pepper, to taste. Easy on the salt is my advice.
White wine, just a splash. Dry vermouth will work, too.
A little mace (an expensive spice, but a little goes a long way)
Turmeric (the traditional Sicilian recipe calls for saffron -- but talk about expensive!)
Cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
Pine nuts, if you can find them. Optional for people like me with food allergies.
Capers
Sardines, in a tin or can, size according to how much of this you are making. Sardines in water will do. If they are in tomato sauce, use a little less of aforementioned tomato sauce.
The traditional recipe calls for fresh sardines. If you can get them, more power to you.
Anchovy filets, just a couple

Now the method:

Saute all the veggies in the olive oil, wine and seasonings. (If you found fresh, deboned sardines, saute them at this stage, too, until tender.) Cook the pasta al dente in the meantime.

Add the tomato sauce, then the sardines, if canned, then the anchovies. Bring to a simmer.

Combine with the pasta, and serve. I like Parmesan or Romano cheese sprinkled on mine. Fresh Italian parsley is a good topping, too. I recommend a good chardonnay for the wine.

P.S.: It's been suggested that smoked sardines work better for this. The traditional Sicilian recipe calls for fresh. If you can't find either, I recommend a shot of Liquid Smoke -- comes in bottles.

Also, celery with fennel seed added doesn't work too badly with this if you have trouble finding fresh fennel.

An Easy, Cheap, Good Sauce for Anything

Equal parts of:

mayonnaise

spicy brown mustard

prepared horseradish

Then add, to taste:

Tabasco or similar cayenne pepper hot sauce

minced garlic

dried tarragon leaves

Great with anything.

A Mexican Twist On Sweet Potatoes

Bake a large sweet potato. Again, microwaving is fine.

When tender, put it in a bowl and mash it up.

Add:
1 chipotle pepper, the kind that's canned in adobo sauce, mashed up with an appropriate amount of the sauce.

Minced garlic, to taste

Butter or non-trans-fat margarine, to taste

Brown sugar (optional, to taste)

Mix well, adding a bit of water to get to the consistency of mashed potatoes. Reheat, then enjoy. Also goes great with any meat entree.

An Asian Twist On Sweet Potatoes

Bake a large sweet potato. Microwaving is OK. When tender, mash up in a bowl.

Add:

Butter or margarine (the kind with no trans fat), to taste

Ginger, powdered is fine, to taste

Cloves, powdered, a modest shake

Minced garlic

Soy or tamari sauce, to taste

Cayenne pepper, just a sprinkle (optional)

Brown sugar (optional)

Mix well; add sprinkles of water while mixing, until consistency is like mashed potatoes. Reheat, and enjoy. Great with any meat entree.