My Mom was historically not a big fan of “kitchen gadgets”. Yes she had a can opener, and a hand held mixer (which looked more like an egg beater). I remember she did get a true electric hand mixer, then many years later graduated to a full stand mixer. (To be honest, she didn’t use it much). These new gadgets were often not affordable for home cooks on a budget in the 60’s and 70’s – her most reliable and available kitchen tools were always her hands!
She eventually gave in to other technology over the years – after all, they were intended to make cooking a lot easier. She would make homemade French fries, cutting the potatoes by hand, long before she finally got a device that would cut the fries for her. She also changed from simmering her spaghetti sauce for hours in a Dutch oven on top of the stove – while asking anyone that would pass by the stove to “stir the pot” – to using a crock pot. I also remember her hand shredding mozzarella cheese for pizza night for YEARS, before finding an electric cheese grater. Then there was the “salad spinner”! It was quite fun to see her come to embrace these innovations!
I think I have that gene she must have passed on to me – as I still don’t have a Vegomatic, an electric cheese grater, or a salad spinner! There are so many things that I still prefer to do in the kitchen, using just my hands.
HOWEVER, I’ve recently been thinking of getting a new tool: a “spiralizer” to make fine strings of zucchini and squash. This is a technique that really does require technology, in my opinion. I don’t have much room in my kitchen for a large tool, so I opted for a small, hand held spiralizer by OXO. This ran me about 16.00 at Target. I had my doubts, but was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use, not to mention the resulting perfect “noodles” of zucchini and squash in minutes! I can keep this little gadget in my kitchen drawer.
I am a little obsessed with recipes for lemon pasta. The combination is pretty amazing by itself! But what about adding some fresh zucchini and squash, in the same shape as the spaghetti noodles – like fine strings of green and yellow mixed into my lemon pasta dish? Sounds pretty amazing to me!
So here is my LEMON PASTA WITH SPIRALIZED VEGGIES!
Serves 2 full dinner servings.
Ingredients:
* 8 oz spaghetti (cooked per pkg instructions)
* 1 small zucchini
* 1 small yellow squash
* 1 large lemon (zested, and juiced)
* 1 Tbsp minced garlic
* 3 Tbsp olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1/2 c Shredded parmesan cheese
* 1/2 c Pine nuts
* Additional lemon slices for garnish
Spiralize zucchini and squash and set aside.
Boil pasta according to pkg instructions, drain and set aside.
Add olive oil, and garlic to a large skillet. Heat over med/low for about 5 min. Add zucchini and squash. Add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for just 3-4 min., stirring often. (you just want to “sear” the veggies, not cook them through).
Add pasta to the skillet. Toss with veggies.
Add lemon zest, and juice of 1/2 lemon. Add another drizzle of olive oil. Toss. Add parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. Toss and serve with additional lemon slices.
