Mainely Martha

A full year after doing Whole 30, there are still some things I have not added back into my diet as I simply lost my taste for them. Things like cream in my coffee; I was never able to go back to it and drink and in fact, love it black. But there are things like pasta, lasagna specifically, that will never be fully removed.

Having been raised with the best Italian food in the world has made a permanent impression on my palate; one that can’t be removed by a thirty -day detox. I think removing pasta would take some serious detox, a detox that would involve brainwashing or even waterboarding to remove all memories of my Mom’s sauce. Having been blessed growing up with a sauce that is so full of depth and flavor has made pasta a near impossible food to live without. Yet, having been spoiled with the best it has been difficult to find anything to date that compares. This has not deterred the effort to continue to try, in fact, it has fuelled the search to persevere on and try more.

There is such comfort in a nice Italian meal. The aroma alone can draw you in and the accompanying of the red sauce with a smooth red wine is such a pleasure. And an Italian meal is one that is such a please to share. A nice linguine with clam sauce can be a lovely intimate meal for two or large bowl of spaghetti and meatballs or a giant lasagna to feed a crowd. I am fortunate that my brother Pat has beautifully mastered my mom’s sauce and the ability to continue our family favorites being served at our gatherings.

And if you are truly carb conscious, skip the bread and have a nice veggie filled green salad on the side, but don’t skip the pasta.