Everybody I Know Needs Some Passion

Another Veggetti success!  Zucchini and clam sauce.  The foodie inside of me could hardly contain herself riding home because it is then that I get the best ideas for meals.  And I was happy to hear that my sister does the same thing on her walks around the lake in Colorado.  Somehow clarity strikes and then it's just about execution and having all the ingredients.  To create gives purpose to the day as well.

Truth be told this gift came from my cranky dad.  I think all of us girls picked it up, not sure about the boys.  I'm speaking of getting true joy from cooking, having a passion.  I mean from the beginning stage of visualizing the dish, then getting real eager about it and next commencing to make it all happen as if you were on a happy mission.  I watched my dad do this all my life. And even the last visits.  I watched him make a little tuna salad for mom that almost made me cry it was done with such attention and care.  I tasted it and damned if it wasn't amazing.  If he had a hankering for something then he could make you want it too. But I can honestly say it's one thing I genuinely admire and adore about my dad.  He's got a birthday coming up and I aim to thank him for it.  It's probably important to say the real cook was my mom.  She had the actual natural gift and ability to make food magic with little effort.  My dad had to try harder at it but he loved to eat whereas my mom seemed to nibble only as necessary.

This Veggetti has brought a lot of good ideas and just in time for all of this summer squash that's cheap and bountiful.  I sauteed tons of garlic in olive oil with small diced sweet onion, threw in the Zucchini Veggetti for just a few minutes on high in the wok before adding my clams and clam sauce, a little chicken stock, fresh peas, let that heat through and then added lots of fresh parsley.

The 'noodles' stay slightly firm, don't let them mush out on you.  Only 3 minutes or so is needed for the actually cooking. So good with red pepper flakes and shaved parmesan.

Zucchini with Clam Sauce

• 2 cans chopped clams 
• 1/3 cup chicken stock
• 2 large zucchini
• 1/2 Vidalia onion
• 5 cloves of garlic chopped
• bunch of fresh parsley
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• red pepper flakes
• parmesan

Saute onion and garlic on low in a wok for a few minutes to become aromatic.  bring up the heat, add the zucchini and stir about 3 minutes.  while nice and hot add the chicken stock and fresh peas. stir and heat through. turn off heat, top with red pepper flakes and shaved parmesan, salt and pepper and maybe an extra drizzle of olive oil.