Weekend Cookbook Challenge 19 - Dinner and a DVD

This months Weekend Cookbook Challenge is the 19th and fellow Canadian Paige of Chef Girl is our hostess!

I was very excited when Paige told me what her theme would be - Dinner and a DVD - for two reasons. First, I love finding out about movies/tv shows/documentaries that other people like. I've discovered so many movies and shows from recommendations that normally I never would have watched. And second, because I can share with you one of my favorite movies.


Shaun of the Dead came out in 2004 and was billed as a zom-rom-com (zombie romantic comedy) and is such a funny movie. London is suddenly over-run with hungry zombies and Shaun must save himself and his friends. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times I've seen this movie, but every time I watch it I see something I've missed before, or understand a gag on another level. Run (don't walk) to your neighborhood video store and rent Shaun of the Dead.

One of my favorite running jokes in the movie is this: Shaun, an employee in an appliance store, has a red pen in his shirt pocket and the pen bursts. Many people point out "You've got red on you.". Later, after Shaun has had to dispatch some zombies in order to save his mom, she tries to wipe zombie bits off his face, saying "You've got red on you.". Hee!

So for WCC 19 in tribute to Shaun of the Dead I've made a pasta with tomato sauce. What better and tasty way to get red on you?


I've adapted this recipe from Food and Wine Magazine's "quick from scratch italian cooking", which I picked up a couple of years ago at a Boxing Day sale. For $5!


You've-Got-Red-On-You Pasta

makes 6 servings

adapted from Cavatelli with Sardinian Meat Sauce from "quick from scratch italian cooking"

1 tb olive oil
1/2 lb italian turkey sausage, removed from the casing
1 small onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 28 oz can tomatos
3 tb finely minced fresh mint
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
5 tb parmesan cheese

1 pkg (approx 1 lb) cavatappi pasta

Heat a large pan over medium high heat and add the oil. Crumble the sausage into the pan and cooking, pressing down on the sausages to break them up, until brown. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add the tomatos, mint, water, salt and pepper and simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce starts to thicken. Continue to gently simmer the sauce while you cook the pasta in salted boiling water.

When the pasta is done, drain and return to the pot. Add in the sauce, basil and cheese, and stir to combine. Scoop into bowls and top with more cheese if desired.


You have until August 19 to get your Dinner and a DVD post to Paige. Email her at paige_eliz at yahoo dot ca.