Thursday, August 09, 2007

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.

14 comments:

KJ said...

You've got red on you pasta - I love it.

Shaun of the Dead is a brilliant movie. I must have seen it a hundred times too. My favourite scene has to be when Shaun walks to the corner store and back totally oblivious to the chaos around him.

Ruth Daniels said...

I'm definitely up for that. Hopefully I'll be organized enough to join in the fun. I already have my fave DVD picked out...or do I?

The Cookbook Junkie said...

We watched that movie on New Year's Eve a few years ago. I thought it was really funny.

I love the Food & Wine Quick From Scratch series of cookbooks!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

What a great deal on a cookbook and great fun with You've got red on you and pasta to go with it! Perfect dish and DVD combo. (yeah, fun movie)

Sara said...

kj - thanks. i don't think i could name a favorite scene, i love the whole movie. but i do laugh like an idiot when zombie pete appears in the living room and shaun and ed scream and wave their hands around.

ruth - hope you can take part!

cj - i think i might have another one from this series.

tanna - thank you!

Lis said...

Your pasta dish looks exceptionally yummy! And I'm so glad you are back!!!

I've just added Shaun of the Dead to my blockbuster que.. hopefully I'll get it next week. :D

xoxo

Deborah Dowd said...

What a hoot! I am picking out something now!

Anonymous said...

I love Shaun of the Dead! (Also, yummy looking pasta! :D ) One friend actually dressed up as Shaun one Halloween, complete with the red on the shirt and cricket bat. Sadly, most people thought he was Dilbert.

Anonymous said...

lol... Best zombie movie ever.

Anonymous said...

I adore Shaun of the Dead. Hope you will enjoy Hot Fuzz.

Ani
foodiechickie.com

Sara said...

Lis - yeah, don't know why I bothered telling everyone I was going away, I was hardly gone! Hope you like SoD.

Deborah - yay! look forward to seeing what dvd you choose.

TG - aww, poor him. That's a wicked costume. Maybe I could get Scott to do that this halloween and I could be Ed!

Pagie - oh yeah!

Ani - I've seen Hot Fuzz 4 times already!

Anonymous said...

i just watched "hot fuzz" this past week and can't wait to see "shaun of the dead!"

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love Shaun of the Dead! And the pasta looks great too! Great combo :)

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Just catching up on our return from hols. We love Shaun of the Dead too