Pesto Pasta- The Twirls of Love
"and this is how the fantastic aglio e olio is made. Give it a try. Follow me...."
hmmm
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"Today we are going to make red pepper pecorino pasta....."
Tick. I pressed the power off button and slammed the phone on the bed. Softly, Beanie lifted her head and poised a questioning look.
Excitedly, I announced, "I am thinking aglio e olio...OR red pepper pasta O R pesto pasta. Which one do you like?"
"Ruff", Beanie responded.
"I thought so too. C'mon baby. Come. Join me in the kitchen!"
Both of us lifted our bellies, jumped up to a squat position and pulled out of bed.
Sprinting into the kitchen, I skidded my feet on the floor to make a dramatic entrance for an imaginary audience. Tapping the floor steadily, Beanie's little paws followed me. Stopping awkwardly, I faced the kitchen cabinets and posed my hands into a microphone.
"Welllll....hellllllloo everybody. Today we are going to makeeeeeeee......... PESTO PASTA" I yelled into the imaginary microphone.
"Bark Bark" Beanie joined.
Continuing the facade of an imaginary audience, I turned towards the refrigerator and then turned to the imaginary camera, "Before we boil our pasta, we'll need some basil...", Opening the door, I pulled out the bag of basil and shot it in front of the imaginary lens.
Running the short course between the fridge and the cabinets, I pulled open the cabinets and retrieved the jar of walnuts.
"Walnuts." I whipped the plastic jar on the counter.
Spinning on my right toe, I leaned forward, fixed my hands around the neck of the olive oil bottle and pulled back.
THUD. I smacked the bottle on the counter, taking care not to break it on the same.
"Some olive oil"
"Bark Bark Bark" Beanie joined in.
I picked up the basil and picked out the leaves one by one; collecting them neatly in a bowl. Squatting, I pulled out the food processor from the bottommost cabinet and kept it on the counter. The inverted bowl messily rained leaves but filled up the container. Titling the bottle of olive oil, I let some spill in the same.
Well, I've got olive oil and basil in my pesto. What else goes in? Lemon peel? Salt? Pecorino Romano?
Aha! Garlic
Looking around the counter space, I spotted the salt hoggin the space between the sink and basket of lemons and garlic. Grabbing all 3 ingredients, I opened the middle left drawer and took a peeler out. I drew a kitchen knife from the neat kitchen knife setting sitting on the counter's edge and peeled a few garlic cloves off the head.
"A good sprinkling of salt." I held a good but loose pinch above the food processor and let salt fall from my fingers.
"A peel of lemon." I shaved off the outermost skin and picked up the grater and cheese beside the food processor.
"And a good measure of pecorino romano." I huffed through the grating.
"And a few cloves of garlic." I stared at my imaginary audience as I smashed the garlic to reveal the pulp from the skin by the pressure of my knife.
Then, I clocked the lid shut.
"Finally! Blend." The press of a button whirred the ingredients in the space more closely together.
Smack. My finger left my mouth. "Tasty!" The pesto taste test was immaculate and complete.
"Next....", I turned my head around left and right. "...we'll need to boil some pasta."
I pulled out a tall saucepan from the same bottom cabinet. Quickly filling it with water to three-fourths, I added a heavy pinch of salt in it and set it on the stove.
Flick. The knob turning turned on the flame.
"And now we wait for it to boil." I smiled.
Withdrawing the corners of my lips and settling them back into a line, I stood facing the imaginary lens. Beanie had settled down on the floor and was steering her glassy eyes into mine.
"Aww, baby! You got bored?! I'll be done soon. I promise." Switching into a high-pitched baby voice, I cooed, "You want some pasta. Does Beanie want some pasta? Does Beanie want a treat? Yes, he does, I think he does."
Wag Wag Wag. Beanie's tail wagged incessantly.
"Ruff bark bark bark BARK"
Bubble Bubble Bubble
"OOO Water is boiling." I turned to notice big bubbles in the pasta water surfacing.
"Now where is my pasta?" A finger was set on my chin as I pondered about the query. "AHA!" I snapped my fingers.
The red tub.
Skipping towards it, I landed my final step with a jump. The red tub stood strong in the faint kitchen light. I shifted the lid to one side. A packet of fettuccine lay neatly on top of a mess of groceries. I gripped the bottom of the packet with both hands and with a firm hand slammed it on the countertop,
THWACK
Instantaneously, the pasta jumped out in a bunch.
I picked out a small circular amount and dropped it into the boiling water.
"I almost forgot." I faced the imaginary camera, once again. "Now add the pasta."
"Now what do I do in the meantime?" I wondered out loud as I dragged my legs out into a split. My front leg faced the refrigerator. Slowly, I got up. Keeping the other leg out in front, I began dragging it to do another split when it hit the refrigerator door. Beanie looked unamused.
"Nope. Not gonna happen. I guess...", I got up in a lunging position, "I'll just have to be normal."
I hooked my knee between the gasket and the wall of the refrigerator. The door didn't budge open.
Sighing, I got on my legs and pulled the door open in a normal fashion. A banana sitting on the 2nd shelve caught my eye.
"This will do."
I picked up the banana and shut the door.
Turning around, I noticed a frothy foam peeking from the top of the hot vessel.
"I forgot to stir it."
Holding the banana in my left hand, I scanned the counter for a utensil to stir with. Realising all such utensils were in the drawer under the stove, I quickly opened the right one and pulled out a stirrer.
"Don't forget to stir the water once in a while."
I set the stirring spoon down and peeled the banana. Cautiously savouring its sweet taste and mushy texture, I took small bites, remembering to stir the pasta water ever so frequently. Soon, the flesh was done with. Tossing the peel in the bin, I took a quick scan of the water. The fettuccine, although firm looked lighter in colour and had swelled up slightly. It looked ready to be taken out.
Quickly confiscating the kitchen cloth resting on the handle of the cabinet drawers, I arranged it to hold the handles of the hot vessel. Hovering it over a sink, I drain the water letting the noodles catch on the colander adjusted over the sink.
THWACK THWACK THWACK. The pasta sloshed around upon being tossed in the colander.
I took the dripping urn back to the station.
Inverting it over a ready bowl, I picked up the food processor to do the same. The sauce protested, hindering the process and refusing to pour.
I pulled out a spatula from the stirrer drawer.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Clink Clink Clink. The fork noisily scraped the plate as it twirled on it. I lifted it in the air.
"Oh my god! I totally forgot to film the rest of my recipe."
I shrugged. "Oh well!" I turned right. Beanie lifted her head off the bed. "Next time, I guess."
I chomped down the noodles with glee and contentment. The pesto sauce, made to perfection, was garlicky, smooth and peeked hints of lemon as it danced through my mouth.
"Not bad. Not bad at all."
Author note:- If you wanna read more such texts with detailed descriptions of food written from the perspective of a single dog lady, click the links below.
If you wanna read how I feel about pasta and food, you can click here.
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