When Andrew leaves town I bring on the mushrooms, it's just the way our marriage survives.Plus I figure it's the only way I'm going to get my kids to learn to like mushrooms because I can't serve them when their father is around, it would cause the poor man just too much pain.
When I served it up to my little epicurean skeptics I assured them it was "just macaroni and cheese with a few mushrooms thrown in" though for those of us who love the fungi it needs no apology. Most (with the exception of Spencer) agreed it was tasty and highly desirable.
And to make it more easily? I have a bag of dried shiitake mushrooms I've been using and I combined those with the criminis to make them go farther.
16 ounces fusilli or rotini pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
10 ounces chopped crimini mushrooms
10 ounces dried shiitake mushrooms
1 tablespoon fresh, chopped thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 large tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups low-fat milk
2 cups grated asiago cheese
Parmesan for topping
Boil 1 1/2 cups of water and pour over the dried shiitake mushroom slices, allowing them to soak for 10 minutes. Drain the mushrooms but reserve the liquid.
Cook pasta, drain and set aside. Meanwhile, melt butter in a nonstick pan and saute the onions for about 3-4 minutes over a medium heat or until they're soft and translucent. Add crimini and shiitake mushrooms, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic and saute until the mushrooms are browned and tender.
Add the flour to the mix, stirring until the mushroom mix is thoroughly coated then whisk in the milk, scraping up the bottom and whisking to get an even texture. Add the reserved mushroom liquid and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and boil for two more minutes then remove from heat and stir in cheese until it melts.
Add the pasta and stir to coat it then pour pasta into a greased casserole dish and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until it's lightly browned on top. Sprinkle each serving with a bit of Parmesan cheese if you like.
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Technorati tags: recipes, food, mushrooms
18 comments:
There are many ways that my marriage survivies, however, I was very pleased to read that one huge way is the same as yours. When my husband is out of town, it is time to eat the foods that he prefers not to. Genius...on both our parts! :)
I love the idea for this month's write away contest. I'll have to give this topic some thought and see if I can't put something together. It is a pretty fabulous prize, like you said!
-Francesca
You had already hooked me with the mushrooms...but two kinds of cheeses? You got me hook, line AND sinker!!!
Since I have just about no memory of my childhood (due to a medical trauma that happened years ago)
I can't participate in the write away contest this month. Maybe next months topic will be something I can work with.
Sounds yummy - I have to sneak them in when hubby is gone too!! I love, I mean seriously love mushrooms, but hubby won't eat cooked ones.
Oh, I love mushrooms! And with cheese??? Heavenly!
When I was a girl, I used to hunt for morels with my grandmother. They would taste so good in this recipe!
Ooo, this looks great. Gonna save this one for sure.
"It's just the way our marriage survives..."
I *love* that! :)
Ah looks like a recipes that can be whipped together, stuck into the oven - allowing for lots of blogging time and then enjoyed when done.
I think I was drooling reading this post.. First need to try the dumplings from earlier and then I just might try this for dinner sometime this week. Great recipes.
OMG - you must be talking about me!!! My husband doesn't do mushrooms either...but the boy and I do. So when he leaves, we gorge on them :) He's been away now for a week and we've had mushrooms 3 times!
Three words for you Andrew: Suck it up. My goodness if I turned down this dish, I'd get a right hook...
Pasta, mushrooms and CHEESE!! yummmmmmmmy! Love it, I know what I'll be making tonight. Thank you much for this.
Take care
wow - this looks FABULOUS!
Oooh, I love mushrooms! Will definitely try this one, thank you.
Also, I awarded you over at my blog. You can pick it up here:
http://aknittingjunkie.blogspot.com/2009/02/five-fabulous-blogs.html
Be sure to pass it on!
Big hugs to you girlfriend,
Anita
a Knitting Junkie!
This looks GREAT! I can't believe Andrew doesn't like mushrooms. :) My husband and I use them daily! Can't wait to try this recipe - I especially love wild mushrooms! I've got a great mushroom recipe planned for Valentine's Day - I'll post it once I take pictures of the final product!
Maybe I could get my little picky fiends to eat this as well if I disguise it as mac 'n cheese. Looks delicious, and fairly simple I think.
Hilarious. When DH and I were dating, he thought my family lived on: mushrooms, black olives, sauerkraut and radishes. (Apparently, they were not his favorites). A technique that I've used with olives (he's learned to like the rest) is to serve them when we have guests. He is forced to be gracious about the deal rather than stick out his tongue at the table.
i remember hunting mushrooms with my parents in ak as a kid. but i didnt like the flavor then or now..so i agree with your hubby. but i am always looking for different recipes since he does love them so much. so thank you:)
P.S.
since MY hubby likes them..oops, trying to multi-task, bites me on DA butt sometimes...
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