Fast Food (or last minute and luscious)

Recipes: Roasted sausage and asparagus, Home fries, Farfalle with salmon and peas

It's a busy time. There have been several days when I've gotten home at 7 p.m., starving, and still had to put together dinner for two. And while it's fashionable to eat at 11 p.m. in Barcelona, at my home not so much. It made me think about Fast Food - no not THAT kind of fast food - I mean food that's fast to make. And also nutritious and delicious, of course! That's the difference.

Here are two fast meals I made recently that were a big hit. Both are easy to make, and I think you'll love them too.

Roasted Sausage and Asparagus with Home Fries

• 2 or 3 sausages. I used Trader Joe's Sweet Chicken Italian sausages, which are very good. Use any uncooked sausages you like.
• 1/2 pound fresh asparagus spears, ends cut or snapped off, spears washed and dried with paper towels
• olive oil
• salt
• 1 russet or large red-skinned potato
• 1 garnet sweet potato
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• chopped mild chili pepper or jalapeno, optional

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Wash the potatoes and cut them into eighths, or 2 inch chunks. Put them in a small saucepan with about an inch of water. Cook them covered over medium low heat for 10 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, toss the prepared asparagus spears with olive oil and sprinkle them with sea salt. Toss again, and lay them out in a wide baking dish or an oven-proof skillet. Arrange the sausages around the edges of the same baking pan. Put the pan in the preheated oven and set the timer for 20 minutes.

Drain the potatoes and let them cool while you chop the onion. Then slice the chunks of potatoes. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and saute the onions (and optional peppers, if using) until they are soft. Add the potato slices and stir a few minutes. Spread them out evenly in the pan and cover it. Cook for 10 minutes, covered, over medium heat.

Stir the potatoes again, lifting them off the bottom and turning them over. Cook them covered for 5 more minutes, then take the cover off and cook an additional 5 minutes or until the edges of the potatoes start to brown. Turn off the heat.

Take the sausages and asparagus out of the oven. A tiny splash of balsamic vinegar over the asparagus is a tasty option. Cut the sausages into slices or chunks, and get some good mustard out of the fridge. It's only been about 35 minutes and you're ready to eat!

 

Farfalle with Salmon and Peas

 

Farfalle are often called "bowties" in English. Isn't farfalle a more beautiful word? It means butterflies in Italian, and I love that word. So . .  this is quick "butterflies with salmon and peas". Cool.

• 1/2 pound dried farfalle
• salt
• a piece of salmon fillet (1/2 pound or so)
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiana
• freshly ground black pepper

Put a large covered pot of water on to boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt to the water when it is almost boiling.

Turn your stove's broiler on to High. Put one tablespoon butter in a broiler-proof dish and put it under the broiler for a few minutes to melt. Take it out and turn the salmon over a couple of times in the melted butter to coat both sides. Season the salmon with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Put an inch of water in a small saucepan and add the peas. Cook for 5 minutes over medium heat, drain, and cover to keep warm.

When the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook it for approximately 9 minutes, or until al dente. Taste a piece to be sure about 7 minutes into it - when it is done it will still have a very faint bite.

When the pasta has cooked for 4 minutes, slip the prepared salmon under the broiler for 5 minutes. Your timer is already set for this time.

When the timer goes off, take the salmon out from under the broiler and turn the heat off under the pasta. Hold the salmon in its dish on a heatproof surface until you're ready for it.

Retain 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. After you've drained it, put it back in the same pot and add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Turn the heat on under the drained pasta very low. Stirring the pasta, add the cream and heat until it begins to thicken and coats the pasta. Add a little of the pasta water to keep it loose. Then turn the heat off and add the cheese, stirring.

Break the salmon up with a wooden spoon, and add the pieces to the pasta. Pour in the cooked peas. Stir well to combine, grate a bit of black pepper over it, and put it in bowls to serve. It's only been about 30 minutes, and you're ready to eat!

Pour a glass of wine or beer, and your Fast Food dinner is ready to enjoy. Buon appetito!