Kentucky Pasta Salad

1 lb. pasta, cooked and drained
2 cups frozen peas
2 cloves garlic, minced
sliced black olives
2 scallions, chopped
1 cup artichokes, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoon pesto
1 teaspoon tabasco or other hot sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil
1/4 cup red pepper, diced

whisk together dressing ingredients, pour over other ingredients, toss.
serve at room temperature. serves 12

Mother made this for Father's Day. It was a hit at Chicken Day, too.

Clam Sauce, Linguini

1 huge Costco can of chopped clams
1 cup sauvignon blanc or other dry white wine
1/2 stick butter
olive oil
minced onion
minced parsley
1/2 BULB very thinly sliced garlic
white pepper
salt (if needed)
arrowroot powder
smidgeon thyme
smidgeon oregano
linguini

Saute onions, white pepper, thyme, oregano, and garlic in a wide skillet with the olive oil until translucent. Add butter. Add clam juice from clams. (Rinse drained clams in a fine colander.) Add wine. Simmer until liquid evaporates to at least half of volume or even less. Spoon some of the broth into a coffee cup and mix with arrowroot; add to sauce to thicken. Add clams and parsley and warm through. Serve immediately over linguini, with grated parmesan.

Note: The thyme, oregano, and parsley need to be added very judiciously.

Tuna & Red Sauce Over Spaghetti

2 large cans of tuna in water
2 cans of whole tomatoes
1/2 can tomato paste (optional)
4 long shakes of soy sauce
teaspoon oregano
cracked pepper
olive oil
grated parmesan
1 large chopped onion
spaghetti


Pour a thin layer of olive oil in a large skillet and heat over medium high heat. Sautee the onions until just slightly translucent, then add drained tuna, oregano, and cracked pepper. Sautee until tuna changes color and liquid evaporates. Add tomato, turn down to medium-low. Simmer for 15 minutes, then break up tomatoes with wooden spoon. Add soy sauce. Simmer for 15 minutes more, or until sauce starts to thicken. Adding grated parmesan thickens sauce and adds flavor. Season to taste (may need more salt). Serve over spaghetti.

Note: Cheap, nutritious, and easy. Taught to me in college by one of Danny's girlfriends.