Recipe Report: Bill Spencer's Pasta with Lemon Sauce

Rather belatedly (only four years late

I made this (http://www.wineloverspage.com/user_subm ... 20973.html) from the old FLDG the other night, and it was scrumptious. I used linguine (rather than fettucine, and I think it worked very well. One caveat - it doesn't need much cheese - I'd stick to the 2 oz the recipe calls for, or perhaps even a little less.

It went nicely with a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, although I suspect something just a little sweeter (perhaps an off-dry Pinot Gris) would work even better.

Where is Bill Spencer? I miss his lemon recipes. I know they were retiring to their beloved central CA coastal area.

[Jenise]

Oh how I have been craving pasta. This dish would send me into orbit. I wonder if I can get pasta to cook in my rice cooker? Hmmm.

Oh how I have been craving pasta. This dish would send me into orbit. I wonder if I can get pasta to cook in my rice cooker? Hmmm.

If your pasta cooking issue is your lack of a stove burner, you still have a gas grill, right? Do you have a pot you can use on your grill? Even better if you have a side burner. Just a thought.

[Jenise]

Oh how I have been craving pasta. This dish would send me into orbit. I wonder if I can get pasta to cook in my rice cooker? Hmmm.

If your pasta cooking issue is your lack of a stove burner, you still have a gas grill, right? Do you have a pot you can use on your grill? Even better if you have a side burner. Just a thought.

My grill doesn't have a side burner--the rice cooker might do better, not with a strand type pasta but with something small like an orzo or acina pepi--yeah, might owrk. But actually, I do have a stove now. What I don't have is any place to unpack pots and pans to, a faucet for pot-filling or a sink to drain pasta in. You should have seen me yesterday boiling shrimp to put into a salad I was taking up to Bill Spohn's--had to use a skillet as it's the only pan I can put my hands on at the moment, filling it from a garden hose, and later carrying the hot pan out to the front of the house to drain it, squatting, over a grate in my driveway like a third world woman.

Oh how I have been craving pasta. This dish would send me into orbit. I wonder if I can get pasta to cook in my rice cooker? Hmmm.

If your pasta cooking issue is your lack of a stove burner, you still have a gas grill, right? Do you have a pot you can use on your grill? Even better if you have a side burner. Just a thought.

My grill doesn't have a side burner--the rice cooker might do better, not with a strand type pasta but with something small like an orzo or acina pepi--yeah, might owrk. But actually, I do have a stove now. What I don't have is any place to unpack pots and pans to, a faucet for pot-filling or a sink to drain pasta in. You should have seen me yesterday boiling shrimp to put into a salad I was taking up to Bill Spohn's--had to use a skillet as it's the only pan I can put my hands on at the moment, filling it from a garden hose, and later carrying the hot pan out to the front of the house to drain it, squatting, over a grate in my driveway like a third world woman.

Bless your heart. I'd have been in a strait jacket long before now, and I cook way more simply than you do. I hope you are able to get it all in order soon.

[Jenise]

Bless your heart. I'd have been in a strait jacket long before now, and I cook way more simply than you do. I hope you are able to get it all in order soon.

I guess, although it's wearing a bit thin by now, I love challenges enough to consider this whole thing a challenge and have enjoyed not letting it get the best of me. I've also been aided and abetted by a fantastic long stint of dry warm weather since mid-May such that frequent outdoor grilling has been both possible and enjoyable. However the first couple months--January thru March with non-stop rain and nothing but a small space heater for warmth--that couldn't have gone on much longer.

The cats are still pretty pissed off about it, though.

[Jenise]

Oh, meant to add: rice cooker pasta experiment is underway as I type. Breakfast!

Sounds terrific, Ted. I made something similar to this the other night (plus bay scallops, minus cheese) and it was out of this world. I think the addition of the lemon zest does wonders. Also used my favorite pasta (Cipriani) which I think makes a big difference, as well.

Oh, meant to add: rice cooker pasta experiment is underway as I type. Breakfast!

I think you need to invest in one of those silly gadgets I saw advertised on TV a few times. It's a cylindrical canister that you put pasta into, then add water and microwave it (I think...) It was one of those "Ronco" type ads that showed exasperated idiots making a mess with pasta and boiling water, as though it's so difficult to boil and drain it.
No offense to any of you who actually bought one of these!!

[Jenise]

I think you need to invest in one of those silly gadgets I saw advertised on TV a few times. It's a cylindrical canister that you put pasta into, then add water and microwave it (I think...) It was one of those "Ronco" type ads that showed exasperated idiots making a mess with pasta and boiling water, as though it's so difficult to boil and drain it.

Never saw that one, but my eyes would have been rolling too. I can just see the faces of the exasperated idiots--there's a look they all have just before they wave their hands in defeat that doesn't actually occur in real life.

Rice cooker worked great on pasta!!!! Wonder why I didn't think of this before. I've now concluded that this product is misnamed as a rice cooker--it's essentially a pot on a heating device with two temperature settings--boil and slightly-below-simmer. Anything you can think of that can cook under such circumstances cooks well in this device. So not just rice but pasta, artichokes, Chinese dumplings, vegetables fresh or frozen (last week I cooked fresh chard in it, and also yellow zucchini on Saturday night), potatoes for salads or mashing...lots of options, as long as the shapes/quantities are compatible.

Where is Bill Spencer? I miss his lemon recipes. I know they were retiring to their beloved central CA coastal area.

Karen, I did not know that Bill had retired and moved off his citrus acreage in Yuma. When did this happen. Maybe I should call the company and check it out. I owe him a bottle or two of wine and need to make good on that.

Bill and his wife purchased a cottage near Morro Bay on the Central Coast of CA. They loved it there and planned to retire within a short time of his posts to us. I miss his "clink" at the end of his posts and his wonderful and simple lemon recipes, which were always great.