I'm all ears......

Orrechietti.  "Little ears."

I first saw them in NYC when I was still working at the hospital.  There was a "luncheon" of some sort and we secretaries were invited....there was also a massage therapist.  I remember that because I was determined not to let that opportunity go by.  I had my massage.....about a year before I had major surgery on my cervical spine (neck).

Anyway...they had a buffet.  Little sandwiches.  Cold cuts.  Cheese.  And salads.  And one of the salads happened to be orrechietti, but no one knew what it was, so they were cute little pastas.

It tasted like any other macaroni salad anyone ever had. Period.

Fast forward to Italy some years later.  There is no orrecchiette in the supermarket.  I don't know where it is.  I cannot find it.  Meh......

Well....it seems that is because orrecchiette in Italy is fresh.  Handmade.  Not manufactured by a company just producing different shapes of the same old same old.  No!  It is .....artisanal.

And....it is at our salumeria.  So...we got some. 

It was awesome.  At total and completely not at all like regular what you would think you were buying pasta in the US.  It is....sublime.

It has....texture.  It's HEAVY!!!  A little goes a long way.  We had a bag....we got four meals for two out of it.  

First time I used broccoli and chick peas ( ceci) with parmesan and oil.  Second time I shredded some chicken sausage, added my spaghetti sauce and the pasta.  Parmesan on top.  Both were two meals, both were filling and stupendous.

I have discovered a secret.  I'm sharing......but I'm so sorry those who aren't here can't share the texture and taste of real, hand made orrecchiette.  They are....stupendous.

I plan to use them in summer salads....to be used sparingly, of course.