Do you know a local firefighter? If so, please let me know. I’d love to interview him or her for a project I’m working on about our local firehouses and the cooking that goes on in them.

I tried out this recipe and liked it. It was pretty simple. If you like creamy mushroom sauces, I’d recommend it.

From: Rigatoni with Creamy Mushroom Sauce, Everyday Italian, Giada De Laurentiis, 2008

Ingredients

• 1 pound rigatoni pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound assorted mushrooms, (such as cremini, shiitake and button), cleaned and sliced
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 1 cup (8 ounces) mascarpone cheese , at room temperature
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.

While the pasta is cooking:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes. Turn the heat to high. Add the wine and cook for 3 minutes until all the liquid evaporates. Add the stock and simmer until liquid is slightly reduced. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the mascarpone cheese. Stir until creamy. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water, and transfer to a serving bowl. Add the mushroom mixture and the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss well to coat pasta, adding the reserved pasta

I took an interesting cooking class last night. I was surprised to learn that among the things one can prepare in the pressure cooker are: creme brulet, risotto, pulled pork, chicken soup, and stuffed artichokes – great time-saver.