Limone

Winter brightness

It’s been gray and mostly drizzly this last week, and I’ve been craving brighter, punchier flavors to shake things up in the kitchen. Winter citrus is such a welcome gorgeous zap in the colder months, and a lighter/fluffy dessert is a lovely way to end a cozy, warm + rich wintery meal. Enter, the old reliable lemon — in pasta and a sweet.

The first thing I cooked for T when we had just started dating was bolognese. I had been going on about a tradition I had created for myself called “pasta sunday” — though plenty of folks have these cozy cure-all meals for Sunday evening before the work week. We still celebrate Pasta Sunday frequently, and one of our favorite post travelling, empty fridge versions is Limone - creamy, bright, lemony pasta that comes together in 15-20 minutes and is so satisfying. The sauce is a glorified emulsification with some pasta water whisked in to create a glossy, creamy result.

My method, below:

Spaghetti Limone / serves 2 weary travelers with leftovers for Monday lunch,
or up to 4 for dinner

1 lemon, zest and juice (juice kept separate)

1 cup cream

3/4 cup butter, cubed

1 cup parmesan

Salt, Black Pepper, Breadcrumbs

1 lb. Spaghetti

Get your water going for the pasta with a big pinch of salt. Drop the pasta and cook until al dente, reserving 2 cups of pasta water at the end.

Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, combine the lemon zest and cream. Heat over medium heat and stir with a whisk, until just beginning to scald around the edges. One cube at a time, whisk in your butter until a thick, emulsified sauce comes together. Using tongs, transfer your cooked spaghetti straight from the pot it was cooked in. Stir to combine, then add 1 cup of your pasta water, the parmesan, and the lemon juice. Stir with your tongs to create a glossy sauce. If the sauce looks too thick, add more of your reserved pasta water. Season with salt and black pepper.

Serve in big bowls and top with a sprinkle of breadcrumbs for crunch, a little extra lemon zest maybe and some black pepper. Enjoy :)

our new bedroom color

A few happy’s:

+ Celebrating life and love with family and friends this season

+ After several weekends away with friends and family, I noticed that I have approximately 0 loungewear. I got two pairs of these - a wide leg, higher waist always feels more flattering on me. Cozy!

+ Painting our bedroom a beautiful forest green

+ Our last dinner of the year at LUNCH this weekend

+ Spreading cheer this week with our Holiday Market and Cookie Boxes

+ this lemon pavlova we made at the restaurant (recipe below)

LEMON PAVLOVA

A cloud with the sun peaking out from behind.

Separate some eggs, make this elegant dessert for friends and loved ones + feel the sun on your face. Lemon curd also makes a fabulous stocking stuffer / hostess gift.

Photo by Isabel Butler