TORTZ!

beetroot powder?!
it's purple like a mutha, and it makes pasta look pretty cool.
f'real.
check it out:

MMMMMMM!!!
dudes,
purple semolina tortellini pasta time was expert!
my good buddy travis came by for his yearly dinner visit,
and we got into some pasta magic pretty much right away.
let me tell you neighbors-
fresh thai basil was an unexpected addition,
but also F*ing awesome.
i HAD italian basil, but these longer leaves just hit different, and better.
and guys, rules is rules when it's pasta time- y'know?
fried garlic is always an essential element...
i went heavy on the oil,
and used the garlic-infused hottness
to blister those halved orange and red sweet baby grape tomatoes.
i don't know the last time i bought a regular tomato, bro.
-
the pasta dough was simple:
1 T beetroot powder;
1 1/2 tsp sea salt;
2 T olive oil;
1 cup king arthur all purpose flour;
1/2 cup semolina flour;
2/3 cup warm water...
beat up in my upright stand mixer, with a dough hook attached,
until the whole thing was one smooth, sturdy, shiny ball-
you may need more flour, or more water, alternately, to get a real dough consistency.
humidity plays a big part in this portion, but eyeballin' is the way to go.
you can do it-
wrap and rest your dough for at least 10 minutes,
before rolling it out all thinny-thin thin on  floured surface,
and cutting a freakin' TON of  2.5" circles for pouchin' it all up.

sh!t.
the light was rubbish so the shots are kinda blurry,
and that's depressing as heck.
but the filling was so straightforward, but also pretty dang amazing.
there's the new-new cashew mozz.
AND lacinato kale, scallions, and finely minced red onion,
with GPOP pink salt and black pepper.
it's just so simple to drop a dollop of each thing in the centers and
twist, fold, pinch, and pack them into tiny tortellini shapes-
if y'boil those baddies up until they float, you're basically ready.
however,
too much is the right amount.
and that's why i also made a gentle cream sauce, man,.
i did.
and it's DOPE.
-
*
CREEEEMY SAUCE!
-
that's a small saucepot, on high heat,
and 1 T olive oil;
1/4 cup soymilk;
salt, pepper, and GPOP;
1 tsp fire roasted tomato flakes;
1/4 tsp trader joe's umami powder;
1 tsp flour;
1 tsp lemon juice-
heated, stirred, and tossed with those torts, boi.
yes!!!
-
all of that on a bed of peppery, spicy, crunchy arugula?

WORD.
that's how you make a meal for your friend that they can appreciate and remember.
***********
i saw weird al in concert with breezy the other night...
and not for nothin'?
he was totally amazing.
no joke.
that's real.
we had a heck of a time, bookended by serious talking, and deep emotions.
folks, that's a LOT.
a comedy parody symphony experience?
that's wild.
i wouldn't ever do ANYthing fun if it wasn't for that woman.
like, never ever would i ever have gone alone.
but i'm glad i did it.
and i'm especially glad that we share these experiences.
i think that might be an important thing.
it feels important, anyway.
i am still exhausted from staying up extra late and getting up extra early.
i used to sleep four hours a night and be GOOD.
now, i'm just a beat-up and busted old man,
having the hardest time keeping my eyes open.
and i eff with caffeine a LOT just to not doze off during the day.
it's hard.
i don't know what's going on.
i'm just doing the best i can,
and regrettably that's just not very good-
real life can be hard, it seems;
never quiet, never soft.....