Fettucine with Creme Fraiche

This is not your traditional pasta dish. You might have noticed that I have been on a Southwestern food kick. So has everyone else. Something about hot weather that gives me a taste for the spicy foods; the tangy, warm, earthy flavors of the Southwest.

This dish really does need a strong pasta to handle it. I recommend whole wheat because it has a firmer texture and the nutty flavor is perfect. The rich sauce is tangy but it cools the heat of the peppers.The cumin’s warm, earthiness pulls it all together into creamy, spicy perfection. Normally I would not serve corn with pasta- it is just too weird but you know what? Corn works here. I like to leave it on the cob and rest it up by the pasta but you can add the kernels to the dish as well.

I think this pasta is addictive.  This is my submission to Presto Pasta Nights. This week it is hosted by Daphne of More Than Words.

Fettucine Creme Fraiche

• 2 lbs wholewheat pasta, cooked and drained
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 2 large onions, peeled and chopped
• 4 zucchini, diced
• 8 ears of corn, cut in half and cooked
• 1 poblano, seeded and chopped
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 cups shredded colby-jack cheese
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 2 cups creme fraiche or sour cream

1. Saute the zucchini, peppers, onions, and garlic in the olive oil until just tender. This works great in a wok.
2. Stir in the cumin.
3. Add the drained fettucine and stir well.
4. Stir in the cilantro and creme fraiche until all is well mixed and the pasta is coated.
5. Sprinkle with the cheese
6. Serve with the buttered corn on the side.

Serves 8

Tomorrow is my biopsy at 2:45. I have several posts scheduled over the next few days but I may not be available to answer questions. I just want to thank you guys for reading, for encouraging me, and for praying for me. You have been awesome, you have been friends, and I am grateful to count you among my many blessings. I am not looking forward to this thing but I am not worried about it either. I plan on posting on Thursday to let you know how it went, but in case I am unable to I wanted you to know why.

image: marye audet