Addio Il Mio Amore

Tonight I said my last goodbye to one of my food loves--beautiful, delicious, comforting pasta.  You've been with me through the good and the bad, cheered me up when I was sad and celebrated with me when I was glad.

I must part with it, since I'm trying to get my food intake in order and it's been a major culprit to my steady, four year weight gain.  But it's May the first, and I'm DETERMINED to start "the metamorphosis" and not just have it be something I've said I'd do since the beginning of time.  Princess Catherine has been the cherry on top of the cake (yum! wait, no!) that's inspired me since she looked so lovely on Friday.  Pippa, on the other hand, needs to lay off the spray tan.  You're English, darling...no one anticipates your skin to "naturally" be that color.  Your makeup was good, hair = perfect, dress fantastic...skin tone...not so much.

With that, I decided to cook the rest of the pasta I had in my pantry as a final send off.  I made my all time favorite style--very simple--just boiled for 9 minutes...

And then, after straining, fried it in 2 tablespoons of butter with a healthy dose of Apple Cider Vinegar, some Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

I don't know what it is about this way of preparing it that makes me salivate before it's even on the plate. I think the final touch that makes it my style is adding my flavor of the month hot sauce.  If only that existed...seriously...I'd be the first one to sign up.

I got this hot sauce when I was in the Grand Tetons.  There was this amazing cooking supply store that had everything you can imagine (at jacked up prices for the tourists) in terms of spices, mixes, cookbooks, and toppings that were "reminiscent" of the Wild West.  Or at least marketed that way for us fools.

How great is this?  How could you NOT buy a hot sauce with a dancing devil that's called "Jamaica Hell Fire"?  What I like about this hot sauce is that it's gritty--not light like the grocery store brands (i.e. Frank's hot sauce).  Not that there's anything wrong with that...lord knows I put it on everything except fruit and sweet goods.

All in all it was the perfect parting into Healthy Eating Land, where I'm sure to head, albeit for now, kicking and screaming.

Wish me luck...tomorrow begins a 7 month long torture-fest, with an early rise to the gym before work.  I spent this weekend prepping for my food menu for the upcoming week, counting calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber to make sure I don't sway back to my old, delicious habits.  Let the journey begin!