Monday, December 14, 2020

Mediterranean Pasta from @TinaKashian1 #Christmas #giveaways

 Hi everyone! It's TINAKASHIAN, and the Holiday Season is my favorite time of year. Decorating the Christmas tree and baking cookies with the kids is always exciting. This year will be quieter because of the pandemic. But even if we can’t visit the grandparents in the Poconos, I hope to make it special with food. When I was thinking of a recipe to share with Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, this Mediterranean side dish came to mind. When we did have a table full of guests, this pasta was often served. It’s a favorite side dish for holiday gatherings or even a main dish for a meatless meal. It is easy to prepare (who doesn’t love easy!) and a good alternative for guests who prefer a side of pasta over rice. 


 

Ingredients

1 lb spaghetti
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of finely chopped garlic
Salt
½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
3 scallions, with the tops trimmed and both whites and greens chopped
A jar of 6 oz marinated artichoke hearts in water, drained
¼ cup pitted Greek olives, cut in half lengthwise
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Zest of 1 lemon
½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 basil leaves, roughly chopped
Additional salt and pepper to taste



Cook spaghetti until al dente according to instructions.


 

While pasta is cooking, heat the extra virgin olive in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook until the garlic turns translucent but does not burn. 


 

Add parsley and chopped scallions. Cook for two minutes. Add tomatoes and cook another minute. Lower heat to low.


 

When pasta is cooked, remove from the heat and drain cooking water. Return to the pot. Pour the olive oil sauce into the pot and toss until thoroughly mixed. Add the artichoke hearts, olives, crumbled feta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, and basil leaves. Toss again. 

 


Add salt and pepper to taste. (I also put out small bowl of extra feta cheese on the table for those who want to add more.) Enjoy!

  

My most recent book is Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder, the fifth book in my Kebab Kitchen Mediterranean mystery series. The murder takes place during the Polar Bear Plunge at the Jersey shore during the Holiday Season. Family recipes are shared in the back of all my books. I already shared my recipe for moussaka at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, and I’m happy to share this one, too.

For a chance to win a signed, print copy of “Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder,” (U.S. Only), what is your favorite holiday side dish?

 



Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float—for real . . .
 
Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose—and his price—at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .
 
Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration—and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .
 
Recipes included!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3d6TK2V
Barnes & Noble:
https://bit.ly/2V2R4NV
Google Books: https://bit.ly/3hrFS73
iBooks: https://apple.co/3hyqMfI

Please visit www.tinakashiancom to sign up for my newsletter, find out what I’m working on, and to enter my monthly giveaways of one of my books and books from other authors.

Tina Kashian is an attorney and a former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two daughters.

 

 

 

 

84 comments:

  1. The recipe sounds yummy and a nice change from the usual, although in my family we do love my sweet potato casserole
    sallycootie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also enjoy a good sweet potato casserole. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. Welcome today. Thanks for sharing this recipe. One of my favorite side dishes during the holidays is: Sweet Potato Casserole
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always like sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving, minus the marshmallows.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A side dish that is special and greatly enjoyed is potato latkes.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yum! My mother in law makes potato latkes and they are delicious.

      Delete
    2. My favorite side dish is pilaf with lots of butter and made with College Inn broth only. I would be delighted to win the latest book !!

      Delete
  5. This recipe sounds delicious! I would use it as a main dish when my vegetarian daughter comes to visit. My special side is a cranberry relish. Would love to win your book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Martha! I have friends who are vegetarian and they often go for this pasta.

      Delete
  6. Welcome, Tina! May you enjoy your new MLK home! Love the colorful recipe. ~ Daryl

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cornbread dressing with cranberry sauce.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kathy! I do like cornbread, but what is cornbread dressing? I do like cranberry sauce, but I admit we often have canned cranberry sauce for the holidays.

      Delete
    2. If you're from the South, you probably refer to home made cornbread stuffing as "cornbread dressing". It's delicious no matter what you call it.

      Delete
  8. My family likes roasted brussels sprouts.
    wskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love brussel sprouts and we roast them with olive oil, salt and pepper.

      Delete
  9. This looks amazing we are a big mash potato and gravy family

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My husband loves mashed potatoes and he often makes them for everyday meals. I like them without gravy, but with a pad of butter. Who doesn't love butter?

      Delete
  10. A holiday side dish which is a favorite is roasted brussels sprouts. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Welcome, Tina! We're delighted to have you join us in the Kitchen, especially when you bring recipes like this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Leslie! Thank you for the warm welcome. I'm excited to be here!

      Delete
  12. I love good old green bean casserole. 3labsmom@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Brenda. Green bean casserole was the first side dish to go this past Thanksgiving. I'm thinking of making it again for Christmas.

      Delete
  13. Scalloped corn is one of my favorite side dishes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Judy. I like creamed corn, but never had scalloped corn. It sounds good!

      Delete
  14. My favorite is garlic mashed potatoes. Thanks for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jessica, we like almost anything with garlic and garlic mashed potatoes are very good. Thanks for stopping by

      Delete
  15. This dish looks SO yummy, Tina! (Then again, anything with artichokes is my new favorite dish.) So happy and excited to have you join our MLK gang, girl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Leslie! I'm happy to join MLK. I recently acquired a taste of artichokes as well. Now if I can get my kids to eat them...

      Delete
  16. No question, our favorite is the green beans with bacon and eggs my grandma used to make. It's a must for any holiday and good on the days in between too.
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alicia. I do enjoy a good green bean casserole, but I never had it with eggs.

      Delete
  17. Your pasta sounds delicious! My favorite Christmas side dish is the stuffing.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Dianne. I like homemade stuffing. I have family members on my husband's side that only eat Stove Top boxed stuffing. We made both last year.

      Delete
  18. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love your books and this looks sooo tasty! My favorite holiday side has to be stuffing. I didn't grow up with it, but it's become a necessary part of my holiday menu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for reading! I'm happy you enjoy the books. We have stuffing as a side dish for the holidays and I always enjoy it, too.

      Delete
  20. Mashed potatoes are my favorite side dish as long as they're made by my sister. She makes the best ones.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How nice that you like your sisters recipe. I also like my sisters green bean casserole when she makes it for holidays

      Delete
  21. This does sound tasty.
    When you say "Greek" olives, which type do you mean? In the photos they appear black.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I use the Greek Kalamata olives. I get them pitted so I don't have to remove the pits. But if you have another type of favorite olive, you could use that as well.

      Delete
  22. This pasta is definitely going on the table tonight! In terms of Christmas dinner, I'm a big fan of EASY that day, so roast beef with a side of cheesy broccoli bake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Amy. I'm also a fan of easy side dishes. The main course takes enough time. Broccoli bake sounds delicious, especially if it includes cheese.

      Delete
  23. This pasta sounds great! My favorite side is candied yams. Only get them a couple times a hear! Thanks for a chance on the book giveaway. ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. The book sounds so interesting! And that pasta dish looks yummy! I love trying new pasta recipes! My favorite holiday side dish is Cottage Cheese Rolls. They are DELICIOUS! They are in the shape of a crescent roll, but more dense than the light and flaky ones. They just have the best texture and flavor! Thanks for the chance to win! ladyofshalott03(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Welcome to the Kitchen, Tina! Marc and I are fans of feta and would happily devour your Med-inspired pasta dish, so many wonderful textures and flavors. Thank you for sharing your recipe. Our warmest wishes to you and your family for the holidays! ~ Cleo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, Cleo! Happy to be here!

      Delete
  26. the zucchini casserole my brother makes

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Zucchini casserole and zucchini bread are both wonderful.

      Delete
  27. Hi Dawn! Thanks for stopping by. I've never tasted cottage cheese rolls, but I love most types of cheese and your description is making me hungry.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh my gosh that sounds delicious! I know this is boring, but probably my favorite holiday side dish is (preferably garlic) mashed potatoes. And if I have cooked carrots, I like to mash them into my potatoes on my plate. For Christmas, I'm going to switch it up and have mashed sweet potatoes. No marshmellows involved, but a dash of maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Renee W. - rwilson (at) ws4r (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Renee! It doesn't sound boring at all, but delicious with the maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. What a good combination.

      Delete
  29. I would love to read “Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder". It sounds like a wonderful wintery mystery read! My favorite holiday side dish is a three way tie between sweet potato casserole, homemade cornbread dressing/stuffing, and Cherry Coke Salad. The Cherry Coke Salad is a sweet gelatin salad I now make with Diet Pepsi instead of water, cubed cream cheese, pecan halves, and dark sweet canned cherries. The name may throw people off a bit, but it is delicious!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nancy, I love to hear about all the new combinations of food and flavors that people try and end up loving. That's the best type of cooking. Homemade cornbread is a favorite in my house as well.

      Delete
  30. Mac & Cheese. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mac and cheese is my kids favorite. Of course, they prefer the box over homemade. I'm working on this!

      Delete
  31. Carrots steamed and then tossed in warm orange juice and caraway seeds! (not in the give away as I am in the UK and err already ordered it!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for ordering the book! Your carrots sound great!

      Delete
  32. Good evening from Ottawa Canada,happy holidays and Seasons Greetings form me Kat to you and your's. Being a widow raising a child in my own allowed me to experiment in doing so I found the perfect side dish to Turkey;in a casserole dish first layer coarsely mashed potatoes,carrots and turnips;add the next layer medium grated Old Sharp Cheddar Cheese ;lightly sprinkle dark brown sugar on the top.Place in oven covered at 350 Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes,remove lid bake anothers 5-10 minutes.Like a great mystery you can't appreciate it until all the flavors have come together at the end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Kat! Greetings to you in Canada. Your side dish sounds delicious! I like turnips and I'm always looking for ways to incorporate them into a recipe. Thanks for sharing!

      Delete
  33. Either cauliflower casserole or my broccoli salad! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cauliflower is my daughter's favorite veggie. I have never tried to make it in a casserole. I'm going to look this recipe up!

      Delete
  34. Not just for holidays but for some reason it tastes better with all of the rest of the holiday trimmings, I love mashed potatoes with gravy centraleast2 gmail com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very true! The sides always taste better during the holidays!

      Delete
  35. OMG. I want to make this so much, but my son is lactose intolerant. Can you think of anything decent to substitute for the Feta? (I know that is a tough one...)

    My favorite holiday side dish has always been stuffing! Although, I cook it on the side now (as opposed to inside a bird), so I guess technically it is dressing... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anna, you can leave out the feta cheese or use lactose tolerant cheese. I also cook stuffing on the side, too. I like it with or without the turkey.

      Delete
  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Yum, the pasta looks good! My favorite holiday side dish is stuffing.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. my favorite holiday dish is the stuffing! thanks for the chance.
    Jess
    maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oh yum this looks good. My favorite side dish is an asparagus casserole. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Asparagus is my second favorite vegetable, and I'll love to made asparagus casserole.

      Delete
  40. It would be my cranberry raspberry jello salad. I only make it for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I like stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy! I would love to win and read this book!

    ReplyDelete
  42. We always have Herring salad. Your recipe sounds wonderful. Thank you for the chance. I would love to read and review it.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sounds delicious! I love pasta! Besides all the normal sides I make a cranberry relish that is yummy! Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anita Anita Allgood here. Email allgoodanita@yahoo.com. I love mac and cheese followed by sweet potato casserole with praline topping. The recipe sounds wonderful. Thank you for the give away. The book sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Herring salad. I'd love to have a copy of your book.

    ReplyDelete
  46. mac. and cheese. thanks for the chance

    ReplyDelete
  47. My always favorite side dish is rice with beans and Tachina on it.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love a good sweet potato casserole (with a sugary nut topping instead of marshmallows)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tina, I don't like the marshmallow topping either, but the sugary nut topping sounds delicious.

      Delete
  49. I like a good Jello salad with fruit in it and served with a daub of whipped creme.
    jwisley(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  50. My favorite food on Christmas is mashed potatoes with a lot of butter, then I use a ladle to make a lake and add gravy.
    Thank you for this wonderful giveaway
    Merry Christmas

    ReplyDelete