Goat Cheese & Roasted Pepper Pasta For Mom


The last few weeks have been exhausting and devastating simultaneously. I flew to Italy March 4th expecting to stay there for three months, but three days after my arrival I realized that my Mother’s hospital stay in Canada for what initially was sciatic nerve pain had progressed to something much more critical so I booked a flight back to Canada and left the next day.

I spent the following week at my 94 year old Mother’s bedside and was with her along with my sister when she passed away in the early morning of March 19th., just over a week after I arrived. My Mother and I were very close and I can certainly attribute my positive life attitude to my Mother.

Mom had endured many challenges in her life, both personal and medical, but she always kept a positive attitude and would often say, “Tomorrow is a new day”. I never met a single person who didn’t love my Mother, and she never met a stranger as she would make friends with everyone she met. After my Mom passed, I stayed another week wrapping up my Mother’s affairs, and am now trying to adjust to life without my Mother before I head back to Italy next week.

Growing up, my Mother wasn’t the best cook, and most of her meals were prepared to please my meat and potatoes loving Father. My Mother did however make great cabbage rolls, prepare the most tender roasted meats, and was well known for her Lemon Meringue Pie.

My Mother was very proud of my cooking skills however, and loved enjoying good food served around our family table. One of my Mom’s favorite ingredient combinations was roasted peppers and goat cheese. No matter what else I was preparing, I always tried to roast some peppers for Mom, and had creamy goat cheese on hand when she was visiting.

This pasta recipe is for Mom as I know she would love it since it contains two of her favorite ingredients and she was always happy to be served a plate of pasta. This one is for you Mom, I love you!

You can use jarred roasted peppers in this pasta dish although making them fresh will taste better. Use a creamy, not aged goat cheese as the sauce is made by combining the pasta water along with the goat cheese. If you like, you can serve this pasta topped with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese.

Doris Elizabeth Forget
November 17th 1924 – March 19th 2019

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele

Goat Cheese & Roasted Pepper Pasta For Mom

Goat Cheese & Roasted Pepper Pasta For Mom

Yield: Serves 4-6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Creamy goat cheese is used as the pasta sauce along with sweet roasted peppers.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
  • 1 Cup Roasted Sweet Bell Peppers, Peeled & Thinly Sliced
  • Salt & Pepper To Taste
  • 4 Large Fresh Basil Leaves, Thinly Sliced
  • 4 Ounces Creamy Goat Cheese
  • 1/4 Cup Chopped Kalamata Olives
  • 3/4 Pound Dried Pasta Such As Penne or Rigatoni

Optional:

  • Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Cheese For Serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
  2. In a frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat, and cook the garlic just until fragrant.
  3. Add the peppers to the pan, stirring to mix.
  4. Season with salt and pepper, and mix the fresh basil into the pan.
  5. Cook the pasta until it is "al dente", then drain and reserve a cup of the pasta water.
  6. Add the goat cheese, and a 1/2 cup of the pasta water to the frying pan and mix over medium heat until the cheese has melted.
  7. Add the pasta to the pan along with the olives, and toss to coat with the sauce.
  8. Serve the pasta in individual bowls, passing the grated cheese for those who want it.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 286Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 255mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 11g

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18 Comments

  1. So sorry about your mother, she looked as lovely as you described. Always a difficult time.

    Looking forward to trying the recipe.

  2. I am so sorry for your loss.  The picture of your mom just glows.  What a legacy she left with her positive attitude.  I need to remember that more myself.  Thank you for the lovely tribute.  May you find ease for your broken heart in your memories of her, and in the new blooming life of spring.  

  3. What a lovely tribute to your mother this recipe is. I love the simplicity a few ingredients, though each is intensely flavored on its own. Can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing it!

  4. Thank you for sharing a loving tribute to your mother. May you feel her arms wrapped around you forever and those that care of you. Please keep us posted on your travels and new recipes as I look forward to reading and trying them.

  5. So sorry about your mom. Nothing repairs the hole in your heart when you lose your mom. Mine has been gone for 12 years now and me (beings a “mama’s girl”), was heartbroken when she died. And yes..it took a few years to get over the loss,  but, as time goes by, the pain  really does ease, and life moves forward. You look very much like your mom! And..you may not think so right now, but you will  be fine. 

  6. So terribly sorry for your loss.  What a sweet tribute to a very sweet sounding woman with a bright lovely smile.  Losing a mother no matter what their age leaves a huge void.  Wishing grace surrounds you and your family. 

  7. Your Mother is so beautiful – she reminds me of my Mom I lost in 2005. I still miss her. My son is getting married in a few weeks and she would have loved to be there and loved his wife to be. My Mom was always dressed beautifully as it looks like your Mom was the same. Beautiful woman – strong but gentile – will always be missed.

  8. Dear Deborah,
    I am so sorry about the passing of your mother. She looked like a very kind person. I remember my mother’s cooking with so much love. It is what inspires me to cook. If only my cooking  could be as good as hers. I look forward to trying this recipe!

  9. Deborah…..I am so very sorry for your loss. I understand the heartbreak that you feel as I lost my precious 95 year old mother 2 years ago this month. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about her kind, gentle spirit. I am grateful though to have such sweet memories of her and feel totally blessed that she was my mom. Being raised in an Italian household where both sets of grandparents lived with us as they got older, I witnessed such a beautiful example of strong bonds within the home. Cherish the sweet memories you have. With heartfelt sympathy!

  10. Deborah, I’m sorry for your loss. The first anniversary can be very difficult; I hope you are doing okay. It’s been five years since my Mom passed away, and it still feels odd that she’s not here, but not as painful. I’m glad you were able to make it back in time to be with her. Hugs, Kit

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