Hasta la Pasta!

Pasta is truly an amazing creation. With an infinite variety of shapes & sizes, even the most seasoned chefs have trouble keeping track. Fusilli. Bucatini. Fettucini. Campanelle. No matter the name, we love them all.

How do we love pasta? Let's count the ways: it tastes great, it's fun to eat, it's customizable with different sauces and toppings, and it's great for carb loading before a marathon!

To help you assemble a delicious pasta tasting menu, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found a handful of great dishes from across the Web.


Farfalle with Winter Pesto
This seasonal pesto dish is a dinnertime must.
Ingredients in this recipe: garlic, olive oil, spinach, walnuts, salt, black pepper, farfalle, ricotta salata

Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce & Garlic-Basil Oil
Hard to beat this classic Spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce.
Ingredients: basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, butter, black pepper, kosher salt, canned tomato, red pepper flakes, plum tomato, spaghetti

Baked Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
This baked pasta with spinach is easy to make and fun to eat.
Ingredients in this recipe: basil, garlic, mozzarella cheese, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, egg, ricotta cheese, baby spinach, marinara sauce, jumbo pasta shells

Fusilli with Goat Cheese, Lemon & Asparagus
This dish, with goat cheese, citrus and asparagus hits all the right notes.
Ingredients in this recipe: goat cheese, olive oil, asparagus, tarragon, lemon peel, fusilli

Shells with Sausage and Greens
Italian sausage and broccolini combine for a rustic & delicious dish.
Ingredients in this recipe: garlic, Parmesan, scallion, broccolini, chicken stock, red pepper flakes, Italian sausage, shell pasta

Fettucine with Tuna, Arugula & Hot Pepper
This seafood pasta is incredibly simple to prepare.
Ingredients in this recipe: arugula, garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, red pepper flakes, fettucine, canned tuna


Let's get cooking!

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The Proof is in the Pudding!

Bread pudding is a classic comfort food we find ourselves craving again and again. As a dessert, it's amazing when served warm with a drizzle of chocolate, caramel or Bourbon sauce. As a savory side dish, it works as a delicious complement to duck, steak or chicken. Savory bread pudding, especially one loaded with cheese, pairs well with a light salad for a hearty brunch.

1. Basic Bread Pudding

In its simplest form, bread pudding is a great dish to make when all that French bread you bought has gone stale. Besides bread, all you need is milk, eggs and sugar. You soak the bread in milk while mixing the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl. Once the milk has been absorbed into the bread, add the egg & sugar mixture and bake at 350 F for 35-45 minutes.

As a dessert, Basic Bread Pudding typically contains Vanilla, Cinnamon and Raisins, but all of those are optional and can be substituted for flavorings you like more.

2. Sweet Style

Sweet bread puddings are great for dessert and can be customized with all of your favorite ingredients. If you're a chocolate lover (aren't we all?), you'll go nuts for this version: Chocolate with Walnuts & Chocolate Chips. If you're craving a taste of the South, try this Classic version topped with Bourbon Sauce. If you want a little extra fruit, try this one with Banana & Caramel.

Basically, once you have the classic bread pudding base, feel free to thrown in any fruit including apples, bananas, blueberries or raisins and bake away!

3. Savory Style

The base of Savory Bread Pudding is the same as for Sweet, except you skip the Sugar and focus on Bread, Milk and Eggs. After that, you can add a mix of vegetables and cheeses based on what you like to eat or what would pair well with your main dish. Feel free to get creative! For instance, here's a savory pudding with zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes and Swiss cheese.

A classic version of savory bread pudding uses Mushrooms and Marjoram because they pair well with most meaty main courses. As with any bread pudding, feel free to experiment with your favorite cheeses and veggies. Believe us, the bread pudding can handle it!

For a brunch entree, add your favorite breakfast meat and cheese into the pudding. One idea is to start the day off right with this pudding with ham, fontina cheese and spinach. But, sausage and bacon work great in bread puddings as well.

4. Time to get Saucy

Your favorite chefs never eat bread pudding alone- they always top it with a delicious sauce. For the sweet ones, Caramel or Chocolate sauce always hit the spot. For savory ones, try a tasty Mushroom or Cheese sauce.

Now that you have the tools, the next time you notice a loaf of stale bread or some apples a little bit past their prime, don't despair, make bread pudding!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get helpful updates in your news feed.

Fabulous French Fare!

The French have one of the richest culinary histories in the world. They've given us great wines, classic bistro fare like steak frites and french onion soup, and don't forget their delicious desserts like crepes and souffle. To honor the great French dishes, we've assembled a start-to-finish menu that'll have you shouting oh-la-la!

While it may seem daunting to prepare an entire French meal at home, that's not the case when you focus on simple & delicious bistro fare as opposed to haute cuisine. The key is to use fresh ingredients and focus on rustic simplicity. And, don't forget to practice your best French accent. Mais oui!

To help you assemble a well-rounded French menu, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found the best French dishes from across the Web.


The French 75 Cocktail
This classic cocktail is a great way to get into a French state of mind.
Ingredients in this recipe: lemon juice, powdered sugar, lemon peel, Champagne, gin

Classic French Bread
Warm bread with butter is a nice starter and will help you sop up all the great French sauces.
Ingredients in this recipe: salt, water, active dry yeast, bread flour

Green Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
A rustic side salad is the perfect accompaniment.
Ingredients in this recipe: mustard, romaine lettuce, sugar, apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil

French Onion Soup
Everyone will swoon over this hearty & cheesy French classic.
Ingredients in this recipe: butter, onion, sugar, salt, vegetable stock, Gruyere cheese, peppercorns, cognac, baguette

Simple Slow-Cooker Coq Au Vin
Who knew it was easy to make tender & juicy chicken in a rich red wine sauce?
Ingredients in this recipe: garlic, bacon, butter, carrot, mushrooms, thyme, salt, black pepper, all-purpose flour, chicken thigh, red wine, chicken broth, yellow onion

French Apple Tart
The beautiful layering of the apple slices makes this tart a show-stopper!
Ingredients in this recipe: butter, lemon juice, sugar, lemon zest, pie crust, brandy, Granny Smith apple, apricot jam, McIntosh apple

Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.

What's in the Perfect Burrito?

We all love a good quest. Some have searched for Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, even Mr. Snuffleupagus. But, what's the plan once you find them? The first two are extremely dangerous and Snuffleupagus isn't much of a conversationalist.

Well then, how about a quest for the most elusive food on the planet, the perfect burrito? Luckily for you, the FoodPair staff has been working on this one for years. Though we can still fight endlessly as to where to buy the best burrito in California or Mexico or Antarctica, we were able to settle our differences as to what makes the best burrito. So, without further ado, here's what you need to know:

1. What Makes a Burrito?

In short, a burrito is the greatest hits of Mexico wrapped in a tortilla. Inside the tortilla, you'll need meat, beans, rice (controversy solved below), cheese, salsa, avocado (or guacamole), sour cream, onions and cilantro.

As with all food besides the Twinkie, everything should be as fresh as possible. The better each ingredient tastes, the better your burrito will be. And, if you've had a burrito lately, you know that a great one is worth more than the sum of its parts.

2. The Tortilla

Since most of us will be buying rather than making our tortilla, it's best to use a flour tortilla that's fresh. So, instead of reaching for the major brands, find one that's made locally.

Next, the tortilla should be grilled or heated in a pan. It should not be steamed! Those steamers make the tortilla chewy and gummy. Just like toasting bread, grilling a tortilla adds flavor and imparts an ideal flakiness.

While you're grilling the tortilla, toss on a handful of shredded cheese. That way, the cheese will be melted and gooey on the inner wall of the burrito.

3. The Rice Debate

Some people love rice in their burritos and some people hate it. In California, rice has created a North-South feud: in San Francisco rice comes standard, but in Los Angeles and San Diego it's usually left out.

Our answer: if you like rice keep it in; if you don't, just say no. But, if you do like rice, it should be well-seasoned and flavorful Mexican rice. Make sure it has garlic, onion and tomato. Also, make sure not to add too much. A good rule of thumb is that the rice & beans (combined) shouldn't be more than 1/3 of the burrito.

4. The Meat, Beans and Avocado

You have a lot of choices when it comes to the meat or protein: Steak, Chicken, Pork or Tofu. Choose your favorite protein, but make sure it's well-seasoned and definitely not overcooked!

As for the beans, we reach for whole pinto beans, but whole black beans are great as well. For another take, check out BurritoEater where refried beans are the filling of choice. Try one with each and pick your favorite.

We prefer sliced avocado in our burritos, but others prefer guacamole. As with the rice, choose whichever you prefer.

5. The Key Elements

We're not done yet! There are a couple more key elements to a perfect burrito. First, it should be hot, no questions asked. Second, the ingredients should be well mixed. We want a delicious burrito, not an archeology project with a layer of rice, then beans, then meat. That's not OK. Third, it should be spicy, as spicy as you can handle! We make our salsa hotter for burritos than for dipping chips because it's spread across a large area and has to compete with the other ingredients.

Now wrap everything up and it's ready to go!


Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get helpful updates in your news feed.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from FoodPair! If you're looking to make a splash outside the typical card-flowers-chocolate playbook, take a cue from FoodPair and cook a romantic dinner at home. Not only will you dazzle and impress your significant other, but you'll avoid all the overwrought $100 tasting menus that always leave us wanting more.

Here are a couple tips for crafting the prefect Valentine's Day menu:
(1) Presentation matters, so pick foods with a red, sultry color. Cook with red wine and tomatoes; make sure your chocolaty desserts include some strawberries, raspberries or cranberries.
(2) Use the favorite foods of your main squeeze. They'll appreciate that you've been paying attention to their likes & dislikes. If they're vegetarian, avoid the steak!
(3) Spice things up with popular aphrodisiacs. Oysters, basil, asparagus, arugula, avocado, honey, chocolate and wine are all popular foods known for their romantic leanings. Choose your favorites for the meal and cupid will be knocking in no time!

To help you assemble a romantic Valentine's Day Menu, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and found the best sultry dinner and dessert ideas from across the Web.


Smoked Oyster and Potato Salad with Arugula
Light & briny oysters are the perfect start to your romantic dinner.
Ingredients in this recipe: olive oil, lemon juice, red onion, parsley, celery, bibb lettuce, oysters, red skinned potatoes

Roasted Carrot and Tomato Soup with Basil
Carrots and basil are both said to increase happiness and the libido!
Ingredients in this recipe: basil, garlic, olive oil, carrot, onion, water, milk, plum tomato, cooking spray

New York Steak with Boursin and Merlot Sauce
A juicy steak with a sultry Merlot sauce is just what Cupid ordered.
Ingredients in this recipe: olive oil, butter, chive, steak, red wine, Italian parsley, Boursin

Baked Fish in Parchment
Open the parchment table-side for a steamy flourish!
Ingredients in this recipe: rosemary, zucchini, lemon juice, cherry tomato, salt, black pepper, white wine, fish, canned artichokes

Valentine Linzer Cookies
This heart-shaped cookie will be the star of your celebration!
Ingredients in this recipe: almond, egg, butter, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, baking powder, raspberry jam, cinnamon, cake flour

Chocolate Mousse with Cranberry & Orange Chutney
Mousse is easy to make and this one with dark rum and cranberry will make your sweetie sing!
Ingredients in this recipe: chocolate, egg, dark chocolate, salt, milk, whipping cream, dark rum, chutney


Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.

Breakfast of Champions!

While the Green Bay Packers are still busy celebrating their turn as champions of the Super Bowl, it's time for the rest of us to get back to business. To attack the day with energy & enthusiasm, it's important to eat a Breakfast of Champions or at least have a couple great cups of coffee.

A homemade breakfast is so much tastier than a dine & dash doughnut or energy bar. Best of all, you can make a delicious breakfast in a matter of minutes if you use the simple recipes below or the FoodPair Search Engine to find your favorite morning dishes.

Seriously, there are so many great and nutritious breakfast foods: eggs are packed with protein and vitamins; cheese has Vitamin A, Calcium and protein; waffles & pancakes will give you the carb boost you need to stroll into the office with some pep in your step; smoothies are a great liquid option if you need to sprint out the door!

To find you a collection of breakfast dishes that are simple to prepare, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and took aim at the best breakfast and brunch ideas from across the Web.


Pineapple Breakfast Sandwich
This breakfast sandwich is light, bright and easy to prepare.
Ingredients in this recipe: ricotta cheese, strawberry, pineapple, walnuts, bread

Chorizo Scrambled Eggs
Whip up some tasty breakfast tacos and bolt out the door!
Ingredients in this recipe: cilantro, egg, chorizo, vegetable oil, corn tortillas

As You Like It Breakfast Casserole
Customize this egg-based casserole with your favorite veggies.
Ingredients in this recipe: egg, Cheddar cheese, bread, salt, black pepper, milk

Oatmeal Apple Pancakes
Only 5 ingredients in these tasty & nutritious pancakes.
Ingredients in this recipe: egg, butter, oats, maple syrup, apple sauce

Classic French Toast
Topped with syrup, French Toasts hits all the right breakfast notes!
Ingredients in this recipe: egg, butter, maple syrup, bread, milk, cinnamon powder

Go Get 'Em Smoothie
If you only have enough time to hit Blend, here's a supercharged liquid breakfast.
Ingredients in this recipe: chocolate, honey, banana, milk, espresso powder



Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.

Decadent Desserts!

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then dessert is the most delicious. Though people try to avoid it, a great dessert finishes off any meal in style and leaves you feeling happy and satisfied. Plus, they're fun to eat and good for sharing.

While we're always happy to top a scoop of ice cream with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, there are plenty of desserts that are easy to prepare from scratch. Plus, your friends & family will be impressed with your new kitchen skills.

To find you a collection of great desserts that are simple to prepare, we fired up the FoodPair search engine and took aim at the best sweet dishes from across the Web.

Root Beer Granita Float
You'll love this all-frozen update to the root beer float.
Ingredients in this recipe: root beer, vanilla ice cream

Robert Linxe's Chocolate Truffles
Now you can make luxurious chocolate truffles at home!
Ingredients in this recipe: chocolate, heavy cream, cocoa powder

Zesty Lemon Granita
Lovers of tart desserts will swoon for this refreshing granita.
Ingredients in this recipe: lemon, sugar, lemon peel

Sicilian Ice Cream Sandwiches
Sandwiches for dessert? Yes please!
Ingredients in this recipe: hazelnut, bittersweet chocolate, brioche

Butterscotch Dessert Sauce
Whip up some sweet sauce that's good on just about anything.
Ingredients in this recipe: butter, brown sugar, heavy cream

Poached Apples with Ginger
This one's delicious and a little more nutritious than the rest!
Ingredients in this recipe: ginger, apple juice, Braeburn apples, whipped cream



Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.