Linguine With Clams

It was my dad's birthday a couple of days ago... and I took advantage of his current situation to invite him over for dinner.  :)  My dad and I were divorced at the same time, and I can honestly say we leaned on each other a lot.  It gives me so much joy to actually see him happy.  I know he feels the same for me too.  He has told me so many times that he loves Gary and our lives together- and we are actually able to relax and spend lots of time with each other..  I cherish it.

What better excuse to make my special linguine and clams right?  It's Gary's absolute favorite dish.  After I returned home for the store he also couldn't believe I didn't get a birthday cake and candles.  This prompted him to run out and pick up an ice-cream cake for my dad.  Love that man.  Anyhow enough anecdote... here's the goodness.

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup yellow onions, chopped
• 1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 (16 oz) package linguine pasta
• 3 cans clams with juice
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon sweet cream butter
• grated parmesan cheese to taste
• chopped flat leaf Italian parsley
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Bring pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook to al dente.
2. Heat a saucepan on medium.  When oil is hot, add garlic, onions and mushrooms.  Stir in oil to coat, about 4 minutes.  Add salt & pepper
3. Drain one can of clams, but keep juice of other two.  Add clams with juice to saucepan
4. Add wine & butter, and bring to a boil
5. Bring heat down to low, and let alcohol cook off the sauce.  Stir, and wait until it thickens.
6. Strain pasta, and toss with sauce.  Add parsley, & cheese.  Add more salt & pepper as necessary

As always- huge hit with the family.  The grocery store this time around didn't have flat leaf parsley so I had to use the curly stuff.  It was fine, I just chopped it as fine as I could.  This is especially good the next day after the sauce soaks in the noodles overnight.  

I have to include the picture of the birthday cake Gary got my dad because it pretty much melted my heart.  I am so lucky to have such great people in my life, and last night we had a great time.  Well, and lots of wine of course.  :)