Frank’s Fettuccine
I’d heard that Frank liked his Fettuccine and well, what do you expect from a guy with Sinatra for a last name. So, I did some looking around and found this.
The Sinatra Celebrity Cookbook: Barbara, Frank & Friends was published in 1996 by Barbara Sinatra as a way to raise money for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Centre at the Eisenhower Medical Centre near Palm Springs. It was started by the Sinatras to help abused children in the Coachella Valley area and as Frank knew, like everyone, it has recipes from a good number of celebrities. There’s even a page devoted to Clint Eastwood's spaghetti western.
The selections lean heavily toward Italian, of course and the Sinatra’s are partial to "peasant-type food," says Barbara. So, the book offers recipes for marinara sauce, pasta fagioli, eggplant parmigiana, peas and macaroni as well as this little creamy pasta number. Easy to make.
Fettuccine à la Sinatra
Serves 3 or 4 fine people
Ingredients:
About 250 grams of fettuccine
Quarter cup of butter
Half a cup of cream
Quarter cup plus a bit of grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper
Directions:
First, make a drink. Or two. Jack Daniels and water with four cubes of ice in a proper glass. If you have a stereo, turn it up loud and start to get properly ready. This could take hours but it is important not to rush the getting ready part. Never sit down.
Then, when you are ready, and not a second too soon, start cooking. The fettuccine needs to be al dente and drain it well when it is done. While the pasta is cooking, make another Jack Daniels and water with four cubes of ice in a proper glass. Don’t just top it up. Start from the beginning.
Start making the sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over a low heat. Remove the butter from the heat, blend in the cream and cheese and return to the heat and simmer and season with salt and pepper. Don’t be an idiot and boil the sauce or you’ll be sent to sleep with the fishes. Add the sauce to the now drained pasta and let it sit, covered, for a few minutes. Throw some parsley on top. Serve with a Chianti and a simple salad. No more Jack Daniels and water with four cubes of ice in a proper glass. Think of something else.
Prego!