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● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

Pasta Evangelists; a small London based team delivering some of the best pasta in the UK to homes across the country, as well as beautiful sauces & garnishes sourced from Italy. A great one-off or subscription service, inviting you to prepare a luxurious 5* pasta dish in your own home in just 5 minutes! 

"We believe fresh is best. Our founder, Alessandro, hails from Genova in the Italian region of Liguria, and was disappointed with the fresh pasta available in the UK, machine-made & a world away from the pasta of his youth, handmade by his nonna. And so Pasta Evangelists was born to bring fresh, artisanal pasta of Italian quality to homes across the UK."

Pasta Evangelists Gnocchi and Ragu

I recently discovered Pasta Evangelists via a Facebook Ad, and browsed through their website. They offer both One-Off delivery or they have a Pasta Subscription box that you can opt in for. I'm such a pasta lover, so this is a great way to try new dishes and flavour combinations! Pasta Evangelists deliver the fresh pasta, sauces & garnishes in insulated packaging alongside chilled ice packs, so if you’re not home for delivery, your food will stay cool and fresh until you’re back. Amazing, right?! Artisanal, five-star pasta dishes in minutes with our simple recipe cards. Alternatively, freeze your dish for up to two months and prepare it later.

Pasta Evangelists have such a range of pasta dishes that get changed every week, so there is always something new and exciting to try, great for meat eaters and vegetarians, as well as those who follow a gluten-free diet! From the weekly menu of fresh pasta recipes, I picked out the Gnocchi Tricolore with Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù, costing £7.95 a portion and using the finest seasonal ingredients and produce from Italy.

 "Our chefs carefully brown pieces of marbled beef until they take on a deep, burnished hue. This is where all the flavour is. We then slowly braise our caramelised beef with red wine, onions & tomatoes to make the meat as tender and flavourful as possible. This very special ragù is served with handmade gnocchi tricolore, a beautiful mixture of white, green and red dumplings."

Pasta Evangelists Gnocchi and Ragu
Pasta Evangelists Gnocchi and Ragu

The Gnocchi Tricolore with Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù was a pasta lovers dream. An indulgent dish containing some incredible flavours and produce from Italy, I was truly happy with the choice I had made! The dish contained Gnocchi, an Italian favourite that I had only previously tried once when I went to Milan a few years ago, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such soft, small dumplings that simply melted in the mouth, nothing too stodgy or heavy which was perfect!

The Slow-Cooked Beef Ragù was to die for. The caramelised beef was so flavoursome and tender, if you ask me it was cooked to perfection! Combined with red wine, onions and tomatoes, this gave the ragù such a deep and authentic flavour that really showcased to me real Italian cuisine with such high-quality, seasonal produce. Topped off with the rich and creamy Parmesan cheese, simply bring all the flavours of the dish together for the perfect Italian feast!

Have you heard of Pasta Evangelists before? What are your favourite pasta dishes?

Check out some of my previous pasta recipes!
Super Smoky Bacon & Spicy Tomato Pesto Penne
Super Speedy Vegetarian Tagliatelle
A Teatime Mac n Cheese with Batchelors
10:00 No comments
With the cold winter nights settling in, there's nothing better than getting into some cosy pyjamas and cooking something quick for dinner. For me, Pasta is the ultimate comfort food. It’s hearty, easy to make, and you can mix it with absolutely anything and be onto a winner of a dish. I've decided to put together a delicious recipe combining chicken, green pesto, broccoli and pasta, for the ultimate dish!

For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients; (serves 2)

1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
2 Chicken Breasts, chopped
Parmesan Cheese
3 tbsp Green Pesto
Salt and Pepper
150g Fusilli Pasta
Frozen Broccoli Florets

Chicken and Broccoli Pesto Pasta

1. Start by adding boiling water, Fusilli pasta and salt to a large pot, and cook according to package directions. I used quick cook pasta, so this took just 5 minutes.

2. Add the broccoli to the pot once the pasta is nearly finished cooking, to simply warm through the broccoli. Once cooked, drain and set aside.

3. Pour 1 tbsp oil into a large pan. Add the garlic, salt and pepper, and cook for just a few seconds then add the sliced chicken. 

4. Cook the chicken for 5-7 minute or until browned.

5. Next add the Parmesan, pesto, and a splash of water to help create a thick sauce. 

6. Simmer mixture for 2-3 minutes. 

7. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli. Stir until fully combined. 

8. Remove from heat, serve up and garnish with more Parmesan if desired..

Chicken and Broccoli Pesto Pasta

This easy dish comes together in under 30 minutes and makes a great weeknight dinner! 

What are your favourite pasta recipes?
10:00 No comments
If you're a lover of pasta like me, this is the kind of dish that is perfect for when there’s nothing left in the fridge. I love to experiment when making different pasta sauces, and this recipe for my Smoky Bacon & Tomato Pesto sauce. A simple, yet classic style sauce that is very easy to put together, and can be prepared and cooked in under 20 minutes... Sound good? Carry on reading!

Bacon & Tomato Pesto Penne Pasta

For this recipe that serves 2, you will need;

- 150g of Penne Pasta
- Grated Cheese, to serve

For the sauce, you will need;

- 1 tsp Olive Oil
- Half an Onion, diced
- 2 Rashers of Streaky Smoked Bacon, diced
- 1 tsp of Garlic (minced or fresh)
- Half a tsp of Chilli Flakes
- Half a tsp of Mixed Herbs
- 2 tbsp of Water
- 1 heaped tbsp of Sundried Tomato Pesto (I got mine from Aldi)
- Half a bottle of Passata
- Salt and Pepper

Bacon & Tomato Pesto Penne PastaBacon & Tomato Pesto Penne Pasta

Method

- Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the Penne pasta for 10-12 mins. 

- Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the diced Bacon and chopped Onions for 3-4 mins until just starting to crisp. 

- Then add the Garlic, Chilli Flakes, Salt and Pepper, and continue to cook for 1 min.

- Add 2 tbsp of Water to the pan, followed by the Pesto and Passata, and stir. Leave this to cook for 2-3mins, until all the ingredients are combined and the sauce has thickened up.

- Once your pasta has cooked, drain well and pour into the saucepan of sauce. Stir well until every piece of pasta is coated in sauce.

- Serve immediately with Grated Cheese! If you want a more filling meal, I would serve this with a simple Green Salad and a couple of slices of Garlic Bread.

What is your favourite pasta sauce?
10:00 No comments
If you saw my last travel adventure diary blog post, I jetted off to the beautiful island of Zakynthos, Greece, and I loved sharing my travel itinerary and my recommendations from the trip. I thought I would produce a new blog post as I've just recently got back from a short trip to Milan, Italy. My sister and her husband recently moved to a new house in Castel San Giovanni, so that was the inspiration behind the trip. I wanted to create a similar travel diary for this, so I get to share what I got up to, places I explored and of course a few of my photographs from the trip. 
So let's get started!

Monday 29th October
My trip to Milan, Italy, started off early on Monday morning. My dad, my brother and I headed for the airport, (London Gatwick), to catch an EasyJet flight to Milan Linate. The flight took around 2 hours, but it definitely seemed much much shorter!

view from plane

Once arriving at Linate airport, we took a shuttle bus to Milan Lambrate Station. This was around a 15 minute drive. Here is where I purchased the tickets and was able to catch a train to Castel San Giovanni where my sister lives. On this evening, Milan was very incredibly stormy. Heavy rain, thunder and lightning! This caused a major disruptions to the train service and many trains were cancelled. We waited nearly 2 hours!! Once the train arrived at Lambrate station, it took just over an hour to reach Castel San Giovanni. I even managed a little nap on the train!

milan lambrate station

Once arriving at my sisters new house, we tucked in to some delicious food. She plated up a quick snack; a selection of Italian meats, cheeses, roasted peppers, bread and chutneys. This was then followed by a gorgeous slow cooked Beef and Vegetable stew. It was delicious and perfect for a cold stormy evening.

beef and vegetable stew

For the rest of the evening, I was joined in bed with Luna! Isn't she the cutest!

black cat Luna
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Tuesday 30th October
After a long nights sleep, I was able to go outside and enjoy the view from the new house. You could see for miles and miles. Beautiful autumnal colours of greens and yellows in the distance. It was simply breath-taking. 

Ziano Piacentino

For lunch, we had a quick and easy pasta dish. As a huge pasta lover, I finished this in no time at all. The dish consisted of small filled tortellini, it was with some kind of cured Italian Ham, with a creamy cheese sauce and a hint of fresh chillies, finished off with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Delicious!

Cheesy tortellini pasta

Once lunch was finished, we got ourselves ready and headed off out into the centre of Castel San Giovanni; a small town in the province of Piacenza. We stopped off for a quick coffee at a small café. Doesn't it look simply delicious?!

Italian coffee

We spent around an hour strolling around the town centre. Going into various little shops. They had just put some super cute Christmas lights on display, making it feel super festive.

Christmas lights in castel san giovanni

For dinner, we then drove to a Japanese Sushi restaurant (Il Ristorante Giapponese Tokio) in Castel San Giovanni. The price for this was less than 25 euros per person, which was such a great price as there was SO much to choose from. Plus it's all-you-can-eat, so you can imagine how much we all ordered. I couldn't move once we had finished!

Il Ristorante Giapponese Tokio

We ordered this INCREDIBLE Sushi boat. Even though there was just 5 of us, this boat was for just 3 people, and there was more than enough to keep everyone occupied. Packed with plenty of delicious Sushi Nigiri, Sashimi and Gunken with Prawns, Tuna, Salmon and White Fish. 

Il Ristorante Giapponese Tokio

My favourite was definitely the two types of Sushi with Tuna and Avocado. They were amazing!

Il Ristorante Giapponese Tokio
Il Ristorante Giapponese Tokio

We also tucked in to Tempura Prawns, Spring Rolls, Vegetable Noodles, Beef Fillet with a spicy pepper sauce, Salmon and Tuna Sashimi and much much more! I had never eaten so much Sushi in my life before. This restaurant was incredible, and I can't wait to go back!

Il Ristorante Giapponese Tokio
_________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday 31st October
Wednesday morning started off with a quick and simple fried egg on toast for breakfast. One of the easiest breakfast dishes to make, and who doesn't love it? This was followed by a few cups of coffee and both some fresh red orange juice/fizzy red orange juice. I'm addicted to the stuff and so upset that it's not widely available here in England.

egg on toast breakfast
Aranciata

Lunchtime came around quite quickly, and of course you can guess what I had. More pasta! This time it was a super quick Pesto pasta with Parmesan cheese. Such an easy dish to make, with very few ingredients. Simply grab some pasta, green pesto, salt, pepper, Olive oil and your preferred cheese, and you're good to go. You can image this took me 0.5 seconds to scoff down! So good and so tasty!

pesto pasta

We then spent the afternoon teaching my sister to play 'Canasta' - a card game originating from Uruguay, South America.

canasta

From around 7pm, we headed out to a local town hall. As it was Halloween, there was a local festival taking place; 'Festa della Zucca' - Festival of the Pumpkin. They have a variety of different traditional dishes, all containing pumpkin in some form. Naturally I went for the Ravioli di Zucca - Pumpkin Ravioli, with a mountain of fresh Parmesan Cheese! For dessert, I have a really interesting combination of Chocolate Cake with a thin layer of Pumpkin puree in the middle. Sounds odd, I know, but it was incredibly delicious, that I could have eaten 2 or 3 more!

Ravioli di Zucca
chocolate cake with pumpkin
_________________________________________________________________________

Thursday 1st November
We headed out to the town of Borgonovo; a small town in the province of Piacenza. 

Borgonovo

We headed to a local pub/restaurant, Locanda Stazione, to have a taste of the super affordable lunch
 menu they have to offer. Included in the menu, you could start your meal with a pasta dish (primo), followed by a meat/fish dish (secondo) from the set menu. Alongside this, you were able to choose a drink to go with your food, as well as being given a bottle of water, and finishing the meal with an Italian coffee. All for just 15 euros per person!

Penne Arrabbiata

 A primo is the first course of an Italian lunch, and you guessed it, my eyes lit up when I saw they had Penne Arrabiata on the set menu. One of my all time favourite pasta dishes. This dish had such a sweet and fiery tomato sauce, topped off with a heavy sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. 

plate of grilled meats

 For secondo, this course including a small section of different meats; lamb, pork, beef, chicken and sausage. I accompanied this with a small green side salad, dressed in Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

green salad

After eating far too much at lunchtime, we all went for a little walk around the town. We popped into a small cake shop, 'La Cremeria', and purchased this beautiful cake with fresh whipped cream, chocolate and walnuts. It was simply stunning and cost only 20 euros! I could have eaten the whole thing!

La Cremeria Borgonovo

For dinner, my sister cooked a traditional Italian dish of 'Cotechino con Lenticchie' - a hearty dish of sausage and lentils that is usually served on New Year’s Eve in Italy. This meal also included potatoes, several varieties of beans and some fresh chilli. This dish was so delicious, super filling and perfect for a cold evening. We enjoyed it with lots of crusty bread for soaking up the sauce.


Cotechino con Lenticchie
_________________________________________________________________________

Friday 2nd November
The weather on Friday wasn't very nice! We headed out to a local supermarket (Eurospin) for a few groceries that we needed, and carried on our card games from the day before. For lunch, we made some delicious Piadina's; a thin Italian flat bread, similar to a tortilla wrap, filled with a variety of ingredients. For my Piadina, I had Italian salami and ham, mozzarella cheese, rocket and some antipasto roasted mixed peppers. (I forgot to take a photo of it, as I was so hungry, I tucked in straight away!)

In the evening, we headed to a traditional restaurant - Casa Galli, in Ziano Piacentino. A home style cooking restaurant that had plenty to offer. Simple dishes that are local for the region, but made with a loving touch. We started off our meal with the usual Antipasto with various cured Italian meats, roasted peppers, freshly baked bread, quiche slices and some Russian salad. We also tried some homemade red wine, but I wasn't much of a fan. It was just too sharp and acidic for me.
Antipasto Casa Galli

More pasta! This time we had two varieties of tortellini - my favourite! These were fresh and homemade stuffed with Ricotta & Spinach and one with Pumpkin. They were some of the more tastiest pastas I have ever eaten. So fresh, smooth and they just melted in the mouth. I would have been very happy just to eat this all night! 

Ricotta & Spinach Tortellini Casa Galli
Zucca Tortellini Casa Galli

We also got to try a typical Italian dish from the region - 'Pisarei e faso' - which was little dumplings with mixed beans.

Pisarei e faso Casa Galli

Moving on to the main course, there was the option to choose Pork, Duck or Chicken. I obviously went for the traditional roasted Chicken with sides of roast potatoes and fresh steamed vegetables. Very simple, but very tasty!

roast chicken Main meal Casa Galli

After my main course, I was already completely full up. But now it was time for dessert, and there is ALWAYS room for dessert! The lovely lady at the restaurant brought us various homemade desserts, including a super fresh and zingy grapefruit semifreddo - semi-frozen dessert bursting with sharp fresh grapefruit. This was incredible!

grapefruit semifreddo casa galli

We then had a plate of homemade cakes brought to the table. A lovely chocolate cake, chocolate 'salami' slices and another cake made with some fruit chutney.

tris di dolci casa galli
_________________________________________________________________________

Saturday 3rd November
Saturday was sadly the day we had to go home. We got up quite early to pack everything up and fill our cases. We took a train from Piacenza to Milan Centrale Station, which took around 40 minutes. From there, we took the airport shuttle bus to Linate Airport.

piacenza station

Once we arrived at Linate airport, and gone through security, I popped into the shops and picked up various different chocolates for myself and friends. When heading towards the gate, I came across this amazing piece of artwork, and can you believe it was completely made from LEGO. It was incredible to look at and I'm sure it would have taken days, if not weeks to build!

linate airport

Of course I was quite hungry and decided to have McDonalds for lunch. A large Big Mac meal went down a treat! We then boarded the flight back to London Gatwick, which I managed to get around 1 hours sleep on, which was nice. 

big mac mcdonalds

Once landing back in the UK, we took the train home and had a nice evening relaxing. Spending the day travelling makes you so incredibly tired, so I treated myself to Domino's Pizza for dinner.


That concludes my travel diary and how I spent 144 Hours in Castel San Giovanni, Milan. I honestly can't wait to go back. My mouths already watering at the sight of that incredible Sushi boat from the Japanese restaurant, and the homemade tortellini pasta at the restaurant in Ziano Piacentino!

Have you visited Milan before? Where is your next travel destination?
10:00 No comments
 There's no denying that I love to cook, and any kind of pasta dish is my favourite thing to eat. But sometimes making some fancy sauces or using loads of vegetables is time consuming and takes a lot of effort, especially if you struggle with your way round a kitchen. When it comes to cooking, sometimes it's all about simplicity, and my recipe today is all about that! A simple tomato sauce is the perfect accompaniment to any form of pasta. So carry on reading to find out how I make my own. Vegetarian Tagliatelle Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
500g fresh or dried Tagliatelle
1 x 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic
1 small bunch of basil
pinch of chilli flakes
sea salt
black pepper
Parmesan cheese 

Method
Heat a saucepan over a medium heat and add some olive oil. 
Add the chopped garlic and fry for a couple minutes. 
Add the tinned tomatoes.. 
Season with chilli flakes, black pepper and a tiny pinch of salt.
 Cook the tagliatelle according to the packet instructions, and drain once cooked.
Toss in the cooked pasta in your tasty tomato sauce and mix well.
Serve with Parmesan cheese, black pepper and a sprig of fresh basil.

The end result is super tasty and can be put together in a matter of minutes. A great, easy recipe to follow for when you need a fast lunch or dinner idea!

Let me know if you give this recipe a go, and I'd love to hear about your quick pasta sauce recipes!
12:00 No comments
Who doesn't love a rich and delicious lasagne? Comfort food doesn't get much more classic than this Italian favourite, and my homemade recipe packed with extra vegetables is one that you'll want to make time and time again. It's the perfect dish to make all year round, and a mouth-watering pasta treat for the whole family to enjoy. Once you've made it once, it will become a family dinner time staple that you'll want to make every week!

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe
For this recipe, you will need...

1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 Red Onion, diced
1 Green Pepper, chopped
1 Orange Pepper, chopped
4 Mushrooms, chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, finely sliced
500g Beef Mince
1 tbsp Tomato Purée
2 Bay Leaves
400g tin Chopped Tomatoes
200ml Beef Stock
1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
Salt & Pepper
Italian Herb Seasoning
Paprika
Dried Lasagne sheets 
50g Parmesan, grated

For the White Cheese Sauce
50g Butter
50g Plain Flour
500ml Milk
A handful of Grated Cheddar Cheese

Follow the steps below and be on your way to a pasta lovers lasagne heaven!

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe

In a large pan, heat the olive oil over a low heat. Fry the mince on a medium heat until golden and brown. Add all your chopped vegetables; the onion, peppers, mushrooms and garlic, plus the bay leaves and simmer for 5 mins, or until softened. 

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe

Stir in the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes and beef stock (I like to use OXO cubes for this as it gives the dish a rich flavour). Add in the Worcestershire sauce, herbs and simmer for 15 mins, or until the liquid has reduced. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe

Meanwhile, to make the white cheese sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan over a low heat and add the flour. Whisk until combined and cook on low for 1-2 mins. 

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe

Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the milk until you have a loose sauce. Season. Return to a gentle heat and whisk constantly until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat once thick, and stir in your grated cheese.

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe

Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Layer up the lasagne in a baking dish with the ragu, the pasta and the white sauce. Repeat twice or until your baking dish is filled to the top. 

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe

Top with the Parmesan/Cheddar, herbs and paprika then bake in the oven for 40-45 mins, until piping hot and crisp and bubbling on top. You can finish the lasagne off under the grill to make the top EXTRA crispy. 

The Ultimate Lasagne Recipe

Serve alongside a fresh green salad and my super quick Garlic Bread baguettes; the perfect combination for a delicious dinner!

What are your favourite pasta dishes?
09:00 No comments
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