Pasta Puttanesca | aka “Whore’s Sauce”

Whore's Sauce

Pasta Puttanesca is an incredible Italian sauce that was used by prostitutes to lure in clients.   (Literally “spaghetti in the style of a prostitute” in Italian).  It's sexy, fragrant, and enticing.  Good move ladies!

There is another story about a restaurant owner having late guests and no ingredients, so he threw together a garbage dish, with what he could gather in his kitchen, but that story is not nearly as salacious or exciting.

Raj and Pam and I went to a local food show full of Artisan producers and local chefs.  We had a great time, eating all the great food, and trying products.  “Chef G” had a pop -up grocery set up and as we strolled by, a jar of sauce caught my eye.  Chef G laughed and explained the story of the working ladies cooking up this fragrant sauce between customers.

We convinced a dear friend to do a little old Italian-inspired photo shoot.  Do you remember the Old Fashioned Bartender shoot with Holley?  “Oh, muddling…!”

We put together a plan for poached eggs in this sauce (watch for that recipe) served on fluffy sourdough and topped with local creamy blue cheese.  It was amazing,  so amazing I set to work perfecting this sauce for you guys!

Summer of Silicon Valley

Usually, by this time of the year, I am feeling fatigued, and this year is no exception.  My day job is stressful and busy in the summer, so it ends up being my least favorite season of the year.  I have to work hard to reframe and be positive.  Focusing on things like early bedtimes and seasonal fruits and veggies.

To help me relax, I have been watching a little HBO, and have been hooked on the series Silicon Valley.  It is all about a group of guys and their adventures with a start-up company in California's famous Silicon Valley.  It is dry and funny, and terribly smart.

I find myself attracted to the characters in Silicon Valley with odd giggle-inducing crushes.  “Oh that Jared!” or “Dinesh… he is the best!”

Sapiosexual and Other Desires

No surprise: I love the intelligent wit and situational awkwardness.   I love awkward.  I also love smart.  Smart people, in general, are more attractive to me.  Poor punctuation or misspelled words via text message can end the correspondence.  There is a term for that- being attracted to someone for their intelligence: “sapiosexual”.

Are you a sapiosexual?  How important is intelligence to you when you are dating?  I was reading more about sapiosexuality and one article quoted “the brain is the largest sex organ.  Those who admit to being sapiosexual will say that they are turned on by the brain and tend to be teased or excited by the insights of another person”.

There are so many fascinating levels for attraction.  A couple of years ago I read a book called Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us Hardcover – by Jesse Bering and was completely enthralled with the different desires, maybe even PRIMAL DESIRES (get it?!) people have.  After reading the book Perv, I feel like being sapiosexual is a little boring!

I found this article “Why being attracted to smarter men is the biggest reason you're single” and maybe I have discovered why I am single!  It is because I like smart men!  Not because I have 3 jobs or am apathetic on dating sites, or so enjoy my alone time (insert sarcasm).  Hahaha.

I have a few more episodes of Silicon Valley to watch, and just 3 more weeks left till my day job slows down.  Then look out smart-men, I'll be on the prowl!  I hope you like meaningful conversations over fragrant and delicious Pasta Puttanesca!  Oh!  Raj & I will also be participating in the 30-day Primal Play challenge in September.  Check it out!

Know what else you can do with puttanesca sauce?  Check out Puttanesca Shakshuka!

Pasta Puttanesca | aka Whore's Sauce

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• Author: Holley
• Total Time: 20 min
• Yield: 5 cups 1x

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1 cup diced onions
• 2 tsp capers
• 2 sardines diced
• 1 pints of canned tomatoes
• 1 tsp diced oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes
• 1 Tbsp basil
• 1/4 cup pitted black olives, whole or sliced

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Instructions

1. Drizzle olive oil into a pan and saute the onions and garlic until they are translucent and fragrant.
2. Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
3. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve over vegetable noodles.

• Prep Time: 5 min
• Cook Time: 15 min
• Category: Sauce
• Method: stove-top
• Cuisine: Italian