Gnocchi Pomodoro

Some of you long-timers might remember BACK IN THE DAY when my husband I made homemade ravioli.  We've really evolved...we've moved onto the ever-elusive gnocchi.  Yes...that's right...homemade gnocchi!

Ohhhh yeah!

We fell in love with the recipe when we went to Sonoma over our anniversary weekend.  Our dinner at Della Santina's was glorious to say the least.  We knew we had the remake the recipe...and lucky us...it was available here:

Ingredients

• 1 (28-ounce) can whole Italian tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• Salt
• Pepper
• Crushed chile flakes
• 6 to 8 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup cream

Gnocchi:

• 6 large baking potatoes, like russets
• 2 egg yolks
• 4 ounces (1 stick) butter, melted
• Pinch salt
• Pinch white pepper
• Fresh grated nutmeg
• 2 cups flour
• Grated Parmesan, to serve

To make the Sauce:

Take the tomatoes out of the can, cut in half, and remove the seeds. Chop the tomatoes into small pieces and reserve the juice. In a saucepan, add olive oil and garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper and chili and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. If necessary, add the reserved juice. Add the basil. Finish with cream.

To make the gnocchi:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Bake the potatoes for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until tender. Scoop each potato out of its skin into mixing bowl. Mash the potatoes to a fine consistency.

In a separate bowl, combine egg yolks, melted butter, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add the egg mixture to the potatoes and mix together. Add flour to mixture, 1 cup at a time, and mix until smooth.

Scoop out and make finger sized rolls on floured board. Cut with knife into bite sized pieces. Roll each piece over the back of a fork to make a round form. In a pan, freeze until hard enough to handle, and put into portion sized bags.

Fill a large pot with water and add a pinch of salt and boil. Drop gnocchi into boiling water 3 or 4 at a time so the water doesn't stop boiling. The gnocchi is ready when it floats to the top. Drain gnocchi and scoop out into bowl and add sauce. Add fresh Parmesan and serve.

I never thought that we could make gnocchi from scratch, but it wasn't that hard and the results were well worth it.  The gnocchi were soft little pouches of heaven and the sauce had the perfect hint of heat.  Definitely worth trying...and devouring!

Hope you enjoy!  Bon Appetit!

xo natasha

Linked up to: Tasty Tuesdays

P.S. I'm posting about why I love Tahoe over at Hollie's awesome blog!  Be sure to check it out HERE!

5 Things I'm Loving

Happy Monday!  Did you all have a good weekend?  We got to relax and just enjoy living in Tahoe...took some hikes, went boating on the lake, enjoyed good food...it was the perfect weekend!  :)

I also got to discover some new things and wanted to share them with you!

1. Ciao Bella Gelato Key Lime Graham Squares

These taste SOO good...just like key lime pie, but more refreshing!  The gelato is so dense and creamy...I was in pure heaven.  I also like that there are all pure ingredients and no artificial hormones.

2. Bethenny Frankel's Place of Yes

I am a huge fan of Bethenny's...ever since she was on the Real Housewives of New York and now her own realty show.  I read Naturally Thin and really appreciated her quick wit and sound advice.  So I started A Place of Yes over the weekend and can't put it down!  Her narrative is down-to-earth {would you expect anything less?} and relatable.  With all that she's gone through and ultimately accomplished, I look forward to getting through the book and walking away feeling motivated!

3. Havaianas

I LIVE in Havaianas in the summer...they are so so comfy and come in tons of cute colors and designs.  The gray slim pair are my favorite...I may need to replace them next summer.  Can't get enough of them!

4. Project Runway Season 9

I am loving Project Runway so far...I feel like there is a eclectic mix of designers and that everyone is really stepping up to the plate this season.  I was sad to see Julie Tierney go so soon...her "Nomad's Land" sketches were super intriguing and fun!  Oh well...hopefully Bert will go far!  :)

5. Jo Malone Orange Blossom

Hubby gave me this fragrance as an anniversary gift and I just looooooove the scent.  So fresh and classic!  It's a little pricey, but I know I will be wearing this during our special occasions, dates, and so on...so I think it's worth it!  

What are you loving right now?  

xo natasha

Friday Fancies::Back to School

Happy Friday!  I am looking forward to a weekend full of NO plans!  Isn't that funny?  I've just been so booked this summer, that the thought of being in town, with no agenda, sounds pretty amazing right about now.  And because we don't have plans, it helps that I get to play along with {av}'s theme this week: Friday Fancies: Back to School!

Back to School by schuelove featuring silk tops

It's been several years since I've worried about what I'm going to wear to my first day of school, but I think it would be fun to really step up my game.  College tended to be more about comfort than fashion {at least where I went!}...so it's fun to dream up an outfit!

First, I am very much in love with the poncho trend {last talked about here} so I am happy to see it back this fall.  Of course, this Stella McCartney poncho is pure perfection!  

Do any of you watch "Real Housewives of New York"?  This season, Cindy wore this AMAZING outfit when she had tea with Sonya.  I've wanted to recreate it ever since and can't seem to find any pictures of her in this particular outfit.  Anyway...this is from my memory...she wore oversized shorts with OTK socks and boots.  I just love this look and hope I did her outfit justice with these pieces.  

I like the subtle hints of navy, not only in the socks but also this amazing Alexandar McQueen tote.  Just fabby!  Of course the adorable "wise" owl will make me feel a bit more smart on my first day of school...along with these awesome House of Harlow earrings!  How could my first day go wrong?

Alright, I'm done thinking about fall...I'm still hanging onto this summer weather people!  It will be snowing here before I know it!  Le sigh to that!

Hope you have a great weekend!

xo natasha

Honeymoon::Kauai

Since our two year anniversary was this past Sunday...and every Thursday prior to this post, I've been posting our wedding details...I grew a little nostalgic thinking about today being Thursday and not having another wedding post to share with you....SO I thought, what better time to share our honeymoon than now?!  Get excited!!  :)

We got married in August, which apparently is hurricane season in a lot of exotic locations...so that ultimately narrowed our search down to a few spots for our honeymoon.  I wanted to be somewhere remote, but not deal with the headache of a long flight or currency exchange.  We decided that Hawaii would be a great location for our honeymoon...Kauai to be specific!

I love Kauai for being so remote and beautiful, and yet there is the commercial aspect, should you have that desire.  There are two major resorts on the island, but plenty of hotels, condos, and everything in between.  I would highly recommend the island...we had the most amazing experience!

 Arriving at the Grand Hyatt!  Aloha!

 Pure relaxation...ahhh!

 Spouting Horn

 Enjoying dinner...yum!

 Our tour of the Napali Coast, via catamaran.

 Such a beautiful day!  

 ::love::

 Gorgeous waterfall...one of many throughout the trip!

 Sightseeing on the north shore.

 Queen's Bath...a must!

 Kung Fu Panda...beware!

 The Grand Canyon of the Pacific!

 Helicopter Tour...look ma, no doors!

 The most amazing views!

 Napali Coast from the air...so so beautiful!

 Amazing tour, but happy to be back on ground!

 Married one week!  At the Beach House!

 Ahhh...I loved this cabana!

Last night...tan, fat and happy!  :)

We honestly had the best time in Kauai...I can't recommend a better place for a honeymoon or vacation.  It's the perfect mix of relaxation and recreation.  Have you been before?  Where did you go {or where do you like to go} on you honeymoon?

xo natasha