There's nothing on this earth that's more delicious than the spaghetti carbonara at Mario Battali's Otto pizzeria, in New York City. It's the most succulent, decadent food I've ever eaten. A lovely little plate of creamy, carb-y goodness with a little pancetta. But if global warming continues its march, wheat may become a precious commodity, and could disappear altogether if things get bad enough. And that could mean the end of pasta (among so many other foods) since the beloved dinner staple is made from wheat.
So what are we going to eat instead in a world without pasta? Or bread? OR pasta and cheesy, garlicky bread at the same time? (I might be hungry...) What can you feed the family when there is no more mac-and-cheese or lasagna?
Have no fear: a world without wheat can be perfectly delicious! And you don't have to go all paleo or Atkins just because there's no more pasta or French toast. What can you try?
1. Roast a Chicken! Yup! It's the very simplest of things and always makes you look like a gourmet chef. And when you do it right, with fall-off-the-bone juicy chicken and a handful of sides like mashed potatoes and green beans, you've got a meal sure to warm up a chilly winter night as hearty as any spaghetti bolognese.
2. Pork Chops are the best! Pork chops can be a delicious dinner for one (my go-to meal when I find myself dining alone) or they can be cooked for as many people as you've got chops. And these brown sugar pork chops are to die for. Serve those with some mashed sweet potatoes or something green and reap the rewards.
3. Have breakfast for dinner! Not all meals have to include meat, and a crustless cheese and asparagus quiche can make for a healthy, vegetarian main dish for dinner. (When I was an exchange student in France, we had scrambled eggs for dinner all the time. It was egg-cellent. Heh.)
4. Spaghetti squash to the rescue! If you just can't get past your cravings for spaghetti, roasting a spaghetti squash can be a healthy stand-in for pasta. I've used it in place of pasta with pesto and veggies and with a hearty meat sauce. It tastes just as good, and doesn't leave you in a carb coma.
What would you do for dinner in a world without pasta?
Image via Cameron Cassan/Flickr
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Comments 14
Since my son is allergic to wheat, rye, barley and egg, wheat pasta has been off the table for a long time. We go back and forth between spaghetti squash (which is great with white and red sauces), acorn, butternut, potatoes or rice pasta.
Because of global warming? ........Excuse me for a moment ...........
Incorrect, kate! Wheat has only been around for a few thousand years. Most of our ancestors got along just fine without grains, and we would be better off without it. But you go right on ahead and keep drinking the USDA Kool-aid.
ugh global warming is a joke 50 years ago everyone was scared for the global cooling its just another way to scare you into doing what the govenment wants!
" keep drinking the USDA Kool-aid." drinking the koolaid is such a tacky and crass saying...it shows a lack of depth and sensitivity you reallly should look for a more an enlightened way to express your point.
Well, kisses5050, I certainly COULD show more depth and sensitivity and find a more enlightened way to express my point. However, this is The Stir and it wouldn't really matter what I say because most of the people who come on here already know they're right and nothing I say will change that. So, why bother?
Rice pasta is so good and much better for you. I love pasta, think this gluten thing is crazy, until I went on gluten free diet. My digestive system thanked me. Who knew?