Ninth PastaPost
Pasta Manfredi
by
Phil & Geri
Excuse us for living, but we can’t believe we didn’t share this superb pasta recipe yet! It’s so good and we have it so often on Friday nights! What were we thinking? Here it is! But first there always has to be a backstory that goes along with our recipes. That’s just the way it is! These recipes don’t just pop up into our heads. They evolve for good reason…at least to us!
Pictured here is Al Manfredi, sixth grade teacher, High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Al loved Italian food and bragged and bragged how good arugula was and how much he loved arugula, most likely in salads we guess. We didn’t even know what arugula was until I worked with Al at High Mountain Road School as his principal. It’s a green leafy vegetable similar to fresh spinach leaves and quite pungent in taste. And it was Al’s influence that cause us to order arugula salads at Big Fish restaurant, Dewey Beach, Delaware, many years ago. – – Our first taste! – – Strong stuff! – – Blame it on Al!
This is High Mountain Road School (HMR), Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, where Al Manfredi and I worked together in the late 1980’s & early 1990’s. Al spent most of his career at High Mountain Road School teaching sixth grade. He served under my predecessor principal, George Ruocco and myself. Prior to that, Al taught at Franklin Avenue Middle School across town. He ended his career retiring from Woodside Avenue School in his mid-60’s. – – His entire teaching career in Franklin Lakes in Bergen County, northern New Jersey, where he lived and he and his wife, Sarajane, raised four children. To Al, having been raised in the rough and tough “Hell’s Kitchen” area of New York City, Franklin Lakes was “the countryside.” Hell’s Kitchen is that part of NYC located just on the west edge of the Broadway district. Al was an interesting person, both sophisticated, well-read, and had a slight “tough guy” edge to him as well. Al told a great story of him and his classmates in a Catholic elementary school being commandeered into a children’s chorus for some performance at the Metropolitan Opera! Al retired in 1996 and we sadly lost him to a terrible illness 6-7 years later. I like to recall the memory when Al invited me to his house for dinner prior to returning to HMR together for an evening program or event. And there are plenty “Al Manfredi stories” to cherish!!!
This is what I called a “crazy photo.” I took one every school year at our first faculty meeting the day before the school year opened. – – The idea being it takes a little “craziness” to get through every school year! Al Manfredi, in true spirit of the photo, is pictured second from the right sticking out his tongue! (And that’s me, photo extreme left!) Al was the most respected teacher among this faculty of outstanding teaching talent. He was respected for his years of experience and the wisdom he brought to all we faced as a little elementary school, grades K-6, of 230 some students and 25 teachers.
This is a combined photo of the two 6th grade classes at High Mountain Road School in 1991. The teachers are standing left and right of the students, Al Manfredi, obviously, photo left, and less obvious, that’s the teacher photo right, Stacey Nolan, looking not much older than the kids. Al taught his specialty, social studies, to both classes separately, while Stacey taught each class science. Al’s greatest expertise and love was teaching the classical period, the Greeks and the Romans. The highlight was the hands-on experience Al gave his students in archaeology. He had the students each make his/her own clay jar and place it in a shoe box. To their shock, students one day entered the classroom to see their jars had been smashed to pieces by guess who. The learning objective of the next lesson for students was to glue their own jars back together, piece by piece. – – The kids never forgot that! – – Nice teaching, Al!
Al Manfredi not only made a big impression on his students and the faculty, but this principal as well. Along with my great regard for Al, I never forgot about his love for arugula! I told my wife, Geri, my partner-in-crime creating new pasta dishes, wouldn’t it be great to make a pasta recipe using arugula and call it “Pasta Manfredi”! It was one of Al’s favorites that he talked about as a lover of Italian food from his heritage. – – What to include besides arugula in the recipe? – -There had to be garlic. – – And those small cherry tomatoes would liven, sweeten things up! – – Maybe fettuccine! As always, the rest I left to Geri, the mastermind and the real chef behind all my crazy ideas. The result was a DELICIOUS “Pasta Manfredi”! Here it is!
Presenting…
…Pasta Manfredi
3/4 cup oil (canola or olive)
1 med. bunch of scallions (sliced 1/4” thick)
8 cloves garlic (sliced long)
1 tsp. black pepper (fresh ground)
3/4 pint grape tomatoes sliced in half
3 cups Arugula loosely packed
1/2 cup grated cheese (preferably Pecorino Romano)
1/2 lb. Fettuccine pasta (or your preferred pasta)
1 tbs. salt
3-4 quarts boiling water
Sauté scallions, garlic & black pepper in the oil in medium sauce pan until tender, 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain in colander & reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water. Add scallion mixture, pasta water, tomatoes, Arugula, & cheese, & toss gently.
Makes 2 generous servings! Add ground black pepper to taste.
Note: If you heat up “leftovers,” be sure to add fresh Arugula.
Excuse us for living, but we have Pasta Manfredi as often as our other favorite pasta dishes! Try it! You will see why! – – Delizioso!
Comments: Please, before or after you try this!!!
Excuse Us for Living 
Right…that’s arugula on the list for the farmer’s market on Saturday….
Known to us in the U.K. as rocket. I had never thought of using it in a pasta dish but after your last recipe recommendation, i have faith!
By: Helen Devries on May 16, 2018
at 12:11 pm
Helen Devries, You know you always teach me something or two! Arugula=Rocket in UK!!!!! It’s pungent but offset by the sweet cherry tomatoes &, therefore, VERY GOOD!!! Hope you DO try it & like it! Thanks as always! Phil
By: philipfontana on May 16, 2018
at 12:54 pm
I had meant to say earlier…it was delicious and is now part of the repertoire!
By: Helen Devries on October 3, 2018
at 1:53 pm
Helen Devries, Glad you tried it! And now it’s one of your standards just like us!!! Delicious! We just had Pasta Manfredi last Friday night! Thanks for the comment! Phil
By: philipfontana on October 3, 2018
at 2:45 pm
Sounds absolutely delicious!!
By: GP Cox on May 16, 2018
at 2:01 pm
GP Cox, Thanks, GP!!! Hope you try it! I better visit what you are posting lately! I’m getting old at 71, GP! I’ve been struggling with serious back issues. Got GREAT help from a Physical Therapist!!! May all things be going well with you!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on May 16, 2018
at 2:39 pm
Except for ungodly sinus trouble, I’m pretty good – overweight, but okay! Sorry to hear about your back – do what your therapist says!
By: GP Cox on May 16, 2018
at 2:47 pm
GP, Sinus!!! Allergies here! You can address the weight ….output & input, exercise & diet, right?! Yes, I am following PT orders! Thanks again, GP! Phil
By: philipfontana on May 16, 2018
at 3:10 pm
gosh Phil-I am on my way over lol…that dish looks YUMMY! I do love arugula…or spinach for my salads.
But there are 2 things in life I WILL NOT eat because of the pungent(terrible) taste: asparagus & root beer.
What wonderful memories you have of Al-he sounds like a really nice fellow…
By: Marg on May 16, 2018
at 3:20 pm
Marg, WOW! You are into arugula! You might like this recipe! I don’t care for asparagus also! Yes, Al Mandredi was a great human being! Can you believe…See you NEXT WEEK!!! Thanks for commenting as always! Phil
By: philipfontana on May 16, 2018
at 4:28 pm
I am with Al! I love arugula too! I do put them on my pasta and pizza 😀 Arugula was my regular veggies when I was in the Netherlands. Now in the U.S. somehow I am more into brussel sprouts! But I will try Al’s pasta – sounds delicious and healthy!! Thank you, Phil!
By: Indah Susanti on May 17, 2018
at 10:18 am
Indah Susanti, Indah! You too love arugula!!!…on pasta AND pizza!!! I never knew people ate arugula as a regular vegetable & in the Netherlands too!!! Brussel sprouts…good! I know you are going to like Pasta Manfredi & with your love of arugula you will definitely try it! What a nice comment!!! May all things be well!!! Your website amazes me as do YOU & your trips & your diving & your photography!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on May 17, 2018
at 10:41 am
Phil and Gerri,
Yet another yummy dish. I love Arugula! Keep up the great work and I pray all is well with the both of you! Padre Eddie
By: Padre Tatro on June 1, 2018
at 6:19 am
Padre Tatro, Eddie, You love Arugula!!! Then this dish will be heavenly for you! You MUST make it with Snowie!!! Then, tell me how you liked it! It’s one of those recipes you make again & again! Just be SURE to add fresh Arugula if you are warming up leftovers!!! THanks for the comment & the Reblog!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on June 1, 2018
at 11:03 am
Reblogged this on Padre Tatro's Study and commented:
My good friend Phil and his wife Gerri have shared yet another amazing Italian Pasta Dish. Stop by Excuse Us For Living and see the recipe!
By: Padre Tatro on June 1, 2018
at 6:20 am
Padre Tatro, Many, many thanks for the Reblog on my “9th PastaPost,” Pasta Manfredi!!! And what a great comment of yours as a lead up to someone looking at my post as a result of your Reblog!!! The backstory about my teacher, Al Manfredi, who inspired this Italian pasta dish, is “worth the price of admission,” as they say! AND, it is always so humbling that you should so choose my post to reblog it!!! Thank you once again, Padre! Phil
By: philipfontana on June 1, 2018
at 11:08 am
Good day Phil you may have noticed that suddenly my news disappeared from Facebook l have been blocked for reporting truth about the real news, first they stopped posts on pages, then groups and finally my page and now reporting on WP and here on Tumblr main site is http://aceworldwidenews.tumblr.com/ also under live news on http://acetweetmynews.tumblr.com/ and 7 sites on twitter. Facebook just does not like the real truth being heard and l cannot lie … Regards Ian
By: Ace Worldwide News Group on July 10, 2018
at 4:17 am
ACE Worldwide News Group, Ian!!! Yes, I noticed your absence on my new feed on Facebook. Thus, I rely on WordPress news feed where you have dominated with long listings of stories from ACE Newsroom Live for a long time now & still do this morning. I’ve seen you on Twitter but don’t go on Twitter but infrequently. I will check these links you provided. Thanks. What is the problem with Facebook? Do they have the legal right to censor the news? Perhaps you are being caught up in Facebook’s efforts to correct the Russian bots since they see you are from UK??? I am sure we haven’t heard the end of ACE’s story on Facebook. FIGHT!!! Best wishes! Phil
By: philipfontana on July 10, 2018
at 9:33 am
I am one of many Phil and l never stop fighting for the truth and never will but so far sent email to their offices and nothing returned and will fight in a different way with the truth my life and the way and bring these monoliths to their knees before God MY Father who is the WORD 🙏
By: Ace Worldwide News Group on July 10, 2018
at 11:07 am
Ace Worldwide News Group, Ian, I stand with you who are resolute to fight!!! When you are true & right it is the only choice! Emails having failed, I know God will guide you to fight another way. Facebook is at its most vulnerable now in the media & public eye. They need a telephone call & letter from an attorney representing you. Then they will not contest & fold in you direction!!! Best to you in your fight for the truth! Phil
By: philipfontana on July 10, 2018
at 11:48 am