One dish I see on EVERY menu in Italian restaurants is Pasta Primavera. If it is such a common dish, why is it that no restaurants seem to make it the same? Some have tomato based sauce, some a white-wine and butter sauce, some Alfredo sauce...so my mission was to answer one simple question; what is the authentic way to make it?

Well after harassing an Italian speaking friend and making good use of Google's translating features, I have found that the majority of true Italian recipes for this Spring Pasta use an olive oil based dressing. So I began experimenting. My taste buds concluded that this was the best combination of spring veggies, garlic, Parmesan & Romano cheeses, and olive oil.

This recipe is designed to serve 2-3 people.

Prep time: 15 minutes.

Cooking time: 20 minutes.

4-5 oz spaghetti or linguine noodles (reserve 1/4 C of water from cooking)

3 Tbs olive oil

2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced

1 medium sized zucchini, halved length wise and cut into 3/4 inch thick slices

6-8 asparagus stalks, cut into 2 inch long pieces

1 pepper seeded and cut into strips (I used red, but yellow or orange would work nicely too)

1/2 C broccoli florets

2 Tbs Parmesan cheese, grated

2 Tbs Romano cheese, grated

8-10 cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half

1/4 C olive oil

1/8 tsp ground thyme leaves

1 Tbs fresh rosemary

1 Tbs fresh basil

1 Tbs fresh oregano

1/2 Tbs lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil (for easy clean up).

Begin cooking the pasta, making sure to lightly salt the water.

In a large bowl combine garlic, zucchini, asparagus, pepper, and broccoli. Add 3 Tbs olive oil and toss until evenly coated. Add the Parmesan and Romano cheese and toss. Pour out onto baking sheet making sure the vegetables are in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are soft but not mushy, turning once.

In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 C olive oil, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, and lemon juice. Set aside.

Have a serving bowl big enough to hold the pasta on stand by. As soon as the pasta is cooked, drain it-remembering to reserve 1/4 C of the water. Put the pasta into the serving bowl and add the roasted vegetables and the tomatoes.

Immediately toss the pasta and vegetables with olive oil and spice mixture. Add some of the reserved pasta water and toss until evenly coated. (I only used a small portion of the 1/4 C that I reserved). Salt and pepper to taste.

**The second time I made this, I lightly broiled my vegetables for a roasted flavor. **

The rating scale is the result of compiling the flaws and virtues that 600 men of the 1930's found to be the most important to them. Similarly the same was done to rate husbands.

Here is the complete chart for the wife.

Demerits
1. Slow in coming to bed — delays till husband is almost asleep.
2. Doesn’t like children. (5)
3. Fails to sew on buttons or darn socks regularly.
4. Wears soiled or ragged dresses and aprons around the house.
5. Wears red nail polish.
6. Often late for appointments. (5)
7. Seams in hose often crooked.
8. Goes to bed with curlers on her hair or much face cream.
9. Puts her cold feet on husband at night to warm them.
10. Is a backseat driver.
11. Flirts with other men at parties or restaurants. (5)
12. Is suspicious and jealous. (5)
13. Uses slang or profanity. (5)
14. Smokes, drinks, gambles, or uses dope. (5)
15. Talks about former boy friends or first husband.
16. Squeezes tooth paste at the top.
17. Reminds husband it is her money they are living on. (5)
18. Tells family affairs to casual acquaintances, too talkative.
19. A chronic borrower–doesn’t keep stocked up.
20. Slows up card game with chatter and gossip.
21. Opens husband’s personal mail.
22. Frequently exceeds her allowance or family budget. (5)
23. Eats onions, radishes, or garlic before a date or going to bed.
24. Tells risque or vulgar stories. (5)
25. Wears pajamas while cooking.
26. Talks during movie, play or concert.
27. Is more than 15 pounds overweight.
28. Often whining or complaining.
29. Discourteous to sales clerks and hired help.
30. Shoulder straps hang over arms or slip is uneven and shows.
31. Fails to wash top of milk bottle before opening it.
32. Corrects husband’s speech or actions before others. (5)
33. Saves punishment of children for father at night. (5)
34. Serves dinner but fails to sit down till meal is half over–then wants husband to wait for her.
35. Wears pajamas instead of nightgown.
36. Fails to bathe or brush teeth often enough. (5)
37. Puts stockings to soak in wash basin.
38. Serves too much from tin cans or the delicatessen store.
39. Visits mother too often–a spoiled child.
40. Is snobbish or too much concerned in “keeping up with the Jones.”
41. Dislikes husband’s hobbies as fishing, baseball, etc.
42. Tells lies–not dependable. (5)
43. Doesn’t want to get up to prepare breakfast.
44. Insists on driving the car when husband is along.
45. Smokes in bed or has cigarette stained fingers.
46. Cries, sulks or pouts too much.
47. Makes evening engagements without consulting her husband.
48. Talks too long on the phone.
49. Is a gossip.
50. Walks around house in stocking feet.

Merits
1. A good hostess–even to unexpected guests.
2. Has meals on time.
3. Can carry on an interesting conversation.
4. Can play a musical instrument, as piano, violin, etc.
5. Dresses for breakfast.
6. Neat housekeeper–tidy and clean.
7. Personally puts children to bed.
8. Never goes to bed angry, always makes up first. (5)
9. Asks husband’s opinions regarding important decisions and purchases.
10. Good sense of humor–jolly and gay.
11. Religious–sends children to church or Sunday school and goes herself.
12. Lets husband sleep late on Sunday and holidays.
13. Encourages thrifty–economical. (5)
14. Laughs at husband’s jokes and his clowning.
15. Ambitious for her family–urges higher attainment.
16. Belongs to parent-teacher club, or child study group.
17. A good cook–serves balanced meals. (5)
18. Tries to become acquainted with husband’s business or trade.
19. Greets husband at night with a smile.
20. Has a pleasant disposition in the morning–not crabby.
21. Keeps snacks in refrigerator for late eating.
22. Likes educational and cultural things.
23. Reacts with pleasure and delight to marital congress. (10)
24. Faithful and true to husband. (10)
25. Has pleasant voice–not strident.
26. Has spunk–will defend her ideals and religion.
27. Praises husband in public.
28. Writes often and lovingly when away from husband.
29. Writes to husband’s parents regularly.
30. Willing to assist husband at office or shop.
31. Sympathetic–likes children and unfortunates. (5)
32. Keeps hair neatly combed or shampooed and waved.
33. Often comments on husband’s strength and masculinity.
34. Good seamstress–can make her own clothes or the children’s clothes.
35. Gives husband shampoo or manicure.
36. Keeps husband’s clothes clean and presses.
37. Bravely carries on during financial depression.
38. Healthy or courageous and uncomplaining.
39. Keeps self dainty, perfumed and feminine.
40. Is of same religion as her husband. (5)
41. Has minor children to care for. (5 points per child)
42. On friendly terms with neighbors.
43. Fair and just in settling the children’s quarrels with others.
44. Likes to vacation with husband.
45. An active member of some women’s organization.
46. Often tells husband she loves him. (5)
47. Polite and mannerly even when alone with husband.
48. Willing to get a job to help support the home.
49. Praises marriage before young women contemplating it.
50. Is unselfish and kind-hearted.


I scored a 49, but I lost points for being slow to go to bed, wearing red nail polish, putting my cold feet on him to warm up, wearing my pj's while cooking, using slang, and walking around in my stalking feet. hehe Not sure the nail polish thing is still applicable in the 21st century, but I see a lot of merit in the others. I also do not have children, so that eliminates several of the areas to earn points. How do you measure up?

In reading other blogs and news commentary, the general consensus is that the scale is filled with "gender based cliches" and portrays "the hoops" that women use to have to hop through. Albeit that most see it as not suited to an "equal partnership" but what would a modern version of this checklist look like?

First and foremost, you would have to decide was in an equal partnership. To me it seems that instead of changing the female's role in marriage, all that modern times has done is add to it. Inside, men still expect their wives to be the mother, cook, and housekeeper of the 1930's. However, that is in addition to being employed 40 hours a week. For anybody who lives that life, it is equivalent to having 2 full time jobs. Marriages were successful 70 years ago. In the 1930's and 1940's the divorce rate was approaching 2 out of 500 marriages, today that rate is almost 1 out of every 3 marriages. 33% of marriages are expected to fail. Could this be a result of the extra strain placed upon the modern wife? Doing twice as much work would leave anybody exhausted, it would only be natural that in doing so much the spouse would inadvertently be neglected.

Anywho, just my rambles for a Sunday morning being home on the couch....

This is by far one of the best cakes I've ever made. It was so moist, chocolately, and tastes absolutely amazing.