Stranger Things

Ok! So I loved this show; very retro., 80's, cool, and fun! Took me back in time- bravo, really well done Netflix, if you haven't seen it...GO WATCH IT NOW! Seriously! And stop reading this blog because there are spoilers ahead.....

Seriously - go watch and quit reading, I don't want to ruin it for you.

Last chance....

Okay!

So I am a fan, and here is my theory.... I guess that means this is a fan theory.

So at the end: Eleven is missing, Sheriff is putting Eggo waffles in "box" in the forest, and Will is having continuing issues after his time in the "up-side down". Clearly pointing to a second installment, in fact even this was so well done and  retro in it's execution it reminded me of Aliens and Friday the 13th -excellent!

My thoughts actually center on this comic, mentioned several times through out the series. It is part of a larger story for the X-men, where Jean Gray has vanished and being held captive by a villain named Mastermind, and he is messing with her mind. The result of his mind tampering has unknowingly released a more powerful different personality within Jean called "Phoenix" who goes on to kill millions of people as her story progresses; titled "The Dark Phoenix Saga". However it is in this specific comic that we see the Dark Phoenix for the first time - you might remember this character from the crappie X3 movie (ugh).

The connection between Eleven and Jean is not just cursory- both are extremely powerful with telekinesis. Both are "telepathic" and can "talk" to people with their minds (did the sensory deprivation chamber not remind you of Cerebro?) Both have vanished and it my lead to an unstoppable force. In fact what if Eleven is the "bad people" in season 2, unknowingly?

Ultimately, that  is what the "department" was trying to do with her, weaponize her....right? But Matthew Modine's character is dead no worries right....well not so fast.

Remember the bargain that Sheriff Jim made, to help track down and get Will back then forget about the whole thing giving up Eleven in the process? Well what if that deal was still in place? After the climax you see Jim looking somber and nodding to the kids as he is escorted by the department. Only to see him show up a few moments later dropping eggos into that odd box. Why would the department let him go, unless he is working with them to help track down Eleven!

I think Eleven is trapped in the upside down. Jim is giving her eggos to try and convince her to come out and into his care, but he would really just take her back to the department and Agent Frazier who has assumed control. They know that Will has part of the monster in him, but they also know that Eleven is stronger than the monster!

I think in season two, Will is actually going to die, Eleven being the bad guy unknowingly, Jim not being able to be trusted, and Mike being the hero using his love for Eleven (and her feelings for him) to wake her up; right Cyclops and Jean?

Antepasto and Pesto

Nothing says entertaining like this dish to me. It really is the best appetizer that I can come up with, even better when you are sharing it with great company and when the Pesto is nice and fresh! My Nonni (Italian for grandma)  would always have a tray like this one set out during family gatherings. It has become one of my families favorite light fare lunches! I will actually give you two recipies today, the tray is simple but the pesto takes some finesse. Try it and enjoy!

Antepasto Tray - 

1 lb.      - fresh Mozzarella - I use pearls but you could also slice a ball or loaf
1 large  - bell pepper, seeded and julienned
1 large  - tomato thinly sliced
1/2 lb.   - Olives (I used Olives from HyVee Olive bar - mixture of Katamala, Green, and feta stuffed)
1/2 lb.   - Italian deli meat - Prosciutto, Capicola, and Salami - sliced extremely thin, rolled, cut into bite size pieces.  
3 leaves - Fresh Basil for garnish

Cut all ingredients and arrange on a tray sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Pesto 

1/4 C.     -   pine nuts - toasted and chopped 

2 cloves  - Garlic - pressed through garlic press 

1 T.         - capers - pressed through garlic press 

1 T.         - white onion finely chopped 

3-4          - Katamala Olives - finely chopped 

1/4 t.       - crushed red pepper flakes 

1/4 t.       - dried sweet basil 

1/4 t.       - dried oregano

1/4 t.       - black pepper 

1/2 t.       - salt 

1/2 T.      - balsamic vinegar

about 1 C. - EVOO 

1. Toast pine nuts in a small skillet with 1 T. of butter and a dash of salt, stirring constantly over medium high heat, when they get a nice golden brown and let off a wonderful aroma they are done! Put on a plate with a paper towel, pat off excess oil/ butter and let cool. 

2. When nuts have cooled place in a small plastic zip lock bag. Seal it, making sure to remove excess air from bag.  Then place it on your cutting board. Smash the nuts with a meat tenderizer, (you can use and kitchen until that will bust them up) but be careful; do not rip the bag! 

3. Place nuts in a small mixing bowl (or a large soup bowl). then start adding all other ingredients. Mix it up after you add each new one. You should get a nice paste like substance forming as you go down the list. After you add the vinegar stop! DO not add oil until you are ready to serve. 

4. Add EVOO slowly while stirring until you get the desired consistency, paste should mix in and be chunky but the bread or other items on the tray should have no problem picking up a nice coating of oil. 

Serving 

Cut up some Italian Ciabatta bread into small slices and tray them,  serve with Antepasto tray and Pesto! You can make bite size sandwiches, dip you favorite items into the pesto, or whatever you like...so good! And like I said a it is a great appetizer for up 15 people or a whole lunch for our family of 6! 

Seafood Mac-N-Cheese

Seafood Mac-N Cheese

I wanted to do Lobster and Crab, but the local grocery store was out of lobster meat so I went with a bit different mix of seafood; shrimp, crab, and bay (small) scallops; if you want to use lobster substitute in place of shrimp. This is a fairly simple recipe that had a ton of great flavors. Give it a try!

1 lb.       elbow macaroni
1/4 C.     salt
1 T.        olive oil

1            medium shallot -finely diced
1/2 T.     honey
1/2 lb.    baby portobello mushrooms (6-8 caps) diced
1 T.        olive oil
1/2 C.    butter
1/2 C.    flour
6 C.       whole milk
3 C.       sharp cheddar cheese -shredded
1 1/2 C. Parmesan cheese - shredded
2 oz.      Swiss cheese - shredded
1/2 lb.    shrimp (smaller the better, I used 51-70)
1/4 lb.    bay scallops
1/2 lb.    crab meat
salt and pepper

1/4 C.     panko breadcrumbs


1. Use large stock pot and about 1/4 cup salt to cook noodles. Follow directions on the package. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil and set aside.

2. In a large sauce pan, saute shallots and oil together until translucent over medium heat. Add honey and continue to cook over medium heat until shallots start to caramelize. Add mushrooms and cook until tender.

3. In the same pan, turn heat to low-medium low. Add butter to pan and melt. We are going to make a roux, when the butter if fully melted start to add flour to pan slowly. When it is all incorporated continue to heat stirring constantly until mixture get golden brown and steamy. Add milk SLOWLY and continue stirring. Let it heat slowly, so you do not curdle the milk, but do not boil, just want it hot and steaming.

4. Add cheeses to mixture until all are melted. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Stir for another minute or two then slowly start adding seafood. When all is in stir for a minute longer and until heat is back up.

5. Combine noodles and cheese sauce in large greased baking dish.  Top off with a layer of breadcrumbs and bake at 350 for 25-30 min. Until breadcrumbs get nice and crispy!

Serve hot and enjoy!

4th of July Movie List!

The Fourth of July is on a Monday this year, which means you are probably celebrating your Independence tonight, Sunday. So the question is what to do on a Monday holiday when you most likely will have "blown up" Sunday and you are just looking to relax before life returns to normal on the 5th? In honor of the years I spent running a home video rental store (what the heck is that...asks everyone under the age of 12) I have put together a list of some essential viewing for your relaxation and recuperation. I have placed the movies in several broad categories to help you narrow down your selection  but they are all uniquely 'Merican!

Family Favorites
Great films to enjoy with the whole family, good wholesome entertainment!

Pollyanna - This classic Disney film tells the story of an optimistic ray of sunshine that transforms the curmudgeonly heart of her Aunt who she is forced to live with after a tragedy strikes her life. The summer festival is the reason it makes this list!

http://video.disney.com/watch/pollyanna-trailer-4be10ff07d0f842f7f3ce022


The Sandlot - A coming of age story that is set in the Golden Age of Post-War America that centers around the greatest American Pastime- Baseball. It is charming, funny, and if you don't watch it, "You're killing me Smalls!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QDq-e1GbjE

An American Tale - Steven Spielberg tackles animation! In a precursor to what would become Dreamworks, Mr. Spielberg and Amblin tap director Don Bluth to tell the story of immigration into the US using an animated cast of animals.  Don't forget your tissues for the tear-jerking song "Somewhere, out there"!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvZfEQ_pMdg

Honorable Mention:
Johnny Tremain - Disney 1957 - Historical Fiction set in pre-revolution Boston.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure - 1985 - Warner Bros.  - Great romp across the US looking for a lost bike.
Bunker Hill Bunny - 1950- Merrie Melodies - Bugs and Yosemite Sam fight in the US Revolution.

Sports Films
Feeling patriotic through competition? Can you say U-S-A, U-S-A!

Miracle - The USA's greatest upset in sports- ever! Retelling of how the Miracle on Ice happened in the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. US vs. USSR in the height of the cold war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v64ofT1rGOw

Rocky IV - Another US vs. USSR showdown this time in the sport of boxing! James Brown's "Living in America," as Apollo Creed's entrance music, pure fireworks! Not to mention the fight that take place during the climax of the film and quintessential 80's montages!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwJJkeOTT6Y

Race - US hero Jessie Owns, struggling for equality in his own country goes to Berlin for the 1936 Olympic games to battle Hitler and the Aryan Race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGmh3MeFArg

Honorable Mention:
42 - 2014 Warner Bros. - Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier in Baseball.
Field of Dreams - 1989 Universal - Film about baseball, farming, and a broken relationship with dad.
Remember the Titans - 2000 Disney - Football, race, and the impact of integration.

War Movies
Rooting for our brave young men who protect our freedom! So many good movies to choose from, here are some of my favs.

The Patriot - Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger star in what I think is the best movie about the Revolutionary War, even though it is historical fiction. It's kinda like Braveheart, only better because this time it is the US fighting the English. FREEDOM!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osSrajMUah4

Patton - George C. Scott standing in front of a Giant US flag giving a speech... How American is that! Story of WWII general written by Francis Ford Coppola!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-0dTpzNzwo

Glory - The best movie about the Civil War. While it is based on the true story of Massachusetts 54th and Robert Shaw the film takes some licesne. Fantastic performances from Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs-tHfM_J-Y

Honorable Mention:
Saving Private Ryan -1998 Dreamworks - The first 20 minute depiction of D-day, wow!
Unbroken - 2014 Legendary - Biopic film of WWII & Olympic Hero Louis Zamperini.
Good Morning Vietnam - 1987 Touchstone - Had to put a Robin Williams and Vietnam movie here.

Popcorn Movies
Big budget blockbuster films. Fun to watch with explosions and action to boot! No need to worry too much about the story, just sit back and enjoy!

Independence Day - Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum save the world against an invading army of aliens. Quintessential movie for the fourth of July simply because of the title. "Didn't I promise you fireworks!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZZvtQtdbzM

Captain America, The Winter Solider - You could have put any Marvel Cinematic Universe film here and been satisfied. But it is America's birthday, so I chose to focus on the greatest American superhero in the best of his solo MCU movies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82RKQPgeYRs

National Treasure - Nicolas Cage is a history buff who has discovered that the Founding Father's have hidden clues to the greatest treasure in the world in historical documents and sites. The chase is on to get there first after he is betrayed by his seedy partner who was financing the search.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J34YtrkL7ic

Honorable Mention:
Any of the Indiana Jones Films (except the fourth ...not good)
Red Dawn - Either version is good 80's is a classic, reboot had a better budget... Wolverines!
Armageddon - 1998 Touchstone - US Oil Workers blasted into space to save the World!
Terminator 2, Judgement Day - 1991 TriStar - Another saving the world, explosion-fest!

Date Movies
Needing something that she will want to watch with you, unlike most of this list so far? Try some of these.

Top Gun - Is this an awesome movie about fighter jets or is it a love story between student and teacher? Depends on your perspective but either way it is amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioWpe3hdFH0

My Big Fat Greek Weeding - Greek, how 'Merica is that? Well it does a great job looking at an American immigrant family that holds closely to the traditions and cultures brought with. Funny, sweet, and enjoyable to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0RVkqXuSCM

Brooklyn - The tale of an Irish woman who leaves home to start a new life in New York City. She has difficulty adjusting but things become easier when she meets an Italian boy and falls in love. When tragedy calls her home will she choose home or love?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ4RzlCR_lg

Honorable Mention:
Miss Congeniality - 2000 Warner Bros. - The Miss USA competition needs FBI protection.
The Philadelphia Story - 1940 MGM - Love story set in the first capitol of the US, Philadelphia.
The Great Gatsby - 2013 Warner Bros. - The classic American novel about the roaring 20's with Leo.

Comedies
Want a funny slice of America? Check out some of these comedies that show some love to the USA.

Vacation - We all remember long car rides across the country that our family told us was vacation...yeah right! Nothing goes well for Chevy Chase and the Griswold's on this road trip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMiXWKJQPEQ

Smokey and the Bandit - Another great road trip movie, this time Burt Reynolds is smuggling beer for fun against a clock. Things get sticky when he picks up Sally Fields and a law enforcement official picks up his tail!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC1uiXMQu9E

Stripes- Bill Murray and Harold Ramis join the army and give a hilarious new look at boot camp. But John Candy steals this movie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wr3imOyEZw

Honorable Mention:
Private Benjamin - 1980 Warner Bros. - Its like stripes, but replace Bill Murray with Goldie Hawn.
Back to the Future Trilogy - Great look at the US in the Old West, 1950's, 1980's and future 2010's
Talladega Nights 2006 Columbia - NASCAR, a truly American Sport as told by Will Ferrell.

Just Because
These could have fit into other categories but didn't quite fit any criteria. But they need to be included on this list. Go America!

Forrest Gump - Tom Hanks as the titular character, takes a simple look at the major events in US history in 1950's-1990's.  Great performances from the supporting cast of Sally Fields, Gary Sinise, and Robin Wright.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPIEn0M8su0

Easy Rider - Motorcycles road trip from LA to New Orleans searching for America. Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper are two counter-culture hippies looking for a way to support a simple life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjlxqANj68U

The Godfather I & II - How about the classic tale of a crime family being shaped and shaping the country during the early to mid 1900's. I reccomend taking all day to watch both back to back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY1S34973zA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJr92K_hKl0

Titanic - One of the greatest tragedy's in US history told around a love story, treasure hunt, and historical fiction. Another epic film the is long viewing to eat up chunks of the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCy5WQ9S4c0

Poured Out

Okay…. Not so legal disclaimer: 1. This is a fairly lengthy post, sit down, grab a cup of joe or whatever and spend some time reading and thinking through these thoughts, 2. This is not a post that is designed to make you feel guilty or shame you into my way of thinking (which I see a lot of these days, especially in the area of parenting) … not my style – I am just a normal guy who’s perspective has been totally ripped apart and rearranged… this is a reflection of my journey… not a you must go do this and do it this way because I have everything figured out…. So not the case.

“Mercy has a cost: someone must be broken for someone else to be fed. The sermon that changed your life? That messenger was poured out so you could hear it. The friends who stood in the gap during your crisis? They embraced some sacrifice of brokenness for your healing. Anytime you say, “That fed me, that nourished me,” someone was the broken bread for your fulfillment.” – Jen Hatmaker; Interrupted – NavPress 2014

This is great example of foster care/ adoption looks like. This quote is elegant, simple, and yet poignant and clear: when you enter this world you will be poured out. It is inevitable. And on many levels I understood that. We (I say we because foster care affects the whole family: my wife, my kids, extended family, me) knew going in that we would be to a certain level of difficulty laying down our lives for a kiddo (s)! We were giving up a lot of our comforts to care for and love a little one; that may or may not be part of our family (God knew before time that our son would be adopted by us one day…but we had no idea). But he was worth whatever cost it may have or could one day possibly be. We loved without abandon because that is how we are loved and that is what the kid(s) deserve. He was part of our family from the moment we met and would be for as long as we had him. As we grew to know him we hoped and prayed that he would forever be a part of our family … and that is where things start to get sticky.

How do you pray for that? In doing so are you praying against the birth family? Are you waiting for their demise to make your dreams come true? How does that work, is that even cool? It didn’t seem right, and we certainly didn’t want to be filled with joy (which we are because of the adoption) because someone else is filled with pain. So the haunting question became… How do we love well? That is to say how do we model Jesus in this situation? Not just with the baby- because that is simple he’s a baby and undeniably cute (he knows it to which is probably not good).

But how do we love the workers well? How about the judge or lawyers involved? Easy when they are “moving in a direction” that seems congruent with our goals/ desires … not as easy when it felt like they we moments away from pulling your entire world out from under your feet. A little more uncomfortable right… but still do-able; trying to be gracious as the never-ending parade of visitors come through your home. Talking and loving in difficult conversations, staying even not getting to defensive or to anxious.  Breathe, suck it up, and die to yourself, this is not about you…hard but with grace from God we can do this.

What about the birth mom? In our case; our little guy came to us in the most dire of circumstances; as most who are wards of the state are in. (I get that there is a broken system and there is all kinds of injustice happening… this was not our story) How do we feel love and compassion for her!? God don’t you know the circumstances that led to this point! Isn’t she culpable for her decisions! DO I HAVE TO LOVE HER TOO? The answer to this questions was of course yes. I can’t do that God, you are going to have to do that in me………..scary prayer, and be careful of those.  Pray for wisdom, I don’t even know how to start doing that, show me! Pray for justice, I don’t know how this situations is going to work out, I know what I want (to keep our son) but I don’t want to see anyone “fail, lose, in pain” to make that happen. How do we speak to birth mom, what do we say? First, recognize she is not a monster! She was created in Your image Lord, she has access to the same grace that has so changed my life! She has value and worth beyond imagine to You! She deserves love and to know that her story is not finished. She still has breath and You can redeem and remake her! YOU LOVE HER and that is reason enough for us to try and show her that! After our perspective shift… try: start to communicate in positive ways, pray for her, do not demean or diminish her, be grateful towards her (she eventually gave us one of the greatest gifts of our life our son), most important of all do not think of ourselves as better than her….ouch!

But - oh to get a glimpse of what God can do in her life! If I could have known, would have known what we would experience with her yesterday…would obedience have been so much easier? God’s redemption is so beautiful! She has moved on with her life…she loves the Lord… she is married… she had another child last week……now the system is involved again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Lord this is too much! God can’t they see the progress she has made. She is not the person she was! We are now her cheerleaders and my wife is informally mentoring her! God this may break her, her family, her walk with You! Please no!

Now comes the real perspective shift! What do we have to be willing to do to keep her new family together? Is the state going to remove the baby? Do we take the baby in? How do we explain that to our son someday? Can we move them in to our home? Are we willing to be that bold? Lord this is not our son, he is hers…I know this my heart, can I be a grandparent in this situation? Will I be willing to go to court and testify? Would I stake my reputation on her and her new family as being a safe place for this child? Can I write a letter of encouragement? Can we be a safety plan? The stress level is 50 times worse than the first time because we walked into the system blindly, now we know and we are heartbroken because we also know this is a mistake! Pray for wisdom…pray for justice: God this is too big and I cannot do it. Tears from my kids facing the prospect of uncertainty, tears of grief of how this could break someone we have come to love! Yes we are willing, to all questions above but Lord, where is the redemption?

How much support does it take to stop the DHHS machine? Judge refused to sign removal papers but still wanted a hearing? As we gathered at the courthouse yesterday… a picture of complete redemption! Birth mom, her husband, and baby surrounded by a family of believers from their church! My wife and I there too, praying outside the court room in a big circle! Hearing their fears and concerns, weeping brokenhearted, Lord I will be displaced but this seems so unfair! Then we walk into the same courthouse, same attorneys as before, same judge, and a new DHHS work (not surprising due to the turnover for those often thankless heroes) completely different version of the story. A girl who was far from You, isolated, and hurting now surrounded by You, your saints called into her life, and her family (us included) … Judge sings a new song, this baby stays with his family …. Such relief … How beautiful!

Thank you for emptying me in this process Lord!

Meekness.

We are not acting like Christ.... therefore we are not acting as Christians should.

I have been on a journey, at the heart of this journey is trying to understand why the "Religious Right" ever became a thing. Why is it that evangelicals have become a voting block? Not and just any voting block, but one that when things don't go our way we claim persecution. Why have we deemed ourselves responsible to legislate our nation's morality?  Why is it that young people and millennials are leaving the church en masse?

We (the church) have played a dangerous game by stepping into the "World's" operating system of legislation, law suits, and power.....and it is killing us! Evangelicals have thought; because of the cultural and sexual revolutions of the 60's and SCOTUS cases of the 70's like Roe vs. Wade (or more modern ones that I don't even want to touch) that we need to be more in control of what is happening in our nation and if we don't stand up to protect our rights we will be living in a nation of extreme depravity, far from God, and become an irrelevant voice....which we kind of have... WHY? Beacuse we are operating as the world, not like Christ ... who calls us to meekness.

I have been reading The Cost of Discipleship By Bonhoeffer as some nice light reading when I came across this quote and teaching on the one of the Beatitudes; he wrote
 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." This community of strangers possesses no inherent right of its own to protect its members in the world, nor do they claim such rights, for they are meek, they renounce every right of their own for the sake of Jesus Christ. When reproached, they hold their peace; when treated with violence they endure it patiently; when men drive them from their presence they yield their ground. They do not go to law to defend their rights, or make a scene when they suffer injustice, nor do they insist on their legal rights. They are determined to leave their rights to God alone - non cupidi vindictae, as the ancient Church paraphrased. Their right is in the will of their Lord - that and no more. They show by every word and gesture that they do not belong to this earth.

Pasta Carbonara

One of my families' favorite types of pasta, so very easy to make and full of flavor. Pasta Carbonana is made with Bacon, Egg, and Cheese. Mine is a bit different than other recipes, but this is the way I was taught to make it....still simple and easy.


1 lb. of your favorite type of pasta noodles, traditionally it is made with spaghetti, but I like Farfalle
1 package of bacon (you can use pancetta if you like) - chopped into 1/4 inch pieces.
1 small onion -chopped
2 eggs
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese (grated or shredded)
2-3 leaves of fresh Sweet Basil (chopped) (1/2 teaspoon of dried)
pinch of sugar
dash of balsamic vinegar
2 T. of butter
2 T. of flour
About 1 1/2 cups Milk - I use whole Milk (you could use 2% or half and half, but I would't use anything less)
salt and pepper to taste
optional - 3/4 cup of fresh peas or 1 can

Boil water for pasta in your stock pot, remember to salt water, it boils hotter and cooks the noodles better. You should be able to complete all other steps in time it take for water to boil and cook pasta if you have 10 min. noodles, use cold tap water, and have pre-choped other ingredients.

In an medium mixing bowl combine 1 cup of milk, eggs, cheese, basil, beat until mixed and set off to the side.

In a skillet, fry bacon after chopping into small pieces. Get it nice and crispy, you will want that texture. Drain mostly but keep just a touch of the fat (about 1 T.) in the pan. Return skillet with a bit of fat back to burner and place onions in to saute and caramelize once they start to cook down add the pinch of sugar.  Onions and fat will deglaze the pan, if not fully add just a dash of balsamic vinegar and allow to cook down. Add back in bacon (peas too) and turn down to a low simmer.

In a medium sauce pan start a roux by melting butter over low heat. Add flour and stir constantly until combined, add egg mixture and let cook for about 30 seconds. Pour into skillet with bacon continue to let cook down, it will thicken as it simmers, add more milk if sauce becomes too thick. Add a little bit of salt and pepper to taste.

Drain pasta, combine sauce and pasta in your pasta serving dish and enjoy!