Spaghetti with Clams, Leeks and Garlic Chives

Most of the time, when I do my marketing, I deviate from the planned menu and I will buy what looks good.

If there is something I really like that looks especially fresh and tasty, I buy it.

I can't pass it up, even if I don't know what I'm going to use it for at the moment.

That's why I find leeks in my refrigerator.

And that's why leeks and nira--garlic chives--are in the spaghetti with fresh clams.

I saw them at the market and bought them without a plan.

Here, take a closer look.

Ingredients:

4 lbs. manila or littleneck clams, washed & scrubbed

1 leek, cleaned and sliced thinly

1 to 1/2 bunch nira (garlic chives), minced

2 teaspoons minced garlic

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup sake or white wine

pinch chili flakes

salt and pepper to taste

Wash clams with cold water and scrub the shells with a brush.

Discard any open ones.

Set aside in a bowl.

Wash leeks thoroughly, in-between the leaves--there tends to be some sand in there--then slice thinly.

Mince the nira and garlic.

Heat oil and butter in frying pan, add the leeks, garlic and nira.

Saute until the vegetables become wilted and aromatic, about 5 to 10 minutes on medium-high heat.

Add a generous pinch of chili flakes if you like heat.

Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup sake or white wine and bring to a boil.

Add the clams and cover.

The clam sauce is done when the clams are open.

Stir to combine leek mixture and clams.

Taste and adjust seasoning.

Serve over hot spaghetti noodles.

I think these clams would make a great appetizer, too!

Itadakimasu!

***

I have a song stuck in my head.

It's Lady Antebellum's Perfect Day.

It was the perfect day

What I'd give if I could find a way to stay

Lost in this moment now

Ain't worried about tomorrow

When you're busy livin, feels like dreamin', 

Slowly drifting, through this perfect day.

I had a perfect day, just the other day over the weekend, when the kids were here.

It's so nice that they have lives of their own.

And it's so nice when they're both here.

Home.

Rick and Jessica recently took a trip to Boston.

Rick and his friend from high school, Bird, are both Red Sox fans, and Bird's wife Monica has a cousin that plays ball for the White Sox.

The two teams were playing each other last week, so they thought it the perfect time to go to Boston.

Here he is, Sergio Santos--he grew up in our neighborhood, and went to school with our kids.

Hey, Serg! Congratulations on your success!

I recently saw Sergio at Bird & Monica's daughter's birthday party.

To me, he's still that little guy shouting over our back fence, 

"Hi Mr. Fujimoto! It's me, Sergio!"

He must have been about 10 or 12 when he said that.

Rick and Bird were happy Sergio got a save, even though that meant the Red Sox lost.

Jessica said Rick is in heaven, here on The Green Monster.

And of course, he had to run hard on base.

They said there's lots of fun on the street outside the stadium, too.

Rick is especially fun to listen to recount his adventures, because he can mimic people really well.

He was telling us all about the fans at Fenway Park--what they were shouting out at the games--in that unique Boston way of speaking.

Who doesn't love that Boston dialect/accent?!

Matt Damon & Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting?

Mark Wahlberg?

Boston Rob?

That was my favorite part.

Karen and Mitchell were in Boston, too, that weekend--Rick and Jessica just missed them--they got there just as Karen & Mitchell had left.

It was Mitchell's five year college reunion, and Karen had lots of stories to tell about their weekend events with Mitchell's college roommates.

I love listening to the kids' travels and adventures.

To me, it was a perfect day.

*

I was going to post a link to Lady Antebellum singing Perfect Day, but I found this one instead--it's a lot more fun.

Besides, this is how I sing in the car when I'm by myself!

I think the only thing that would make this video more fun is if the boys put the lyrics on the bottom of the screen karaoke-style so we can sing along.

***

Spaghetti with Clams, Leeks and Garlic Chives

Ingredients:

4 lbs. manila or littleneck clams, washed & scrubbed

1 leek, cleaned and sliced thinly

1 to 1/2 bunch nira (garlic chives), minced

2 teaspoons minced garlic

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup sake or white wine

pinch chili flakes

salt and pepper to taste

spaghetti noodles

Wash clams under cold water and scrub shells with a brush. Discard any open ones. Set clams aside.

Wash leeks thoroughly, making sure there's no sand between the leaves. Slice thinly. Mince nira--garlic chives--and garlic.

Heat a frying pan and add olive oil and butter. Saute the leeks, nira and garlic until aromatic and wilted over medium-high heat, about 5 or 10 minutes. Add a pinch of chili flakes and the sake or white wine and bring to boil. Add clams and cover. Clams are done when they open. Serve over hot spaghetti.

This recipe serves about 6 to 8 big eaters with 2 lbs. of spaghetti.