The heart of my home is an easy place to locate. It’s the one place everyone in my house can come together – laugh, talk, learn, enjoy… cook! The heart of my home is definitely the kitchen.

The kitchen is always the place to relieve stress. It doesn’t matter what’s on TV. It doesn’t even matter anymore what’s going on in the world. It’s just you, some pots and pans and good ole cooking. You can lose yourself in ingredients and work out your stress as you stir them away with a spoon.

And the best part? – Sharing that sacred space with family. It doesn’t matter what it is you’re cooking – there is always a job for everyone and nothing tastes better than a meal that everyone puts a little love into.

In light of this post, I want to share my favorite recipe with you [courtesy of Rachael Ray;s cookbook 30-Minute Meals 2]. It’s perfect for everyone in the family to enjoy no matter the season. It’s absolutely delicious and there are lots of little jobs that your kids can do as well.

Pasta with Citrus Cream Sauce

[Makes 4 Servings]

Ingredients

• 2 cups Heavy Cream
• 4 tablespoons Cognoc or Dry Sherry
• The zest of 2 lemons
• The zest of 2 Naval Oranges
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 4 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped (about 6 sprigs)
• 20-25 leaves of fresh basil, shredded or torn
• 1 pound linguini
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

Directions

In a skillet over medium-low heat, warm cream. Add cognac or dry sherry, lemon and orange zest and the salt. Simmer 7-10 minutes. Add mint and basil. Toss hot, drained pasta with the sauce and grated cheese. Transfer to serving dish or dinner plates.

This is seriously my favorite dish. Your kids can have fun shredding the basil and helping to measure out some of the ingredients. Not only is this a kid friendly meal, it’s also got that adult flare to it that I love. It’s very refreshing and makes an excellent lunch.

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My kitchen is so special to me. I love sharing different foods with my husband, daughter and the rest of my family. Who doesn’t enjoy a good meal? That’s what makes my kitchen the heart of my home.

Which room is the heart of your home? Leave me a comment [and I just might win a washer and dryer from Samsung Home Appliances!]

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