Cooking with clams was new to me, but they are so simple, I’m not sure why I was so hesitant! All I needed was the motivation of a recipe and a free night to spend a little time in the kitchen.

The pasta was delicious with a bit of spice from the chiles, smoky flavor from the bacon and briny flavor from the sea. All of the flavors that I so often desire, over some chewy, whole-grain pasta.

Linguine with Clams – 2 servings

• 2 slices bacon
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
•  3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 chile (medium heat), sliced
• 1 lb little-neck clams
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 4 Tbsp parsley, chopped
• 6 oz whole grain linguine (I used fresh)

Cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, crumble and set aside.

Add olive oil,  garlic, chile, clams and wine to pan used for bacon and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until clams have opened and released juices. Remove clams and set aside.

Meanwhile cook pasta as directed, saving cooking liquid.

Add pasta, 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid, bacon, 2 Tbsp parsley and toss until sauce has thickened. Divide pasta onto plates and top with clams and additional parsley.

Healthy Hint: Pasta is something that the taster and I can both overeat without even realizing it. An easy solution? Only making the number of servings we need! No leftovers mean no extra or bites or servings!

This cute appetizer came from the Rachael Ray Magazine and now that summer is here, (at least it feels like it) it is a perfect, light snack for warm summer nights.  And so very fitting for a Friday night on the patio! Complete with cocktail of choice of course!

Since the flavors weren’t too overpowering the crab was able to shine through, which was just what I had hoped for. I love the flavor of crab and when paying a pretty penny for it, I want to be able to taste it!

Crab Salad - adapted from Rachael Ray

• 8 oz crab meat (I found it in the deli)
• 2 green onions, minced (reserve some of the green tops)
• 1 Tbsp light mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp cilantro, minced
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 package of Crunchmaster Crackers

Combine crab, onions, mayo, cilantro and lemon juice. Top crackers with crab mixture and reserved onions.

Enjoy your weekend!