Spaghetti alla puttanesca for Miguel (and inspiration for a new house name)

Over a ladies lunch with my friend Fran the conversation turned to food. Nothing new there then LOL. That was probably about 2 months ago and we discussed a dish I had recently tried which I was raving about, mainly because it's quick and flavoursome too.  Obviously that dish was Spaghetti alla puttanesca.

Spaghetti alla puttanesca for Miguel

Also, commonly called tarts pasta!

Fran asked if I would put it my blog so she had the recipe. As I was not sure when I would be able to do it at that stage I told her I would email her the recipe. Of course I forgot and each time we spoke she reminded me yet again to forward the recipe.

Fran said Mike, her husband (commonly known as Miguel) would love this dish and she was keen to make it for him. Despite her constant requests, I still forgot to email the recipe so one day over coffee I gave it to her verbally instead, job done.

I'm not sure quite how she remembered it, but she did nonetheless and made Spaghetti alla puttanesca for Miguel, just a few days later.  Turns out he loved it!

Sadly and very suddenly we lost Mike recently. Fran reminded me how pleased she was that she was able to make this dish for him before that tragic day and so I promised her I would finally make it a blog post in memory of Miguel.

Sorry Fran for all the previous delays, but at least now the blog post is more special than it would have been.

Fran & Mike (Miguel)

Mike and Fran are very special to myself and Barry.  We first met them nearly 20 years ago.  They had become friends with my in-laws upon meeting in Spain.  A short time later Barry and I came to Spain with some friends for a holiday and whilst in a bar one morning this lady approached us and said "you must be Mike & Dawn's son because you look just like your dad"!!!

From that day we have all been very close.  So much so that after I had lost both my parents, Mike and Fran unofficially adopted me, despite having 2 daughters and a son already.  They obviously had no idea at the time what they were letting themselves in for LOL.  That was over 10 years ago now and I'm often heard referring to them as my mum and dad.

Coincidentally, we moved into a new house recently and always wanted to change it's name (sorry to my in-laws as we bought the property from them).  The house has always been called "Casa Mirador".  Don't get me wrong, we don't dislike it, but; it seems almost every other house out here is called "Casa Mirador"!  Sitting in the garden one evening talking about Mike, a new name suddenly seemed so obvious.  Mike and Fran used to look after the land for my in-laws and planted the whole garden area.  A garden Mike has always been proud of and deservedly so. I'm sure you've already guessed the new name for our home, "Jardin de Miguel" in memory of the wonderful man that created our amazing garden.

A relaxing corner in "Jardin de Miguel"

Well, I'm sure you are soooo hungry now after all that reading, so without further ado, here's a delicious recipe as a tribute to my adopted father Miguel.  Farewell my friend.

Spaghetti alla puttanesca for Miguel - Serves 2/3

250g dried spaghetti
Olive oil
5 cloves garlic (finely sliced)
400g tin of chopped tomatoes
2 tsp capers (rinsed)
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1 tsp anchovy paste (or 4 fillets)
1 tsp tomato puree
50g black olives

Heat approx 2 tbsp olive oil in a large saute pan.  Add the garlic, chilli flakes, tom puree, anchovy paste (or fillets) and lots of freshly ground black pepper.  Stir well to combine and cook for about 2 minutes.  Add the chopped tomatoes and mix well.  Cook to reduce tomatoes for about half hour.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a large pan of salted boiling water as per packet instructions.  Drain well and toss with the sauce together with the capers and olives.  Serve immediately.