Linguine and Clams!! Best, ever!

Linguine and Clams! Best, ever! :)

My family LOVE, LOVE, LOVES this linguine and clams recipe!! It is a keeper, and we make it often, as it is so easy to make!! No chopping, just throw it together! Hardest thing to do is cook the noodles, and open cans!!  Try not to get a hand cramp!! :) 

1 pound linguine pasta, cooked al dente

5 cans clams- I do 3 chopped, 1 minced, and 1 whole baby~ do not drain, we use their juice!

Fresh, whole clams in their shells- about 1 pound, rinsed and picked through

1 tsp dried basil 
1/2 tsp sugar

1 tsp dried oregano

2 Tbsp fresh parsley-optional, but nice addition!

6 oz. chopped spinach, thawed

1 heaping Tbsp minced garlic

3 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup white wine, or sherry (I love the sherry taste, so mostly do sherry, sometimes I mix in both!)

2 bay leaves

8 shakes- about 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or to your desired spiciness~ we like a little heat, but not too much for this recipe

2 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp milk, mixed with 2 tsp flour-mix well-add toward end of cooking up sauce

2 Tbsp parmesan cheese, from shake bottle, into sauce

Salt, and pepper- to taste

YUMMY!  My family loves to add some spinach to the dish! It's a great addition, but is also great without it!

In the olive oil, sauté garlic and bay leaves, just til garlic is a bit brown~ do not overcook, or garlic becomes bitter!!  In this pic, I'm cooking up a double batch, so have more bay leaves in the pan.

Put all the juices from the cans you 'slaved over' to open, into the pan, but leave clams in the cans, for now.  Add all other spices.  Simmer a few minutes.

Here are your cans of clams waiting to be the 'star' of the dish!  In the sink,  I have whole clams I have rinsed well, and checked to be sure all clams are alive, and discard any that look like they are not. They will close if alive, stay open when you tap them, if not.

Add thawed spinach, butter, and milk mixed with the flour, stir well.

Add the whole clams in their shells, and cook for 5-10 minutes on medium, until they open~ NOW, we want them open.  If any do not, throw them away.  After that, turn down heat to simmer again, and you can put in the parmesan cheese, and the cans of clams!  Let them warm, by cooking them a few minutes. Check for saltiness.  Adjust as needed.

Mix sauce with the AL DENTE linguine you cooked up following package directions!  Put into a serving bowl! * TIP OF THE CENTURY for cooking up linguine, that is infamous for sticking together~ before you put it in the boiling water, spray the noodles, all over, with PAM cooking spray! You can thank me, later!! ;) 

We make this recipe so often, it has it's own special bowl! :) Serve immediately so it's nice and hot!! 

2 of my boys getting ready to dig in!  One being very patient, hanging out by the microwave, thinking me amusing, taking all these pictures! :)  Don't forget to serve this with parmesan cheese to sprinkle over the top!! YUM!!  ENJOY!!