STUFFED CLAMS RECIPES

Steps:

• Saute chopped onions, diced pepper and sliced mushrooms in 1/4 cup butter. Add to chopped clams, and season with salt, pepper and garlic.
• Add the clam mixture to crushed Ritz crackers and 1/4 cup of melted butter until the mixture holds together but is not too greasy.
• Stuff the clam shells with the mixture and bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta, stirring constantly in the beginning to prevent it from sticking together. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. When almost smoking, add shallots and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the clams and wine. Cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until most clams have opened.
• Add 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Whisk in butter to thicken sauce slightly.
• Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water - this will remove the pasta's natural starches. Place pasta into the clam saute pan and mix thoroughly. Check seasoning.
• Pour pasta into large serving bowl. Zest lemon over the dish, being carefull not to zest the white part of the lemon, which is bitter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve immediately.