Spaghetti w/ clams

[Alto Mare]

O.K. guys, here is a simple but classic dish from our kitchen...it's one of my favorites!
First things first...grab a rake, put on your waders and gather about 4 dozen Little Neck clams (or, just go buy a bag of 50 at your local market)
Soak clams in cold water for a couple of hours and scrub the outside of each
In a saute pan, fry a couple of cloves crushed garlic in @1/4 cup olive oil add a crushed cayene pepper (optional)
Add the clams to the pan along with 1/2 cup dry white wine and cover tightly for @3-4 mins. until the clams open up
Remove clams with a skimmer and set aside
Go outside and pick @2 lbs. fresh tomatoes from your garden (and grab a little fresh italian parsley while you are there). If it's not a good crop this year, just pick these up at the market, too!
Peel and chop the tomatoes. Add them to the pan and saute for @20 mins. on medium heat
Cook spaghetti to your liking (it's very al dente at our house)
While the pasta is cooking, add the clams back to the sauce pan just to heat through @ 2-3 mins.
Strain the pasta well and toss into the saute pan with the clams
Transfer to large pasta bowl, add the fresh parsley and serve immediately (don't forget that opened bottle of white wine to accompany!)
Buon Appetito!

[redsetta]

Yum!

[Dominick]

Sal:  I had gluten free spaghetti tonight with sausage gravy then I saw this thread.  As full as I was I started salivating over your photograph.  Buon appetitto.  Your recipe is right on.  Domenico

[alantani]

this is the dish i tried to impress my wife with the first time we met.  i didn't know she was allergic to seafood!

[wallacewt]

which begs the question
did she eat it!

[alantani]

no, she politely declined, so i had dinner by myself...   

[Dominick]

That should have been her first hint.     Dominick

[TravHale]

That should have been her first hint.     Dominick

[saltydog]

Looks like a great recipie and will soon try.Thanks.