My sister-in-law Barbara Smith inspired me when she made a version of this dish, and I reworked it for the Ronzoni Firefighters Pasta Cook-Off in 2002. I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the winners. As a result, it became one of three pasta recipes served to the runners at the Ronzoni Pasta Party held at Tavern on the Green the night before the New York City Marathon. In addition to that honor, Ronzoni donated $10,000 to the Burn Center at Cornell Medical Center and
