"Manland" and Pasta with Chorizo, Zucchini and Tomatoes

Let’s talk about shopping with your husband, which “shopping partner” you have and about a genius solution for non-complying shopper husbands. A famous furniture store may be able to help.

So, come on, play along with me. Choose from the following three shopper types:

Type 1. Loves to shops
Type 2. Comes along but doesn’t enjoy it
Type 3. Stays home, and lets you do all the shopping

First, let me give you a little shopping inside on my husband:

Mr. Rockies is a mixture of all 3. He loves to go shopping by himself for outdoor equipment, sporting goods, technical gadgets and books. He even surprised me this summer and showed up in Germany with new clothing that he purchased by himself. You will see him tagging along with me to look into furniture, cars or a new house. Sometimes I join him on his trip to the home improvement store, but that is usually a rare occasion. He seems rather irritated by me messing up his shopping experience there. Frankly, anything that involves a bigger decision and longer commitment to be made by both of us we will also be seen together. Forget grocery or cloth shopping, anything that needs to be bought for the kids, animals or household. He won’t be seen.

Just to be clear, I am not complaining, I love it the way it all works out in my family, because I thoroughly enjoy shopping, no matter what it is for. I wish I could also do the car shopping all by myself, but Mr. Rockies knows me to well. (Hey, later today I would like to go and test drive the new Fiat 500, yes, not the big new BMW. No, not today. How about next weekend?)

So, I read about the perfect solution for any wife or girlfriend that has a very typical Nr. 2 shopping partner, but still needs for him to come.  Drop them of at “Manland”. Yes, you read it correctly, no, not kidland. “Manland” a new concept that is tested right now in one store of the big furniture emporium  in Australia. “Manland’ offers video games, pin ball machines, table soccer, TV sports entertainment and hot dogs. Doesn’t that sound fantastic? You are left to your ultimate shopping experience, while your husband is perfectly taken care off at ‘Manland”. Think about it. Woudn’t that be something? I personally think it is marvelous idea.

I would love to hear your opinion on “Manland” and what shopping partner category your husband falls into! What would you think about “Ladyland” at the home improvement store”? Let me know!

Oh, before I forget. If your husband would choose not to eat the hot dog at “Manland”, surprise (reward) him with a scrumptious dinner like this one. Pasta with chorizo, zucchini and tomatoes. Mr. Rockies LOVED it. He even went back for seconds. That means a lot, since he eats hardly any carbs and dislikes zucchini. Do I need to say more? Go shopping, think about “Manland”, leave me a comment and get in the kitchen to prepare some pasta with chorizo, zucchini and tomatoes for your better half.

Serves 6 to 8.

Ingredients:

*  1 pound (450 g) pasta ,cooked ( Kirsten used rigatoni)

*  1 pound (450 g) organic spicy chorizo
*  1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
*  2 cup zucchinis, quartered and cut in small pieces
*  olive oil
*  salt and pepper
*  1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

*  extra Parmesan for topping

Directions:

Brown chorizo in a larger pan over medium-high heat. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Place zucchini into the pan and fry on medium heat until the edges turn slightly brown. Add the cooked pasta, chorizo, Parmesan and tomatoes. Stir well and cook until the dish is hot. May you need to add a little bit more oil. Season with salt and pepper. You may also add some red pepper flakes for extra spice. Place pasta dish on individual plates and sprinkle with more Parmesan.

Enjoy!

Click here to go to the German news website to get more info on “Manland”.