Alan Alda
I’ve never seen our legal analyst Arthur Aidala so excited. It’s 8:15am and Arthur is supposed to be headed to work but he refuses to leave our greenroom. His favorite Italian-American Alan Alda is here and Arthur has him cornered.
As I write, they’re bonding about their recent trips to Italy. Who knew Alan’s real name is Alfonso d’Abruzzo??? Does it getting any more Italian?? He told us his father changed the family name when he got to America by taking the first two letters of his first and last names and “Alda” was born. Capiche?
(Keep reading more below to get his recipe!)
Here’s Alan’s favorite Italian dish — and it’s an interesting one. You don’t boil the pasta! It’s a recipe from Naples circa 1840. He says it was the city’s first use of tomatoes. Take a Corningware and put in a pound of raw rigatoni, over that pour in a 1/2 cup to 3/4’s of a cup of good quality olive oil and coat the rigatoni, dump in large can of crushed tomatoes (preferably from Naples), add salt and pepper, cover with foil and pop in oven, bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes and stir often, every five to seven minutes. Sprinkle some grated Parmigiana cheese over it “and you’re good to go.” Mangia!
That sounds like a good recipe to try once all the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone. We will want something very different from the turkey, stuffing, etc….
I hope this is as good as the tomato sauce and meatball recipes are. I tried both and they were a hit. Both also froze well and made another good (and very quick and easy) meal several days later.
I hope all the F&F people and fans have a fun and safe Thanksgiving!
I know you, Alisyn, will have much to be Thankful for this year with the new addition to your home. So will Nate be carving the turkey? LOL
My wife was very excited about Alan Alda’s pasta recipe. When I printed it out, I’m looking at “Take a Corningware and put in a pound of Rigatoni” My question is Take a Corningware what…. bowl, dish, baking pan, broiling pan, Help!
Hi Robert, I just type it as I hears it. I give all the detail that Alan Alda (or Frankie Valli) give me with their recipes (Italian cooks don’t get too bogged down in specifics — it’s more by instinct). So, I’d say you’ll have to experiment with different sizes.
Where’s the beef?
I don’t know, Clara Peller.
good morning–i am gonna try that alan alda recipe this eve. with some slow baked chicken–thank you +could i please have the address for books for soldiers i could not locate it on the sight the show +after the show show make my mornings thanks
Hey Allison,
I just found the blog and absolutely love it. My hubby and I just love watching you guys in the morning when we are getting ready for work and the kids ready for school. Our poor kids don’t know there is any other news network. Loved the segment w/ Alan Alda and can’t wait to try his recipe. You need to frame that pic of you and him.
Blessings,
Becky
i’ve never seen you with such a glow delivering the headlines… you should run out to the set every morning
We’re definitely going to try this recipe!! Thanks, Alfonso!
Alisyn…I love the blog! Keep it up.. And, we never miss you guys in the morning… love the show!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!
I can not wait to try this recipe. I love Italian food. It was good seeing Mr. Alda. I have always thought he was and is the funniest man around. Every time I saw him smile or laugh on Tv there was always a twinkle in his eyes and I noticed on your show it is still there. My family enjoyed watching Mash from the very first show to the last and still watch the reruns. I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Also I just wanted to add that my husband and I and my mother, who lives with me enjoys watching you guys every day.
God Bless You
Lynn
Several weeks ago, you interviewed two moms of F&F’s about a “how to” book for pre-teen and teen girls. I would like to buy this for my granddaughter, but don’t know the name of the book, nor the authors. Can you please help?
Ooooh Alan Alda has won my heart again. I expected a long list of ingredients and hours of cooking. What a pleasant surprise. A simple recipe with basic ingredients that are always in my pantry. Time tested recipes are always good. I’m not Italian but can’t seem to get enough of tomatoes and pasta. Thanks Mr. Alda for the recipe. And thanks to F&F for great mornings.
I plan to try Alan’s pasta recipe. How about passing on the tomato sauce and meatball recipe that Mike Malone commented about. I missed that one somehow. Thanks.
Hey Pat,
I think you can still find those on this blog under Frankie Valli’s Shares his Secret and Rocco DiSpirito. I’ll check…
UPDATE: The computer whiz’s tell me they’ve just added a category called “Recipes” so you can find them easily.
I was not able to write down the info on books for soldiers. Where is it om your website.
Happy thanksgiving. Liked the pasta recipe.
JH
I’m with Pat Bennett and Mike Malone on the tom sauce and meatball recipe We ‘non-italian’ friends need all the help we can get……although Coleman Beef has a killer meatloaf recipe, that translates well into meatballs - my son loves them Thanx
I love F&F, especially that brown haired one.
I’d heard that Alan was a left wing socialist. What’s the scoop?
What a gorgeous picture of you and Alan Alda, Alisyn. I must tell you how I enjoy Fox and Friends. You all seem to love one another and have a wonderful time together. What a great way to start the day. And I love the way you dress! So simple and elegant. Happy Thanks giving to you all!
Thanks for posting Alan’s special spaghetti recipe, Alisyn.
From now on it’ll be called, “A.M.’s Ricetta Speciale Degli Spaghetti”
We laughed out loud when you were late for the news update!
Keep up the great work..We love it!
Alisyn,
I can’t believe it! I go back to North Carolina for a couple of weeks and I miss Alan Alda and Arthur chatting like two ladies over lunch. And what does it say that when the invitation is for dancing with you and Deborah Norville, Arthur has to get to the office, but when it’s sharing recipes with Alan Alda he’s got all the time in the world? Hmmmm, I’m going to have to think about that one.
Great job as always. See you in a couple of weeks.
Hey! Arthur clearly needs you to give him guidance. And to get him to the office in a timely fashion.
Hey Mombo’ you dont have be Itailiano’ !!
I will be thinking of you all when I break bread this Thanksgiving I am so very Thankfull for my Family and my (Fox)Friends. Alisyn thank you for being such a Blessing for bringing such joy in my life as well as the many Friends @ Fox.
Thank you Mr. Alda you solved my “what’s for dinner” problem tonight I just love the fast boom ba done everyboby Mangia!
OH my, what WINE??
BFF of ASS (lol)
Best Fox Friend of After the Show Show
Hey T — Hapy Thanksgiving to you too!
I just tried Alda’s pasta. It’s delicious, I’ll make it all the time
Greetings from the heartland. Pasta and tomatoes…it’s gotta be good. Thanks to you and the crew for the smiles each morning. The dogs and I tune in at 5am every morning. Tell SD we’re keeping an eye on things here in Kansas. RP
I will try to look for Naples crushed tomatoes in rural Texas, but I am not holding out for them. I did once try to do a very slow cook of tomatoes on top of a cheap cut of steak, it was tasty! Who knew Arthur was such a smoozer! Thanks Alyson!
Hey Kathy,
I’m sure good ole’ Texas tomatoes will do.
HEY ALsyn!!You are number!! You go girl.
My husband & I watch Fox/friends every single morning. Its addicting.Love your show.You should be in with Steve & Bryan.You are more outgoing!!! Alot of fun.We always get a good laugh.
Got the recipeOf ALAN ALDA’s, I am going to tryit. Looks really delicious & fast!!! We are I talian eaters. THANKS Mr.Alda!!!!
Excited to try it, Solved my dinner problem.
You can tell Alan Alda thankyou for his recipe & every night we watch the old reruns. They are great!!! Love it. We do NOT MISS!!!He is a cool Movie star & actor1!! YOu keep up the good work & talent you have!! We don’t miss your shows either.We are addicted to The FOX NETWORK!!!
Hope one day we see you with Brian & steve permantly.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!
You guys got a regular lovefest going on in that greenroom! I love FNF and have watched faithfully for 5 years, but never thought much about the greenroom. I think you guys have gone a step or 2 ahead of everyone else in producing more than news, because when the chips are down, you deliver like the pros the four of you are! Keep it up!
Hi, Alisyn.
I *really* enjoy watching you, Brian and Steve in the morning. (And when I say ‘morning,’ I mean…hello!!!… 3a.m. Pacific time! Ugh.
) I love the informality and the kidding around. Also, you all always seem so wide awake and well-rested. How do you do it? Haha. 
By the way, I think those of us who are geographically fated to watch at 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. should receive an award of some kind, don’t you? Not sure what that might be, but thought I’d at least mention it.
Alan Alda’s recipe sounds especially appealing because it eliminates the step of having to boil the pasta in advance. Its one drawback, however, is having to drag that heavy dish out of the oven and stir every five minutes. But I guess I’d rather stir than boil. Can’t wait to try it. Yum!
Hope you all stay cool, fun, and *don’t* get over-inflated egos from all this positive response, because that would ruin everything.
Also, that Kelly guy who was a Marine? He is SO handsome and smart. Please pass along the compliment. Thanks.
I watch Fox and Friends every morning… I so enjoy the entire program. I get up to start the show over a cup of coffee at 5am CST and please pass on to whom ever it may concern that I along with many of my friends in this area of Destin, Florida, so enjoy the FUN you ALL make the morning show as well as keep your thoughts and commets “Fair and Balanced”!!! I find myself watching the Fox News all the time when I am in the house, right up until I go to bed at night due to the refreshing middle of the road fair comments that do justice to all sides if there is more than one side. There is a reason you ALL are NUMBER ONE!!!
I am going to also try Alan Alda’s recipe… it has got to be good!
Thanks,
Priscilla
PS…I watch weekends too!
I can’t wait to try this recipe!! THANKS ALAN!!
I’m a 30 year old and AVID fan of Alan Alda! Loved the pictures of him, knowing his real name, and now having a “Hawkeye” recipe that sounds magnifico! Thanks!
I loved the segment with Alan Alda, he is a classic. I have always gotten a a good laugh or even a great smile from watching him in MASH, I have the entire dvd collection as well. I remember watching MASH back when, lol. I am an American who lives here in Australia, I still watch MASH, and my teenagers love the show as well. He was also very good in The West Wing too. He looked great on the show with all of you, and what a stinker he is, lol. God love him. I will have see if I can purchase his book over here in Australia.
i’m pretty sure he was president in a major hollywood film.
Nice to see him doing so well! He shares my birthday - the day and month, not the year.
Thank you so much for sharing Alan Alda’s recipe. My ancestors are also Napolitano; great cooks all (me too); but never heard of anything like that. What a great pleasure to see him on F&F; which I cannot do without. Some 30 years ago, my husband traveled on the same Sunday night flights as Mr. Alda. Even though I did not like driving him to Newark airport; I did it so that I could see Mr. Alda before they boarded. Talk about loving celebrities………WOW……His Dad was a real heart throb also. Was a little disappointed that he did not mention him this am.
I was honored to have been on your set (before you were there) as a guest of Steve’s; the best guy there is.
I will try the recipe and if you ever want a delicious home made caponato; just let me know.
You are adorable and do a wonderful job. Keep up the good work. Love you guys.
God Bless,
Ro from Manahawkin
Hi Alisyn
We love watching you, Steve and Brian each morning! I’m fond of baked pasta so tried the Alda recipe. Sorry to say I found it rather dry, tasteless and a pain to stir every 7 min. However, these celebrity recipes keep the show fun.
I LOVE my Hawkeye!!!! He is still such a happy cute guy! I am totally making his pasta this weekend!
I had no idea that Alan Alda is Italian. Wow, I learned something new today from Fox and Friends.
Alan Alda is perhaps one of the proverbial American Icons. Gentleman, actor, writer, director and now cook; is there anything this man cannot do?
GREAT PROGRAM AND (OF COURSE) SUPER BLOG.
ALAN ALDA CAN REALLY “MASH” IT UP!!
JERRY P
wishing all on the set of F & F a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving, this is by far one of the best shows to wake up to each and every day and Alisyn you are TOPS and can you tell Brian he has to give it up on the “man bag” thing, …get a brief case.
Great recipe!
Fox & Friends is GREAT! You preside over our breatfast EVERY morning–including weekends. Alan Alda’s recipe for the pasta sounds great and I’ll definitely give it a try as we love pasta dishes. Can you refresh my memory on your recent guest who wrote the book about Saddam Hussein’s interrogater. I did not write down the author nor the book title. Thanks to the whole cast and crew of F&F for the uplifting and delightful delivery of the day’s news.
Becky Cervenka
Jones Creek, Texas
(Keep reading more below to get his recipe!)
I’ve scrolled up and down but dod NOT find Alan Alda’s recipe!
So where did you hide it?
My wife wants it and I’ll be in big trouble if I don’t get it.
Dear Alisyn,
Well it’s the night before Thanksgiving and all thru the night, Monica was a stirring but there’s no dinner in sight 2 hours later Was Alan Alda reffering to fresh pasta ( like homemade ) instead of dry boxed pasta, when he used the word “raw”? I’ve been stirring long enough to make butter, when should I tell my family they’re eating?
Hungry in the Hamptons,
Monica
PS We need room in the oven for the Turkey tomorrow.
Alan Alda’s recipe sounds wonderful. But where’s the garlic??
Alisyn,
My husband I are total fans of fox and friends we watch you guys every morning and I always say to him you can sure tell these people like each other and working together. It is so refreshing for TV to be real. I am so sick of all other news stations and i will say our small town has actually made the news a couple of times on Fox. Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday and have a Blessed Christmas.
I love your Blog.
Y’all are the very best! I ride my bicycle in the mornings (it is setup on an indoor trainer) and watch the news while riding. I’m sixty years old and I’ve never been so impressed as I am with your ability to deliver news, sports, weather with such a professional demeanor. And, you all seem to be so relaxed! Additionally, Y’all LIKE EACH OTHER! Keep up the good work! I’m training for a half iron man triathlon next June so I’m sure I’ll get to see you deliver many more outstanding news reports!
Jim Walker
I enjoyed Alan on Fox & Friends on Nov 20th 2007 he was so nice and very funny i like it when Wayne Rogers called in it was great!
I met Alan on September 24th 2007 he took a picture with me and i got to shake his hand it was great!
From A Big Alan Alda Fan Kirsten