Pasta with Broccoli Rabe, Bacon, Bread Crumbs, & Manchego
Pasta with Broccoli Rabe, Bacon, Bread Crumbs, & Manchego a taste of Italy! Pasta di Gragnano is imported from Gragnano, Italy, which is a small town south of Naples that's reputed to be the birthplace of dried pasta. This is where Pasta di Gragnano produces this unique line of bronze-died pasta made with local wheat. The name itself implies a location and style of production, much the same way that a DOC wine appellation does. To be called pasta di Gragnano, the pasta must be produced in a legally defined area in and around the Bay of Naples and it must be made by mixing durum wheat with the calcium poor water of the Monti Lattari. The dough is forced through rough bronze forms and dried at low temperatures in the mountain air. The result is a high quality product with plenty of surface area to absorb the flavor and liquid of the sauce with which it is served.
By - Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Asparagus Gratinato with Grana Padano
Asparagus Gratinato with Grana Padano is delicious and easy to roast. Grana Padano is one of the most popular cheeses of Italy. The name comes from the noun grana, which refers to the distinctively grainy texture of the cheese. Though similar to Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano is inexpensive because areas producing the cheese are bigger. Grana is less crumbly, milder and less complex than Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Chicken Chasseur (Hunter’s Style Chicken)
This chicken casserole is perfect for Sunday night dinner. It is prepared with tomatoes, mushrooms and herbs and served on a creamy bed of Parmesan Polenta.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 30 mins
- Yields: 4 - 6 Servings
Baked French Fries
Who doesn't love French Fries? I found a French fry cutter tool in my mother-in-law's cupboard. She claims she had never seen it before. It screamed MAKE FRENCH FRIES NOW to me! Of course, I did just that. You can add endless kinds of salts, seasonings, Parmesan cheese to this recipe.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
Pork Chile Verde
The tomatillo is a plant of the nightshade family, related to the Cape gooseberry, bearing small, spherical and green or green-purple fruit of the same name. Tomatillos originated in Mexico, and are a staple of that country's cuisine. The fruit is surrounded by an inedible, paper-like husk.
- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 3 hrs
- Yields: 4 - 6 Servings
Apple Loaf
When it's apple season make this Apple Loaf. I made this apple loaf in 3 mini loaves instead, if you do this make sure to check it periodically. I also used some Trader Joe's Cinnamon Sugar on the top before baking. What I like about this loaf is that it is not too sweet.
- Prep: 1 hr
- Cook: 1 hr
- Yields: Makes 1 Loaf or 3 mini loaves
Cheesy Bacon & Eggs Cups
Wakey, wakey eggs and bakey! These Cheesy Bacon & Eggs Cups have all the elements of a perfect breakfast!
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 1 Serving
Chilled Broccoli & Snap Peas with Creamy Tarragon Dressing
Chilled Broccoli & Snap Peas with Creamy Tarragon Dressing is sucn nice and refreshing salad for your summer BBQ or picnic.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Long Lake Lentil Salad
This recipe comes from my friend Jacki. She calls it Long Lake Salad. Du Puy lentils or French green lentils were originally grown in the volcanic soils of Puy in France, but now they're also grown in North America and Italy. They're especially good in salads since they remain firm after cooking and have a rich flavor. They cook a bit slower than other lentils. I used golden raisins and dried apricots instead of currants and added goat cheese and toasted walnuts.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Chocolate Tart
I love the movie Haute Cuisine about Danièle Mazet-Delpeuch who worked in the Élysée Palace as the private chef to French President Francois Mitterrand. Mitterand wanted a chef from the country in the palace to create the kind of food his grandmother would make. The president wanted something other than haute cuisine. This tart is should be called Chocolate Coffee Tart because the coffee plays and equal part in this tart. If the dough is to crumbly, press it into a shallow tart pan with your hands. This recipe actually made 2 tarts. The photo does not do it justice!
- Prep: 1 hr
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 8 Servings
