Cooking Method: Simmering
Lamb Chili
My father has been going through some major health issues and needs to eat more. We were out at a restaurant and he ordered Lamb Chili, which he absolutely loved. I decided to make him a big pot of it and have included two methods - stovetop and Instant Pot. This was definitely a labor of love given that I really hate lamb!
By - Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Nonna’s Farfalle alla Frank Sinatra
In the March issue of LA CUCCINA ITALIANA there was a feature of recipes that were inspired by the grandmother's of the staff. This recipe for Farfalle alla Frank Sinatra belongs to the mother-in-law of one of the food stylists. There is no explanation about why Frank Sinatra is involved! Anyway, I was intrigued by the technique of stewing green onions, which is a revelation. I will definitely be doing that again.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
White Beans and Sausage with Sage
This recipe for White Beans and Sausage with Sage is adapted from The Silver Spoon, which is a cookbook that was first published in 1950 and revised over time, Italy's bestselling culinary "bible", and has been translated into English. The book has over 2,000 recipes and I consider it the "Joy of Cooking" for Italian cooking.
- Yields: 4 Servings
New Mexico Red Chile Sauce (Chile Colorado)
My friend Jessica sent me dried red Hatch chiles from The Hatch Chile Store. Her favorite red chile sauce recipe is from The Sunset Cookbook. Lightly toasting the dried chile peppers in a hot pan for a few minutes loosens the oils in the skins, which adds more flavor. You can use this sauce for enchiladas, soups, stews or as a condiment. It's so good and definitely worth the extra effort. The sauce can be frozen.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 1 hrs
- Yields: Makes 1½ cups
Orange Ginger Rice
Living in Southern California, we are lucky to have a plethora of citrus trees. I am always trying to figure out how to use the oranges on our tree. This Orange Ginger Rice is so good. It's cooked with shallots, orange juice & zest, ginger, golden raisins and has loads of flavor.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Chicken Pot Pie Soup for a Crowd
Over the years in my catering life, I have done many crazy events. Last weekend, I was hired to serve lunch for 35 people outside at a Springer / Cocker Field Trial event about an hour and a half north of Pasadena (north of Lake Arrowhead). I served chili on Saturday (the obvious choice) and on Sunday, this Chicken Pot Pie Soup topped with a buttermilk biscuit. It had to be something I could heat up on a camping stove. The night before I had a panic attack (common before catering!) and realized it was going to be very windy. Because I could not find a "wind guard" for my stove, my extremely handy husband, made one out of sheet metal and insisted on painting it to look nice (not necessary!). Anyway, the soup was a big hit. After all that, I made dinner for 6 on Sunday for my friend/client. I am a bit too old of all of this, given that I have a VERY scary birthday coming up soon. I spent all of yesterday recovering from the whirlwind of a weekend. I also have a 4 - 6 serving recipe for Chicken Pot Pie Soup.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Yields: 18 Servings
Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter
My friends Jennifer and Heather reminded me of Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter recipe. It’s one of the simplest, sweetest most delicious tomato sauces. It takes only 5 minutes to prep and then simmers on the stovetop. She recommends using it on gnocchi, spaghetti, penne or rigatoni.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 55 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Risotto with Beef, Rosemary, Sage and Barolo Wine, Alba Style
Marcella Hazan's cookbooks are wonderful and are credited with introducing the traditional techniques of Italian Cooking to the US and the UK. I stumbled upon this recipe for Risotto with Beef, Rosemary, Sage and Barolo Wine, Alba Style. I love risotto and have made it over the years using the traditional endless stirring technique, the oven method, and actually in an Instant Pot. If you want to hang out in the kitchen while drinking wine and do it the traditional way (that is, when my husband does the stirring!), it can be quite cathartic. Typically, I make mushroom or butternut squash, but this risotto has a small amount of ground beef. It's really delicious. The red wine/beef combination marries surprisingly well with the creamy Arborio rice. The sage and rosemary really deliver on the flavor front and take the whole thing to a new level. Alba in Italy is known around the world for its Barolo and Barbaresco wines and is situated in the northern Piedmont region.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hrs
- Yields: 6 Servings
Chicken with Apricot-Chipotle Glaze
This Chicken with Apricot-Chipotle Glaze is smoky, sticky, sweet and spicy. What more could you ask for?! And, it's it all done in one pan. Serve this on a bed of rice and BAM, you're done!
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
