Makes 18 rolls
Ingredients
18 large outer savoy cabbage leaves, frozen and thawed
(Freezing makes it easier to roll wilted leaves and eliminates the boiling step.)
Stuffing Ingredients
1 lb lean organic ground pork
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 tablespoon Italian pork sausage seasoning or use a combination of fennel and Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ cups cooked orzo, rice or cauliflower rice
Marinara Sauce, recipe below
Spaghetti Squash, recipe below
Directions
Combine the filling ingredients (pork through orzo) in a large mixing bowl.
To assemble the cabbage rolls:
Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Oil a 9×13 inch baking pan.
Place the cabbage leaves on a kitchen towel. Cut about 1-inch of the hard core on the stem off.
Use about 1/3 cup of filling for large leaves and about 1/4 cup for smaller leaves.
Place the filling on the base of each leaf, fold in the sides and roll the leaf up to make a tight packet.
As you complete them, place each roll, seam side down, into the prepared baking dish. Continue until all the filling is used up.
Pour 2 cups of marinara sauce on top of the rolls and spread the sauce to cover all the cabbage rolls. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake the cabbage rolls for 1 ½ hours or until the rolls are tender.
Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 a large onion finely diced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
One 6 oz can tomato paste
6 cups chopped Italian tomatoes
Directions
Heat the oil in a Dutch Oven or large saucepan. Add the onion and seasonings. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion is softened. Add the garlic and tomato paste. Stir and cook one minute. Fill the tomato paste can with water and pour into the sauce ingredients. Add the tomatoes. Stir. Bring to a soft boil, lower the heat, partially cover the pan and let the sauce simmer until thickened, about an hour.
Roasted Spaghetti Squash
The squash can bake in the oven along with the cabbage rolls.
Ingredients
1 medium spaghetti squash, halved and seeds removed
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage leaves
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the squash cut-side-down into an oiled 9×13 inch baking and bake 45 minutes until it is easily pierced with a knife. Don’t overcook the squash. It should be tender but the strands should still have some chew to them so they have the same texture as spaghetti.
When the squash is done, turn the halves so that the cut-side is facing up and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
Run a fork through the flesh to separate the “spaghetti-like” strands. Turn into a serving bowl and toss the strands with olive oil, salt, pepper, sage, and Parmesan cheese.
Serve the cabbage rolls with the spaghetti squash.
This dinner is a good example of how I like to use leftovers to create a few new dinners. The creamed spinach was leftover from my Steakhouse dinner and extra broccoli rabe will be used to make a pasta dish later in the week.
Creamy Stuffed Chicken Breasts
For 2 servings
Ingredients
1 large boneless chicken breast (10-12 oz)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Paprika
Filling
1 cup leftover creamed spinach from the Steakhouse post. See recipe.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the chicken breast on a cutting board and with a sharp knife cut the chicken breast in half lengthwise. Pound the two halves covered in plastic wrap until evenly thin. Sprinkle each with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Spoon the creamed spinach mixture evenly over each chicken breast half. Roll up the breasts carefully so the filling doesn’t ooze out. Secure with toothpicks.
Place them in a baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle the top of each chicken roll with paprika and drizzle with the olive oil. Bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and registers 160 degrees F on a digital meat thermometer.
Sautéed Broccoli Rabe
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 large bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed, tough stalks peeled
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for drizzling
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, cut into 4 to 6 wedges
Parmesan cheese, shredded
Directions
Wash and cut the broccoli rabe into two-inch lengths.
Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large Dutch oven and season it generously with kosher salt.
Cook the broccoli rabe in the boiling water for about 5 minutes, until tender. Drain, and pat dry. Heat the olive oil in the same Dutch Oven over moderately high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and sauté, stirring for 30 seconds. Add the broccoli rabe and sauté, tossing or turning it with tongs, until tender, about 2 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste, and top with shavings of Parmesan cheese. Serve with the lemon wedges alongside.
I recently watched an episode of The Kitchen on the Food Network where they prepared Reverse Seared Ribeye. The technique seemed to make sense so I decided to give it a try.
While this method does take longer to prepare than just grilling the steak, the outcome ensures the meat is cooked to your likeness. The steaks also tasted very good.
Reverse Seared Ribeye Steaks
Ingredients
Two 1 inch thick bone-in ribeye steaks, at room temperature
Coarse sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
Directions
Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F.
Season all sides of the rib-eyes liberally with salt and pepper. Place on a wire rack-lined baking sheet. Bake until the desired internal temperature is reached, 105 degrees F for rare, 115 for medium rare and 125 for medium, 45-60 minutes. When the ribeyes come out of the oven, tent loosely with aluminum foil while preheating the skillet.
Heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil, then sear the steaks on the first side for about a minute. Turn the steaks over and add the butter to the skillet. Once the butter has melted, continue to cook the steaks, continuously basting with the melted butter, until seared on the second side, about 30 seconds. Sear the fat cap on the sides of the steaks 30 seconds more.
Place the steaks on a serving platter and spoon the pan juices over the steaks, Slice the meat and serve.
Creamed Spinach
Save 1 cup of the creamed spinach for stuffed chicken breasts. Recipe next week.
Ingredients
Two 10 ounces frozen spinach
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 ounces cream cheese
4 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Defrost frozen spinach overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave until warmed through, usually about 6-7 minutes.
Heat a saucepan on the stove to medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the spinach and let some of the water evaporate. Season the spinach with salt and pepper to taste and mix together.
Add cream cheese and stir together until cream cheese is melted.
Add sour cream and mix together. Turn the heat to low. Add the parmesan cheese and stir until the creamed spinach thickens. Serve immediately.
Homemade Onion Rings
Cornflakes and a hot sheet pan are the secrets to the crispness of these onion rings.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cornflakes
1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 medium sweet onion, such as Vidalia, sliced crosswise and broken into rings (discard small center rings)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
In a food processor, pulse the cornflakes and breadcrumbs until fine crumbs form, then transfer to a medium bowl.
In another medium bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk, flour, and cayenne. Season with salt and pepper.
Dip onion rings in egg mixture (letting excess drip off) and dredge in cornflake mixture; place on a large plate.
Pour oil onto a rimmed baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven and heat 2 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and tilt to coat evenly with oil.
Arrange onion rings on the baking sheet. Bake, turning once until onion rings are golden brown, about 16 minutes. Season with salt.
Sautéed Mushroom Caps With Herbs
Servings: 2 as a side dish
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 lb cremini mushroom
1 clove garlic grated
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
Directions
Remove the mushroom stems and save for another use. In a skillet over medium heat, add butter and oil. Once the oil is hot, add mushrooms in a single layer, cut-side-down. Sprinkle with garlic, salt, and pepper. Saute until bottoms are browned (4-5 min), then turn them over and cook until browned on the second side.
Add the lemon juice and herbs. Stir mushrooms and cook another 1 minute. Remove from heat and serve.
Serve with Focaccia Bread and a Winter Salad. Recipes below.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
2 cups seafood stock or clam juice
1 teaspoon seafood (Old Bay) seasoning
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (chili)
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 lb firm boneless fish fillets (such as halibut, cod, red snapper, sea bass, grouper), cut into small cubes
8 oz medium shrimp, shelled, deveined, tails removed and cut in half
8 oz sea scallops, halved
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley, plus extra for garnish
Directions
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the onion, celery, carrot and bell pepper. Cook until the vegetables are tender, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir into the vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook the vegetables until tender. Remove the cover and the salt, pepper, chili flakes, seafood seasoning, thyme, and tomatoes. Sir well.
Add the fish cubes, Cook stirring the mixture gently for 2 minutes. Add the shrimp and scallops and cook for 2 minutes more or until the seafood is cooked. Add the cream, parsley, and remaining tablespoon butter, heating gently until the butter is incorporated. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve in large individual pasta bowls.
Winter Salad
Radishes are in season where I live and this week they came in jumbo sizes.
Ingredients
Dressing
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salad
4 cups arugula, washed well and dried
4 jumbo radishes or 8 small radishes (8 ounces), sliced thin
Directions
In a medium salad bowl, whisk together mustard and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Whisk in oil. (To store, refrigerate, up to 1 day.) Add arugula and radishes to bowl, and toss to coat. Serve salad immediately.
Easy Focaccia
Ingredients
1 pound pizza dough
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse sea salt and black pepper, for sprinkling
1 garlic clove minced
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the pizza dough into a rectangle or oval on a sheet of parchment paper. Place the dough and the parchment on a baking sheet.
Using a pastry brush, cover the top of the dough with olive oil. Sprinkle the dough with coarse sea salt and pepper. Sprinkle the dough with the garlic and rosemary. Bake the focaccia until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cut into slices and serve.
Entertaining at lunchtime can be relaxing and informal for the host. If you have friends that are on special diets, a lunchtime menu can be an easy way to meet their needs and guests, not on a special diet will be happy with your menu, Here are two recipes that work well for everyone.
Bacon Swiss Quiche (Gluten-Free and Low Carb)
Press in the Pie Pan Crust
1 ½ cups almond flour
1 teaspoon sweetener (sugar substitute such as monk fruit)
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup butter, melted
Filling
5 slices bacon
2 scallions, finely chopped
6 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese, divided
Directions
For the pie crust:
In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, sweetener, and salt. Stir in melted butter until dough comes together and resembles coarse crumbs.
Turn out into a glass or ceramic 9-inch pie plate. Press firmly with fingers into the bottom and up the side of the pie pan. Use a flat-bottomed glass or measuring cup to even out the bottom.
To prebake the unfilled crust:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. and bake the crust 10 minutes. Cool slightly before filling.
To prepare the filling:
Turn the oven up to 375 degrees F.
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy and remove to a paper towel to drain. Break into small pieces.
Drain all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the skillet. Add the chopped scallions to the skillet and cook until softened about 2 minutes.
Beat the eggs and cream together in a large measuring cup or a bowl.
Place 1 cup of the shredded cheese on the prebaked pie crust. Top with the crumbled bacon and cooked scallions. Place the pie dish on a baking sheet.
Add the egg mixture and top with the remaining shredded cheese.
Place the baking sheet on the middle shelf in the oven and bake the quiche for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 minutes before cutting.
No-Fuss Butternut Squash Soup
6-8 servings
Ingredients
4-12 oz packages frozen pureed butternut squash or 4-15 oz cans organic butternut squash
32 oz container vegetable broth
4 oz container unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream
Herbs for garnish, such as sage
Directions
Put all the ingredients in a Dutch Oven except the cream. Bring to a boil, stir well, lower the heat to a simmer, cover the pot and cook for 30 minutes. Stir in the cream and serve garnished with fresh herbs.
Grilled Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
1 lb chicken tenders
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons Greek seasoning (or use 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme,
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1 teaspoon sea salt and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper.)
1 tablespoon water
Directions
Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Greek seasoning and water in a plastic ziplock bag.
Place the chicken tenders in the bag. Seal the bag and shake to coat the meat really well, Place the bag in the refrigerator to marinate overnight.
Preheat a stovetop grill pan to medium-high heat. You may also use a broiler.
Grill the tenders, turning them every 2-3 minutes until the meat is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Spoon some of the Greek salad onto serving dishes and top each serving with some of the grilled chicken tenders.
Greek Salad
Serve with warmed pita bread.
Dressing
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon sugar or sugar substitute
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon lemon juice
Salad
4 cups torn romaine lettuce
1 small bell pepper, diced
1/4 of a red onion, sliced
Half English cucumber, sliced
1 medium tomato, diced
12 kalamata olives,
4 pepperoncini peppers
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
Pour all the dressing ingredients into a large jar and shake well.
Place the jar in the refrigerator for a few hours to blend the flavors.
Combine the Greek salad ingredients in a large serving bowl. Pour half of the dressing over the salad and toss. Add more dressing if desired.
Oven Roasted Baby Back Ribs
Serve with a salad or your favorite green vegetable.
6 servings
Ingredients
1 cup homemade BBQ sauce, recipe below
2 slabs baby back ribs
Rub
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
4 tablespoon brown sugar or brown sugar substitute
Directions
Combine the rub ingredients in a small dish.
Prepare the ribs by removing the silver skin or scoring it between the bones on the underside of the ribs.
Place the ribs in a baking dish and coat the sides of the ribs with the rub.
Allow the ribs to sit for at least 30 minutes or cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
Roast the ribs, meat side up, covered, in the oven for 3 hours.
Remove the ribs from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Slather the tops of the ribs with the BBQ sauce..
Return the ribs, uncovered, to the oven and roast for an additional 45 minutes.
Barbecue Baked Black Soybeans
Why I like using black soybeans:
Black soybeans are great substitutes for higher-carb beans, such as black, navy, and pinto beans. They don’t taste as soybean-like as the yellow ones do, but rather more like regular black beans. You can substitute them in dishes that call for black beans, such as baked beans, refried beans, bean soup, chili, and 4-Bean Salad.
Nutritionally, black soybeans are free of fat and a good source of protein. They are low in net carbohydrates (the number of carbohydrates per serving minus the grams of fiber) and high in protein, fiber, vitamin K, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and riboflavin. Half a cup of canned black soybeans has 1 gram net carbs plus 7 grams of fiber (8 grams of total carbohydrate), 11 grams of protein, and 120 calories.
The black variety is higher in some phytonutrients, including antioxidants. The only distinction between white and black soybeans is the color of the hull so any nutritional difference will be found in the black outer shell. Similar to blueberries and raspberries, the dark exterior of the black soybean contains antioxidants that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules.
Cooking Black Soybeans
Ingredients
2 cups dried black soybeans
2 teaspoons salt, divided
Water
1 small onion, halved
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
Because of their delicate skin and silken texture, black soybeans need to be cooked a bit differently than regular beans. To avoid their getting mushy, it is best to soak overnight and cook the dried beans in salted water. You will use the same water measurements called for in recipes using regular beans, but you will add salt to the soaking and cooking water. For two cups of dry black soybeans, soak overnight in 8 cups of water with 1 teaspoon of salt.
The next day, drain the beans and place in a large saucepan. Add six cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, the oil, garlic, and onion. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, partially cover the pan and cook the beans until tender about 2 hours.
For the Baked Beans
Ingredients
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups homemade BBQ sauce, recipe below
4 cups cooked black soybeans or canned, rinsed and drained
2 slices of cooked bacon
Directions
Sauté the finely chopped onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add beans and 1 cup of the barbecue sauce. Pour into a baking dish. Top with the bacon. Bake the beans in a 300 degree F oven for 2 hours.
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
4 cups low sugar ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar or brown sugar substitute
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon chipotle adobo sauce
1 small yellow onion, minced
1 large garlic clove, grated
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for about an hour.
Cooking and Serving Tips
If you’d like your sauce on the spicier side, increase the adobo sauce by 1/2 teaspoon increments.
Make sure to stir frequently, about once every 15 minutes, while the BBQ sauce is cooking. This will help better incorporate the flavors and ensure that the sauce is evenly cooked throughout.
Let the sauce cool before transferring to a storage container. A mason jar is a good option. Whatever you use, make sure it’s airtight. You can store your sauce in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for several months.
“Alla Puttanesca” literally means “in the style of a whore” in Italian. The name famously refers to prostitutes, with stories (most of them debunked by historians) attributing the connection to the fact that the dish was quick to make between clients, or so aromatic it helped prostitutes attract them.
However, it is an Italian sauce usually served over pasta that was invented in Naples. Its ingredients typically include tomatoes, olive oil, anchovies, olives, capers, and garlic. Various accounts exist as to when and how the dish originated, but it likely dates to the mid-twentieth century. The earliest known mention of it is in Raffaele La Capria’s, Ferito a Morte (Mortal Wound), a 1961 Italian novel which mentions “spaghetti alla puttanesca come li fanno a Siracusa” (spaghetti alla puttanesca as they make it in Syracuse). The sauce became popular in the 1960s, according to the Professional Union of Italian Pasta Makers.
The 1971 edition of the Cucchiaio d’argento (The Silver Spoon), one of Italy’s most prominent cookbooks, has no recipe with this name, but two which are similar: The Neapolitan spaghetti alla partenopea, is made with anchovies and generous quantities of oregano; while spaghetti alla siciliana adds green peppers. Still again there is a Sicilian style dish popular around Palermo that includes olives, anchovies, and raisins.
In a 2005 article from Il Golfo—a daily newspaper serving the Italian islands of Ischia and Procida—Annarita Cuomo wrote that sugo alla puttanesca was invented in the 1950s by Sandro Petti, co-owner of Rancio Fellone, a famous restaurant and nightspot. According to Cuomo, Petti’s moment of inspiration came when—near closing one evening—he found a group of customers sitting at one of his tables. He was low on ingredients and so told them he didn’t have enough to make them a meal. They complained that it was late and they were hungry. “Facci una puttanata qualsiasi,” or “throw together whatever,” they insisted. Petti had nothing more than four tomatoes, two olives and some capers—the basic ingredients for the sugo, “So I used them to make the sauce for the spaghetti,” Petti told Cuomo. Later, Petti included this dish on his menu as spaghetti alla puttanesca.
Basic recipe
The sauce alone is called sugo alla puttanesca in Italian. Recipes may differ according to preferences; for instance, the Neapolitan version is prepared without anchovies, unlike the version popular in Lazio, where spices are added with the anchovies. In most cases, however, the sugo is a little salty (from the capers, olives, and anchovies) and quite fragrant (from the garlic). Traditionally, the sauce is served with spaghetti, although it is also paired with penne, bucatini, linguine and vermicelli.
Chopped garlic and anchovies are sautéed in olive oil. Chopped chili peppers, olives, capers, diced tomatoes and oregano are added along with salt and black pepper to taste. The sauce is reduced by simmering and is poured it over spaghetti and topped with chopped parsley.
Whatever its Italian origins, Americans have made it a popular sauce. Besides pasta, the sauce can be served over fish, beans or meat. I like it served over pork chops. Here is my version.
Puttanesca Pork Chops
2 servings
Ingredients
2 boneless pork loin chops, each about ¾ inch thick
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 anchovy fillets, minced, or 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste
2 cups cherry or plum tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup pitted black olives
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
1/4 cup dry white wine
! tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add the pork. Cook, turning once until browned and an instant-read thermometer registers 140°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
Add the wine and cook for one minute. Add the garlic and anchovies (or anchovy paste) to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, olives, capers, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and simmer until the tomatoes break down and the sauce is thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Return the pork and any juices to the pan, turning to coat with the sauce. Top the pork with the chopped oregano and parsley. Serve with cooked pasta.
Pappardelle Pasta with Butter and Parmesan Cheese
2 servings
Ingredients
4 oz pappardelle pasta
Salt
Sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
1 garlic clove, minced
Freshly cracked black pepper
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente and drain. In the same pot add the butter and garlic and cook on low heat just until the butter melts. Add the pasta, cheese, and black pepper, toss and serve with the pork.
Oven Roasted Broccoli Florets
Ingredients
12 oz bag of fresh broccoli florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Oil a baking dish.
Place the broccoli in the prepared baking dish and drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with the lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Toss well and roast for 15 -20 minutes in the preheated oven until crisp-tender and the edges are starting to brown, tossing occasionally.
Scallops In Garlic Sauce
Serve this dish over rice or make my Cauliflower “risotto”. It is delicious.
Servings: 2
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 oz or 12 large sea scallops
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
4 large garlic cloves, minced
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Directions
If the scallops are frozen, thaw in cold water. Remove the side muscle from the scallops if attached. Thoroughly dry the scallops with paper towels.
Heat olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat until hot and sizzling. Add the scallops in a single layer.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and fry for 2-3 minutes on one side (until a golden crust forms), then turn the scallops over and fry again for 2 minutes until crisp, lightly browned and cooked through (opaque). Remove the scallops from the skillet and transfer to a plate.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same pan, scraping up any browned bits left over from the scallops. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Add the cream and allow to simmer until slightly thickened. Remove the pan from the heat; stir in the lemon juice and add the scallops back into the pan to warm through slightly. Garnish with parsley. Serve over the cauliflower risotto.
Cauliflower “Risotto”
Servings 4
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
1/4 cup dry white wine
3 cups cauliflower rice (if using frozen, defrost and drain well)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Directions
Heat a sauté pan and then add the butter, garlic, and shallots. Cook until the shallots are tender.
Add in the cauliflower rice. Stir to coat in the butter. Pour in the wine and bring to a simmer.
Next, add in the Parmesan cheese, mix once more and then cover and cook for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
Asparagus Wrapped in Bacon
For each serving, you will need
4 asparagus spears
1 slice of bacon
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425º F.
Wrap 3-4 stalks with a piece of bacon. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet and repeat until all asparagus stalks have been wrapped with bacon pieces.
Brush the bundles with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
Bake until asparagus is cooked through and bacon is done in about 20 minutes. Turn the bundles over halfway through cooking. Remove from the oven and serve.
This is a classic Italian American dish, but it’s also a dish that is eaten in Italy, especially in the summer. Spaghetti alle vongole (pronounced [spaˈɡetti alle ˈvoŋɡole]), Italian for spaghetti with clams, is a dish that is very popular throughout Italy, especially in Campania (where it is part of the traditional Neapolitan cuisine).
Italians usually prepare this dish two ways: in Bianco, i.e., with oil, garlic, parsley, and sometimes a splash of white wine; and in Rosso, like the Bianco but with tomatoes and fresh basil, the addition of tomatoes being more frequent in the south. Traditionally, the clams in their shells are cooked quickly in hot olive oil to which plenty of garlic has been added. The live clams open during cooking, releasing a liquid that adds flavor to the dish. The clams are then added to the al dente cooked pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or vermicelli), along with salt, black pepper (or red pepper), and a handful of finely chopped parsley.
In the Liguria region of Italy, east of Genoa, Spaghetti alle vongole (veraci) means spaghetti with tiny baby clams in the shell, no more than the size of a thumbnail, with a white wine/garlic sauce. Linguine also may be used for the pasta in preference to spaghetti.
Italian-American recipes sometimes use cream in this dish, but in its area of origin, this would be considered a big “no no”. In America cheese is sometimes added to this dish, although Italians believe it overpowers the simple flavors of the clams and of good quality olive oil.
My version is simple and allows the flavor of the clams to be the star. My fish market sells the fresh clams shucked and I usually buy these on the day I am going to make this dish. Much easier to eat if you don’t have to deal with the shells. Just a matter of preference, though.
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup white wine
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry oregano
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pint of shucked clams with their liquid or 3 dozen littleneck clams
8 cups hot cooked linguine or spaghetti (about 1 pound uncooked pasta)
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook al dente. Drain.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in clams with their juice and all the remaining ingredients except for the pasta. Cook just until the mixture is hot, about 2-3 minutes
If using clams in the shell – Cover and cook 10 minutes or until the clams open.
Place pasta in a large serving bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil; toss well to coat. Add clam mixture to the pasta; toss well. Serve with a green salad and Italian bread.
