Though cod is not a fish found in the Mediterranean, Italians consume large quantities of it dried (called stoccafisso), and salted (called baccalà). In Venice, baccalà, creamed and spread on bread, is one of the most common and popular appetizers.
Codfish cakes are traditionally made with salt cod, which needs a day or more of soaking to soften and desalinate the fish. For the most part, though, salt cod has gone out of style, at least in North America. It’s too bad since there are so many wonderful Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and French dishes that feature it.
A simple solution is to use a light cure which gives the fish the seasoning it needs. It also helps keep the flesh firm when cooked and gives the cakes a moist texture. See the instructions below.
Sicilian Codfish Cakes
Ingredients
1 lb of cod fillets
1 teaspoon salt
1 lb potatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup Italian seasoned panko bread crumbs
Olive oil, for frying
Directions
Curing the fish
Season cod fillet all over with the salt and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
Boil and mash the potatoes and set them aside.
Rinse the codfish briefly with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
Cooking the cod
Fill a saucepan with water. Add a thyme sprig and a bay leaf and bring to a boil. Carefully slip fish into the water and turn off the heat. Wait 3 minutes and test with a fork; the fish should be just done. Drain fish and let cool, then transfer to a mixing bowl and flake.
Mix the flaked fish, the potatoes, parsley, cheese, garlic, onion, pepper andeggs together well by hand. Form into 4-6 patties and place them on a sheet of waxed paper.
Dredge the patties in panko crumbs, pressing them into the fish cakes. Refrigerate for several hours.
Heat enough oil in a large skillet to cover the bottom of the pan. Fry the fish cakes until brown on the bottom,2-3 minutes and turn the cakes over and fry 2-3 minutes more.
Roasted Butternut Squash Noodles
Ingredients
12 oz pkg. frozen butternut squash spirals, defrosted
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400*.F
Let the noodles drain in a colander and then place them on a kitchen towel. Gently squeeze out some of the water. Toss the noodles with the avocado or olive oil and spread out on a sheet pan in a single layer.
Transfer to the oven, and roast the squash until tender and al dente, about 10 minutes, stirring the noodles halfway through.
Remove the butternut squash noodles from the over and season with salt and pepper.and serve immediately.
Cucumbers in Dilled Sour Cream
2 servings
Ingredients
Half of an English cucumber, sliced into thin rounds
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 whole scallions, chopped
2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
Directions
Place cucumber slices in a colander; sprinkle with salt, tossing to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes, then rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
Combine sour cream, scallions, vinegar, sugar, and dill in a mixing bowl. Add cucumber slices and toss to coat. Let salad stand for at least 5 minutes before serving, or chill for up to one day.
Stuffed Chicken Breasts Over Creamed Spinach
Both the chicken and butternut squash can roast in the oven together.
2 servings
Chicken
2 ounces onion/chive flavored cream cheese spread
1-ounce Italian fontina cheese, cut into 4 sticks
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter
Kitchen twine
Spinach
1 tablespoons butter
1/2 large shallot, minced
2 garlic cloves minced
2 ounces cream cheese cut into pieces
1/4 cup heavy cream
10 oz frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
For the chicken
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Lay the breasts on a cutting board. Using a sharp boning knife, cut a pocket in the thickest part of each breast.
Spread half the filling into each pocket. Tuck the tip of each breast under and secure with one long piece of butcher twine tied into a cross, making sure to seal the pocket hole with the twine. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Refrigerate chicken for 1 hour to firm up.
Place a tablespoon of butter, cut in half on top of each chicken breast.
Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, about 30-40 minutes
For the spinach
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat.
Add the shallot and cook for 3 minutes; add garlic and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the shallot softens.
Stir in cream cheese and cream; cook, stirring, until cream cheese is melted and smooth.
Stir in spinach; add cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Simmer over medium heat until the mixture thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes. Spread half of the creamed spinach on two individual serving plates. Place a cooked chicken breast on top of each portion.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients
1 small butternut squash
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Peel squash with a vegetable peeler. Slice off the ends of the squash, and then cut it in half width-wise. Cut the round bottom piece in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
Carefully cut the squash into spears. Thoroughly blot moisture away with paper towels, and place in a plastic ziplock bag with the salt, pepper, paprika, and oil. Shake well.
Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray, and then place the spears flat on the pan.
Bake in the oven 20 minutes, and then carefully turn the spears over. Continue to bake until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, about 20 minutes longer.
Looking to make more healthy meals that incorporate more vegetables, then here is a great recipe for you to try.
Most firm vegetables can be turned into rice and the technique is ideal for keeping meals lower in calories and carbs and high in nutrition. So for this new take on Scallop Risotto, I adapted the classic recipe by using riced butternut squash instead of rice.
To make it even easier, Green Giant and Alexia sell frozen riced butternut squash. I defrost it first and drain it well. I think that if cooked in the frozen stage too much water is retained, so I don’t follow the directions on the package.
Butternut Squash “Risotto”
2 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 large shallot, finely diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chicken or fish broth
10 oz riced frozen butternut squash, defrosted and drained
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and salt. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally.
Add the squash to the pan and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Then add the broth. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is completely tender and the liquid has evaporated. Add the sage and cheese. Stir well.
Creamy Scallops
2 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
6 large sea scallops
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 large garlic cloves, minced
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons dry white wine or broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Directions
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot and sizzling. Add the scallops in a single layer in the pan.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and fry for 2 minutes on one side, then turn them over and fry again for 2 minutes. Remove the scallops from the skillet and transfer them to a plate.
Melt the butter in the same pan and add in the garlic; cook 1 minute.
Pour in the wine (or broth) and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 2 minutes. Add cream and allow to simmer until slightly thickened.
Remove the skillet from the heat; stir in lemon juice and add the scallops back into the pan to warm through.
Place a serving of the butternut squash risotto on each dinner plate. Top with the scallops and cream sauce. Garnish with parsley.
Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms
4 servings
Ingredients
1 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
4 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Oil a medium baking dish.
Add the green beans, mushrooms and olive oil. Mix well and then season with sea salt, freshly cracked pepper and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Place into the oven and roast for 15 minutes. Stir the vegetables. Continue to roast for 10-15 minutes, until the green beans are just tender. Don’t overcook. Remove the dish from the oven and serve.
One of the fastest developing trends in cooking this year has been the use of spiralized veggies. Regardless of the season or the recipe, the spiralizer has given cooks a way to substitute pasta or carb-heavy noodles with fresh squash, beets, and other root vegetables. Green Giant has launched an entire line of frozen spiralized veggies with four different varieties—zucchini, butternut squash, beets, and carrots without any additives—only the vegetable itself. Supermarkets also sell spiralized vegetables in their produce sections.
I find the frozen variety very useful because they are readily available and unlike the fresh veggies, they don’t spoil quickly. I experimented with these frozen veggies and learned not to follow the package directions for microwaving or boiling. Instead, I defrost the veggies, dry them on a kitchen towel and saute them or add them to a sauce. They turn out great – not at all soggy and they retain a fresh taste. Try the recipe below and you will be surprised.
Butternut Squash Pasta
Ingredients
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 minced garlic cloves
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
¼ cup olive oil
1 cup finely chopped Italian tomatoes
1 vegetable bouillon cube or ¼ teaspoon vegetable bouillon
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Two 12 oz packages frozen butternut squash spirals
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh basil, chopped and parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions
Defrost the frozen butternut squash in a colander early in the day you plan to cook. Transfer the squash to a kitchen towel to dry.
In a saucepan, saute the onion, mushrooms, fresh oregano and garlic in the olive oil. Add tomatoes, bouillon, and stir. Simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in the cream and butternut squash spirals and simmer for a few minutes until the squash and cream are hot.
Top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese and serve with the grilled sausage.
Grilled Italian Sausage
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs. Italian Rope Sausage
Olive oil
Directions
Brush the sausage with olive oil.
Heat the outdoor grill on high and then turn the burners off on one side of the grill or place coals on one side of a charcoal grill.
Lower heat is better and will prevent the meat from drying out. Oil the grill grates.
Keep the entire link whole – don’t cut it up or poke holes in it.
Coil the link over the indirect heat side of the grill and close the grill lid. After 15 minutes turn the sausage link over.
Use tongs to turn the links. Don’t pierce the link’s skin or the juices will flow out and cause the sausage to be dry. Cook for 15 minutes more.
Check with a meat thermometer for 160 degrees F internal temperature to be sure the sausage is cooked all the way through. If not, continue to cook until the temperature is reached.
Note: to cook on a stovetop grill, heat the pan, lower the heat to low and oil the pan. Cook the sausage for about the same time as above or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees.
No-Fuss Butternut Squash Soup
I am not a fan of peeling butternut squash but I do like the vegetable. Very happy to have found it pureed and frozen at my local market. It is a perfect time saver for soup.
6-8 servings
Ingredients
4-12 oz packages frozen pureed 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.
Crab Stuffed Shrimp
2 servings
Ingredients
8 large shrimp (16-20 per pound)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 garlic, minced
2 green onions (scallions) finely chopped
¼ cup finely chopped celery
¼ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 cup fresh crab meat
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Peel and devein the shrimp. Butterfly the shrimp by making a slit along the back side, taking care not to slice all the way through the body. Coat a baking dish with nonstick spray and arrange the shrimp in a single layer.
Melt the butter in a microwave dish and set aside.
Combine the garlic, green onion, celery, bell pepper, herbs and seasoning in a mixing bowl. Carefully fold in the mayonnaise and crab meat.
Spoon even portions of the crab mixture over each of the butterflied shrimp. Using your fingers, gently mold each portion of stuffing around the shrimp. Pour the melted butter evenly over the shrimp.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with lemon juice and serve immediately.
Garlicky Sautéed Greens
2-3 servings
Ingredients
3 cloves garlic, sliced thin
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 cups (packed) stemmed and roughly chopped swiss chard or other greens
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Directions
Heat the garlic and oil in large skillet over medium-low heat until the garlic begins to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Pour the mixture into a small bowl and reserve.
Add the Swiss chard, red pepper flakes, and salt to the empty skillet. Using tongs, turn greens until wilted enough to fit in the pan.
Raise the heat to medium, cover, and cook 7 to 10 minutes, tossing a few times during the cooking process. Transfer the greens to a colander to drain.
Return to them to the pan, turn the heat to low and toss with the reserved garlic and oil mixture.when hot, transfer to a serving bowl.
Pork Schnitzel
2 servings
Ingredients
2 boneless pork chops about 1 lb total
1 egg
1 teaspoon heavy cream
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon honey or sugar substitute
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Cut the pork chops in half horizontally to make 4 cutlets. Place the pork between sheets of plastic and pound until thin.
In a shallow dish, beat the egg and cream together.
Combine the flour, Parmesan, salt, pepper, garlic powder and poultry seasoning in another shallow dish.
Heat the vegetable oil in a nonstick pan.
Dip the meat cutlets first into the egg, then into the breading. Fry the cutlets until golden brown on both sides and cooked through – about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined serving plate and keep warm.
For the sauce:
Heat the butter, sweetener, and applesauce in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the sour cream and mustard until combined and creamy. Stir in the parsley. Drizzle some of the sauce over the cutlets and serve the remaining sauce on the side.
Oven Roasted Butternut Squash Spirals
Ingredients
1-12 oz package frozen butternut squash veggie spirals, defrosted
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Black pepper, to taste
Directions
Early in the day, place the frozen squash noodles in a colander.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly coat a large baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray and place the baking sheet in the oven while it preheats.
Place the squash spirals on a kitchen towel and squeeze dry. Transfer the squash to the hot prepared baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat with tongs. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper and toss again. Spread out on the baking sheet.
Roast until crispy about 20 minutes. Toss the spirals after 10 minutes.
Slow Cooked Green Beans
Ingredients
1 lb green beans, ends trimmed and cut in half
2 tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, grated
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
Directions
In a large, deep skillet with a cover, melt the butter and add the garlic and Italian herbs. Stir in the green beans. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let cook slowly, stirring occasionally until the beans are tender, about 15 minutes.
Cuban cuisine is a blend of Native American Taino food, Spanish, African, and Caribbean cuisines. Some Cuban recipes share spices and techniques with Spanish and African cooking, with some Caribbean influence in spice and flavor. This results in a blend of the several different cultural influences, with strong similarities to the cuisine of the neighboring Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. A small Chinese influence can also be accounted for in the Havana area. There is also some Italian influence. During colonial times, Cuba was an important port for trade, and many Spaniards who lived there brought their culinary traditions with them.
A majority of the dishes are sautéed or slow-cooked over a low flame. Most Cuban cooking relies on garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay laurel leaves and uses a sofrito as a base in main dishes. Sofrito consists of onion, green pepper, garlic, oregano, and ground pepper quick-fried in olive oil.
Meats and poultry are usually marinated in citrus juices, such as lime or sour orange juices, and then roasted over low heat until the meat is tender. Root vegetables such as yuca, malanga, and boniato are common in the cuisine. These vegetables are flavored with a marinade, called mojo, which includes olive oil, lemon juice, sliced raw onions, garlic, cumin, and a little water. The steak recipe below includes all those flavors.
Cuban Style Steak
Ingredients
Marinade
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon steak seasoning
¼ teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon lime zest
3-4 fresh orange slices
1 teaspoon salt
1 flank steak, patted dry
Salsa
1 large jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro paste
½ teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
To make the marinade:
Combine the marinade ingredients together in a large ziplock bag.
Add the steak, close the bag and massage the marinade into the meat; set aside for 30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 12 hours.
To make the salsa:
Combine the jalapeno, onion, cilantro, lime juice, water, oil, honey, hot sauce, salt and lime zest in a serving bowl for a chunky salsa-like consistency.
To cook the steak:
Light a grill or grill pan and
oil the grate. Remove the steak from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Grill over moderate heat, turning once, until lightly charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 125°, 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove steak to a serving plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil; let rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain.
Serve the steak with the salsa.
Bake the squash and tomatoes in the oven at the same time.
Oven Baked Spiralized Butternut Squash
Ingredients
1/2 of a butternut squash spiralized or 2 containers of spiralized butternut squash from the market
Olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
Sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley
4 tablespoons of parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the squash noodles on a large baking sheet, with sides, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss the squash to coat it all.
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, tossing the squash once or twice with tongs during the cooking process. Place the squash in a serving bowl.
Heat the butter, and garlic in a small microwave dish or small pan. Pour the butter sauce over the squash and toss. Add the parsley and cheese and toss again. Serve immediately.
Stuffed Tomatoes
Ingredients
2 medium ripe tomatoes
½ cup cooked spinach or swiss chard, drained
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Combine the spinach, mozzarella, garlic, olive oil & red pepper flakes in a small bowl – set aside.
Cut a thin slice off the top of the tomatoes and remove the seeds & juice. Season the insides of the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Using a spoon, fill each tomato with the spinach stuffing mixture. Place in a small, shallow baking dish. Sprinkle the top of each tomato with 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. Bake 20 minutes and serve.
Ribeye Pork Chops
Ingredients
2 bone-in ribeye pork chops, 2 inches thick weighing about 16 oz each
Your Favorite Rub For Pork
Your Favorite BBQ Sauce
Here is a link to my favorite pork rub and BBQ Sauce:
https://jovinacooksitalian.com/2017/07/14/weekend-bbq/
Directions
Coat the pork all over with the rub mixture. Place the pork in an oiled baking dish and cover the dish with foil.
Preheat the oven to 250°F. Place the foil-covered baking dish in the oven and roast the pork for about 2 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender but not falling off the bone. The pork will finish cooking on the grill.
Heat an outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high. Oil the grill rack.
Brush the pork with BBQ sauce and place them on the grill. Grill the pork, turning occasionally, until the chops begin to char, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Crispy Baked Butternut Squash
Servings 4
Ingredients
1 butternut squash peeled and cut into spirals
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the butternut squash in a ziplock bag with the oil. Shake the bag.
Arrange the squash on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, or until caramelized and charred in spots.
Turn the spirals over after 10 minutes. Serve immediately.
Twice Baked Cauliflower
6 Servings
Ingredients
1 medium head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into large florets
4 cloves garlic, diced
4 green onions, diced
8 strips bacon, diced
1/2 cup sour cream
4 ounces cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Put the cauliflower florets in a large ziplock bag and add the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Shake the bag and turn the florets out onto a baking sheet.
Roast until the florets are soft and begin to brown, about 30 minutes.
Cook the bacon in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until brown and crispy, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Place the roasted cauliflower florets in the processor with the garlic and green onions. Process until almost smooth. Add the cream cheese and sour cream and process until smooth.
Pour the cauliflower puree into an oiled medium=sized baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the cooked bacon and cheddar cheese. Bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes.
How many folks still hold with tradition and have “Sunday Dinner”? Growing up in my house, a big dinner with family members occurred every week. Family time and lots of good food are Italian American traditions. Once I was married and had children, we didn’t always live near family members. I think this is a common factor today. As a small family we always had dinner together, weeknights and weekends, but they were not the typical big feasts of old. Sunday meals were not much different from weeknight meals, usually. I thought this week I would make a traditional Sunday dinner featuring seasonal ingredients and a roast – a pork roast. The only thing missing from this dinner is the first course pasta dish that we always had in the old days.
Herb-Crusted Pork Roast
Ingredients
One 3 pound top loin, bone-in pork roast, fat trimmed
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tablespoon coarse or kosher salt
¼ cup minced herbs (I used sage, rosemary, tarragon, oregano and basil)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup dry white wine
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Pat the pork loin dry with paper towels. Place the roast on a platter or in a baking dish. Rub the roast with the olive oil and press the herbs and salt onto all the sides of the roast.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (up to 24 hours). Bring to room temperature for 1 hour before roasting.
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Place the roast on a rack that has been placed inside a roasting pan and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, turn the roast over and baste with 1/4 cup of the wine.
Return the roast to the oven and reduce the temperature to 325°F. Cook for 60-75 minutes longer, turning the roast and basting it with wine every 20 minutes; reserve 1/4 cup of wine for the sauce.
Check the roast after it has been cooking for 60 minutes. Place a meat thermometer in the roast to determine if it has reached 150 -155 degrees F.
If not, continue cooking until the temperature is reached.
Transfer the roast to a platter and pour the pan juices into a measuring cup.
Place the roasting pan over moderate heat on the stove-top; when it starts to sizzle, add the reserved 1/4 cup wine and cook for 2 minutes, scraping up the drippings from the bottom of the pan.
Add to the pan juices in the measuring cup; let the fat rise to the surface, about 5 minutes. Skim off the fat and season the sauce with black pepper.
Carve the roast into thin slices and arrange the meat on a platter. Serve the pan juices on the side.
Roasted Butternut Squash Puree
I prefer to cook the squash whole. Uncooked butternut squash is a difficult to cut through, however, after baking, it is very easy.
This recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wash a 2 to 2 1/2 pound butternut squash and place it on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for about 90 minutes or until soft all over, turning the squash halfway through the baking time.
Cool slightly and cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. With a spoon, scoop the flesh into a bowl and mash the squash.
Stir in 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, salt and black pepper to taste.
You can make this early in the day or the day before. Reheat before serving.
Sautéed Peas
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 celery stalk including the leaves at the top, finely chopped
10 ounce package of frozen peas (or 2 cups fresh peas)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add the onions and cook until tender. Add celery and peas.
Cook until peas are heated through (about 6 minutes). Stir in salt and pepper and serve.
Apple Rosemary Tart
Ingredients
One 9 inch refrigerated pie crust, at room temperature
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 pounds baking apples, such as Granny Smith or Golden Delicious
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary (do not substitute dried) or 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a small bowl, combine the flour with 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar; reserve.
Peel and core the apples. Slice them into ¼ inch-thick slices. (You should have about 3 cups.)
Place the apples in a bowl and toss them with the lemon juice, the remaining 3 tablespoons brown sugar and the rosemary or cinnamon.
Place the dough on a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle the reserved flour/sugar mixture evenly over it, leaving a 2-inch border uncovered.
Arrange the apples evenly over the flour mixture. Fold the edges of the dough over the apples. Moisten your fingers lightly with water and gently press the creases so that they hold together.
Dot the apples with the butter.
Bake the tart for about 40 minutes, until the crust is golden brown, the apples are tender and the juices syrupy.
Cover the tart with foil halfway through the cooking time, if the crust is browning too rapidly. Let cool for 10 minutes, then slide the tart onto a serving platter.
Just before serving, sift the confectioners’ sugar evenly over the crust.
You may recall that I posted recipes over the past few weeks for Butternut Squash Gratin and Braised Steak. Naturally we had plenty leftover, so I created a few new ways to use the leftovers other than just heating them up again.
Butternut Squash Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover butternut squash gratin
- See recipe: https://jovinacooksitalian.com/2016/10/03/what-is-in-season-in-october/
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups cake flour, Italian “00” flour or all-purpose flour
Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
- Black pepper to taste
- 12 sage leaves, sliced
Directions
Combine the butternut squash gratin, ricotta, egg and salt together in a large bowl. Add 2 cups of the flour and mix well with your hands.
Add the remaining flour — the dough should be sticky, but pliable enough to shape into a large log. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours.
To make the gnocchi:
Spread some flour on a large work surface and cut the dough log into four equal pieces.Take one piece and cut it in half.
Roll the piece of dough into a snake about 1/2 inch thick, then cut it into 1 inch pieces..
Dust the gnocchi with a little flour and push the tines of a fork into one side of the dumpling. Place the gnocchi on a waxed paper tray dusted with flour and cover with a dry kitchen towel.
To cook the gnocchi
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add enough salt to it so that the water tastes salty. Place a pasta bowl close to the stove
Add the gnocchi to the boiling water and cook until they rise to the top of the boiling water. You may have to do this in batches, so as not to crowd the pan.
Remove the gnocchi with a spider allowing the water to drain and place the gnocchi in the bowl. Continue until all the gnocchi are cooked.
To make the sauce
Heat the butter and sage together in a small skillet. Pour the melted butter over the cooked gnocchi, add the cheese and mix well. Garnish with black pepper and serve immediately.
Butternut Squash Turnovers
Makes 4 pastries
Dough
1 sheet of cold frozen phyllo dough, defrosted in the refrigerator overnight
Filling
- 1 cup butternut squash gratin, divided
- 2 tablespoons red onion, diced
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped sage
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 1 egg, beaten
Directions
In a mixing bowl, combine the butternut squash, onion, garlic, sage, parsley and Parmesan cheese.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Roll the pastry into a 12 inch square on a floured board. Cut the pastry sheet into four equal squares.
Spoon 1/4 cup of the squash mixture into the center of each square and brush the edges with beaten egg. Fold diagonally in half and press the edges with a fork to seal.
With a wide spatula, place the turnovers on a parchment covered baking pan. Brush the turnovers with beaten egg.
Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the turnovers are puffy and golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Quick Beef Pot Pie
Ingredients
- 2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough, at room temperature
- ½ of the Braised Steak recipe
- See recipe https://jovinacooksitalian.com/2016/10/21/family-dinner-time/
- 1 cup of cooked potatoes, cubed
- 1 cup cooked carrots, cubed
- 1 cup frozen peas
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Combine all the ingredients for the filling in a mixing bowl.
Fit one pastry into a 9 inch pie plate. Pour the filling into the pie pastry. Cover with the second pastry and flute the edges. Make several slits in the top crust.
Place the pie on a rimmed baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake for about 45 minutes until the crust is brown and the filling is bubbly.
