12 inch Pizzas

Before going in the oven, the dough gets topped
with tomato, cheese and basil.  A traditional margarita pizza.

Once baked, it is hard to resist not eating it,
especially if you are still preparing other pizzas to go in the oven.

Truffle salami from Trader Joe's, on this pizza, turns a simple
Margarita pizza, into something decadent.

When making a mushroom pizza, I like to use a variety
of mushrooms to get many layers of flavor.

Potato and pancetta top this pizza when it first goes in the oven.
A minute before it is done baking, crack an egg in the center
and continue baking, just until the whites are cooked.

As Always, 

ENJOY!

Colombian Empanadas

Serve with sliced lemons. The acid of the lemon juice is both
complimentary to the filling and to the crust.

This meat filling is full of vegetables and heavy on seasoning.


Delicious and fun to serve at a party.  These empanadas are not made
with a traditional dough, but with puff pastry.  Only the meat filling needs to be
prepared and then these can be quickly assembled and baked.

As Always,

ENJOY!

2 packages frozen puff pastry, defrosted

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 lb. ground pork

1-2 cups cooked potatoes, diced

1 carrot

2 stalks celery

1/2 large onion

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

1 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. cumin seeds

salt and pepper

olive oil

Lemon wedges

  In a large skillet on medium heat add olive oil.  Finely grind carrot, onion and celery in food processor.  Add to hot skillet, cook for 2-3 minutes.  Add ground meats and cook through.  Add all the seasonings, and reduce heat.  Add 1-2 Tbsp. water to moisten mixture, and continue cooking until water evaporates and seasonings have coated meat.  Add diced potatoes.  Let cool.  

  Cut pastry dough into squares, add heaping tsp. of filling to center of square.  Brush edges with water or egg whites.  Fold in half to create a triangle, press edges together.  Place on baking sheets and cook at 400 degrees until the dough is lightly browned, approx. 12-15 minutes.  Serve warm with lemon slices.

Capunti with sausage and beans

A wonderful new shape of pasta found at Trader Joe's. 

They just started carrying three new shapes of Organic Italian Pasta.

I personally love these thick shapes, they have great bight to them, 

especially when cooked, Al Dente!

With thick shapes, I like hearty chunky toppings or thick sauces.  

Use a wonderful homemade bolognese, or do as I have prepared here, 

items you may have in the refrigerator.  

Italian sausage, red roasted peppers, cannellini beans and 

fresh Italian parsley.

As Always, 

ENJOY!

Sheet Pan Crostata

When you want enough to feed a crowd.

Here, I have just doubled my crostata recipe.  Instead of baking it in a tart pan,
I have used a large sheet pan.  You get more than twice the serving pieces,
so it is great for serving lots of people.
I personally love fig filling, but you can use apricot, or other fruit fillings as well.

As Always, 

ENJOY!

Sheet Pan Dinner

Line the pan with parchment or foil.  Season the pork loin

with olive oil, salt and pepper. 

Make a mustard sauce, and drizzle over the meat and vegetables.

Let the meat rest for 10 minutes, then slice and serve

with all the roasted vegetables.

Another easy weeknight dinner! Season a pork loin, add a selection of vegetables
to your choosing, roast, and voila!! Dinner is served!

As Always,

ENJOY!

1 pork loin

salt and pepper

olive oil

dijon or brown mustard

lemon juice

olive oil

vegetables halved or quartered( brussel sprouts, red potatoes or fingerlings, fennel) or other vegetables of your liking to roast.

   Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line a sheet tray with foil or parchment.  Place loin on tray and cut vegetables around the loin.  Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper.  Whisk together the mustard sauce and drizzle over loin.  Place in hot oven.  Roast for 20-25 min. or until pork is done.  Just slightly pink in the middle.

Creamy Mushroom and Bacon Orecchiette

A quick and easy dinner to put together for the family. 

Here, I used Trader Joe's new Organic Italian Pasta.

As Always,

ENJOY!

Recipe Source: Better Homes and Garden- February 2018

INGREDIENTS

4 slices thick cut bacon

16 oz. cremini mushrooms,quartered

2 cloves garlic, minced

12 oz. Orecchiette pasta

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1/4 cup fresh chopped herbs(chives, parsley or basil)

Cook bacon until crisp, transfer to a paper towel, reserving drippings. Add mushroom, garlic, salt and pepper to skillet. Cook until mushrooms are tender and brown. Meanwhile cook pasta. Drain. Add cream and broth to skillet with mushrooms. Cook 1-2 minutes until bubbly. Add pasta, vinegar, bacon and herbs, heat through.  Serve.

Homemade Fresh Pasta

Roll it out or shape it by hand, 

homemade pasta is the best, there is no comparison!

Large fresh sheets of rolled pasta can be cut into wide strips

like papperdelle. Long thin rolled logs can be shaped into 

gnocchiette, where all the crevasses capture lots of sauce.

As Always,

ENJOY!