italian

Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna Soup

November 25, 2018

This crockpot lasagna soup is like a deconstructed lasagna made in an Italian tomato broth full of vegetables with a creamy dollop of a three cheeses mixed in.

This recipe is brought to you by DeLallo Foods

Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna Soup

If you’ve found yourself trolling Pinterest there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen the meaty stove top version of this easy vegetarian lasagna soup floating around. And there’s a perfectly good reason for that.

Because it’s so dang good!

I’m very much into giving my favorite comfort foods a different spin to make them brand new again. And when it comes to lasagna, I have a couple of recipe twists on this classic Italian comfort food up my sleeve, or at least, in my recipe box.

This time around, a healthy change-up to everyone else’s lasagna soup was in the works.continue to the recipe… about Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna Soup

Linguine con Vongole (Linguine with Clam Sauce)

September 9, 2018

Linguine with fresh clams in a garlic white wine sauce (authentically known as linguine vongole) is one of those dinners that sounds totally chic and fancy but is actually one of the easiest and budget-friendly Italian pasta recipes you can make.

I was recently sent the new Fred’s at Barney’s New York Cookbook by Barney’s New York’s chef Mark Strausman who teaches us how to make some of the famous dishes beloved for years by celebrities and chic shoppers in the fashion store’s Fred’s restaurant.

Flipping through the cookbook there were tons of recipes that looked divine, but when I found this recipe for Mark’s Baby Clams and Spaghetti, fresh clams went directly on my shopping list.

Clams and spaghetti at Fred’s became clams and linguine at my house, and now no matter which pasta you choose to prepare, this recipe is on it’s way to yours.

continue to the recipe… about Linguine con Vongole (Linguine with Clam Sauce)

Italian Chicken Wrap

August 21, 2018

You may see pinwheel wrap sandwiches so often at the store or the quick mart you don’t even realize how easy they are to make at home. But this healthy Italian Chicken Wrap sandwich has a few secrets up it’s tortilla that’ll make it so you’ll never want a take-it-with-you lunch any other way again.

This recipe is brought to you by DeLallo Foods

It seems that lunches are the meal that can make or break your best eating intentions.

I know you know what I’m talking about. And I know that if you’ve said it to yourself once, you’ve said it 4053 times.

“This week I’m totally taking my lunch every day.”

But then it’s the night before and you’re too tired to pull a lunch together, or your morning is in a frenzy, or your delicate ingredients have all gone bad.

And then there you are. Once again, your intentions are dashed, leaving you staring emptily at the vending machine or forking over $13.84 for a lame something or another that really is just not that good. And worse, that marginal lunch is both taking away from your budget’s bottom line while adding too many calories to your very own bottom that soon won’t fit into your jeans if you keep this up young lady. (oops, did I say that out loud?)

But this easy Italian chicken wrap lunch is different. And here’s why.continue to the recipe… about Italian Chicken Wrap

How to Make an Awesome Antipasto Salad Platter

June 25, 2018

Making a salad for a crowd doesn’t get any easier than adding all the antipasto toppings like olives, pickled veggies, artichokes, pepperoncini, salami, salumi, prosciutto, pasta and mozzarella balls to a big pile of lettuce for an Italian salad everyone will love.

This recipe is in partnership with DeLallo Foods

Antipasto is known as the first course of the Italian meal. It’s the time to get a nibble of olives and pickled peppers or a bite of cured meats and cheeses, and to prepare your belly for the feast about to come.

What I love about this Antipasto Salad Platter is it bridges the gap between that appetizer course and the salad course, for a more relaxed vibe that mixes all my favorite tastes together, and can easily be made into a meal all its own.

And when you serve this salad family-style in the middle of the table, everyone can add “just a little more” to suit their taste and their appetite, creating a more festively communal way to share.

continue to the recipe… about How to Make an Awesome Antipasto Salad Platter

Truffled Mushroom Pizza

May 22, 2018

A simple mushroom and cheese pizza gets an upscale twist with truffled mushrooms and a light arugula salad topping one of the easiest homemade pizza doughs you can make.

I’m pretty sure we can all agree that pizza is the quintessential meal. It crosses all boundaries and pleases people of all ages and gender. And with nearly every culture cultivating its own version of the classic pizza pie, it doesn’t matter if you’re a drunk at 2 a.m. college student, a family ordering it for Friday night, or a high society maven who serves it as a dainty appetizer, if you like food it’s likely you’re a pizza pie fan.

Making pizza at home is one of life’s simple pleasures. At home you have complete control of what tops your pie and make it your choice to keep it super simple, or load on all the fixins’. Mushroom and cheese pizza is always a favorite of mine. I like to keep my pies simple, but simple certainly does not mean boring.

Sure, I like my mushroom pizza topped with simple ingredients, but I like my ingredients fancied up with an upscale twist.

Say hello to my truffled mushroom pizza.

continue to the recipe… about Truffled Mushroom Pizza

Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Salad

May 15, 2018

Quick and easy to make for lunch or even a light dinner, this healthy Tuscan salad puts high protein front and center with chunks of albacore tuna and white beans tossed with arugula and more Mediterranean flavors.

It’s not every day that a salad wakes me from a dead sleep. But this morning, this one did. Not because I was hungry—because I wasn’t—but because I sleepily woke to the words, sentences, and phrases for this blog post forming in my head.

Why I didn’t write it all down at that moment instead of rolling over and going back to sleep is a choice I’m regretting now.

But this salad? There’s absolutely nothing to regret about this salad, nothing at all.

How to Make a Healthy, No-Mayo Tuna Salad

This easy, all-in-one-meal, tuna salad is made with simple ingredients and pantry staples to create a lunch that’s totally fresh and filling.continue to the recipe… about Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Salad

How to Make Homemade Chicken Parmesan

December 20, 2017

This surprisingly easy, 30-minute dinner recipe is a far cry from the over-floured and fat-fried version of the past. Instead, I’m sharing my tips to deliver juicy chicken breasts with a delicious bite nestled in a flavorful tomato sauce with a mozzarella cheese-pull that’ll stun even the cheesiest eater, with every single bite.

This recipe is brought to you by Kroger

So why do they call it Chicken Parmesan? Probably because someone in the family didn’t like eggplant. Go figure!

Italians on the island of Sicily (who we lovingly thank for introducing us all to the Mediterranean flavor-ed influences we love about Southern Italian cooking #bowdown) would dip slices of eggplant in egg and ground bread crusts, fry them up, and then top them with slices of home-made tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese then pop the whole shebang in the oven. So most likely, some husband said (sound familiar?), “I’m not going to eat EGGPLANT! Give me CHICKEN!” (Is that my husband I hear speaking up?)

And this is likely where Chicken Parm was born.

Chicken Parmesan may not be authentically Sicilian, or even red-blooded-Italian. But seriously…this version prepared with 2018’s healthy-ish-but-still-comfort-food-in-30-minutes-goals in mind, ticks off so many of my meal planning check boxes I’m pretty sure nations of eaters are totally okay with looking past it’s family tree.continue to the recipe… about How to Make Homemade Chicken Parmesan

Harvest Squash and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

September 27, 2017

Busy nights call for easy recipes and once harvest time has hit, it’s time to slink into comfort food territory. These stuffed shells with zucchini, butternut, and yellow squash baked in a creamy white alfredo sauce couldn’t be easier to prep and are even easier to crave.

This recipe is brought to you by McCormick

I’ve been working hard on my meal planning skills and trying to pay a lot more attention to food waste. What I’ve discovered is I waste way too much food. I do my weekly Farmers Market shopping with the best of intentions of cooking and eating up all I buy, but what family of three can truly eat 4 pounds of peaches, 10 gorgeous bell peppers and a bakers dozen of fresh sweet corn in just one week?

So when I’m in a funk of what to pull out of my back-to-school-weeknight-dinner-making hat, I head to my fridge and rummage through the crisper drawer to capture any veggies, lettuces or fruits that are just shy of taking a turn for the worst.

And that’s how today’s recipe puts last week’s farmer’s market find of zucchini and yellow squash on the top of my meal planning list.

continue to the recipe… about Harvest Squash and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

My Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

September 19, 2017

This easy meat sauce takes just a few minutes of prep and then a low simmer on the stove for a deep, meaty-flavored, classic spaghetti everyone will love.

This post is brought to you by Kroger

Before I even started writing this post I was wrestling with the title.

My Sister’s Favorite Spaghetti Dinner. Because as a kid it was #1 on her request list. And to do this day, all these years later and after eating meals from all over the world, it still is.

My Mom’s Best Spaghetti Recipe Ever! Because it is. And, who doesn’t trust mom to make the best?

The Best Spaghetti and Meat Sauce You’ll Ever Make But Never Guess the Secret Ingredient. Intrigued????

The Dinner to Make When You Want to Perfume Your House With All the Glorious Smells and Then Feed an Army. Perhaps a little lengthy for a title, but still totally appropriate.

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce So Good You’ll Eat the Cold Leftovers Still in the Container Straight from the Fridge. Uh-oh, did I just give myself away????? Busted!

continue to the recipe… about My Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta Recipe

September 18, 2017

Busy weeknights call for simple recipes that can be pulled together in a flash, and nothing’s simpler than a basic, homemade basil pesto pasta recipe that even a kid can make and clean up after too.

There are definite skills one should pass along to the younger generation, the secrets to succeed in life. At our house, one of those skills is keeping up with the daily family chores (I LOVE what the former Dean of Freshman at Stanford has to say about why!!!) and whether Smudge likes it or not, she’s getting a good education in this area. She used to think “getting” to do the dishes was fun — she got to wear an apron and play with bubbles as she twirled about to whichever song is on replay over and over in her head — but these days, that shine has certainly worn off.

With summer’s laziness giving way to back-to-school’s busier nights of homework, two soccer teams to practice with, basketball practice and her other basic daily chores, Smudge’s dish washing time has gotten the squeeze right along with the time I have in my schedule to create time-intensive dinners, if I remember to get anything ready for dinner at all!

That’s why keeping super simple, basic recipes like this one in my back pocket are always weeknight saviors, for days when the basics are really all that’s needed. And craved. Like my basic pesto pasta just yearning for a twirl around the silver twines.

continue to the recipe… about Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta Recipe

Lighter Penne alla Vodka Recipe

June 26, 2017

This classic and oh so easy American-Italian penne pasta recipe got a nip and a tuck with a lightened up ingredient that cuts the calorie count but keeps it creamy, making it a dish you’ll have no regrets from asking for seconds as a main meal or a tasty side dish.

This post is brought to you by Almond Breeze

If you’re a first-timer to the world of this popular, creamy tomato sauced dish, just know you will not get drunk on it. You won’t even find a little buzz.

It seems like this is always the first question people wonder about this dish once they hear it’s name. But no, so if you’re looking for a boozy buzz, you’ll want to consume a killer dirty martini or three on the side because the alcohol is all cooked out, but the flavor it creates remains.

I call penne alla vodka the gateway tomato pasta sauce for those who aren’t big tomato fans. It’s definitely a converter. And here’s why.continue to the recipe… about Lighter Penne alla Vodka Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

November 14, 2016

Bone-in, skinless chicken thighs cooked in the slow cooker create the luxe flavor in this savory Italian chicken recipe for an incredibly easy weeknight or weekend meal.

You know how the saying goes. It’s what waiters around the world have used for years to push the daily special.

“This meat is so tender it falls off the bone.”

And then sometimes it is. And sometimes it isn’t.

I’m here to tell you, today, right now, that thanks to this slow cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe, the meat LITERALLY falls from the bone.

But don’t just take it from me, this is the day you’re going to absolutely want to try it for yourself. And like any good salesperson, I’m going to guarantee your going to love it.

continue to the recipe… about Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

How to Make Classic Tiramisu

September 14, 2016

This classic and authentic Italian dessert of ladyfingers dipped in espresso and Kahlua is layered with a mascarpone custard lightened up with fluffy whipped cream.

This post is in partnership with Kroger

It started out as just another photo shoot for the health publication I was the creative director for when we lived in Los Angeles. It was years ago but it’s one of the few I harken back to with a wee bit of envy. Not because of the beautiful model we were shooting that day, nor the perfectly celebrity-styled home in the Hollywood Hills we had rented as our location for the day.

No, it was actually because of a small-talk conversation I had with my wardrobe stylist. She was leaving the next day for Italy. For a month. And she was staying in a villa in Florence. Not just any villa, but a villa she had been invited to by restauranteur and chef Nancy Silverton of Los Angeles’ famed Campanile and Mozza empires. Their plan was simple: to cook together (with the amazing Nancy as chef!), eat amazing Italian dinners, drink local wines, and do all the things one’s imagination dreams up while envisioning an amazing vacation in Italy.

I have been jealous of that trip for the last 15 years.continue to the recipe… about How to Make Classic Tiramisu

Easy Italian Spaghetti Pasta Salad

August 1, 2016

Classic Italian flavors make this super easy spaghetti pasta salad with pepperoni, veggies and dressing a potluck favorite everyone will love.

Picky eaters. Just like dust bunnies and crumbs dropped and forgotten (or ignored?) in the corners of the kitchen, there’s always a few in the room.

This salad is made for picky eaters. Minus the onions, maybe. Because who doesn’t love spaghetti? And pepperoni? And olives doused with a tangy Italian dressing?

I made this pasta salad along with this Broccoli Salad for a potluck dinner a few weeks ago. I knew there were picky eaters in the crowd, and I knew there was a very slim chance those eaters were going to be partaking of broccoli, especially in a salad.

This was my offering for them. A crowd pleaser was in the house.

continue to the recipe… about Easy Italian Spaghetti Pasta Salad

Gnocchi With Pomodoro Sauce

August 25, 2015

This simple tomato sauce gets tons of flavor from herbs steeped in olive oil that lusciously coats potato pillows of gnocchi, topped with fresh balls of mozzarella.

It’s a lunch I remember with fondness, and regret.

Fondness because it lit my fire for choosing gnocchi as my favorite thing to order on each and every Italian menu for the rest of my eating out days (ask my husband, I am not kidding) and regret because I didn’t go to that restaurant for more gnocchi more often than I did.

That gnocchi dish was truly made of little pillows of heaven. In fact, that was the name of the dish, Pillows From Heaven, roughly translated into English. I’ve since moved away and honestly, the way restaurants go, it’s probably gone too. But I’ll never forget my first time.

But it doesn’t matter much now, because while I still love going out, I’m just as happy making gnocchi at home.

continue to the recipe… about Gnocchi With Pomodoro Sauce

How to Make Arugula Pesto

July 6, 2015

This twist on pesto subs arugula for traditional basil to make a bright, peppery addition to pasta, chicken, fish or steak.

I’m a basil fiend. In turn, my leafy herbed passion goes hand in hand with pesto. I mean, is it even summer without it?

But when I discovered a fresh crop of arugula at the farmers market, my basil obsession took a detour. And I happily followed.

This fresh, peppery switcharoo to the sweeter basil style variety makes a damn fine addition to countless dishes. Pasta? Naturally. Veggies? Load it on. Chicken? Lather it in the middle of a chicken breast with some melty cheese and a slice or two of prosciutto and bam! Dinner is served.

continue to the recipe… about How to Make Arugula Pesto

Baked Turkey Meatballs with Creamy Polenta and Marinara

April 20, 2015

These heathy, easy to make meatballs are made lighter with lean ground turkey, spinach, and fresh herbs, then baked up and served with creamy polenta and zesty marinara for a restaurant-worthy meal at home!

Bikini season is right around the corner. Make that tankini season for this girl. I’m smart enough to realize I’m no Demi Moore and my bikini days are over.

Making small changes for a little healthier eating and working toward a bit of scale tipping in the opposite direction of up is what’s on my agenda. And easy. I want easy meals whenever I can get them but not at the expense of freshness and taste.

This year I’m pleased to be working again with DeLallo Foods whose products I purchased even before our partnership began, making it all the easier to profess my fondness for them and show how I use some of their favorite products.

This recipe for Baked Turkey Meatballs is a mash up of store bought and homemade, with herb filled, from-scratch meatballs that are finished off with DeLallo Foods’ jarred Pomodoro Fresco Marinara and their Instant Polenta. The combo makes for an incredibly easy, fresh and fast weeknight dinner.

And simply because you won’t be able to tell the difference, it’s on the healthy side too.

continue to the recipe… about Baked Turkey Meatballs with Creamy Polenta and Marinara

30 Minute Pork Scallopini With Lemons and Capers

February 11, 2015

Tart lemons and briny capers give this sauce its signature taste over lightly fried, boneless pork cutlets for an easy Italian dinner that’s on the table in just 30 minutes.

Sometimes you just need to work out your aggressions instead of act on them.

We all have those days. But rather than taking it out on the poor soul who cut you off in traffic as they dove across lanes to duck into Starbucks (hey, they obviously NEEDED their coffee) let’s take it to the kitchen and do some damage that does some good.

Let’s pound some meat.continue to the recipe… about 30 Minute Pork Scallopini With Lemons and Capers

Italian Chopped Salad with Marinated Chickpeas + a Giveaway

December 22, 2014

Inspired by the famous Italian chopped salad at La Scala, this yummy salad recipe is packed with awesome ingredients and loaded with amazing crunchy textures and flavors thanks to marinated chickpeas, salami, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, Asiago cheese, and a zesty red wine vinaigrette.

Salad might run through my veins like sugar does through those of a baker.

In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve ever gone more than 2 days without a salad in at least one of my rounds of eating. There’s always a side salad with dinner, it could be more fruit filled or sometimes there’s no lettuce at all. It’s a mix and match type of game more often than not.

But where I hit my real pleasure point is when I make a big daddy salad for a filling lunch or dinner.

Pack it with protein.

Add salty bits.

It definitely calls for a sprinkle of cheese.

And where would we be without the sharp tang of pucker-induced salad dressing?

And while we’re talking tangy puckers—not Tanya Tucker—I have a giveaway of over $250 worth of AWESOMENESS (jewelry anyone?) at the end of this post, so set your mouth, and your mouse, to scroll…

continue to the recipe… about Italian Chopped Salad with Marinated Chickpeas + a Giveaway

Crab Spaghetti with Lemon Gremolata

March 3, 2014

Simple yet elegant, this Crab Spaghetti is pure comfort food with a high brow touch—because who doesn’t find comfort in twirling pasta around the big old clumps of sweetly lush lump crab.

If there’s one thing you want to eat in it’s lumpiest form, it’s crab. Take my word for it.

Crab can sometimes feel a little intimidating to make. How do you cook it? How do you crack it? And doesn’t it take forever to get that meat out of those prickly sharp shells?

But in reality, whether it’s steamed in it’s long, lanky king crabby legs dripping with butter (this recipe is hands down the easiest way to fix it) or rolled into bite size appetizer bites like this, it’s incredibly easy to prepare.

Fear not, this Crab Spaghetti with Lemon Gremolata jumps from pan to plate in about a half an hour. And I have just the tip to make it as painless as possible to make cure your crabby cravings.

continue to the recipe… about Crab Spaghetti with Lemon Gremolata

Spring Vegetable Gnocchi

April 16, 2013

Before I talk about today’s recipe, I want to send my heartfelt thoughts to those that were affected by the bombing yesterday at the Boston Marathon finish line. Thankfully my friend, and many of yours, Dara of Cookin’ Canuck and her family—in Boston to cheer on her husband Steve who crossed the finish line just 3 minutes before the bombing—have let us all know via Twitter that they are fine even with the blast happening just one block and three minutes away from them.

Timing. It’s a tenuous thing.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families and participants, volunteers and emergency care workers who were affected, especially those that could not walk away. Special prayers to the family of the 8 year old who was killed in this manic event. That hits way too close to home. I cannot imagine.

Why did this happen? Why do any of these deranged plots happen? What are people thinking? I just can’t wrap my head around why anyone, ANYONE, thinks this is a good way to prove a point, gain notoriety or to simply create chaos through terror.

The only way I know how to address this is to love my loves and look for beauty and unselfishness in this unstable world. I hope you can too.

I’m very much a creature of habit. Or more likely a creature of cravings. When it comes to going out to eat I can rarely motivate myself to deviate from my standard favorites, especially when it comes to any sort of ethnic food. Mexican food: I always gravitate to the Chile Rellenos. Sushi: I must have Spicy Tuna anything.

When it comes to Italian, its rarely a question of what to order once the waiter rolls around: Gnocchi please. The sad thing is, at most Italian eateries gnocchi isn’t always standard fare. That’s why Sea Salt in Salt Lake City is one of my favorite spots to eat, since they have at least 5 different gnocchi recipes on the menu.

While Gnocchi alla Norma is my favorite and will make the blog sometime in the future, I’m working on spreading my wings and rallying through the rest of the menu at Sea Salt. Yep, I’m going wild around here. At least in the gnocchi department.

How it has taken me this long to get these potato pillows on the blog is beyond me.continue to the recipe… about Spring Vegetable Gnocchi

Fontina Polenta and Easy Marinara

March 7, 2013

It sounded like a freight train running into our house. And I thought my dog was dying.

We’ve had a winter that has piled the snow higher in our neighborhood than nearly any other along the benches of the mountains where we live.

This winter has put a toll on the snow shovels, the snow tires and nearly everyone’s patience.

With each snowfall the load on our roof gets deeper. And heavier. And with a nearly flat rooftop the snow has nowhere to go. it just. stays. put.

Until it warms up. And then the avalanches begin. And that’s when my dog loses it.

continue to the recipe… about Fontina Polenta and Easy Marinara

Sausage and Marsala Pappardelle Pasta

February 21, 2013

We all have our favorite recipes. And we all have vices. This recipe combines the best (best?) of both of them in my little world.

I’ve been sitting on this recipe ever since I started blogging. It’s one of those recipes I make it at least once a month, a favorite staple in our house and one I break out when company shows up unexpectantly because I always have the ingredients on hand.

But because it’s such a favorite for dinner, it’s usually dark by the time I’m done cooking and we’re hungry and there’s no light to take a pretty picture or any pasta left anyway. Oh, the life of a food blogger, balancing hunger pains of the family for you my lovely readers.continue to the recipe… about Sausage and Marsala Pappardelle Pasta

Sausage and Ricotta Lasagna

January 31, 2013

Lately I’ve been a whirling dervish in my choices of what I’m craving to eat. Cravings all over the place, and most of them leaning toward the ethnic side of food. Thai one night, Korean the next, Middle Eastern and as always one of my faves: rich sausag-ey Italian pasta. Lasagna, that’s what I need.

I’ll chalk it up to the fact that ever since I came home from Mexico I can’t quite get the flavors of other countries out of my system. I think its a sign that I just want to travel. It’s true! The night we got home I was on the internet stalking new travel adventures for me, my Smudge and my man, new places to create new memories.

This past week definitely resulted in a trove of memories I’ll be happy to reflect back upon. Converting online relationships to real life with talented foodie bloggers who traveled to Salt Lake City to attend Alt Summit was the highlight.continue to the recipe… about Sausage and Ricotta Lasagna

Friday Faves and a Pepperoni Italian Egg Skillet

November 16, 2012

It’s the last weekend before the final gorge, aka Thanksgiving.

But before you sweat it out over the pumpkin pie with distant cousin Miranda who doesn’t hesitant to tell you allllll about her kids amazing experience at the gifted children’s private school where they’re getting straight A’s or listen to Uncle Barry’s wife #4 who he met on his most recent trip to Baja, we must eat breakfast. Something that’s hearty enough to nourish us early in the a.m. and carry us past noon or until the big bird sings and more “interesting” relatives show up.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves and a Pepperoni Italian Egg Skillet

Friday Faves and Pumpkin Manicotti

October 12, 2012

This week heralded a week of pumpkins featuring both a savory and a sweet recipe option. As it should! Eating local and in season gives a bump in stimulating the local farming economy and its also just being plain healthy. Keeping it simple and unprocessed as often as we can.

So to end out the punkin’ posts I’ll leave you with this tasty ditty of a recipe featuring my favorite orange orb all mashed up in my Pumpkin Manicotti. I know! Will I ever get tired of pumpkin and sage together? Bear with me friends because it’s highly doubtful.

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Pumpkin Manicotti

Ingredients

1 8 ounce package manicotti noodles
3 cups milk
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 tablespoons 1 stick butter, divided
1/8 cup fresh sage leaves thinly sliced
¼ cup flour
1 1/2 cup Ricotta cheese
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 ½ teaspoon salt divided
1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

Preheat oven at 350°F. Bring a large stock pot of water to boil. Once water comes to boil, add oil and salt water well and cook noodles for 5-8 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse noodles and set aside.
In a saucepan, bring milk to a boil, lower to simmer and add garlic. Simmer for 15 minutes until garlic flavor infuses milk. Remove garlic from mixture and discard.
In a separate small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, add sage leaves and cook until crisp. Remove sage leaves from butter pan to drain and set aside. Add 6 tablespoons butter to remaining sage butter in pan, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add reserved garlic-infused milk mixture and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes, whisking so sauce does not stick or burn. Season with ½ teaspoon salt, remove from heat and let cool.
Layer a 13 X 9 inch pan with 1/2 cup of sauce.
In a large bowl, mix Ricotta, pumpkin puree, egg, nutmeg and salt. Add ½ cup Mozzarella and mix. Fill a large Ziploc freezer bag with pumpkin mixture, clip one corner with a ¼” cut and pipe manicotti tubes with Ricotta cheese mixture so a little bit overflows on ends.
Place manicotti tubes side by side in pan, repeating until you run out of shells and filling. Spoon remaining sauce on top of shells, top with remaining Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle sage leaves on top of cheese, cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes.

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves and Pumpkin Manicotti

Chicken Piccata Pasta and Friday Faves

June 1, 2012

Seriously people, where does the time go?

I recently marked 5 years at my day job, my one year anniversary of blogging, today is the last day of this year’s school year and tomorrow is my baby girl’s 8th birthday. Seriously how does time whiz so quickly by?

Each of these milestones reinforces my resolve to take more time to enjoy the most important people in my life and take control of my own destiny. And I couldn’t be more determined, felt more inspired and have been given more encouragement to do so.continue to the recipe… about Chicken Piccata Pasta and Friday Faves

Pumpkin Gnocchi with Hazelnut Browned Butter and a Magazine Sneak Peek

November 2, 2011

So happy for the weekend, and wow. Just wow. This fall has been a gorgeous one. There’s almost nothing I love more than fall light–how does it actually warm you to the bones? It always inspires me to get my nesting on/in/done.

But fall is nearly in my rear view mirror, with the forecast of a winter storm set for Saturday. And while I watch those snowflakes fly, I’ll be working at my computer getting my little dream of launching Foodie Crush magazine all stitched together.

sneak peek photo > Britt Chudleigh

We’re in the midst of editing, layouts and photo editing for the debut issue of Foodie Crush magazine, an idea that’s been percolating in my brain for 2 years, that I finally threw myself into just a few short months ago.

I kind of can’t believe its actually happening.

continue to the recipe… about Pumpkin Gnocchi with Hazelnut Browned Butter and a Magazine Sneak Peek

Grilled Pizza and 3 Recipes to Keep You Out of the Kitchen

August 11, 2011

Baby it’s hot outside. Dog days of summer. And just another excuse to fire up the grill.

And a little rescuing was what I was in need of, rescue from the same old grill recipes. Luckily my friend Angie (doesn’t hurt to have friends that are personal chefs if you know what I mean) invited us over for a little grilling. But not the average chicken or burgers tonight. No, pizza was on the menu and it was happening over the coals.

photo > foodiecrush

Angie knows how to do it up right and whether its an impromptu weeknight dinner or a catered affair for 30, there’s always an enviable and savory spread at her table.

photo > foodiecrush

For dough we both love Ina Garten’s pizza dough recipe, (check out the recipe and step-by-step instructions thanks to Flavia from Flavia’s Flavors) complete with a touch of honey to sweeten it just right. (Is it me or is it science that says honey helps activate the yeast resulting in a super pliable and soft crust? Especially when rolled out thin. Yum.)

photo > foodiecrush

Make your pizza in whatever shape you please, rustic to rounds. Just make it a size for easy transfer onto the grill, i.e., this is not meant to be a 18″ NY-style pie. **One of Angie’s secrets is optional but turns out a great grilled pizza: Grill the crusts half way before you dress them, and for back-ups, have a little store-bought naan on hand for those emergency grill flare ups (read: burned crust because you’re chatting too much.)

Then, top dough with homemade pizza sauce (in 2 T of olive oil sauté 3 smashed garlic cloves, a bunch of fresh basil and then add 1-28 oz. can tomato sauce, 1 tsp salt and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove garlic cloves and basil and add more olive oil to taste).

photo > foodiecrush

Then add on plenty of super-fresh, gorgeous toppings and create combos that are often found only in gourmet pizzerias. And DO NOT forget the fresh mozzarella and basil.

photo > foodiecrush

To finish, top with crushed red pepper, torn basil leaves, sea salt and another round of olive oil for a little dash of summer love.

And of course there are far more recipes begging to be taken advantage of on the grill. Here are three from appetizer to dessert that you MUST try this summer. I know I will.

photo > Scandi Foodie

The vibrancy of Maria’s photo initially stopped me in my tracks, but it was the simple recipe for Scandi Foodie‘s Grilled Peaches and Haloumi Salad—a grilled combo of succulent grilled peaches and firm haloumi—that put it to the top of my recipe to-do list.

photo > Week of Menus

Both sweet and savory, crispy and soft, Joanne took a break from a family vacation, and the heat, for some much needed alone time at the grill to create Week of Menus Crostini with Figs, Brie and Prosciutto, a rustic and decadent mix of summertime flavors.

photo > Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes

I’m with Heather and share her love for a crispy topping on any ‘crisp’ dessert. Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes Cherry Berry Crisp is the perfect excuse to ditch the diet and splurge with a scoop of ice cream. Warning: use a grill-safe vessel for cooking or you’ll end up with a cracked crisp.

And don’t forget to send us your favorite holiday cookie recipe to be considered in our 50 Best Holiday Cookie Recipes feature in FoodieCrush magazine, edited by Maria Lichty of Two Peas and Their Pod. Submission deadline is September 1, 2011.

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BLT Panzanella Plus 5 New Spins on Panzanella

August 9, 2011

Tomatoes, vinegar, pucker. I’m craving salty and fresh. And maybe a little smokey. But not your typical light-lunch salad, something with some girth.

I’m thinking summertime and fresh tomatoes, and that crusty bread from my new favorite find at the farmer’s market. I’m calling for summertime panzanella.

But not the typical panzanella, I’m creating a version of my summertime favorite sandwich, the BLT. A hipped-up version of the traditional BLT— with smokey thick pancetta, spicy arugula and a few sour notes from pickled capers. And of course I have to add in some crunchy cucumbers to satiate my husband’s salad desires.

Here’s my new fav version, and then try some of the spins on the classic below.

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BLT Panzanella

Ingredients

4 medium tomatoes chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large cucumber seeded and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
3 cups arugula
2 T capers
1/2 lb pancetta cubed
2 cloves garlic
3 cups day-old crusty white bread french or ciabatta, cubed
3 T olive oil
2 T champagne or red wine vinegar
1/4 cup basil slivered
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumber, capers, basil and arugula.
Over medium heat, brown pancetta in a frying pan. Remove pancetta from pan and retain 2 T of rendered fat. Smash garlic cloves and place in frying pan with pancetta fat, cook for 3 minutes until garlic is lightly browned. Remove from pan and discard. Add cubed bread to pancetta fat, mix and lightly toast. When toasted, add bread and pancetta tomato mixture. Mix olive oil and vinegar until emulsified, add salt and pepper to taste and dress. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

BLT Panzanella

Amount Per Serving (6 g)

Calories 0

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

photo > Five and Spice

Five and Spice‘s heartier Winter Panzanella brings together beets, kale, squash and apple tossed with a maple-mustard-balsamic vinaigrette and with Emily’s addition of cubed smokey mozzarella, it’s a super satisfying meatless main meal.

photo > The Other Side of 50

This recipe is one that just might make me want to give brussels sprouts another try. Topped with an apple vinaigrette, The Other Side of 50‘s tangy combo of radicchio and brussels sprouts is crisped up with salty bacon bites and crunchy, herby croutons in Panettone Panzanella with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts

photo > The Hazel Bloom

Karen’s love for tomatoes and mozzarella inspired this twist on panzanella with The Hazel Bloom‘s Caprese Panzanella , a basic ingredient list that lets the veggies, bread and balsamic shine. Or as she calls it “non-soggy nirvana in a bowl.”

photo > Happy Yolks

Contrasting the sturdier ingredients most often found in panzanella, Happy Yolks Spring Panzanella brings a more delicate flavor to the dish with the likes of leeks, peas and fennel thanks to Kelsey & Shaun’s healthy and fresh CSA box.

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