Category: Homemade Italian

Perfectly Plump Peppers: Roasted Quinoa and Veggie Stuffed Peppers!

Pepper Perfection! My favorite pepper creation so far! Try this recipe!
Pepper Perfection! My favorite pepper creation so far! Try this recipe!

Packed with superfood quinoa and vitamins and minerals, these stuffed peppers maximize on taste and are super healthy! The kids love to eat out of the pepper bowl and then eat the pepper! So cute!
Roasted Quinoa and Veggie Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:
6 bell peppers, any color!
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
6 basil leaves, chopped
5 Yelo tomatoes

I chose these at the produce market because the package states "youth, energy, life" Yep, they got me at youth!
I chose these at the produce market because the package states “youth, energy, life” Yep, they got me at youth!

Ingredients (cont.)
1 handful of spinach
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a small saucepan, add 1 cup of uncooked quinoa and 2 cups of water on medium heat with a lid. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and cover. Let stand 15 minutes The quinoa will absorb the water.

Quinoa recipe- 1 cup uncooked quinoa and 2 cups water!
Quinoa recipe- 1 cup uncooked quinoa and 2 cups water!

Wash, cut the tops off of the peppers and clean out the seeds and white insides.

Place the hollowed peppers upside down on a Pam coated cookie sheet and roast for 25-30 mins or until peppers are softened and browning.

The peppers will soften but at the same time brown, if that makes sense. Here is the "look ." If you overcook they will turn to mush and be impossible to stuff. Error on less time if you are worried.
The peppers will soften but at the same time brown, if that makes sense. Here is the “look .” If you overcook they will turn to mush and be impossible to stuff. Error on less time if you are worried.

Meanwhile, in a frying pan heat the olive oil low to medium heat and add garlic and onions.

When the onions start to become transparent, add the quinoa and sunflower seeds.

The seeds and quinoa get a nice toasted , nutty taste.
The seeds and quinoa get a nice toasted , nutty taste.

Turn up the heat and toast the quinoa and seeds a bit, while constantly stirring.

Add tomatoes, basil and spinach and mix well.

Mix mozzarella and parmesan together to create a cheese mixture.

Fill the peppers with layers of the quinoa mixture and cheese mixture. Ending with quinoa mixture on top.

Fill them up! Don't be shy!
Fill them up! Don’t be shy!

Bake for another 5-8 minutes.

Toasted roasted perfection! So many beautiful textures and colors!
Toasted roasted perfection! So many beautiful textures and colors!
Always top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese! Enjoy!!
Always top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese! Enjoy!!

Ciao!

 

 

 

 

Totally Amazing Auricchio Artichoke And Tomato Pasta Salad!! Meet The Best Member Of The Provolone Family!

Auricchio Provolone has an unmatched taste and texture! Super easy to cube for my pasta salad! I find the largest selection and most cheese knowledge in town at Pennsylvania Macaroni in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

Auricchio is very sharp and aromatic! Brush before kissing for sure with this one!
Auricchio is very sharp and aromatic! Brush before kissing for sure with this one!

According to Pennsylvania Macaroni’s website,
“Auricchio Provolone is an aged Italian Provolone that is particularly sharp. It is often regarded as one of the best-tasting Provolones in the world. In Italian grocery stores, this cheese is often seen dangling by rope from the rafters, which makes it a very well known cheese throughout Italy. The aging process allows for the flavor of the cheese to develop over time, which ultimately adds character to its eventual taste.”

My kids love cheese! They love the cheese counter and taste testing! Bella's favorite is Havarti!
My kids love cheese! They love the cheese counter and taste testing! Bella’s favorite is Havarti!

Dear Heart will gladly give you a taste when you visit Penn Mac in the Strip! Or buy online!
http://www.pennmac.com/items/236//aged-italian-auricchio-provolone

Auricchio Artichoke and Tomato Pasta Salad!

Feeds a party as a side dish!

Ingredients:
2 lb. auricchino provolone, cubed
1 15oz. jar artichoke hearts in water, chopped
5-6 Roma tomatoes chopped
4 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup Salad Supreme pasta salad seasoning
1 1/2 lb. cavatappi pasta cooked

Only add two or three ingredients into your pasta salad. It is easy to get carried away!
Only add two or three ingredients into your pasta salad. It is easy to get carried away!

Directions:
Mix it all together and refrigerate!

I make my pasta salad the night before a party! The flavors will have time to mix and it is perfectly chilled through when served!
I make my pasta salad the night before a party! The flavors will have time to mix and it is perfectly chilled through when served!

This recipe will serve 25+ as a side dish. Feel free to half it! It is great to make ahead and chill overnight! Just add a few tsp. of lemon juice and stir!

Always top with freshly grated Parmesan!
It’s party time!
Ciao!

A New Twist On An Old Fave Beans and Greens! Garlic Garbanzo Kale Pasta!

Garlic Garbanzo Kale Pasta!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves of garlic,pressed
1 15.5 oz. can of garbanzo beans
1 35oz. can San Marzano tomatoes
1 tbsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. rosemary(chopped fresh or flakes)
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. basil
1 cup curly kale, washed and chopped off stems
1 lb. of your favorite pasta

Directions:

Warm olive oil in a frying pan on low/medium heat.
Add pressed garlic. (Be careful not to burn!)

If the garlic burns, throw it away!
If the garlic burns, throw it away!

Add tomatoes, garbanzo beans, all spices and simmer.

Want a little more spice? Add extra red pepper flakes!
Want a little more spice? Add extra red pepper flakes!

Boil 6 quarters of water and cook pasta.
When pasta is strained, turn heat off and add kale to frying pan. It will wilt but you don’t want it to cook.
Mix well.
Pour over pasta serving.
Always top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

If you like greens and beans, you will love this dish! Enjoy!
If you like greens and beans, you will love this dish! Enjoy!

Ciao!

My Nuni’s Sicilian Empanadas! Broccoli Pies! A Quick And Easy Rosemary Pizza Dough With A Broccoli Filling!!

My Nuni, maternal Sicilian great-grandmother, made what she called “empanadas” or “broccoli pies”. Since it is impossible to replicate any of her creations, here is my version…For my Nuni!

Sicilian Broccoli Empanadas

Rosemary Pizza Dough:

Ingredients:

2-3/4 cups flour
1 small packet dry yeast
1/2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp.chopped rosemary or dry flakes
1 cup water
1 tbsp. olive oil
Flour for working surface

Don't like Rosemary? Leave it out! Still a great dough recipe for pizza, Stromboli and calzones!
Don’t like Rosemary? Leave it out! Still a great dough recipe for pizza, Stromboli and calzones!

Directions:
Mix together flour, yeast, sugar, salt and rosemary well with a wooden spoon.
Stir in water a little at a time. Dough begins to form. Work with hands
Add olive oil.
Cover bowl with a dish towel and let sit 3-4 hours.

Broccoli filling:

Ingredients:
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves pressed
1-1 lb. bag of broccoli florets
1 small onion chopped finely
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions:
Put olive oil in a fry pan on medium heat.
Add pressed garlic then onions and stir for a few mins.
Add thawed broccoli.

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Cover with a nice coat of pepper.
Add a few shakes of salt.
Mix all together.
Cover with a lid and stir frequently.

The broccoli will cook down. Chop up big florets with your spoon as you stir. If chopping fresh broccoli, chop small!
The broccoli will cook down. Chop up big florets with your spoon as you stir. If chopping fresh broccoli, chop small!

Put them together:
Preheat oven 400! With pizza stone inside oven!
Section dough in to 4
Roll out dough on floured surface into 4″x6″ ovals.
If too elasticy let it sit a min.

If your dough won't relax  roll it out a little bigger to around 1/8 inch thick.
If your dough won’t relax roll it out a little bigger to around 1/8 inch thick.

Scoop mixture from pan into center of oval.
Add a handful of mozzarella and a shake of Parmesan.
Fold dough over and tuck and pinch all the way around

Pinch dough in a rolling motion to close dough.
Pinch dough in a rolling motion to close dough.

Put 2 slits in the top of each.
Brush with a tiny bit of oil.

Don't have a pizza stone?? Get one!!!
Don’t have a pizza stone?? Get one!!!

Bake 25-30 mins until golden brown.

These are perfect! Enjoy!!
These are perfect! Enjoy!!

 

Serve with a nice marinara sauce for dipping!

Ciao!

Panko Ricotta Eggplant Parmesan!! Plus, Learn How To Take The Bitterness Out Of Your Eggplant!!

They say the perfect eggplant is “tight-skinned” “fresh” and “young”…Yeah, yeah, yeah sounds like a mom in her 30s worst nightmare!!  Well, you will be happy to hear these “types” don’t exist in Western, PA!  The eggplants, that is. Ours are slightly older, a little looser, more bitter…

Since we don’t get the ripe, young eggplants, to get the best taste we need to degorge!!

Cut off the ends. Peel off skin. Thinly slice. Sprinkle with salt in a colander for 20 mins. Rinse and pay dry!!
Cut off the ends. Peel off skin. Thinly slice. Sprinkle with salt in a colander for 20 mins. Rinse and pat dry!!

Degorging takes out any bitter taste and really makes the dish delicious!

Ingredients:

1 eggplant, rinsed,peeled and thinly sliced
3 cups tomato sauce
3 cups ricotta
1 tbsp. each thyme rosemary basil
3 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk

Directions:
Preheat oven 350!
Spoon 1/4 cup sauce in bottom of 9X13 baking dish. Spread around with spatula.
Prepare egg coating by beating with milk.
Dip eggplant rounds in egg and then cover in Panko breadcrumbs. Create a layer of these in the dish.

Use different sized eggplant rounds to cover as much of the pan as possible!
Use different sized eggplant rounds to cover as much of the pan as possible!

Next add a layer of ricotta topped with mozzarella and Parmesan.

Layer it up! Finish with sauce and cover with mozzarella cheese and parmesan
Layer it up! Finish with sauce and cover with mozzarella cheese and parmesan

Follow with a layer of sauce then another layer of eggplant.

Cover with foil.
Bake 45 mins at 350 covered.
Remove the foil and bake another 10-15 mins until cheese is melted and it is bubbling a bit.

Panko browns on the edges! I made a salad and serve a nice ciabatta!
Panko browns on the edges! I made a salad and served a nice ciabatta!

Let it sit for 15 mins before serving!
Always serve with additional freshly grated Parmesan! Enjoy!

Ciao!

20 Minute Gourmet Pasta Tossed In A Pan Sauce! Open a bottle of wine…You Got This!

This recipe is great! I never add more than 2 veggies!  Peppers an spinach tonight!

Get home at 5 and have nothing prepared for dinner? We are all there multiple times per week! Relax, my 20 minute pasta dish is healthy, easy and quick!! Best part…It looks like you have cooked all day!

Yep...20 minutes!
Yep…20 minutes!

20 Min.Gourmet Pasta in Pan Sauce

Ingredients:
2 cloves of garlic presses
2 tbsp olive oil
1 35 oz. can LaValle whole tomatoes
Salt/pepper
Choose what you have in the fridge! If none – move on there is nothing wrong with a pan marinara sauce! Today, I have a pepper and a bag of spinach.
1 pepper chopped
1 cup fresh spinach
1 pack Mushrooms sliced
1/2 cup Italian olives sliced
1 zucchini sliced
1/2 cup Pepperoni
Etc.

1 lb. of your favorite pasta- farfalle for us today!
Freshly grated Parmesan

Directions:

Put hot water in a stock pot on the stove, add 3 pinches of salt and bring to a boil.
Heat your largest frying pan on medium/low heat.
Add olive oil
Add garlic
Stir with wooden spoon- remember no brown- if it is crackling it is too hot!

If garlic burns throw it out and start over! Start over med/low heat.
If garlic burns,  throw it out and start over! Start over med/low heat.

Add peppers (raw veggies) put a lid on and cook 5 mins.
Add can of tomatoes.
Salt and pepper
Put a lid on and let it cook. Totally fine to boil and bubble. You want to quickly cook the veggies and let the flavors mix together.

Chop up tomatoes as you stir . We like to have some chunks of tomato!
Chop up tomatoes as you stir . We like to have some chunks of tomato!

When water is at a rapid boil add pasta and follow directions and cook until al dente. Perfectly chewy!

Add some salt to the hot water. Wait for a rapid boil! Relax, you have time!
Add some salt to the hot water. Wait for a rapid boil! Relax, you have time!

Strain pasta in a strainer over the sink. Take advantage of the pore opening steam facial!!

I love it! Freshen up for dinner! Blot with a paper towel!
I love it! Freshen up for dinner! Blot with a paper towel!

Add a few spoonfuls of sauce in a serving bowl and coat pasta so it doesn’t stick. Mix in spinach last!

This recipe is great! I never add more than 2 veggies!  Peppers an spinach tonight!
This recipe is great! I never add more than 2 veggies! Peppers and spinach tonight!

Serve with a nice ciabatta! I happened to have one in the freezer! OR Make a quick garlic toast in your toaster! Toast bread, butter it and sprinkle on garlic salt and Italian seasoning!

Always add freshly grated Parmesan !! Enjoy!
Always add freshly grated Parmesan !! Enjoy!

A Must Have…Great Sauce!

Hello World!! All women need a great handbag, a great pair of pumps, and a phenomenal sauce! A delicious, super easy sauce is the key to happy stress- free entertaining! Start the sauce in the morning, boil some pasta, make a salad, pick up a loaf of fresh ciabatta and Voila! After realizing that my grandma’s sauce is impossible to replicate, I decided to make my own! I stripped it down and learned from countless episodes of “sauces gone wild.”

I realized I was burning my garlic! Pitch it and start over if this happens because it totally ruins the taste! No brown! I always use San Marzano tomatoes. Why? Their taste is absolutely incredible! The low acidity gives you a bold, rich flavor as opposed to a sour tasting sauce.  Red Pack will not cut it, the extra $2 is so worth it!!

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www.pennmac.com

I love the selection of tomatoes at Pennsylvania Macaroni  (you will find I get all of my fresh ingredients here) located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District! Or online!

So here is the most basic (still totally delicious) recipe:

Ingredients:
2cloves of garlic chopped
2tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion chopped
2 cans of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 can water
4-5 basil leaves chopped
Salt/pepper
 
Directions:
Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat add onions and sauté
Add garlic and press with a wooden spoon to release flavors
Cover pan with basil, ground pepper and sprinkle with salt.
Add 2 cans of tomatoes, 1 can tomato paste and 1 can of water to a stock pot and stir well
Add contents from frying pan
Cook on low- medium heat covered with the lid slightly propped.
 

Cook a pound of pasta. Add one spoon of sauce to serving bowl and coat to avoid pasta sticking together!

Always top off with freshly grated Parmesan!! Enjoy!