Sides – Page 4 – Parmesan Princess

25
Apr
2014

Homemade Veggie Baked Spring Rolls!!

categories: Dinner, Healthy Living, Learn From An Expert, Recipes, Sides

Veggie Baked Spring Rolls

Ingredients:

2 12oz. Bags dry Slaw Mix
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
1 small onion, chopped
1 8 oz. package of baby Bella mushrooms, chopped
4 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. garlic powder
Salt/pepper
1 package (24)thin spring roll shells

Directions:

Add rice vinegar to a deep frying pan.
Mix in onions and cook until softened.
Add slaw mix and mushrooms.

Add spices and mix well.
Let it cook only until warmed and coated.

I tasted it 2-3 times and added more cumin and cinnamon! What a great flavor combo! (I also thought about using ginger? Maybe next time!)

Taste and add more spices as needed.
Remove from heat.
Gently peel off one Spring roll pastry.

Here is an expert! Susan?? Showing us how easy it is to roll the spring rolls!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Abqjo5A7rI

Spoon. 2-3 tbsp. of filling in center of square.

I bought the frozen spring roll pastry and let them sit at room temperature to thaw. The woman at the store warned me about buying the dry ready made shells. Apparently, they crumble when rolled. She mentioned I could keep a bowl of water and swipe water across to make them more pliable. However, mine were great! Very bendy! — I bought the frozen spring roll pastry and let them sit at room temperature to thaw. The woman at the store warned me about buying the dry ready made shells. Apparently, they crumble when rolled. She mentioned I could keep a bowl of water and swipe water across to make them more pliable. However, mine were great ! Very bendy!

Fold in right and left triangles first and then roll.
Secure By tucking in end.

My rolls were not perfect! I will watch a YouTube video next time before I attempt it! — My rolls were not perfect! I will watch the YouTube video next time before I attempt it!

Place rolls on stoneware baking sheet or jelly roll pan.
Brush with vegetable oil.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 mins.
Rotating at 10 mins.
Watch for desired color and crispness.

Yummy! They were all gone in about 15 minutes!! My family loved them!

Serve with duck sauce and/or hot mustard!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

24
Apr
2014

Skinny Girl Bethenny Frankel’s Blueberry Muffins!! Plus a Few Extras!

categories: Breakfast, Healthy Living, Recipes, Sides

We woke up in the mood for breakfast muffins! I absolutely love this recipe! It is quick and easy! 5 minutes to mix the ingredients and 20 minutes to bake! Bonus, they are gluten free!!
Makes 9 muffins!!

An explosion of flavor!! Warm chocolate chips and blueberries are the best!

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Bethenny Frankel’s Skinny Blueberry Muffins

(We add chocolate chips, too! And maybe a spoon of chia seeds!)

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups oat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup soy milk
3/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup blueberries
(We add 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1 tbsp. of chia seeds!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Insert baking cups into muffin tin or spray with nonstick spray.

Mix dry ingredients add wet ingredients and gently stir in blueberries and chocolate chips last.

Throw in some Chia seeds for health and youth! — Throw in some
Chia seeds for health and youth!

Fill half of muffin tins with batter.

I love my non -stick muffin tins ! No messing with baking cups!

Bake for 20 mins. Rotate pan half way at 10 minutes.

These muffins are so delicious and Super easy to make!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

22
Apr
2014

Homemade Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes! Yellow Cheese is Fake Cheese- That Is What My Kids Will Tell You!

categories: Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Recipes, Shopping, Sides

As we strive to learn the key ingredients in our forever young and healthy life recipe, we are experimenting with superfoods, eating more vegetables, and taking the processed “fake” ingredients out of our diets. A deli worker told my kids that cheese is white and yellow cheese is just white cheese dyed yellow. True statement, BUT they translated that into “fake” cheese. Ever since, I have been on a mission to make dishes with “fake” cheese alternatives. This led to our latest obsessions with Fontina, Manchego and my absolute favorite, Parano.

Always grate your own cheese. The difference in taste, freshness, and basic cooking properties will blow you away.

Gruyere is known to make the best potato casseroles, so I tried it for Easter!! 100% correct! Gruyere did not dissappoint! In fact, I can’t remember what cheddar scalloped potatoes even taste like anymore! Here is my recipe!

Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:
7 large potatoes scrubbed and sliced into 1/8 inch rounds
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 lb. freshly grated gruyere cheese
2 tbsp. finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Salt/pepper

My little helpers love scrubbing the potatoes! Get the kids get involved! They will eat it because they made it!

Directions:

Warm the cream and garlic in a scauce pot and add 2 cups of Gruyere 1/2 cup at a time continuously stirring.

Gruyere melts beautifully, no chunks. Perfect consistency!

Add sliced potatoes to a deep baking dish.

I sliced them pretty thin to make sure they cook! 1/8 Inch is perfect! — I sliced them pretty thin to make sure they cook! 1/8
Inch is perfect!

Pour cheese/cream mixture from the saucepan over the potatoes.

Mix well and coat all potato slices. — Mix well
and coat all potato slices.

Top with the remaining Gruyere cheese, the Parmesan, parsley, salt and pepper.

Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes at 350 degrees. It will be creamy and bubbly. Mix well and let stand 10 minutes to thicken and serve hot!

Indescribable flavor burst with only a few ingredients!! You would think there had to be extra ingredients in this dish like sour cream, cream cheese, many different grated cheeses? Nope! Welcome to the power of Gruyere!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

21
Apr
2014

Lemon Parmesan Grilled Artichokes!! The Perfect Spring and Summer Side Dish!

categories: Dinner, Healthy Living, Recipes, Sides

Lemon Parmesan Grilled Artichokes

The three A's of Spring! Asparagus, Artichokes and Avocados!! — The three A’s of Spring! Asparagus, Artichokes and Avocados!!

Ingredients:

6 artichokes washed, cut in half up and down.
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper

Directions:
Fill a sauce pot with 3 inches of water and place artichokes in the pot to steam on the top rack of your grill.

You can always steam the artichokes on the stove! Just do not overcook- about 15 minutes if you are grilling!

Steam for 15-20 minutes until the artichokes soften and a sharp knife easily pierces the stem.

Cut along the axis of symmetry -up and down.

The bit of char mixed with Parmesan, olive oil and lemon is amazing!! And enough! No need for a butter/ Dijon dip! — The bit of char mixed with Parmesan, olive oil and lemon is amazing!! And enough! No need for a butter/ Dijon dip

Brush olive oil on both sides – salt, pepper.
Grill cut side down until grill lines appear and they have a nice char.

My grill gets the 6pm sun! What a beautiful evening! — My grill gets the late afternoon early evening sun! What a beautiful evening!

Serve with drizzled lemon juice.

Bursting with flavor! Serve grilled artichokes as an appetizer on a Friday paired with a refreshing Reisling !

Always top with freshly grated Parmesan! Enjoy!

Ciao!

13
Apr
2014

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

categories: Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Homemade Italian, Party Time, Recipes, Sides

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!

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!

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!

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!

10
Apr
2014

Super Chips! Garlic Parmesan Baked Kale Chips!

categories: Fun for Kids, Gluten Free, Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, Recipes, Sides

Healthy. Superfood! Delicious. Superfood! Bonus, Kid friendly! Superfood!
Kale chips can be a healthy snack or a side dish served with paninis for lunch! Whether dressed up or dressed down, kale chips can be accessorized with salt, garlic salt, freshly grated cheeses, hot pepper, hot sauce, taco seasoning…their styling possibilities are endless!! Experiment!

Garlic Parmesan Kale Chips

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Separate kale leaves from thick stems.

Rinse and dry well.

Rip kale into chip size.

I have found that the kale chips bake the best on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet!

Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Brush or spray with olive oil.

Use any flavors you like! Sea salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, etc!

Shake on freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garlic salt.

Bake for 10 minutes or until chips are brown around the edges.
(There is a fine line between crispy and crumbling. You might need to experiment!
10 minutes seems to be perfect!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

01
Apr
2014

My 5 Year Old’s Birthday Dinner Menu…Old Bay Steamed Shrimp, Gourmet Mac ‘N Cheese and Jello!!

categories: Dinner, Fun for Kids, Party Time, Recipes, Sides

Pizza, pasta, dessert for dinner…not my kid! Shrimp and gourmet mac ‘n cheese and, Oh yea, jello! Love this kid to death! I can’t believe he is 5!! Where does the time go? Enjoy these recipes with your family and make some great memories!

Old Bay Steamed Shrimp!

I use equal parts beer, white vinegar and water in my largest deepest frying pan. Don’t be afraid to do 2-3 different batches. Ideally, you want one layer of shrimp so they can cook evenly.
Shake on the Old Bay!
Cook until pink!

This classic Old Bay Shrimp recipe is amazing! Look at the size of these !!!

(seen in post from 02/28/14- Old Bay Co.Shrimp Recipe)
http://www.oldbay.com/Recipes/Shrimp/Appetizers/OLD-BAY-Steamed-Shrimp-with-Cocktail-Sauce.aspx

Gourmet Mac ‘N Cheese
1 lb. Cavatappi pasta, cooked to al dente
2 tbsp. olive oil
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (more if too dry)
4 cups freshly grated white sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Salt, pepper.

I love the size, texture and chewiness of cavatappi pasta for Mac 'n cheese! — I love the size, texture and chewiness of cavatappi pasta for Mac ‘n cheese!

Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees!
Mix all ingredients together and add to baking dish.
Salt and pepper the top!

Add cheese last! Save about 1 cup to sprinkle on top once in baking dish!

Cover and refrigerate if you want to make ahead.

Mix in a large, deep mixing bowl and then spoon into your baking dish. This makes mixing much easier!!

Before baking, Cover with foil.
Bake for 45mins-1 hour until firm and golden around the edges.

Like a little crunch? Cover Mac n cheese with Panko breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes! Broil last 5-8 minutes and keep watch! Pull it out of oven when top is golden brown!

We have some partying to do! Enjoy!
Ciao!

12
Mar
2014

Is Your Parmesan A Fugazi? Kraft’s Mouth Watering Artichoke Recipe With One Major Substitution!!

categories: Healthy Living, Recipes, Shopping, Sides, Travel

I clicked on an ad while perusing the web that shows a video of gorgeous artichokes being prepared with a lemon Dijon drizzle and fresh Parmesan…O wait!! What? This is a Kraft commercial/recipe/ad showcasing their “100% grated Parmesan cheese” packaged in a plastic tube and does not need refrigerated!! What????

Time to research!

As Larry Olmsted tells us in his Forbes magazine article “Most Parmesan Cheeses in America are Fake, Here is Why,” real Parmigiano Reggiano from Parma, Italy , has 3 ingredients- milk, salt and rennet.

Photo from Forbes article! This is real Parmesan -reggiano cheese! — Photo from Forbes article! This is real Parmigiano- Reggiano cheese!

Moms, take the kids! You can all make your own cheese at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center in the Kitchen Works exhibit called “Say Cheese”!! We have made mozzarella many times!

Unrefrigerated, fugazi cheese also contains three other ingredients, cellulose powder, potassium sorbate, and cheese cultures, which are not found in real Parmigiano-Reggiano!! Fake cheese is illegal in Europe! Is that why the food is worlds more amazing in Europe? Real cheese!!

Did you know they have a Parmigiano Reggiano museum in Parma, Italy, where there is an entire room dedicated to the infiltration of fake cheeses!!

Photo courtesy of Forbes article. Kraft is not the only company making fake cheese!

Parmigiano -Reggiano is known for its purity. It tastes amazing and is full of healthy vitamins because of this purity! It is the cheese of choice for astronauts in space! So why buy it with chemicals that will do who knows what to our bodies?
Yes, it SHOULD be illegal in America, too.

Here is the article from Forbes…

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/11/19/the-dark-side-of-parmesan-cheese-what-you-dont-know-might-hurt-you/

So here is Kraft’s super amazing artichoke recipe…

)

And here is mine….
Exactly the same BUT with one super amazing substitution…

Sprinkle with real, freshly grated Parmesan!!! From PennMac!!…or your local authentic Italian grocery store!

Enjoy!

Ciao!

28
Feb
2014

Father, Son, Holy SHRIMP!- Try my Friday Menu! Panko Parmesan Zucchini Fries, Roasted Red Pepper and Pineapple Quinoa Coleslaw and OldBay Steamed Shrimp!

categories: Dinner, Recipes, Sides

Why do we eat cheese pizza every Friday during Lent? Why do we wear our black blouse, silver jewels, favorite jeans and boots every time we don’t know what to wear? We are content-it is easy- everybody will eat it. There are many awesome alternatives! Have you ever tried quinoa??

Let me share with you a quick, delicious menu! Panko Parmesan Zucchini Fries, Roasted Red Pepper and Pineapple Quinoa Coleslaw and OldBay Steamed Shrimp!! Voila!

Panko Parmesan Zucchini fries

Ingredients:
2 zucchini peeled and cut into 1/2 inch thick rectangles
2 eggs
1tbsp milk
1c.flour
2c.Panko bread crumbs
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Beat eggs and add milk
Set up your assembly line- zuchinni strips – beaten egg bath-flour, Breadcrumbs

Cut zucchini in half or leave long for long fries!

Dip and dunk each stick!

Shake on your Parmesan!

Place on an untreated stoneware pan or a jelly roll pan sprayed with Pam.
Bake for 15mins at 400 degrees- flip for 10 mins. Until golden brown

Roasted Red Pepper and Pineapple Quinoa Coleslaw
Ingredients:
1/2 jar Mancini red peppers chopped

I use these for everything! Great as a Pizza topping!

1/4 c.quinoa
1 bag coleslaw mix
1 can crushed pineapple
1tbsp. Spicy mustard
1tbsp. Olive oil
salt/pepper

Directions:

Boil quinoa for 10 mins.in 2 cups of water and then simmer for 15 mins

Boil and simmer with lid for 15 mins. Turn off heat until liquid is absorbed! — Turn off heat and let sit until liquid is absorbed!

In a large bowl mix coleslaw mix , red peppers, quinoa with spicy mustard, olive oil mixture

Add salt and pepper to taste!

Old Bay Steamed Shrimp
I use equal parts beer- yes beer! – white vinegar and water! Excellent recipe!! Cook only until pink!! Once the water is at a boil throw in thawed shrimp!! Love love love!!!

Old Bay shrimp!
http://www.oldbay.com/Recipes/Shrimp/Appetizers/OLD-BAY-Steamed-Shrimp-with-Cocktail-Sauce.aspx

Miss Bella and I visited Penn Ave Fish Company today! We found the freshest seafood and a wonderful surprise!!! The best fish tacos I have found, yet..spicy!!! Sushi bar and a dining room if you visit for lunch. Just walk in and buy fresh fish!

Category: Sides