Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Sauce Review

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Reviews, Sauces | 9 comments

This month I was fortunate enough to receive a complimentary sample of pasta sauces from GL Mezzetta . Mezzetta is a Napa Valley specialty food producer, best known for domestic and imported peppers & olives, and now for their foray into the sauce world.

I must admit, when I started my blog earlier this year, I couldn’t have imagined that people would seek me out, send me samples & ask for my opinions! How great is that? I mean who doesn’t like something gratis? And, I’m always especially tickled when they’re FULL size samples.

Grilled Eggplant dripping with a Tomato and Ricotta Salsa

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Appetizer, Sides, Vegetables | 14 comments

We’ve officially skipped spring and dived directly into summer. Now that it’s scorching hot outside already, it’s time to get outside and utilize the grill. Have I mentioned how much I like eggplant? It’s such a meaty vegetable & surprisingly inexpensive. One really does go a long way. I like to hit my local farmer’s market this time of year to get the freshest ingredients possible. Plus, it’s always nice to see where your food comes from & I like to support my local farmers!

This is a quick and easy recipe that can be done almost completely on the grill. It’s perfect as an appetizer or even as a side dish. If you want to change it up a bit, simply add a toasted bun and it becomes a scrumptious eggplant burger!

Drunken Mussels

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Appetizer, Seafood | 21 comments

I adore mussels. They are simply scrumptious. Some people tend to shy away from Mussels, because they’re not quite sure what to do with them. But, they really couldn’t be easier to fix and they’re quite a chameleon when it comes to absorbing flavors.

If you’re squeamish about cleaning them, feel free to ask your fishmonger to do it for you (they’re quite happy to). Otherwise, it just entails placing your mussels into a colander, running cold water over them, and removing the “beard” – the greyish little hair attached to them. Voila.

They take minutes to cook, depending on the size, and they’ll turn this beautiful shade of orange. Careful not to overcook them; as with most seafood, they will become tough & chewy. Not something you want to associate with your mussels.

Paula’s Buitoni Pasta Review

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta, Reviews | 11 comments

Buitoni Riserva Wild Mushroom Agnolotti:
I recently received a sample of Buitoni’s new Riserva pasta line compliments of Buitoni & Foodbuzz for review. If you’ve read my blog you know I LOVE pasta. I was anxious to try the new riserva line but also a little skeptical because of my love for authentic Italian food. I’m not normally a fan of pre-packaged pastas but as a busy Mom sometimes prepackaged is a necessity & much better than the fast food alternatives. I love mushrooms and was quite excited that my sample was the wild mushroom Agnolotti!

With that said, I was ready to make my meal. I opened the package and followed the very simple instructions (add to boiling water-haha, doesn’t get any easier than that!). I let it cook for about 4 minutes and could tell they were ready to roll. I drained the pasta well, returned it to my pot & tossed them with extra virgin olive oil. I wanted to experience the pasta to the fullest without drowning it with other flavors, so I opted for a nice grade of extra virgin olive oil & garnished with fresh parmigiano reggiano (of which I just brought back from my trip to Italy).

Guacamole

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Appetizer | 9 comments

We LOVE guacamole at our house. It’s so easy to make & so much better for you than the pre-made versions that you find at the grocery (at least at mine anyway). If you are having a big to do & want this as an easy appetizer, it’s easy to double. Plus it’s incredibly colorful & smells scrumptious. If you’d like to add a kick to your guacamole, feel free to add in a minced jalapeno (with or without seeds depending on how brave you are). We like to eat our guacamole with pita chips, tortilla chips or carrot sticks. Or for a real change try putting it inside of mushroom caps & serving it that way!

So next time you’re in the mood for some guacamole, pick up the ingredients from your local farmers market or grocery & give it a go. You’ll be AMAZED how deliciously simple it is! The only thing I normally have to pick up are the avocados. The rest are pantry staples in my house! Ah, the importance of a well stocked pantry, perhaps this should be a topic for an upcoming blog entry!

Fruit Tart

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Desserts | 9 comments

This is simply scrumptious & with the addition of fruit I feel slightly less guilty about gobbling up an extra slice (or two). I came up with the idea for this tart after a recent trip to my local restaurant supply store where I picked up a tart pan – among other things (which if you have one nearby & you’re a foodie, or just like kitchen gadgets, you HAVE to go). After making my tiramisu I thought that the filling would be perfect for this. I added a capful of pure vanilla extract to the recipe and it really added another level of flavor to the mixture. Don’t skimp on the vanilla, please be sure to use a PURE vanilla extract. I always use Madagascar vanilla & would highly recommend that brand. I love strawberries & kiwi’s but am sure that other fruits would be equally delicious. You might try using raspberries, or even blueberries to mix things up!