Ah, eggplants…AUBERGINES (even bettah)! Have I mentioned how much I LURVE them? They are really a vivacious veggie ; ) Like that do ya? They’re an amazing regal dark purple color & have curves that go on for miles, my kinda veggie! A few of these babies are the backbone of this amazing dish. If you don’t have time to make a Lasagne alla Bolognese try this. It’s the same comfort food feel except in a veggie version ; ) Read the rest of this entry »
Cauliflower doesn’t really do much for me on it’s own, BUT add some loverly creamy bechamel sauce, some homemade breadcrumbs & the King of cheese Parmigiano Reggiano & well count me in! This dish will hopefully make you think twice about Cauliflower & should get even the pickiest of eaters in your house to change their minds as well. I know my kids lurve this! They call them white trees (& yes they refer to broccoli as green trees) I think it’s cute & well they’re eating them so I’m a happy camper.
With all of these sweet posts lately (Crostoli, Chocolate Nutella Molten Lava Cakes, Panna Cotta *drool*) I have been craving some veggies. I know, you might want to check my temperature. I thought the same thing. But you know before I know it, it’s going to spring (dare to dream - I am ovah all this snow) and wiggly jiggly is only good in jello if you know what I mean. Read the rest of this entry »
This is another Italian dish that can be made a multitude of ways. Cipolle Vegetariane is Italian for Vegetarian Onions! Yes, you read right - Vegetarian Onions! Don’t get excited, I am after all serving them with my Pepper Encrusted Steaks! But they are just as fab on their own. They smell so divine while cooking. What’s not to like: onions, mushrooms, bell pepper. Oooh! So good.
Zucchine Farcite is Italian for Stuffed Zucchini! Again, everything sounds so much better in Italian. It’s just the way everything rolls off the tongue. So poetic, so rhythmic, so…swoon! If I ever have to hear really bad news I’d like to hear it in Italian. Just sayin’.
Zucchini are an amazing little veggie & they’re in abundance right now. I have had stuffed zucchini so many ways. Once you get the basic recipe down the possibilities are endless.
Insalata Caprese is simply Caprese Salad (literally translated salad in the style of Capri) It comes from the region of Campania in Italy & it just might be the simplest dish you’ve ever put together. But don’t let the simple fool you, it’s full of flavor & oh so good for you. You don’t have to feel guilty about over indulging in this one.
You can serve them as I have in the picture above, sliced & layered oh so architecturally, or if you prefer a much more rustic version, you can arrange the slices on a platter - equally beautiful and just as tasty.
I recently got a brand new Imperial Pasta Maker! Yes, it’s an old school hand crank version but for me there isn’t any other way to make it. It’s a machine that will be around for you to pass on to the next pasta maker in your family. There is NOTHING like homemade pasta. You should really try it if you have not.
There is nothing wrong with dried boxed pasta (I use them all the time) but there is just something special about fresh homemade pasta. It’s much easier than you would think. It is time consuming but not difficult. If you wanted to speed up the process you could even mix the dough in your mixer or food processor. The recipe posted will make enough for 4 regular portions. I usually make at least two of this recipe to feed my family of 5 but we’re big pasta eaters. If you were making this as a prima, or first course, I think one batch would be fine.
Are you ready for a Throwdown? Why YES I am! My foodie friend Kristy at The Wicked Noodle invited me to join in a “friendly” Johnsonville Brat Throwdown. There was only one rule…we were challenged to come up with a recipe using Johnsonville Brats! Well, never one to shy away from a challenge (I have been known to be banned from board games because of my competitive nature) I threw on my Johnsonville <3’s bell’alimento apron & I jumped right in!
This is the perfect time of year for asparagus & it’s the perfect time for grilling. I came up with this idea to caramelize asparagus on the grill & guess what? It’s amazing!
Hubs was a total disbeliever on this one when I was originally pitching the idea. He said many times over, “Really, you want to put sugar on the asparagus” (insert eye rolling here). But as he knows once I have an idea in my head it’s best just to go with it.
So he reluctantly went along & fired up the grill. He quickly did a 180 when he tasted them. He nearly ate an entire plate full himself. The kids were even gobbling them up. They are totally unexpected and wildly delicious. Plus they couldn’t be easier to make.
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!
