Creamy Asparagus And Mushroom Pasta

 

Ingredients:

1 Bunch Fresh Asparagus, tips removed and set aside, stalk cut into one/inch pieces. Wood part of the stalks should be discarded 

8 oz sliced mushrooms

2 Cloves Garlic, Peeled  and grated 

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

¼ teaspoons red pepper flakes 

1/ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Cup Heavy Cream

A few stalks of fresh parsley and chives, chopped 

Salt & Pepper

1 lb of Pasta of Choice

To Serve:

Cracked Black Pepper

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

Cook pasta Alderney according to package instructions. Add asparagus stalks to the pasta 4 minutes before the pasta is done 

In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil and cook the mushrooms until they are tender. Add salt and pepper.

Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.

Add the cream and heat over a low flame.

Add the grated Parmesan and stir until smooth. 

Add fresh herbs.

With a spider, remove pasta and asparagus from the pasta water and add to the skillet. Stir over low heat until the pasta is well coated,

Taste, and season with salt 

Serve in individual bowls garnished with black pepper, and pass additional grated Parmesan cheese.

Tomato Salad is a good side dish.

How To Make Classic Italian Lasagna

 

Lasagna Sauce

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

¼ of a sweet onion, minced

1 small carrot, minced

1 celery stalk, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced

4-26 to 28 oz. contains Italian chopped tomatoes

2-6 oz. cans of tomato paste

1 teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon crushed red chili pepper

6 basil leaves, minced

1 sprig of fresh oregano, leaves minced

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Directions

To make mincing the vegetables easier, I put them in the food processor and process until finely chopped.

Place the minced vegetables and the olive oil in a large saucepan and cook on low until softened. Do not let the vegetables brown. Add the tomato paste and cook for two minutes. Fill the empty tomato paste cans with water and add them to the saucepan. Stir until the paste is dissolved.

Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, peppers, and herbs. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat to very low, and simmer sauce until very thick, about 3 hours. Taste to see if more salt is needed.

Pasta

16 Lasagna Noodles, fresh, no-boil, or dried, and cooked

Lasagna Cheese Filling

Ingredients

32 oz whole milk ricotta cheese

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

¼ cup chopped Italian parsley

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

16 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced thin

Directions

Mix all the cheese ingredients together, except the mozzarella cheese,  until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to assemble the lasagna.

Completing the Lasagna

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Oil a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish

Spread about 1 cup of sauce on the bottom of the dish and place a4 noodles on top.

Spread one-third of the sliced mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta and then one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture over the mozzarella; top with another 1 cup of sauce. 

Repeat the layers twice, then top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1 cup of sauce over the top layer of pasta.;

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 15 minutes longer.  Let stand 15 minutes before cutting. Makes at least 12 servings. 

Macaroni Salad Loaded With Fresh Vegetables

Ingredients

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard’

1 tablespoon pickle relish 

Juice of half a lemon

Pinch of salt and pepper.

Mix well in a serving bowl and refrigerate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Vegetable

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

1 carrot grated 

1 large bell pepper, diced 

½ cup diced celery

1 cup diced cherry tomatoes 

½ cup peeled and diced cucumber 

Salad

2 cups small shell-shaped pasta, cooked al dente.

Chopped parsley for garnish

Directions

Stir warm pasta into the dressing and let rest 15 minutes. 

Stir in vegetables, cover the dish, and refrigerate for several hours.

Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

Herbed Garlic Bread

Ingredients

3 tablespoons good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 large garlic cloves, minced

1 generous teaspoon chopped basil leaves

1 generous teaspoon chopped oregano leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 large crusty baguette

Directions 

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the bread and set over medium-low heat. When the butter melts, cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes to soften the garlic. Take care not to brown it. Once the garlic is soft.

Split the baguette in half horizontally. Divide the garlic blend between the two halves. Set them on a foil-covered baking sheet, cut side up, and bake for 15 minutes. Slice and serve hot.

Trout For Dinner

 Trout Amandine

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 large Rainbow trout filet, skin on and cut in half

Coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper

All-purpose flour

Olive oil

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 cup sliced almonds

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Juice of ½ lemon

Directions

Season the trout on both sides with salt and white pepper. Dust the skin side lightly with flour and pat off any excess. 

Heat a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, pour in a slick of vegetable oil. Add the trout, floured side down, and press down on the fish with a spatula to set the skin. Add 1 tablespoon of butter. Saute until the skin is crispy and browned, about 2 minutes. Turn over and sauté for 30 seconds. Transfer to two dinner plates.

Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter in the skillet. Add the almonds and sauté, stirring, until they're lightly browned. Add the parsley. Turn off the heat and squeeze in the lemon juice. Spoon the sauce over the fish and serve immediately.

Butternut Squash Ravioli With Parsley Garlic Butter

Ingredienta

8 large butternut squash ravioli cooked

Drain pasta

In the same pot, melt  1/4 cup butter, 1 garlic clove minced, and the juice of half a lemon. When combined, add 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley.

Place 4 ravioli on each plate and drizzle the sauce over the ravioli on each plate.

Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds fresh sugar snap peas

1 tablespoon good olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Sea salt or fleur de sel, for serving

Directions

Remove and discard the stem end and string from each sugar snap pod.

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the sugar snap peas, salt and pepper and saute, tossing occasionally for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sugar snap peas are crisp tender.

Place the sugar snap peas in a serving bowl, sprinkle with sea salt, and serve.

Creamy Tortellni And Shrimp

2-3 servings

Ingredients

▢8 oz. (250g) store-bought tortellini

▢lemon wedges

▢1 teaspoon parsley leaves, chopped

Sauce:

▢2 tablespoons olive oil

▢2 cloves garlic, minced

▢6 oz. (170g) shrimp, peeled and deveined, seasoned with a pinch of salt and black pepper

▢3 oz. (80g) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, plus 1 tablespoon of sun-dried tomato oil

▢1/3 cup white wine

▢1/2 cup heavy cream

▢1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

Directions

Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.

Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and sauté for about 10 seconds, then add the shrimp. Cook the shrimp until the surface turns opaque, then add the sun-dried tomatoes with oil, white wine, cooking cream, and salt. Stir well to combine, then add the tortellini.

Add the parsley and stir well to combine. Dish out and serve immediately with lemon wedges. Squeeze lemon juice on top of the tortellini if desired.

Have Leftover Corned Beef?

 

MakeCorned Beef Hash

2 servings

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ cup finely chopped onion

1clove garlic, minced

2 cups diced leftover Corned Beef 

2 cups leftover boiled Potatoes

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 large eggs.

Directions

Directions

Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet with a lid set over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until they begin to brown slightly approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic, corned beef, potatoes,  thyme, and black pepper to the skillet and stir to combine. 

Once combined, spread the hash evenly over the pan and firmly press down with a spatula. Place a heavy lid, heatproof plate, or second pan directly atop the hash and allow to cook until browned approximately 10 minutes. 

After 10 minutes stir the mixture, press down again, top with the lid, and allow to cook another 5 to 6 minutes, or until browned. 

With the back of a spoon, make 4 wells evenly spaced apart and crack one egg in each well. Cover the pan and coon on low for 3-4 minutes until done to your liking/

Serve immediately.

AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESESTEAK AT HOME

2 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 boneless beef ribeye steak about 1 lb

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

2 hoagie rolls, heated

1 small onion, thinly sliced 

2 slices of American Cheese 

2 slices Provolone cheese

1/4 cup Cheese Whiz 

DIRECTIONS

Slice the steak as thin as possible from the short side of the steak. Remove fat.

Season both sides with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in sliced onion and saute until soft, 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside. If not using onion, proceed immediately to the next step.

Add slices of steak into the pan in one layer to sear, for 1-2 minutes, then flip and sear the other side.

Add in cooked onions.

Reduce heat to low and top steak slices with cheese. Melt, then transfer to hoagie roll. Serve immediately.