category European

Marinara Sauce

Created on 10/02/2018

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1/2 white or yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 35-ounce can of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 4 basil sprigs
  • Dried oregano

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

  • To make this a spicy marinara, add 2 or 3 tablespoons of Calabrian chili oil or red pepper flakes.
  • For a richer flavor, add balsamic vinegar or red wine after adding the whole peeled tomatoes. Allow the sauce to cook for at least an hour so the wine has time to dissipate.
  • Chicken broth or bone broth

Instructions

Step One: Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven. Once hot, add garlic cloves and onion. Saute until garlic and onion are fragrant and translucent, roughly 7 – 8 minutes

Step Two: Add tomato paste. Spread the paste around the bottom of the pot. The paste will develop a deeper red color when it is cooked. Once the color has developed, add San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes. Lightly crush the tomatoes with a wooden spoon

Step Three: Once the tomatoes have broken up into smaller pieces, add the salt, basil sprigs and dried oregano. Stir everything up and cook for 15 minutes. Remove basil sprigs

Step Four: If the sauce is too thick for your preference, add chicken broth or water until you reach the desired consistency. If you prefer a smooth sauce, blend everything together with an immersion blend or hand blender

Notes: This sauce is great for spaghetti, pizza, meatballs, and lasagna.

Nov 22, 2022

Baked Chicken Meatballs

Created on 7/14/2020

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground chicken. You may also use ground turkey
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly grated black pepper

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

  • Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, any other seasonings you prefer

Instructions:

Step One: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil

Step Two: Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Mix everything together with your hands until it is well combined

Step Three: Take a spoon-sized amount of the mixture and roll it into a ball in your hands. Place the meatball on the baking sheet. This mixture should create roughly 30 meatballs.

Step Four: Cook the meatballs in the oven for 25 – 30 minutes

Notes: These meatballs taste great with marinara sauce or teriyaki sauce. These are delicious in meatball subs or with zoodles. Meatballs freeze great.

Nov 22, 2022

Basil Pesto

Created on 11/4/2022

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed tight. If you don’t have this much basil, supplement spinach leaves
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 to 1/2 jalapeno
  • Bunch of cilantro
  • Squeeze of lemon or lime
  • Water to thin out the consistency

Instructions:

Step one: Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor. Add more water to the mixture if it is too thick. If it is too thin, add more cheese or vegetables

Notes: This sauce is great on cabbage salad, as a dip for vegetables, or a topping for caprese chicken.

Nov 22, 2022

Lasagna

Created on 5/6/2021

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound spicy Italian sausage
  • 3/4 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 (28 ounces) whole canned tomatoes (San Marzano)
  • 2 (6.5 ounces) cans of canned tomato sauce
  • 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • 1/2 cup dried basil
  • Bunch of fresh basil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 16 ounces of ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Step 1: Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, garlic and green pepper in a Dutch oven over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season with sugar, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and pepper. Add red wine. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally

Step 2: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)

Step 4: To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.

Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Rest lasagna for 15 minutes before serving

Notes: For a quicker recipe, use this marinara sauce.

Nov 18, 2022

Fish and Chips

Created on 11/18/2022

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs snapper
  • 1/4 cup rice flour
  • 3/4 cup plain flour
  • 1 1/4 cup rice flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup very cold beer. Keep in the fridge until needed.
  • 4 cups peanut oil
  • Frozen french fries
  • Tartar sauce
  • Lemon wedges

Instructions

Step 1: Put the bowl for mixing the batter in the fridge. This is the key to a crisper batter

Step 2: Heat oven to temperature for frozen french fries. Put french fries on an oven tray, and mix with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Put in the oven

Step 3: Cut the fish into the preferred size. Pat dry with a paper towel

Step 4: In a medium-sized bowl, add 1/4 cup of rice flour

Step 5: Heat a large pot with 4 cups of peanut oil over medium-high heat. Once the heat has reached 375, it’s ready for frying

Step 6: Salt the fish, then coat each piece in the bowl of rice flour completely

Step 7: Take the mixing bowl out of the fridge and whisk together the flour, rice flour, baking powder, and salt. Now add the beer from the fridge and mix all ingredients together for 5 seconds. Do not mix longer than that. If the mixture is lumpy, that is fine

Step 8: Coat each piece of fish in the batter fully. Let the excess drip off. Immediately add the battered fish to the oil and fry for 3 minutes, flipping after 2 minutes, until golden brown

Step 9: Carefully remove the fish from the oil. Place on a paper towel and salt right away

Notes: If you have leftover fish, freeze it the night you cook it. When you’re ready to use it, put it in the oven until hot and crispy. Serve on a hamburger bun with leftover tartar sauce

Nov 18, 2022

Tartar Sauce

Created November 18, 2022

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup kewpie mayo
  • 1 cup dill pickles
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion (you can use a grater for this)
  • 1 tablesppon of tabasco or a similar hot sauce

Instructions:

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to combine.

Step 2: Add more lemon juice and hot sauce to taste.

Nov 18, 2022