Category: RECIPES

OVEN BAKED CHICKEN & RICE with SAUTEED MUSHROOMS

This dish has progressed over the years for me with flavor changes and updates. Grams used to call it “CONTINENTAL” chicken for a reason I will never know. LOL 🙂 But, it’s just a sturdy chicken and rice that serves a family well.

OVEN BAKED CHICKEN & RICE with SAUTEED MUSHROOMS

CHICKEN
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt, to taste
1/4 teaspoon FRESH ground pepper, to taste
6 skinless bone in chicken thighs **

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • In a shallow bowl, whisk together the avocado oil, parsley, paprika, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper.
  • Add the chicken pieces and coat each piece evenly with the seasoning. Set aside, allowing the flavors to absorb into the meat.
  • Spray a large baking dish with nonstick cooking oil spray and set aside.

RICE
1 large VIDALIA onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 cups long grain white rice

  • In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the broth, water, salt, oil, garlic.
  • Add the onion, garlic, oil, Stir well to combine.
  • Mix in the onions and rice.
  • Add to baking dish.
  • Arrange chicken in a single even layer over the rice, cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
  • Uncover and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked right through to the bone.
  • Change oven setting to broil for 2-3 minutes to brown the chicken and crisp rice.
  • When chicken and rice is finished cooking, allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes.

MUSHROOMS
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pound button mushrooms quartered or I prefer Beech Mushrooms
1 small bunch green onions, sliced thin
2/3 cup white wine
FRESH ground sea salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, to garnish

  • Heat butter in a pan over medium-high heat.
  • Sauté green onions and garlic until fragrant (30 seconds) and add mushrooms; cook until softened.
  • Add wine and cook until absorbed.
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons of chives and season with salt and pepper.

ASSEMBLY

  • Transfer chicken onto a plate; fluff rice with forks, then mix the mushrooms through the rice.
  • Arrange chicken back onto the rice in the dish, garnish with remaining chives and chopped parsley.

NOTE: If you prefer using chicken breasts or boneless thigh fillets, add them in after 20 minutes dish has been in the oven. The bone-in pieces tend to stay juicier and more flavorful.

BACON MUSHROOM CHICKEN

BACON MUSHROOM CHICKEN adapted from THE RECIPE CRITIC

CHICKEN
4 bone in, skin on chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
  • Generously season the chicken thighs with the salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
  • Pan Sear each side of the chicken for 1-2 minutes until brown and place skillet in oven.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked throughout.
  • Transfer chicken to a platter.

SAUCE
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 clove garlic, minced
8 ounces white beech mushrooms
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, stems removed

  • Add avocado oil to the skillet and saute the mushrooms until soft.
  • Add the heavy cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme.
  • Bring to a simmer until the sauce starts to thicken.
  • Add the bacon pieces.
  • Add the chicken back to the skillet, turning to coat in the sauce.
  • Serve immediately.

RUSTIC CHICKEN with GARLIC GRAVY

RUSTIC CHICKEN with GARLIC GRAVY adapted from Seasons And Suppers
A SUPER delicious one-pan meal served over mashed potatoes or pasta.

CHICKEN
2 Tbsp cooking oil vegetable, canola etc
6 pieces skin-on/bone-in chicken thighs, washed and dried
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper
20 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon FRESH thyme leaves
2 tablespoons butter
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Heat the oven to 400°.
In a large cast iron skillet heat the oil over medium high heat.
  • Generously season chicken pieces with salt and the pepper.
  • Sear the chicken until golden, turning regularly, for about 8 minutes.
  • Transfer chicken to a platter, keeping warm.
  • Remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan.
  • Add onions and sauce 30 seconds or so.
  • Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic, and cook, stirring regularly, until it is starting to brown, about 3 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the onions and garlic and stir until combined.
  • Return the chicken to the pot, cover, and bake for 15 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from the oven and put it on a burner.
  • Remove the chicken pieces from the pot to platter.
  • Over medium-high heat, whisk in the wine and simmer for 1 minute.
  • Whisk in the broth, thyme and a bit more salt and pepper, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring regularly, until sauce thickens.
  • Turn the heat off and stir in the butter.
  • Taste sauce and adjust seasoning.
  • Add the chicken back to the pot coating each piece with the sauce.
  • Serve spooned over mashed potatoes, rice or pasta

PARMESAN HERB MUSHROOM CHICKEN

PARMESAN HERB MUSHROOM CHICKEN adapted from Cafe Delites

CHICKEN
2 tablespoons butter
6 skin on, bone in chicken thighs*
PINCH of garlic powder, to taste
FRESH ground sea salt and pepper

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Generously season chicken with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add butter. When melted sear chicken thighs 2-3 minutes on each side (skin side down last) until golden and crispy.
  • Transfer chicken pan to the oven and roast until completely cooked through, about 25-30 minutes.
Transfer to a warm plate and set aside.

SAUCE
2 green onions, sliced thin
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms (I like to substitute beech mushrooms for a nuttier flavor)
1 tablespoon FRESH minced basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons FRESH chopped Flat Leaf Parsely
1½ cups Half and Half
2 cups baby spinach
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese , divided
FRESH ground sea salt and pepper, to taste
1 KNORR chicken bullion cube, crushed
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with
2 tablespoons Half and Half
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley for garnish

  • Drain all but 2 tablespoons of some of the excess fat from the skillet.
  • Return skillet to the stove over medium-high heat and sauté the onions and garlic a minute or so in the pan juices until fragrant.
  • Add the mushrooms, herbs and 2 teaspoons of parsley, sautéing until mushrooms begin to soften.
  • Reduce heat to low-medium heat, add the half and half and bring to a SLOW simmer, stirring occasionally, and being careful NOT to boil.
  • Add in the bullion cube powder and season with salt and pepper to your taste.
  • 
Mix together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons half and half.
  • Add cornstarch mixture to the center of the pan, and continue to simmer while quickly stirring the mixture through until the sauce thickens.
  • Add 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese; allow sauce to simmer for another minute until cheese melts through the sauce.
  • Add the chicken back into the pan and allow to simmer for 1-2 minutes in the cream sauce.
  • Taste test and adjust seasoning, if desired.
  • Fold in spinach leaves, stirring to coat and cooking JUST until they wilt.
  • Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of parsley and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve over mashed potatoes, rice or pasta.


NOTES – To substitute chicken breasts for the thighs there is no need to bake them. After adding the breasts back into the pan, continue simmering in the sauce until completely cooked through.

CARAMEL APPLE SLAB PIE

I’m posting this recipe for my nieces while I keep looking for the one I actually promised them.

Before we get into the recipe I thought I’d share a little about crust making.

PERFECT BLUE RIBBON PIE CRUST TIPS

There is nothing as good as a flaky, buttery, tender homemade crust in my opinion. Sure, remade is convenient, but it just doesn’t compare. You DON’T have to be a BLUE RIBBON baker to make a great crust either.

Pie dough is basically three simple ingredients; flour, fat and water in EXACT, or at least near exact proportions.

While you supposedly don’t need to sift flour anymore, you do need to stir it up to make it fluffy before measuring. Personally, I still use a sifter. Use a spoon to put the flour in your measuring cup and a knife to level it off. Just scooping into the flour bin tends to pack the flour too tightly.

Be SURE to use COLD fats whether it’s butter, shortening or lard. This is a step that helps make your crust flaky. If you’re recipe calls for fat in a liquid form it will be more tender than flaky. When you cut in your fats STOP when you have pieces the size of peas. Anything too large will allow the dough to form holes in your crust when the fats melt. If the pieces are too small they melt too fast taking away from the flakiness of your crust.

Be sure and add your COLD water only a tablespoon at a time JUST until the dough holds together. DO NOT OVER MIX! Add just enough water to bring the dough together so you can form a ball.

BLIND BAKING (cooking the crust by itself before adding the filling) makes a stronger crust for filling. There are many tricks for doing this. One of the simplest methods is to add a piece of heavy duty folded piece of foil to the inside of the crust and gently form the foil to the pie pan shape. Partially bake the crust, remove the foil, add the filling and finish baking. You will probably want to add a piece of foil around the edges to keep your edges from browning too fast and burning. Many times I add a layer of beans on top of the foil to keep it weighted so it doesn’t bubble and blister. If you’re making a pie with an unbaked filling, remove the foil halfway through the baking time, prick the bottom with a fork and return the crust to the oven to finish baking.

NOTES:

  • TOO MUCH flour or water will make your crust TOUGH.
  • TOO MUCH fat will make your crust crumbly and fall apart.
  • TOO MUCH WATER = STICKY MESS
  • NOT ENOUGH WATER = BIG CRACKS IN YOUR DOUGH

TRICKS:

  • Use 2 sheets of wax paper when rolling your dough so you don’t need to add additional flour. I prefer to do this to keep the crust from getting too tough.
  • Carefully roll your dough gently around your rolling pin and move it to your pie pan and gently unroll to avoid stretching or tearing it. You can also carefully fold your disc in quarters to move it to the pie plate.

This pie tastes just like a caramel apple! The beauty though is that there is a thin and flaky crust that houses the juicy apples and crispy crust that is drizzled with homemade caramel for a melt in your mouth tasty treat.  There are 2 versions CARAMEL APPLE SLAB PIE and APPLE PUMPKIN SPICE SLAB PIE

CARAMEL APPLE SLAB PIE – 25 pieces

  • Prep time 40 mins
  • Cook time 45 mins
    Total time 1 hour 25 mins

CRUST
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
⅔ cup CRISCO butter-flavored shortening
8 tablespoons cold water

  • Spray a 15x10x1 inch jelly roll pan with non stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl combine flour and salt. Using a pastry blender cut in the shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cold water over the mixture and toss with a fork. Repeat using 1 tablespoon of water at a time until it is moistened and knead the dough into a ball.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 19×13-inch rectangle.
  • Wrap it around the rolling pin and unroll it into the prepared baking pan.
  • Ease dough into the pan and up the sides, being careful not to stretch it.
  • Trim dough to ½ inch beyond edge of pan.
  • Fold dough edge over and flute as desired.

APPLES
⅔ cup sugar
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons QUALITY ground cinnamon
3½ pounds granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices (about 10 cups)

  • In an extra large bowl combine the sugar, ⅓ cup flour, cinnamon and apples.
  • Toss until coated.
  • Spoon the mixture on the dough and spread evenly.

CRUMB TOPPING
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup butter

  • In a large bowl, stir together quick-cooking rolled oats, packed brown sugar, and all-purpose flour.
  • Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until topping mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  • Sprinkle EVENLY on top of apples.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes or until apples are tender.
  • Cool slightly.

NOTE: IF TOP IS BROWNING TOO QUICKLY, COVER LIGHTLY WITH A PIECE OF FOIL.

CARAMEL
1 cup PACKED brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
½ cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon PURE Vanilla
Pinch of salt

  • Mix all ingredients together until smooth in a medium saucepan over medium-low to medium heat.
  • Cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until thicker.
  • Turn off heat.
  • Serve warm or refrigerate until cold.
  • Drizzle on top of apple slab pie.

SPINACH SALAD with PEACH VINAIGRETTE

SPINACH SALAD with PEACH VINAIGRETTE serves 6-8 adapted from Alli Kelley from Longourn Farms

SALAD
4 cups baby spinach or favorite lettuce mix
4 cups coleslaw mix
+/- 1 cup Craisins
1/2 cup candied walnuts
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 large peach, peeled and sliced
Peach vinaigrette dressing (recipe below)

  • Toss together the spinach and coleslaw in a large salad bowl.
  • Sprinkle in the raisins, walnuts, sunflower seeds and Parmesan cheese.
  • Toss together.
  • Drizzle dressing over, tossing periodically until desired amount is reached.

PEACH VINAIGRETTE
1/4 cup avocado oil
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Juice of 1 large lemon
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup diced peaches (with skin removed)
2 tablespoons celery seeds

  • Blend all the ingredients except the celery seeds in a food processor until smooth.
  • Stir in celery seeds.

ORANGE BRAISED CHICKEN

ORANGE BRAISED CHICKEN
2 bone-in chicken legs
2 bone-in chicken thighs
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 cup sliced fennel
1 small red onion, sliced
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons Bragg’s amino acids
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 navel orange, half juiced – other half sliced into half moons
Fennel feathers for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Heat coconut oil in oven proof skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Sear chicken pieces 8-10 pieces until golden on all sides.
  • Transfer chicken pieces to platter and keep warm.
  • Add onions and fennel to sauteing 2-3 minutes until lightly browned.
  • Add orange juice to pan and deglaze.
  • Add amino acids and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
  • Add chicken pieces and orange slices and coat well.
  • Place pan in oven for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
  • Serve with mashed potatoes or white rice.
  • Garnish with fennel feathers.

CARAMEL APPLE HAND PIES

CARAMEL APPLE HAND PIES
DOUGH
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup cold sour cream

  • Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl.
  • Add the cubed butter to the bowl and use your fingers to work the butter into the flour until the mixture is the consistency of wet sand.
  • Stir in the sour cream (the dough will be very wet), and then turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface.
  • Knead the dough a few times until it comes together, adding more flour, 1 teaspoon at a time, if the dough is too sticky to handle.
  • Roll the dough into an 8×10-inch rectangle and dust both sides with flour before folding it into thirds as if you were folding a letter.
  • Rotate the dough 90º and roll it out again into an 8×10-inch rectangle.
  • Fold the dough again into thirds then wrap it securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes while you make the filling.

FILLING
2 cups small peeled and SMALL diced Granny Smith apples (about corn kernel size)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • In a small bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, sugar and flour, stirring until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY
Egg wash – 1 egg lightly whisked with 1 Tablespoon water
LARGE flake sea salt
Crystal sanding sugar

  • Preheat the oven to 425º.
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and unfold it onto a well-floured surface, rolling it out to a 14×14-inch square.
  • Using a 3-inch circular cookie cutter or cup, cut out as many circles as possible. Re-roll the scraps and continue cutting out circles until you run out of dough, ensuring you end up with an even number of circles.
  • Place six of the dough circles on a Silpat or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Spoon a small portion of the apple filling into the center of each circle, leaving enough of a border around the filling.
  • Top the apple filling with a pinch of sea salt.
  • Place a second dough circle atop each filled circle then use a fork to crimp the edges together, sealing each pie.
  • Brush each pie with the egg wash, and using a sharp knife, cut two or three vents on the top of each pie.
  • Sprinkle the pies with crystal sanding sugar.
  • Bake the pies until they’re golden brown, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove the pies from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes before glazing.

GLAZE
Juice of 1 Large lemon
+/- 1/2 cup powdered sugar

  • Blend together to desired consistency.

NOTES:

  • I like to use a FULL wine bottle to roll the dough as the weight helps it stay smoother.
  • I also roll the dough between 2 sheets of wax paper so I don’t need t add as much flour.
  • Large flake sea salt is available in most specialty supermarkets.

SAUSAGE BRUNCH PIES

SAUSAGE BRUNCH PIES
1 box frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 pound pork sausage
6 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup chopped dried pineapple
1/2 cup jack grated cheese
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 LARGE egg, lightly beaten

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • On a lightly floured surface, unfold pastry sheets; roll each into a 16×12-in. rectangle.
  • Using a floured cutter, cut twelve 4 inch circles from one sheet.
  • Press each round into the bottom and up sides of ungreased muffin tin.
  • Using a floured cutter, cut twelve 3-1/2-in. circles from remaining sheet. Set aside.
  • Mix sausage, green onions, pineapple pieces, apricots and spices lightly but thoroughly.
  • Place 1/4 cup mixture into each pastry cup.
  • Brush edges of smaller pastry circles with egg; place over pies, pressing edges to seal.
  • Brush with egg.
  • Cut slits in top for venting.
  • Bake until golden brown and a thermometer inserted in filling reads 160°, 30-35 minutes.
  • Cool 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

NOTE: Dried cherries, dates, currants, or golden raisins for the apricots.

BOURBON CHICKEN & HERB BISCUITS

The beauty of this recipe is that it’s GREAT for a group or a cool fall evening’s dinner for 2. You can serve it on the biscuits as small sandwiches or you can roughly chop the chicken and serve it over the biscuits like a stew (my favorite way).

BOURBON CHICKEN & SEASONED BISCUITS
CHICKEN
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 bulb onion, halved and sliced thin (save some greens for garnish)
1 1/2 cups baby carrots, sliced diagonally
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 – 1 container (8-16 ounce) beech or Cremini mushrooms, cleaned and trimmed (chopped smaller if using Cremini)
1 cup QUALITY bourbon (I often use Seagrams and it is still quite yummy)
1 cup PURE maple syrup
1 cup heavy cream**
2 sprigs FRESH thyme
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Whisk together the bourbon and maple syrup in a saucepan and gently simmer 10 minutes.
  • In a large saute’ pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
  • Add carrots and onions, cooking 2 minutes.
  • Add the chicken pieces, searing about 2 minutes per side or 3-4 minutes if using pieces.
  • Add maple syrup mixture to the chicken pan.
  • Reduce heat slightly, add mushrooms and bring to a SLOW simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add the cream, thyme, salt and pepper, cooking for another 5 minutes.
  • Serve warm over biscuits.
  • Garnish with greens.

**NOTE: A great substitute for heavy cream is 2/3 cup warmed WHOLE milk and 1/3 cup melted butter.

BISCUITS
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon marjoram
1 teaspoon oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons COLD butter, cut into cubes
1 1/2 cups cold WHOLE milk
2 tablespoons avocado oil

  • Preheat the oven to 400°.
  • Combine the spices in a small bowl until well mixed. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the combined spices.
  • Combine the flour, baking powder, the seasonings, the sugar and salt in a medium bowl using a whisk.
  • Using a bowl scraper or your fingers, mix in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal; using your fingers will create a more cake-like texture.
  • Make a well in the center and pour in the milk.
  • Stir JUST until combined.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead 5 or 6 times.
  • Roll the dough into a 1-inch-thick disc and cut out biscuits using a 3-inch biscuit cutter. Make sure you don’t twist the cutter otherwise you’ll squish the sides and the biscuit won’t rise. Knead the scraps together, re-roll and cut out biscuits until all the dough has been used.
  • Place the biscuits bottom-side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Whisk together the avocado oil with the reserved spices.  Brush the herb butter on each biscuit.
  • Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

BEEF RAGU & PASTA ala SLOW COOKER and A LITTLE PASTA HISTORY

Strozzapreti AKA priest-choker or priest-strangler are an elongated form of cavatelli, a hand-rolled pasta typical of the Tuscany region of Italy.

The name has many theories as to the name. One of the theories is because of gluttonous priests were so enthralled by the savory pasta that they ate too quickly and choked themselves. Another explanation involves the “azdora” OR A  ”housewife” who “chokes” the dough strips to make the strozzapreti. It is presumed that the housewife would express such a rage possibly triggered by the misery and difficulty of her life that would fill her with enough rage to be able to strangle a priest!” And yet another legend suggests that wives would customarily make pasta for priests as partial payment for land rents (the Catholic church rented to many farmers) and their husbands would be angered enough by the priests eating their wives’ food to wish that the priests would choke as they stuffed their mouths with it. And yet another possible explanation is that the pasta resembles a clerical collar which is commonly referred to as a “Priest Choker”.

The more commonly accepted theory is that following Sunday mass, a priest would visit homes of the villagers and enjoy dinner with them. The more pleasant the experience for the priest the more often they would come back to that particular home. As a means for the family to let the priest know that he might have worn out his welcome, they would serve this pasta which later earned the name “Strozzapreti.”

The dough is first rolled out in thick flat sheets. It is then cut into strips. The strips are lightly rolled or twisted between the palms. The large pasta is separated into 3-4 inch pieces by pinching it. Unlike spaghetti or macaroni, this pasta is not uniform in size or shape.

Different regions makes this pasta slightly different. In Romagna it is made with wheat flour, water, salt and sometimes eggs. Where as in Emilia it is made from flour, water, Parmesan cheese and egg whites which are all beaten together. In Pici it is more similar to the Tuscan style which is hand rolled, solid fat tubes of dough that are cut, but not twisted giving it the appearance of a taut rope. In Corsica it is a large gnocchi made of cheese and vegetables and then baked.

Unless you make your own pasta regularly this is a difficult pasta to find in your average grocery store. I usually substitute the Barilla Campagnelle pasta which is a thinner cone shaped pasta with a ruffled edge and is often known as “little bells”.

BEEF RAGU ala SLOW COOKER
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 -3 pound chuck roast
1 tablespoon House Seasoning (see below)
28 ounce crushed tomatoes
1 cup beef broth
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 large carrot, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Prepared pasta
Parmesan cheese, grated

  • Spray a large slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Arrange the onions and garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Sprinkle the roast with the house seasoning on both sides.
  • Arrange roast on top of the onions and garlic.
  • Sprinkle the carrots on top of the roast.
  • In a medium bowl, blend together the tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, red wine vinegar and Italian seasonings.
  • Pour over the roast.
  • Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours until the beef is EXTREMELY tender and falls apart.
  • Skim any fat from the top.
  • Use 2 forks to shred the beef.
  • Stir beef into the tomato sauce.
  • Adjust seasonings.
  • Re-cover and cook for another hour to allow the flavored to meld together.
  • Serve over prepared pasta and top with Parmesan cheese.

HOUSE SEASONING MIX

1/4 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon FRESH ground black pepper

  • Combine in a small bowl until well blended.
  • Store in an air tight container.

 

SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD with POPPY SEED DRESSING

SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD with POPPY SEED DRESSING

SALAD
3-4 cups baby spinach, washed and spun
2 cups torn romaine hearts, washed and spun
1 quart strawberries, hulled and large chopped
1/2 red onion, halved and sliced thin
1/2 cup chopped candied walnuts

DRESSING
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup avocado oil

  • Whisk together the vinegar and sugar until sugar is dissolved.
  • Pour half of the vinegar into a microwave safe bowl and microwave 1 minute.
  • Add onion, toss to combine and let sit 30 minutes.

 

  • While onions marinade, toast the poppy seeds in a non-stick skillet until fragrant and darkened.

 

  • Whisk oil into remaining vinegar mixture.
  • Add FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste.

 

  • In a large salad bowl combine spinach leaves, romaine pieces, strawberry pieces and candied walnuts.
  • Remove onion from vinegar mixture and add to salad bowl, gently tossing to disperse.
  • Whisk onion marinade back into the vinegar mixture.
  • Drizzle over salad,
  • Plate salad and top with more walnuts if desired.
  • Enjoy!