I’m usually not a big fan of pasta once the warmer weather rolls around, but even when it was almost 90 degrees in New York City a couple weeks ago, this dish won me over. The cherry tomato, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella combo stands out among the ear-shaped pasta tossed in a light and simple [...]
Archive for the ‘Italian’ Category
Splendid Spring Orecchiette
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged basil, chicken, meatballs, mozzarella, orecchiette, pasta, tomatoes on May 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Turkey Sausage-Spinach Lasagna with Spicy Homemade Tomato Sauce
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged cracked red pepper, lasagna, mozzarella, pasta, riccotta cheese, spinach, tomato sauce, tomatoes, turkey sausage on March 18, 2009 | 1 Comment »
I’ve sampled many a slice of lasagna in my day, from mom’s kitchen to fine Italian restaurants and church potlucks. The best have been moist and flavorful, not over-baked; firm and well-set; and made with incredibly fresh ingredients of cheese and sauce.
This rendition of the Italian classic (Bon Appetit, March 1999) ranks right up there [...]
Tortellini with Peas and Prosciutto
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged cream, garlic, parmesan, Peas, prosciutto, tortellini on February 14, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Everything tastes better with prosciutto. And that’s definitely the case with cheese tortellini tossed with sweet green peas and a garlic cream sauce!
Sautè minced garlic in a little melted butter, add a quarter pound of sliced prosciutto and brown to bring out the flavor. Then add a cup of heavy cream and peas and reduce [...]
Polenta Crusted Chicken with Balsamic Caper Sauce
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged balsamic, balsamic caper sauce, brussel sprouts, capers, carrots, chicken, cider vinegar, cornmeal, polenta, polenta crusted chicken on February 2, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Quick-cooking polenta is the key to these perfectly crispy pan-fried organic chicken breasts. The thin layer of ground cornmeal and flour, clinging to the egg-washed chicken, turns golden brown in just 5-6 minutes over medium high heat.
Deglaze the pan with a little olive oil, tomato paste, balsamic and capers to create a tangy sauce that [...]
Chicken Marsala with Sautèed Spinach
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged cheese, chicken, chicken marsala, fontina, garlic, mushrooms, prosciutto, spinach on January 26, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Looking for a hearty but simple winter meal? Give Chicken Marsala a try. Pan-roasted chicken breasts are topped with a slice of smoky prosciutto and Italian Fontina cheese. Top it off with some mushrooms and garlic sautèed in butter, olive oil and sweet Marsala wine. A little wilted spinach with garlic and shallots goes perfectly [...]
Asparagus Risotto
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged arborio rice, asparagus, chicken stock, garlic, parmesan cheese, risotto, tarragon, white wine on January 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The short grains of Italian Arborio rice in risotto are like tiny sponges of flavor: their high starch content keeps them firm and creamy as they absorb chicken stock, white wine, olive oil, and essence of garlic and herbs. Most risottos are relatively simple, though time-intensive, and feature one or two ingredients, like asparagus in [...]
Sausage-Mushroom Penne
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged mozzarella, mushrooms, parmesan, penne, sausage on December 15, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Bubbly, brown melted cheese is always a crowd pleaser, and there’s plenty of it atop this dish with Parmigiano-Reggiano and whole-milk mozzarella. This so-called penne “gratin” is creamy but not cloying. The pasta is tossed with chunks of sweet Italian sausage, sliced sauteed mushrooms and an easy garlic-cream sauce. It’s topped with grated mozzarella and [...]
