There’s something consistently comforting about homemade meatballs and tomato sauce for Sunday supper. Maybe it’s the act of mixing and rolling the meat with your bare hands; an organic and ritualistic labor of love. Or, perhaps it’s just the sweet warm aroma of onion, garlic, fresh basil and tomatoes wafting off the stove. Whatever it [...]
Archive for the ‘Italian’ Category
Meatballs, Crispy Polenta and Spicy Tomato-Basil Sauce
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged beef, dinner, Italian, meatballs, olive oil, polenta, pork, recipe, tomato sauce on April 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Minestrone Soup
Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Italian, Soups, tagged basil, carrots, celery, dinner, garlic, linguine, lunch, minestrone, onion, Recipes, soup, spaghetti, squash, tomatoes, vegetables, zucchini on January 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
‘Tis the season for soups and chilis! I’ve been experimenting with a bunch of new recipes this winter, and this one turned out great. Lots of hearty “stuff” in here to make a big bowl a satisfying meal for lunch or light weeknight dinner. And, it’s super healthy. The red pepper flakes give this a [...]
Lemon Risotto with Asparagus and Shrimp
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged arborio rice, asparagus, cheese, dinner, gourmet, lemon, onion, parmesan, parsley, recipe, risotto, Shrimp, white wine on January 2, 2011 | 1 Comment »
This is a fabulous dish to start off the New Year in the kitchen. Lemon juice and zest add a tangy brightness to the fresh asparagus and sweet shrimp. There’s a little bit of grated parmesan cheese and butter for creamy richness. And, the white wine and minced onion yield a great depth of [...]
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria in Brooklyn
Posted in Italian, Restaurants, tagged Brooklyn, Grimaldi's, mozzarella, New York, peppers, pizza, pizzeria, Restaurants, sausage on November 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
No restaurant food is worth waiting hours for, in my opinion. Especially hours spent outdoors, in line, without a cocktail in hand! But to experience what Zagat’s calls the “best pizza in New York City,” I had to make a special exception to my rule and travel to Brooklyn, just beneath the Bridge, to the [...]
Spaghetti with Shrimp Sauce
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged dinner, garlic, Italian, onion, parsley, pasta, recipe, Shrimp, spaghetti, tomatoes on April 4, 2010 | 2 Comments »
After a little hiatus from this space in March, I’m kicking off April — and capping a beautiful Easter Weekend — with this wonderful, simple shrimp and pasta dish. I find myself increasingly drawn to “simple” preparations, like this one, in which the flavors, colors, textures of the individual elements of a dish shine for [...]
Splendid Spring Orecchiette
Posted in Italian, Recipes, Recommended Meals, tagged basil, chicken, meatballs, mozzarella, orecchiette, pasta, tomatoes on May 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 | 3 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 [...]
