Caponate

This southern Italian specialty is just delish! The vinegar helps preserve the dish, so it will keep well in the fridge for a week or two. Serve it as a side with roasted meats, on toasted ciabatta rubbed with garlic, or alongside antipasta with cold meats.

Cook Time:40 min
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant, peeled, alternating with 1-inch strips of skin left on, cut into 1-inch dice
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 fennel bulb, cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch dice
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 Tbsp anchovy paste
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup capers
a handful of pitted green olives
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 bunch mint, cut into chiffonade

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, toss the eggplant generously with olive oil and salt, to taste. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast until the eggplant is soft and mushy, about 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve.

Coat a wide deep pot with olive oil. Toss in the onion and crushed red pepper and season with salt, to taste. Cook over medium-high heat until the onions are soft and aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the fennel, celery and garlic and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the peppers and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. Add the zucchini, season with salt, to taste, and cook until the zucchini and all the veggies are soft and aromatic and starting to come together as a stew, about 5 to 6 minutes. Toss in the eggplant, 1/2 cup of water and the tomato paste, anchovy paste. Cook until the water has evaporated. Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar in a small bowl and add it to the mixture. Stir in the capers, pine nuts and mint. Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes.

Let cool and transfer the caponata to a serving bowl. Serve immediately or even better tomorrow or the next day.

Best Grape Salad

This recipe is very creamy and sweet, and a great mix of flavors. It is kid friendly too! It is so easy to make. I cut the recipe in half and there was still plenty of leftovers for a snack.

2 pounds green seedless grapes

2 pounds red seedless grapes

8 ounces sour cream

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract, to taste

1 cup brown sugar, packed, to taste

1 cup crushed pecans, to taste

Wash and stem grapes; set aside.

Mix sour cream, cream cheese, white sugar, and vanilla by hand until blended.

Stir grapes into mixture, and pour in large serving bowl.

For topping: Combine brown sugar, and crushed pecans.

Sprinkle over top of grapes to cover completely.

Chill overnight.

www.recipezarr.com Recipe #35450

Spinach & Basil Pasta Salad

Serve 10 Prep: 15 mins Cook: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
• 1 (6 ounce) package spinach leaves
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 to 6 ounces prosciutto, diced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts

Directions

1. Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the bow tie pasta and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Rinse with cold water to cool. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
2. Toss the spinach and basil together in a large bowl.
3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir the garlic in the hot oil for 1 minute; stir in the prosciutto and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Add to the bowl with the spinach and basil mixture; toss to combine. Pour in the drained pasta and retoss. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and pine nuts to serve.
   

Sesame Noodle Salad

I would highly recommend making them at least 6 hours before and preferably 24 hours. The noodles absorb the "sauce" and the flavors meld.

Prep: 15 mins Cook: 5 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 ounce) package angel hair pasta
• 1/4 cup sesame oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce, or more to taste
• 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon hot chili oil
• 1/8 cup white sugar
• 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, or more if desired
• 2 green onion, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
  

Directions:

1. Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the angel hair pasta, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
2. Whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, chili oil, garlic and sugar in a large bowl. Toss the pasta in the dressing, then sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onion, and bell pepper. Serve warm, or cover and refrigerate for a cold salad. *I prefer it cold as it really does get better the next day!

So Busy...

I know it has been awhile since I have posted a recipe. I have been planning my wedding and know I have neglected my blog. Thank you for your patience and please check back often and I will have new recipes posted soon!

Bon Appetit!

Italian Meatballs

Serving: 6



Ingredients:

• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano, crushed
• 1 tsp salt
• Dash of pepper
• Marinara sauce

Directions:

1. combine bread crumbs and water
2. Stir in eggs, Parmersan cheese, herbs, salt, and pepper
3. Add meat;mix well
4. With wet hands, form 20 to 24 small balls
5. Heat oil and cook meatballs until brown, turning regulary, over los to medium heat
6. Place meatballs on paper towels to absorb any oil
7. Heat sauce to a boil. Lower to simmer, add meatballs, and cook, loosely covered, for 30 to 40minutes
8. Serve with spaghetti

Homemade Veggie Chips

these easy snacks are a fun, healthy indulgence.

Serve 6

Ingredients:

• 3 beets, trimmed and peeled
• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled
• 1 Idaho potato, peeled
• 1 quater canola oil
• coarse salt

Direnctions:

1. Using a mandolin or the slicing blade of a food processor, slice the vegetables about 1/8 inch thick. If any of the idaho potato slices seem damp, pat dry.
2. Pour oil into a large, high-sided skillet and put the skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot enough that if you put a slice of potato into the skillet, the oil bubbles around it immediately, slip a handful of vegetables into the skillet. Don't crowd the skillet. Fry, turning as needed, until chips are golden brown.
3. Lift chips out of the skillet with a slotted spoon, shaking off excess oil; drain on a brown-paper bag. Add salt to taste. Serve warm