-
Mushroom & Leek Risotto
Creamy and flavorful, risotto is a special dish. It takes a little time and a lot of TLC, so I like to make double to guarantee leftovers! Nerdy Tips Don’t be intimidated!! If you have the time, you can make this!! Patience is the most important part of a good risotto. Use vegetable stock to make this an easy and creamy vegetarian dish. Make sure your stock is warm, not boiling. If you don’t want to use wine make sure to replace with an acid like lemon juice. I make a double batch for twice the reward (dinner AND leftovers) with the same amount of effort. To reheat those leftovers,…
-
Grilled Chicken Tacos
Nerdy Tips The secret to juicy grilled chicken? marinate, marinate, marinate and baste with the leftover marinade while grilling. Pounding out the chicken breasts before marinating will even out the meat so that the thinner part isn’t overcooked before the thicker part is done. If you opt for bone in, the chicken will take longer to grill. If you are using leftovers of the grilled chicken to make tacos, reheat the chicken by steaming to keep it moist. You can do this by putting sliced chicken in a pan with a splash of water (or even better, chicken stock) over medium heat while covered for 3-4 minutes.
-
Broccoli and Orecchiette Pasta
-
Dumplings
Easy and as old as time (or at least the Middle Ages), dumplings are the perfect addition to make any soup or stew a fulfilling meal. Ingredients 2 cups flour 4 t baking powder 1 t salt 1 cup milk 1/2 t sugar 1 T butter Mix all ingredients together and rest for 5 minutes. Drop by spoonfuls into simmering soup or stew. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Nerdy Fact almost every culture has some form of dumpling. I grew up with a German potato dumpling served with pork and sauerkraut. It’s still one of my favorite meals and a comfort food go to.
-
Minestrone Soup
This soup is warm, comforting and packed with veggies! Hearty and wholesome it brings me back to the Tuscan countryside. Ingredients 2 T olive oil 2 T butter 1 medium onion, diced 8oz pancetta, diced 1 cup carrots, diced 1 cup celery, diced 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups kale, shredded 2 cups swiss chard, shredded 2 cups bok choy, shredded 12 cups beef stock 1 wedge parmesan reggiano with rind 4 cups ditalini pasta, cooked salt & pepper to taste Brown the pancetta and remove from the pot. Heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Place onions, carrots and celery in the pot…
You May Also Like
Avocado Tuna Salad
Dairy free Cauliflower Leek Soup
Broccoli and Orecchiette Pasta
-
Italian Love Nests
I’m not sure which genius invented these but they are absolutely perfect for serving to your loved ones! The best part is you can tailor them to your tastes! There are many steps to this one if you want to make these from scratch. For the sake of ease, I’ll post the main recipe first. Ingredients 8 oz spaghetti or angel hair 1 egg 3/4 cup grated Italian cheese salt & pepper to taste 2 cups of marinara sauce 12 meatballs 8 leaves of basil, sliced grated parmesan for garnish Heat oven to 350. Cook spaghetti to al denté. Rinse and add egg, cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir together. Fill…
-
Verity’s Chicken & Dumplings
Ingredients 2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 leeks, sliced 5 carrots, chopped 5 stalks celery, chopped 4 Tbsp butter 4 Tbsp flour 1 tsp dried thyme 2 tsp salt 6 cups chicken stock 1/2 cup heavy cream 10 oz fresh or frozen peas Dumplings 1 1/2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 cup heavy cream 1 egg Heat oil in large dutch oven. Sear chicken on both sides. Remove from pot and set aside. Add onion, carrots, celery and leeks. Cook until tender. Add garlic and cook 2…
-
Alice’s Cottage Pie
Alice misses her home cooking and attempts a cottage pie at the beginning of The Giver of Stars. In true Alice fashion, I too attempted this pie and it didn’t come out as ‘golden’ as I had hoped but was tasty none the less! The mashed potato topping I used was taken from the vintage cookbook and did not disappoint. Cottage Pie Nerdy Fact: Cottage pies are usually made with beef, while a Shepard’s Pie is made with lamb. 2 T olive oil 5 carrots, sliced 1 leek, sliced 1 lb ground beef 2 T parsley 2 tsp Italian Seasoning 1 tsp garlic powder salt & pepper 1 1/2…
-
Pork & Black Bean Stew
This stew is the perfect end to a cold winters’ day. Warm, comforting and as spicy as you like it, the pork is slow cooked in Mexican flavors. Ingredients 2 lbs pork shoulder 2 T olive oil salt & pepper 1 T butter 1 small onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp cumin 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp salt 1 can diced tomatoes 1-2 jalapeños, seeded 2 T cornmeal 2 cups chicken stock Trim the excess fat off of the pork shoulder and cube into 1 inch pieces. Salt and pepper the pork cubes. Heat olive oil in a pot…
-
Sauerkraut
The food is as rich and encompassing as the book. My own take on the delicious meal Vianne made; pork roast with German potato dumplings, sauerkraut peppered with bacon and smoothed by shredded green apple, and of course, French peas drowning in tarragon butter. Ingredients 1 lb bacon, diced 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 granny smith apple, shredded 3 cans sauerkraut, rinsed 2 cups chicken stock 1 baking potato, shredded 3 T butter salt & pepper to taste Brown the bacon until crispy in a large dutch oven. Remove from the dutch oven with a slotted spoon, placing on a plate covered in paper towels. Drain the grease except…
-
German Potato Dumplings
This recipe has been passed down in my family for generations. I’ve done my best to put measurements to it, but we have always made them by feel. Dense and filling, these dumplings are best paired with the sauerkraut recipe below. Ingredients 1 baking potato, peeled and cubed into 1/2″ pieces 2 baking potatoes, shredded 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 2 1/2 cups flour salt and pepper to taste Boil the cubed potato until tender. At the same time, boil a large stockpot of water. Put drained potato cubes into a bowl with the shredded potatoes. Add egg, milk and flour. At this point, you just have to play with…
-
French Peas
Light and gorgeously green, this dish will brighten any table! Ingredients 1 T olive oil 1 shallot, thinly sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 16 oz frozen or fresh peas 1/4 cup chicken stock 1/4 tsp lemon juice salt & pepper Cook down shallots in oil. Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute until fragrant. Add peas, stock, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until peas are tender, about 5 minutes. Top with tarragon butter. Nerdy Fact green peas are loaded with vitamins and contain high levels of heart healthy minerals, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium.
-
Vianne’s Potato & Lardon Soup
Rich and filling, this soup will comfort the soul and it’s also pretty enough for serving company during cool weather. It’s also vegetarian friendly. For potato without lardon soup, just substitute the bacon grease with olive oil and use a vegetable stock. Ingredients 1 lb bacon, sliced 1 cup celery, diced 2 leeks, sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2.5 lbs potatoes, cubed 4-6 cups chicken stock 1 tsp white pepper 2 tsp garlic salt 1 tsp onion powder 2 tsp chicken bouillon 3 Tbsp butter 1/4 cup flour 1 cup heavy cream 2 tsp dried tarragon 3 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, sliced cheddar, shredded I made this in…
