Gastronomous

How we love guacamole! But how do we not love the store-bought weird grey- looking stuff! Our quest for the perfect guacamole started a couple of years ago thanks to the generosity ( and overstock) of a neighbors guacamole tree. Although avocados might have a bad rap or being fatty,  they contain 0 trans fats and do contain 20 vitamins a a cargo load of minerals such as potassium.  In our search for the perfect flavor we discovered a couple of useful facts: you MUST use lime, lemons an guacamole do not jive, and second: you must use fresh peppers. Use serrano peppers if you prefer mild, use jalapenos is you prefer a bit more spice.  ENJOY!

Ingredients: (for 2 cups)

2 large ripe avocados
3 firm medium tomatoes, diced
3 jalapenos or Serrano peppers, finely chopped
1 medium sweet yellow onion, chopped
1 green onion with the stalk, chopped
the juice of 1/2 or 1 lime
salt to taste

Cut the avocados in half, remove the seeds. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh and place it in a large mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice and mix. Place the diced tomatoes and onions into the bowl, mix well and add jalapenos and salt to taste, depending on the desired spiciness. Toss all the ingredients together evenly. Let stand for 10 minutes to let the flavors blend. Taste for salt and spiciness. As with all salsas, if too mild add more peppers; if too spicy, add more tomatoes

Use as a dip or as a condiment for fajitas and grilled meats.

Are you short on time and want to prepare a wonderful dinner?  As they say necessity is the mother of many inventions,  but don’t let the lack of time deprive you and your family from enjoying a delicious dish! Nowadays you markets have an assortment of chicken sausages. They have less fat than the traditional pork sausage and come in varieties such as apple and spice, smoked paprika, and if you like it spicy andouille and jalapeno!  Use fresh vegetables ( or a shortcut with frozen ones) and inexpensive  Queso Blanco and you’ll make a great  dinner for any time of the year.

Ingredients:

2 cups pole or green beans, blanched ( use frozen for a shortcut)
2 smoked chicken & apple sausages chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in halves
1/2 cup Queso fresco diced
2 Tbsp olive oil

Brown the sausage in a skillet with the olive oil, take the sausage out, keep warn.; lower the heat and place the tomatoes and queso in the drippings, stir gingerly till queso starts to melt.

Arrange the beans on a serving dish, layer on top the sausage and the tomato-queso mix. Serve with spicy tortilla chips for a snack, or over whole wheat pasta fir a dinner.

Thinking of a romatic Valentine’s day dinner which requires little fuss? Try this tempting luscious foie gras salad. The man issue with foie gras is the quality, get a bad one and your are one step away from .. well cat food. Get the right one and you are in for a treat from the gods or pleasure… 

The crisp apples play opposite to the foie gras terrine. Top with the delicious shallot vinaigrette and voila.. love is in the air!

Ingredients:

1 pound baby frisee

16 walnut halves

16 haricot Verts, (french green beans) blanched

1 Granny Smith Apple, peeled and cut into a small dice

Foie Gras Terrine, 8 oz. 

4 teaspoons of white truffle oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette

1 cup olive oil

4 large shallots, peeled and sliced thinly

3 teaspoons of chopped thyme

3 teaspoons of chopped parsley

¼ cup of sherry vinegar

Salt and pepper

Bruschetta are delicious starters, they appeal to most palates and are so easy to prepare. A key ingredient is a tasty tomato, but where to get a tomato that is tasty in the middle or winter? It’s not that there are dozens of farmers markets with luscious fruits on display. Market tomatoes are , well, forcefully ripened, mushy and bland in flavor. The solution a miniature gem that grows year-round in hothouses :the grape tomato! If you never had one they are sweet, have the taste of a a full size summer tomato and are simply delightful to serve! Up until now they were reserved to prepare salads, but when duty calls this mighty fruit can live up to the most demanding fresh tomato recipes, like this bruschetta. Enjoy!

2 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/4 cup black pitted olives, sliced
1/3 cup green olives, sliced
1 small clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/3 sweet onion, finely minced
1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine tomatoes, onion and garlic in bowl and mix gently. Let sit for a minute , then add the olives, the oil, vinegar and salt pepper to taste. Let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes. Serve over grilled sliced Italian or French bread sliced 3/4 inches thick. If you are on  a gluten-free diet, serve on rice crackers instead.

It’s sooooo cold! How about something simple, hearty and simply delicious? Taking a step back on memory lane ,I remember my dearest Grandma making the best of what she had, Italian style. So it was customary for her to make spaghetti and meatballs. But if time was short and appetites were calling for food, she would make this delicious Bolognese sauce and serve on top of pasta, polenta or potatoes. The result : full tummies and warm hearts.  We also tried the recipe with ground turkey and it was just as fabulous! Enjoy

Ingredients: (for 6 cups of sauce)

2 lbs fresh Roma tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 lb lean ground meat
2 yellow onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbls olive oil
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 tsp chopped basil
2 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
dash of sugar
1 Tbls balsamic vinegar

Heat the olive in a sauce pot, incorporate the garlic and let cook for 15 to 20 seconds; quickly add the onions and stir , let cook till translucent. Incorporate meat, cook till browned, stirring frequently. Add the diced tomatoes and the tomato paste. Let mixture come to a boil, then reduce heat and add the herbs, salt & pepper to taste. Add the sugar and the vinegar and stir. Let cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour, the flavors will be well blended and the sugar will reduce the acidity of the sauce. Serve over your favorite pasta or over polenta or potatoes for a gluten free dish. Add fresh grated Pecorino Romano as a topping and enjoy!.