Gastronomous

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!.

Steak Diane

The classic steak dish as prepared by world-class Master Chefs just in time for a romantic for two menu.   The question remains: who is Diane? Believe it or not, steak Diane is a tribute to the goddess of the hunt herself: Diana! How the pepper and the wine came in to play is still a mystery . But we all enjoy the end result.  Enjoy with a robust Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Ingredients:( for 2)

2 rib-eye steaks (3/4 inch thick)
6 Tbls butter
1/2 tsp Rosemary
Cracked pepper and salt to taste
1/2 cup red wine

Rinse and pat dry the meat with a paper towel to eliminate odor from packaging an any loose particles. Trim the excess fat of the steaks, rub the steaks with the Rosemary and the pepper. Set aside till they reach room temperature. Heat a heavy sauté pan very hot. Place a pat of butter in the pan then place the steaks to sear; DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THE STEAK!, let it cook according to your liking flipping only once! :3 min on each side for rare, 4-5 on each side for medium, 6 minutes on each side for well done. If your steak is thicker you will need to increase the cooking time.
Remove the steak from the pan and place on serving dish “to rest” remember the steak will continue to cook while on the dish due to the absorbed heat.
Put the pan back on the burner and lower the heat to medium; add the butter and stir with a wood spatula or spoon, add the wine and stir, try to get as much brown as you can from the bottom of the pan. Let the alcohol boil off and pour on top of the steak. Serve immediately.

Are Starches ruining your complexion? Do you miss potatoes like crazy but must reduce your carbs? Then this zucchini, yellow squash and shallot bake is just for you! What an simple and elegant dish to accompany a roast, baked fish or scrambled eggs. If you add tomatoes you’ll have a completely deconstructed ratatouille ! It’s extremely fast to make , it took us 1 minute  of prep time  and 20 minutes of baking. A great recipe to keep in mind if you have unannounced extra guests!

Ingredients:( for 4 side portions)

1 large zucchini
2 medium yellow or crooked neck squash
1 Shallot
1 medium carrot 
3 Tblsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp herbs de Province

With a mandolin on number 1 ( or thinnest size) slice zucchini, the squash, the carrot and the shallot into a large bowl. Carefully toss with olive oil, and the condiments.. Arrange mixture  in a 8×4 loaf pan and bake for 2o minutes  in a 325 degree oven. The vegetables will be cooked but still crisp  and not mushy! Use a pair of cooking tong for serving or to arrange on serving platter. Enjoy!

 Tools:

Kyocera 10.5-in. Double-Edged Ceramic Mandoline Slicer with Handguard, Black  Get the advantage of ceramic using this Double-Edged Mandolin, the perfect tool for quickly and evenly slicing vegetables and fruits. Made by Kyocera, leading manufacturers of professional knives, the double ceramic edge is second only to diamonds in sharpness and holds it’s edge 10 times longer than stainless. So sharp, it makes it a cinch to create paper-thin slices of food like potatoes, carrots, jicama, cucumbers, squash or apples, to name a few. Won’t discolor or rust. Safety handguard included. Dishwasher safe.

OXO 16-in. Mandoline Slicer  OXO’s very versatile V-Blade Mandoline slices fruits and vegetables with ease. Four blades and a simple height adjuster let you make straight slices, crinkle cuts, French fries and julienne strips in a variety of thicknesses. The blades store on board and are easily removable for cleaning. We’ve added bonus cubing blades for large or fine dice too! A textured surface keeps food from sticking to the Mandoline and the food holder securely holds food and protects your fingers. The handle and turning knob are soft for comfort and non-slip feet keep the Mandoline secure on your work surface. Fold the feet and lock the Mandoline for compact and safe storage. Hand wash the blades; the Mandoline body and food holder are dishwasher safe. Features Include: Sharp, V-shaped blade of hardened stainless steel easily slices both firm vegetables like potatoes and soft fruits like tomatoes Straight and wavy blades for straight or crinkle cuts Four easily adjustable slice thickness settings: 1.5mm, 3mm, 4.5mm and 6mm Julienne blades for French fries or fine julienne strips Straight, wavy and julienne blades conveniently store on board and remove for cleaning Bonus cubing blades for large or fine dice store in a handy box Soft handle and turning knob for comfort and non-slip feet for safety Textured runway keeps food from sticking Food holder securely holds food and protects fingers Mandoline locks closed and feet fold in for safe and compact storage Hand wash blades. Mandoline body and food holder are dishwasher safe

We LOVE potato chips! We love the crunch, the taste and , like any finger food how much fun the are to eat! It is believed that the first potato chip (as Americans know them) appeared in the 1950’s.  Potato Chips come in baked or fried versions. Most commercial versions are fried in soybean oil and laden with salt.  So we tried to produce a chip just as delicious without as much oil by baking them in a mix of olive  and canola oil. The result: delicious! We flavored ours with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and rosemary, or try using paprika for a fun twist.

Ingredients ( for 2 LARGE portions)

2 medium potatoes sliced in setting 1 on a mandolin
1 tsp olive oil 
1 tsp canola oil
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and arrange rack to middle.  Meanwhile, toss potatoes with the oils and gently mix with both hands  trying not to break the thin potato slices. Place a sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet. Sprinkle sheet with salt and pepper. Arrange slices on sheet, not letting overlap or touch. Sprinkle top with more salt and pepper. Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or till the sides begin to toast, remove from oven and turn potatoes once with the help of a spatula or cooking tongs. Bake for 3 more minutes and remove from oven.  If you like ,sprinkle with rosemary or the spice of your choice.  Let cool and enjoy!
 

Into tapas? Try this quick and easy vegetable frittata.  Perfect for a quick lunch, a late night dinner , or as part of a tapas party. It’s a terrific way to eat veggies! . Substitute eggs for egg whites for a low cholesterol version.

Ingredients: (for one 8-inch frittata)

2 cups cooked vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus or green beans
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 onion, minced
2 Tbls olive oil
grated Pecorino Romano to taste

For best results, use a non-stick 8-inch pan. Sauté the onion in the oil till golden brown. Add the vegetables, salt & pepper to taste. Pour the eggs, let cook till barely set. Gently, slide the frittata on to another dish, then place back into pan to cook the other side, for about 3 minutes. Slide onto serving dish sprinkle with freshly grated pecorino Romano and enjoy!