Italian green beans and tomatoes

I grew up eating this  classic Italian green bean and tomato  side dish. Its a simple Italian dish that is bursting with summer flavors. Garlic, onions, cherry tomatoes and green beans are gently stewed  together in this delicious Italian side dish that is perfect to serve with almost any summer meal.

This classic Italian green beans and tomato recipe  has withstood the test of time, since now I make it for my family.

Fresh, frozen or canned green beans?

Honestly I always choose fresh over anything. And growing up in Italy  the tomatoes and green beans came from the garden.

But if you have to choose between frozen or canned use frozen green beans. The canned ones don’t work in this recipe, they are mushy and tasteless.

As far as the marinara sauce I always have my easy marinara sauce on hand. You can use your favorite store-bought marinara in this recipe.

About the tomatoes, I use cherry tomatoes. Any fresh tomato works in this Classic Italian green bean and tomato recipe. If you use large tomatoes cut them into dice before adding them to the onion and garlic.

Now about the parsley I only use Italian parsley. The curly parsley is flavorless. There is a noticeable difference in taste.

I hope you make this easy and delicious Italian classic, when you do please leave me a comment. I love hearing from you. It’s my favorite part!!!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. green beans
• 4 cups cherry tomatoes
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 Tbsp. chopped Italian parsley

Instructions

1. Start by trimming and washing the string beans. Then par boil until fork tender.
2.  In a saute pan over medium high heat in the olive oil saute the garlic and onion until soft and just beginning to brown.
3. Add the cherry tomatoes, marinara sauce and the water. Simmer until the tomatoes burst and the sauce thickens, about fifteen minutes.
4. Drain the string beans add to the tomato sauce. Adjust your seasonings.
5. Add in the parsley . ENJOY!!!

Vegetable Zucchini fritters

It’s that time of year  when we have more zucchini then recipes. So I am always looking for different recipes to use them in.

Zucchini fritters are savory vegetable patties made from grated zucchini mixed with flour, egg and seasonings. Once combined, the batter is shaped into patties and pan- fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

They make a great summer side dish, appetizer or light main course.

Tips for success when making vegetable zucchini fritters

1. Grate the zucchini and onion and place either in a tea towel or colander. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and let sit for 10 minutes. this helps draw out the excess liquid. dry zucchini is key to crispy fritters.
2. The zucchini mixture should be slightly thick but not too dry.
3. Heat a generous amount of oil( I use a combination of extra virgin olive and canola oil for frying.) over medium high heat. Drop spoonful’s of the batter into the pan and flatten slightly using the back of the spoon. cook until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels serve with marinara sauce . ENJOY!!!

Ingredients

• 2 medium size zucchini
• 1 small onion
• 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 egg
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 2 Tbsp. chopped Italian parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups oil for frying

Instructions

1. Start by washing the zucchini and drying
2. In a bowl lined with a clean tea towel grate the zucchini and the onion . wring the towel to squeeze out as much of the liquid as possible. Discard the liquid.
3. remove the zucchini from the towel. Mix the baking powder with the flour. Slightly beat the egg.
4. Mix all the of the ingredients together
5. Form into patties and fry over medium low heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes per  side, Serve with marinara and ENJOY!!!!

Italian zucchini potato stew

Italian zucchini potato stew is the perfect vegetarian meal for a quick light lunch or the perfect summer side dish when zucchini are in season.

This vegetable stew is ready in 30 minutes and it’s delicious the next day !!!

I love the fresh Italian flavors in this stew. It show cases the essence of Italian cooking. Simple seasonal ingredients brought together for delicious flavor.

This  stew is loaded with good for you ingredients in a light tomato sauce infused with Italian herbs and garlic.

When making Italian  zucchini potato stew, here are some tips

1: Zucchini: choose firm , fresh zucchini. They don’t need to be peeled

2.  Potatoes: Any type of potato works, but starchy potatoes like russet will break down more thickening the stew. Adding the potato water thickens the sauce and adds extra flavor.

3: Seasoning: Salt, pepper and herbs like fresh Italian parsley are essential. Fresh herbs should be added towards the end of cooking to maintain freshness.

Shop the picture : Stainless steel saute pan

Ingredients

• 2 medium size zucchini
• 3 medium potatoes
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp, chopped Italian parsley

Instructions

1. Start by peeling and cutting the potatoes into medium size large  cubes. Then boil the potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Save one cup of the water before draining
2. In a saute pan over medium high heat add the olive oil add the onion and the garlic. Sauté until soft and just begin to brown. Add the cherry tomatoes, marinara sauce and potato water. Simmer until sauce thickens and tomatoes burst. Salt the zucchini and add to the tomato mixture add the potatoes.
3. Simmer until the zucchini is fork tender but still crisp. Add the Italian parsley. ENJOY!!!!

 Easy Cranberry Sauce in Minutes

You won’t believe how quick this Easy  Cranberry Sauce comes together.  It takes just minutes to make, and taste so much better than store bought you won’t be buying store anymore.

Fresh cranberries, oranges and cinnamon make this a favorite Thanksgiving side. Cranberry sauce is under rated. I love it and can’t image Turkey without Cranberry Sauce, they go together like peas in a pod.

And because it’s so easy to make- don’t save making it only on Thanksgiving, it’s a prefect bruschetta topping and delicious over ice cream!!

Things to about this Easy Cranberry Sauce in Minutes recipe

I love easy recipes that come together quickly, use few ingredients and taste delicious. This Easy Cranberry Sauce has the trifecta

for recipe love.  It’s one of those recipes you just put in the pot and stir occasionally.

I will say that it does taste better the day after you make or even two days before you plan on serving it.

To add a festive touch to your holiday table serve this Easy Cranberry Sauce in a pretty serving bowl.

If you make this recipe please leave me a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with your creations. I love hearing from you it’s my favorite part!!!! And if your looking for more easy side dishes try my roasted parmesan broccoli side dish

Ingredients

• 1 lb. fresh cranberries
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon orange rind
• 2 oranges peeled and pitted cut in small dice

Instructions

1. Rinse the cranberries
2. put all ingredients in medium saucepan
3. Simmer covered 15 minutes
4. Remove cinnamon sticks
5. Refrigerate  over night

This is the saute pan I like to use when braising meats or vegetables on the stove top. To protect the  surface of non stick pans I  use wooden utensils not to scratch the surface.

You can adjust the the amount of sugar, according to your taste, or leave it out. The balsamic vinegar, sweetens the Brussel sprouts adding a syrupy delicious glaze, eliminating  the need for sugar.

To add extra flavor let the Brussels sprouts simmer in the bacon drippings  before adding the liquids.

With just one pan, a handful of ingredients, and bold, smoky flavor, these glazed Brussels sprouts are sure to impress. Whether you’re serving them at a family dinner or bringing them to a potluck, they’re guaranteed to be a hit.

Give this easy recipe a try and don’t forget to share it with friends or pin it for later! 

Crispy Italian Flavored Tacos

This crispy Italian style taco recipe combines two of my favorite flavors Italian and Mexican.

A taco recipe can be made with a variety of fillings and seasonings, including beef, pork, chicken or fish, just to name a few.

Some people want the traditional Mexican ground beef kind, and me I like to experiment  with different combinations of fillings and taco shells.

I would like to say these tacos came about from a brain storm, but the truth is, my intention was to make a Philly sandwich using ground sirloin on sourdough bread until I realized I didn’t have the bread but I did have corn taco shells, a recipe is created just like that sometimes.

How I Made these Crispy Italian flavored Tacos

This crispy Italian flavored Taco recipe started like this.

First I sautéed the peppers, onions and garlic, then I added the ground sirloin, you can use any ground meat you like. Be sure not to over cook the meat, since it will be cooked twice.

Then I filled corn taco shells with the Italian flavored mixture, covered them with mozzarella cheese baked them in my toaster/air fryer until crispy and  the cheese  melted and golden brown.

Just like that a new recipe was created and let me just say put a few aside for yourself before serving them, these Italian inspired tacos tend to disappear quickly.

Ingredients

• 8 corn taco shells
• 1 Lb. ground sirloin
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 Tbs. butter
• 1 green and1 red bell pepper sliced
• 1 sliced yellow onion
• 1 Tbs. minced garlic
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup prepared marinara

Instructions

1. In a large saute pan over bring the olive oil and butter to medium high
2. Add the  onions, bell peppers and garlic saute until tender and just beginning to brown
3. Add the ground sirloin saute until brown salt and pepper
4. Add the marinara and mix well
5. Divide beef mixture among the taco shells in a oven proof casserole dish
6. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15 minutes add the cheese last 5 minutes
7. ENJOY!!!

Garden Pesto Bruschetta Pizza

This garden Pesto bruschetta Pizza is easy and quick when you use some store- bought ingredients.

I love pizza just about as much as I love pasta, and for almost the same reasons.

Just like pasta pizza is versatile and if you use some store bought ingredients it’s easy and quick Too!! With pizza It’s all about the topping. Although topping combinations are endless I like to top my pizzas with simple in season ingredients.

This pesto bruschetta pizza uses few ingredients, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s flavorless, it’s not, in fact it’s so full of flavor, it should come with a warning sign!!! Addicting!!!

3 Tips for Delicious results When Making this Garden Pesto Bruschetta Pizza

First tip when making any pizza is the crust has to be good. In this Garden Pesto Bruschetta Pizza recipe I used a good quality pizza crust imported from Italy. You can use your favorite store bought crust or you can make your own if you want to go that route.

Second, after the crust, the main ingredient in this bruschetta pizza recipe is tomatoes. And although using garden tomatoes produces the best taste, you can find  tasty tomatoes every where when they are in season.

And third, to prevent a soggy crust I like to precook it, for 5 to 10 minutes before topping it, to prevent a soggy crust.

One more thing please leave me a comment if you make this easy Pesto Bruschetta Pizza. I love hearing from you, it’s my favorite part!!!

Ingredients

• 1 store bought pizza crust
• 1/2 cup my walnut pesto sauce or your favorite pesto
• 3 to 4 tomatoes of your choice thinly sliced
• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella balls
• 2 Tbls. chopped garlic
• 1/2 bunch chopped basil
• 2 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Spread the prepared pizza crust with the pesto

2. Line with the tomatoes overlapping

3. Randomly place the mozzarella balls

4. drizzle with the olive oil

5. Top the grated cheese and basil salt and pepper to taste

6. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 to20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown

Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Hello Everyone!

This raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing is so easy to make and taste way better than store bought. You only need a few ingredients and just a few minutes to make a salad dressing so good you’ll want to make it often.

Everyone loves raspberry  salad dressing, but they don’t realize how easy it is to make at home!!! To be honest this  salad vinaigrette is so easy to make, I was hesitate on whether it was a worthy enough blog post.

3 Tips for success With this Raspberry vinaigrette Salad Dressing

The first tip for success when you make this raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing is to use fresh or frozen real  raspberries. There is just something about fresh raspberries in salad dressing  verses using fruit jams.

Second, in vinaigrette salad dressing recipes the oil you use is very important. In these oil based vinaigrette recipes use a good quality extra virgin olive oil.

And third one of the most important tips when making oil based salad dressing vinaigrettes, the oil goes in last, in a slow steady stream with the blender or food processor running.

One more thing if you make this Raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing please leave me a comment. I love hearing from you it’s  my favorite part!!!

Ingredients

• 8 oz. fresh raspberries
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 red wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tsp. chopped garlic
• 1 Tbls raspberry or strawberry jam
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a food processer or blender pulse the washed raspberries until smooth
2. With the blender running add the rest of the ingredients up to the olive oil
3. Add the olive oil at the end with the blender running in a slow steady stream
4. Store in glass jar in fridge up to 2 weeks

Basic Sourdough Starter Focaccia

My girlfriend gave me some sour dough starter, that someone gave to her, and so on.

There are stories some sourdough starters have bits that are hundreds of years old.

A women somewhere in the United States claims her is 122 years old. I like to think my was part of ancient ancestry.

The process is simple, whatever you use from the starter is replaced called “feeding the starter”

with equal parts of flour and water, I use 1 cup of flour to 1/2 cup of water.

The starter is ready when it appears frothy with air bubbles and has a sour smell.

This process takes a few hours, longer if you keep your starter in the refrigerator, I keep my on the counter,

it will also let you know when it’s hunger, it falls flat, you can revive it by feeding it.

Not all of us are so lucky to have sour dough starter passed down to us from our bread baking friends.

Thankfully, making mother sourdough starter is as simple as stirring together equal parts of flour and water and letting it sit. no expensive heirloom starters, or mysterious rituals required. A good mixing bowl and the right size pan is all you need to make bakery quality focaccia.

To make the mother starter use the same process as” feeding the starter, and let it sit out  on your counter for 7 days. I keep my sour dough starter on my counter in glass mason jars, that I give to family and friends.

 Things You Can Make with this Basic Sourdough Starter Focaccia

This Basic Sourdough Starter Focaccia is only one recipe, this basic sourdough starter is the beginning of many delicious and easy bread recipes.

I have used the same recipe adjusting the water and flour ratio to make focaccia, pizzas, and flat breads.

I was looking for a artisan Focaccia recipe that tasted and looked like the focaccia I bought at the local bakery, well I think I found it.

This focaccia recipe is quick, easy and hopefully becauce it is so easy, the start to your focaccia  making journey, it was mine.

Please leave me a comment if you make this Basic Sourdough starter focaccia.  Please tune in soon for more sweet and savory recipes using basic sourdough starter.

If you visit please stay. Enjoy!!!

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup sourdough starter
• 11/2 cups cool water
• 4 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 4 Tbs. olive oil
• 2 Tbs. rosemary
• 12 cloves garlic
• 2 Yukon gold potatoes thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Instructions
• Preheat oven to 425
• Whisk water and sour dough starter mixing well
• Combine flour and salt slowly add to starter mixture mix until well blended
• Gather dough into a ball knead lightly  on floured board
• Gather into a ball place in a bowl covered with a damp towel.
• Let raise 8 to 10 hours or over night at room temperature
• The second raise
• Put 2 Tbs. of olive oil on a cookie sheet
• After the dough is almost doubled knead lightly  form a rough oblong shape
• Let raise for 2 hours covered in a warm place
• Put the dough on the cookie sheet turn to coat both sides with the olive oil
• Reshape into rough oblong poke your fingers randomly throughout the focaccia
• Add the garlic cloves, potatoes and rosemary press into the dough
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper
• Bake  for 30 minute

Pesto Shrimp Bruschetta

This Pesto Shrimp Bruschetta is prefect when your looking for a filling appetizer or a light lunch.

Succulent large shrimp coated with pesto, sautéed in  a delicious sauce flavored with salty crispy prosciutto makes this the prefect topping for the toasted Italian bread smeared with pesto, then topped with tangy feta cheese.

Here’s How I made this Pesto Shrimp Bruschetta

When I made this Pesto Shrimp Bruschetta, I started by slicing some good quality Italian bread on a diagonal into roughly 1/2  inch thickness, and toasting it, in my  toaster oven/ air fryer. This step can be done ahead of time even the day before.

Next I defrosted the shrimp in cold water for a quick thaw, this or defrosting the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight are the best methods of defrosting food.

Finally in a large saute pan, I sautéed some red onion and garlic,  threw in a hand full of tomatoes, deglazed the pan with chicken stock you can use white wine if you prefer, then I sautéed the shrimp to a beautiful sear, and topped the toast with the shrimp and some feta cheese.

If you make this recipe please let me know how it goes. leave me a comment. And please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with your creations. I love hearing from you, It’s my favorite part!!!

Ingredients

• 1/2 Lb. large cleaned shrimp
• 1/2 loaf Italian bread cut into 1/2 inch slice
• 2 slices prosciutto thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce plus 1/3 cup to brush on  bread
• 1/3 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup feta cheese
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbs. each chopped Italian parsley and basil
• 2 Tbs. butter
• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 1/3 cut chopped red onion
• 1 Tbs. chopped garlic

Instructions

1. Toast bread then spread lightly with pesto set aside
2. Toss shrimp in the pesto sauce set aside
3. Meanwhile in a large sauté pan bring the butter and oil to medium heat
4. Add the onion and garlic saute until tender and just beginning to brown
5. Add the prosciutto saute until crisp
6. Deglaze the pan with the chicken broth simmer about 5 minutes
7. Add the shrimp cook just until shrimp is cooked through 4 to 5 minutes
8. Add the Italian parsley and basil
9. Top toast with shrimp sprinkle with feta cheese… ENJOY