Orzo Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

5-6 Tomatoes, chopped
2 zucchini, grated
1 onion, chopped
1 cup shredded pecorino romano, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 cup olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4 cups chicken broth
1/1/2 cups orzo
8 Sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, orange)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400*.  Combine tomatoes, zucchini, onion, cheese, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, in a large bowl.

Meanwhile, bring the chicken broth to boil, and add the orzo.  Cook for 4 min, the orzo will only be partially cooked.

Drain the orzo, reserving the broth and add the orzo to the large bowl with the vegetables.  Stir to combine.

Slice the tops off the peppers and remove all seeds.  Fill the bottom of a 9x13 pan with the remaining broth.  Fill the peppers with the vegetable mix and place them into the 9x13 pan.  Cover the dish and bake for 40 minutes.  Remove the foil sprinkle the top with cheese and bake until brown and bubbly, about another five minutes.  

Buon appetito!!

Chicken Noodle Soup

When I get a craving for soup, I make it, and I make a ton! To freeze or distribute at will...

You can use leftover chicken, or bake 2 pounds of chicken thighs (they're the best!) or like me, cheat and get 2 roaster chickens from the grocery!

2 pounds of chicken or two roaster chickens

1 Bunch of carrots, chopped

1 Bunch of celery, chopped

1 Large onion, chopped

1 Bag frozen corn

10 cups of chicken broth

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a stockpot and simmer for 1 hour, serve with your choice of noodle! Easy Peasy!

*You'll notice I didn't say anything about the "Noodle" portion.  I make my noodles separately and then add them when I'm ready to eat.  It works out nicely when you want to freeze the soup!  Buon appetito!!

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Radish Salsa

4-5 Medium Radishes, Chopped

1/2 Cup Cilantro, Chopped

1 English (seedless) Cumcumber, Chopped

6-7 Green Onions, Chopped

Lime Juice, Salt, Olive Oil to taste

Mix all and enjoy with some chips or mix it into hummus and dip with carrots!  Buon appetito!!



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Zucchini Pizza

Did you know August 4th is National -Leave Zucchini on your Neighbor's Porch- Day?  I didn't either, but I can see why it is!  I am overflowing with zucchini and tomatoes.... But I can't complain because it's all delicious!  While I cheated and bought the dough from a local Italian Bakery, it was whole wheat dough and delicious!

1 Lb Pizza Dough

3-4 Zucchinis, sliced

1 small onion, chopped

Olive Oil for Sauteing

2 Cups Pizza Cheese Mix (Mozzarella, Prove lone, Romano, Parmesan)

Italian Seasoning.

Saute the zucchinis and onions with olive oil in a large pan, until caramelized.  In the mean time let the dough come to room temperature (if it was in the fridge), and spread onto pizza pan/stone.  Lightly put some olive oil on top and cover with Italian spices.  Take the zucchini pan  and liberally spread veggies over pizza.  Top with cheese and bake on the top rack of the oven (so the cheese browns slightly) at 375* for 20 min, or until dough is firm and cheese is the right color brown.  Slice and Serve!  Buon appetito!! 

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Scallops and Greens

Ingredients

1 lb large scallops, patted dry
1 container spring mix letuce
2 tbs butter
Salt
Pepper

Dressing:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup whole milk or cream
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbs Italian spices

Technique

In a saucepan melt the butter, meanwhile salt and lightly pepper the scallops on both sides.  Add the scallops to the pan once all the butter is melted.  Brown for 2-3 min each side.

While the scallops are browning whisk all the ingredients for the dressing and spoon over the lettuce mix.  Remove scallops from pan and place ontop of lettuce.  Serve with your favorite wine.  May I suggest a dry Riesling.
Buon appetito!


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Italian Beef Stew

This stew is so delicious. The beef is very tender and the sauce is thick without the use of a typical thickening agent. Served with a crusty bread, this warms you up on a cold evening!

7 tsp. olive oil, divided

1 1/2 c. chopped onion

1 T. minced garlic

1/4 c. flour

2 lbs. boneless chuck roast, cut into cubes

salt and pepper

1 c. dry red wine

2 lbs. plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

1 1/2 c. low sodium beef broth

1/2 c. water

2 t. chopped fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

1 pkg. baby portobello mushrooms, quartered

3/4 c. sliced carrots

2 T. chopped basil

1 T. chopped parsley

Heat 1 tsp. oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and chopped carrots. Saute about 8 min. Add garlic stirring constantly, about 1 min. Remove from pan.

Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper; dredge in flour. Add 1 T. oil to pan. Saute beef in oil in 2 batches until browned, about 6 min. each batch. Remove beef from pan.

Add wine to pan, scraping browned bits. Cook until reduced to about 1/3 cup. Return meat and onion mixture to pan. Add tomatoes, broth, water, thyme, bay leaf, and mushrooms. Cover and simmer about 45 min., stirring occasionally.

Stir in carrots and simmer uncovered about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Stir in basil and parsley.

Adapted from Cooking Light (Jan/Feb 2011)

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Greek Panzanella

Ingredients:



Olive oil

6 c. cubed french bread

1 cucumber, seeded and sliced into half moons

1 red bell pepper, 1 inch dice

1 yellow bell pepper, 1 inch dice

2 c. grape tomatoes, cut in half

1/2 red onion, slice in half rounds

1/2 lb. feta cheese, cut in 1/2 inch cubes



Vinaigrette:



2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t. dried oregano

1/2 t. Dijon mustard

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

1 t. salt

1/2 t pepper

1/3 c. olive oil



Heat 3 T. olive oil in pan. Add the bread cubes and sprinkle with salt. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 10 min., stirring frequently, until browned. Add extra olive oil if needed.



Combine the cucumber, red and yellow pepper, tomatoes and red onion in large bowl.



Whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. While whisking add olive oil. Pour over vegetables. Add cheese and bread cubes. Mix together gently. Set aside to allow flavors to combine about 30 min. Serve at room temp.



Serves 4-6




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Super Simple Salmon

There's almost nothing better than a homemade meal, even a simple one like this. Since Brendan and I welcomed Clare, there has been very little cooking going on in our house, but we occasionally find a long enough period of time to pull this quick dinner together.

Serves:2

Ingredients:

2 5 oz. Salmon filets

1/2 red onion sliced

1/2 lemon sliced

2 sprigs of rosemary

olive oil

salt and pepper

How:

Heat the oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with foil. Place the salmon filets on the foil along with the red onion. Drizzle all in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle rosemary leaves on top of fish and onions. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Serve with lemon slices to squeeze over fish before eating.

Enjoy!

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Shrimp Fried Rice

This is one of everyone's favorites!  Mine too because it takes minutes to prepare!


Ingredients
2 cups rice (cooked)
½ lbs shrimp (uncooked)
4 eggs
4 green onions (chopped)
3 tbs Olive or Sesame oil
1 tsp salt
1 tbs soy sauce

Technique
Saute the onions in oil, add shrimp and cook for two minutes, add salt. Beat eggs and add to shrimp, cook for one minute. Slide everything over to one side of the pan add some more oil to the empty side and add rice. Add salt and soy sauce until you have the taste you prefer. Buon appetito!


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Roasted Vegetables

3 beets
3 T. olive oil
1 lb. carrots, peeled and cut in 1" chunks
1/2 lb. brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
8 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
salt and pepper
1 T. chopped rosemary

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Put beets in small baking dish. Rub with 1 T. oil. Cover with foil and roast for 1 1/2 hr.

Combine carrots, sprouts, garlic, and 2 T. olive oil in dutch oven. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add to oven after beets have been roasting for 30 min. Let roast for 1 hour.

Remove beets from oven. Stir rosemary into carrot mixture and roast 10 min. Hold beet with paper towel to prevent staining your fingers, and use another paper towel to remove the peel from the beet. This is very easy. Cut into 1 inch chunks. Toss with the other vegetables.

Tip: If you stain your hands or cutting board, rub them with salt and then wash.

Adapted from: The Food You Crave by Ellie Krieger




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Lemon Chicken Stir Fry

1 lemon
1/2 c. chicken broth
3 T. low sodium soy sauce
2 t. cornstarch
1 T. vegetable oil
1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into 1" pieces
1/2 lb. mushrooms, quartered
1 c. sliced carrots
2 c. snow peas, strings removed
1 bunch scallions, cut into 1 " pieces ( keep whites and greens separated)
1 T. chopped garlic

Grate 1 tsp. lemon zest. Set aside. Combine 3 T. lemon juice, broth, soy sauce and cornstarch.

Heat oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook about 5 min. , until cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Add mushrooms and carrots to pan and cook about 5 min., until carrots are tender.
Add peas, scallion whites, garlic and lemon zest. Cook about 30 sec. Whisk broth mixture and add. Cook until slightly thickened. Add the rest of the scallions and chicken. Heat through, about 2 min.

Adapted from Eating Well 500 Calorie Dinners
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Fish with Cilantro Sauce and Rice

Ingredients

5-6 tilapia fillets
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon lime juice

Technique

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; sauté the garlic and onion for 1 to 2 minutes. Add cream and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes to reduce slightly. Stir in cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pepper. Simmer for about 1 minute longer. Set aside or refrigerate until nearly serving time.

Spread some olive oil in a saute pan and wait for it to heat up. Add fish and cook 2 minutes on each side. Season with salt and pepper. Put fish onto plate and spread sauce over fish.

I served mine with rice. Buon appetito!





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Sausage, Tomato & Eggplant Sauté

Ingredients

4 links Chicken, Mozzarella, and Basil sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 to 6 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1 pound zucchini or eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt and pepper

Technique

In a large pan add olive oil and garlic and sauté on medium. Since the sausage is fully cooked add that and the eggplant to the pan. Sauté for 5-8 minutes or until warm. Add tomatoes and cook until they are warm not wilted. Remove from pan and sprinkle with salt, pepper and cilantro. I served mine with ditalini pasta to satiate the children. Buon appetito!



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