Linguine Fine with Garlic Pork Sausage and Spinach

From food

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound Garlic & Wine Pork sausage, casing removed,crumbled
5 ounces baby spinach, fresh
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 (16 ounce) package Linguine Fini (De Cecco)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Parmesan Cheese, shredded, 3 tbsp
Spinach, fresh, 5 oz
Butter, salted, 1 tbsp
Kosher salt, 2 tsp
Pepper, black, 1 tbsp


DIRECTIONS

Cook pasta in rapidly boiling salted water as directed on the package, until al dente. Drain in a colander, reserving 2 cups of pasta water.

Toast the panko crumbs in a small skillet using 1/2 tablespoon of the butter. Set aside.

In sauce pan, sauté sausage until brown. Drain excess oil.
Add garlic and cook for a minute more. Add the pasta water, and incorporate the parmigiana cheese until the cheese is dissolved. Add pasta until coated in the sauce.

Add spinach leaves and stir until they are also in the mixture and wilted. Cover for a minute if needed to cook spinach.

Toss in panko crumbs and serve.

Number of Servings: 4

Spicy and Sweet Italian Sausage Meatballs and Linguine Fini with Mushrooms

From food

INGREDIENTS

1 medium onion, chopped
1 sweet Italian sausage
1 spicy Italian sausage
1 cup panko bread crumbs
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 package crimini mushrooms, sliced
1 cup white wine
3 tbsp fresh basil, chiffonade-style
1 cup shredded or grated parmigiano reggiano cheese, fresh
1 package linguine fini pasta
Kosher salt
Cracked pepper
1 tsp pimenton ahumado (smoked paprika)
extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS
In a pasta pot, cook the linguine fini in salt water with a little olive oil until al dente. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water before straining and set aside.

For both the sweet and spicy Italian sausages, remove the casing and roll into bite-size balls on a plate. In a bowl, pour panko crumbs and a little kosher salt and pepper. Roll the meatballs into the panko until breaded and transfer them to a separate plate. In a cast iron pan, heat some olive oil on medium high heat until hot. Place all meatballs in the hot oil. Cook until brown on the bottom, and turn with tongs. When the meatballs are browned on all sides, remove from pan and set aside. In the same pan, add more oil if necessary and sauté onions until soft. Add garlic, a dash of pimenton and 1/3 of the basil. Add the crimini mushrooms and sauté until cooked through, browning slightly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add 1/2 cup of pasta water and 1/2 cup of white wine to deglaze the pan. When heated through, stir in 1/4 cup of the parmigiano until completely incorporated into the mixture. Heat through. Return the meatballs to the pan. Heat through, and repeat the pasta water/wine/cheese process until a sauce begins to form. Add the remaining basil and paprika. Salt and pepper to taste. When the sauce begins to thicken, stir in the cooked pasta in batches until fully coated by the sauce.
Serve with additional basil, parmigiano cheese and pepper. Enjoy!

Bow-tie pasta with meatballs

INGREDIENTS

Sauce
2 28-oz cans San Marzano tomatoes, crushed
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 tbsp tomato paste (from a tube, I used Amore)
1 cup red wine (I used Shiraz, Penfolds)
1 cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese, fresh
1/4 cup fresh basil, minced
1 cup red wine
olive oil
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste


Meatballs
1 lb ground sirloin
1/4 lb ground Italian sausage
1/2 tsp Montreal steak seasoning
1/2 tsp beef bouillon powder
1/2 medium yellow onion, grated
1/2 cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup flour
salt and fresh cracked pepper
pinch paprika
olive oil

pasta
1 package bowtie pasta, cooked al dente

DIRECTIONS
For the sauce, saute the onions in olive oil until soft, about five minutes. Add garlic and saute for about a minute. Add tomatoes and heat through for about five minutes. Stir in the grated cheese and chopped basil. Add salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Simmer for about 45 minutes.

In the meantime, fill a pasta pot with water and bring to a boil. Add salt and pasta, and boil until al dente.

While the sauce is simmering, using your hands, mix the ground beef, italian sausage, onion, steak seasoning, boullion, cheese and egg together until just combined. In a plate, combine flour, salt and pepper, and paprika. Using a melon baller or a scoop, shape the meatballs into small 1-inch balls. Dredge each meatball in flour and set aside. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil until hot. Cook meatballs without flipping until brown on one side. Then flip and cook through until brown on all sides. Set aside.

Add wine to sauce. Stir in meatballs and simmer for another 10 minutes. Serve on top of pasta with grated parmigiano reggiano.

Spaghettini with Vodka Arrabiata Sauce

INGREDIENTS
1 cup vodka
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup prosciutto, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 can roma tomatoes (san marzano), crushed
2 tbsps tomato paste
1 cup half & half
spaghettini, al dente (reserve 1/4 cup pasta water)
1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt to taste
fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
Combine vodka and red pepper flakes, set aside. Saute onions in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic and prosciutto until the prosciutto turns brown. Add vodka and red pepper mixture and simmer for 5 minutes. Fold in tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Add basil and simmer for 2 minutes. Add cream and simmer for an additional 2 minutes. Stir in parmigiano-reggiano. Serve on spaghettini. Garnish with more grated cheese or fresh basil.

Tomato Sauce with Prosciutto

I've been trying to duplicate my friend Adam's pasta sauce and haven't been successful, until today. He told me it was all about the tomatoes. He is right. I got San Marzano tomatoes at Dean and Deluca. I will never make a tomato sauce with regular tomatoes again.

INGREDIENTS
1 can san marzano whole peeled tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
12 leaves fresh basil, chopped
1 sprig fresh rosemary, minced
5 sliced prosciutto, chopped
2 tbps tomato paste
1 cup red wine (I used a Cotes du Rhone - Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallèle 45 Rouge)
pasta (I used radiatore pasta)
1/2 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
pinch kosher salt to taste
fresh cracked pepper

DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan or cast iron pan, saute onion on medium until translucent. Add pepper and saute until soft. Add garlic and prosciutto and saute for another 2 minutes. Add can of tomatoes (in juice) and mash them in the pan with a potato masher. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Add basil, rosemary, salt, pepper and tomato paste. Stir until combined. Add wine. Simmer for 20 minutes covered. Serve on pasta with grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese.

UPDATED VARIATIONS
Try the same recipe with only garlic sauteed on low. Then add 1/2 cup of pine nuts until slightly brown. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, wine and resh basil. Omit other ingredients. Very delicious sauce.

Mediterranean Noodles

One of my favorite entrees at a local restaurant is their Mediterranean Noodles. I've attempted my version of this delicious dish.

INGREDIENTS
linguini, al dente
3 tbs olive oil
marinated artichoke hearts, quartered
plum tomatoes, roasted and chopped
2 tsps pine nuts, roasted
1 cup fresh spinach, lightly steamed
5 to 8 cloves freshly roasted garlic
5 to 8 castelverano or kalamata olives, pitted
2 tbs freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano
2 oz goat cheese
kosher salt
fresh ground pepper

Combine the linguini, olive oil, artichokes, tomatoes, pine nuts, garlic, olives and spinach in a large bowl. Fold in the parmigiano, salt and pepper. Top with the goat cheese. Serve.

Easy Pasta Salad

You'll find common themes in my blog when I have certain ingredients in the refrigerator. This pasta salad has artichoke hearts and olives, but also the regular ingredients of my traditional salad. I'm making it for my sister's baby shower. They will love it.

INGREDIENTS

Basic Pasta Salad

1 bag pasta, cooked al dente in salted water (I'm using spiral)
1 tbsp lemon zest
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 red pepper, chopped
1 tomato, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced or sliced
4 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried)
1 tbsp sea or kosher salt
fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 fresh parmesan cheese

Optional

6 marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
3 tbsp kalamata olives, pitted
1 cup feta cheese
1 cup pine nuts

DIRECTIONS
Saute in a small pan the onion and red pepper until carmelized. Set aside until cool. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Serve.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese - the Easiest and Tastiest Microwave Recipe

After trying several recipes and variations, the following recipe is my favorite homemade mac and cheese. Incidentally, it's also the easiest and fastest recipe, because it is mostly made in the microwave. The original recipe is here.


To me, it tastes the most like the boxed version, but reheats much better. Enjoy!


INGREDIENTS
1 cup elbow macaroni (or other similar pasta)
1 cup milk
3 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (extra sharp is the best)
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste


DIRECTIONS
To cook the pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and set aside.


To cook cheese sauce: In a large microwave-safe bowl, mix milk and flour with a dash of salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth and there are no lumps. Add butter and cheese and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Remove from microwave and whisk until smooth. Return to microwave for an additional 3 to 5 minutes and again whisk until smooth. Add cooked macaroni to bowl. Stir until coated and serve with fresh pepper.

VARIATIONS
If a cheesy crust is desired, after the mixture is combined, sprinkle another 1/3 cup of Cheddar on top of oven-safe dish, broil until cheese is golden-brown and bubbly. Serve.


You can also add ham or salami, chopped or diced roma tomatoes. Add at the same time as pasta. Be sure to watch the mixture as it microwaves and whisk thoroughly. Do not over-microwave.


(You will love this easy recipe).