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Crispy Fried Calamari
I truly love fried calamari. Probably I could eat it every day. Just pop it like popcorn for a snack! Yet, I don’t make it that often. Most people do not make it at home at all. It is one of those things you get as an appetizer at a restaurant. Well, here at home, I like to pair it with some crunchy fried shrimp and homemade fries and BOOM… it’s dinner. Here is the amazing crunchy fried shrimp recipe. These are the easiest, most flavorful fried shrimp you will ever make. They can also be made ahead and frozen in a large batch. That way you can pull out as many as…
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Loaded Breakfast Biscuits
I absolutely love breakfast sandwiches. This recipe I created a few years back when I was working on a new menu for the catering division I was running. I was looking to make a “new” kind of breakfast sandwich that not only had eggs, cheese and toppings. One that was bursting with flavor and could literally stand on its own or become a sandwich. I then created three different types of bread essentially. These bread would be good enough to eat all on their own. Yet, they could also become killer breakfast sandwiches. I knew I needed one with sausage, one with bacon and a vegetarian option. The Deconstruction of the Breakfast sandwich I…
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Hearty Beef Stew
I absolutely love making homemade soups and stews. Even as the weather warms up, I still make those hearty stick to your ribs soups and stews. Especially since Spring can be tricky, especially here in the Midwest. We got snow today in the middle of April. So, we are not quite done with hearty stews just yet. I also love making Spring vegetables into fantastic soups and stews. Spring has some of the most amazing vegetables and these veggies make amazing soups and stews. I wanted to start with the classic stew that most of us think of when you say the word stew. That is a nice, hearty beef stew. I feel…
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St. Patty’s Day Ideas
We have never been big on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. However, I feel like when you have kids you celebrate every holiday and it is just way more fun! When we were younger it was all about a day to go out and have a little too much fun! Now it is about staying in and celebrating with the kids and family. When I was working in restaurants it was all about making sure we had the classic corned beef and cabbage plates. Of course with soda bread. Which, I kind of secretly love, but I love it the next morning toasted with creamy melted butter. Now we will be making the classic…
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Pork Saltimbocca
You are probably asking, “Wait, pork? Isn’t this dish usually veal saltimbocca?” The answer would be, “Yes, it usually is!” However, two things happened to me when I decided I wanted to make saltimbocca. One was that the store did not have the veal I wanted and two was that I really had a taste for saltimbocca. I had the Fontina and the prosciutto already at my house. Already I had it in my head that I was going to make saltimbocca and then I wanted it. I am sure that this has happened to all of you. Yet, I went to the store and they did not have the veal I…
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Pasta with Shrimp and Broccoli
This recipe is a total staple in our house. It is such a quick and easy weeknight meal, but has the feel of a fancy restaurant or weekend meal. My Dad started making this dish for us about 20-25 years ago and I fell in love with it then. I know make it for my family and they too have fallen in love. This is the perfect dish to make all one meal and customize if you need to. For example, this original dish has crushed red pepper flake in it. I omit that for the girls, but add it back in for me and the hubs. I also omit the shrimp…
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Oven Roasted Lamb Chops
If you want tender, juicy, melt in your mouth lamb chops; this is the recipe for you. Also, if you want tender, juicy, melt in your mouth lamb chops that are super simple and quick; this is really the recipe for you. Most people think making lamb chops is too tough. That it is better to get them at a restaurant because making them at home is too much. I am here to show you that couldn’t be farther from the truth. This recipe will give you the perfect lamb chop every single time. It is also a great introduction to making lamb at home. Lastly, it is a restaurant quality recipe that…
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Chicken Vesuvio
I was an Executive Chef at an Italian restaurant for a few years as well as we made a version of this dish at another steakhouse that I was a chef at. Since it is such an iconic Chicagoan dish, it can be found at several restaurants in the area. Needless to say, I have made countless plates of this dish. I have made it with both bone in chicken and boneless breasts. I have made it with peas and without. Here is where I stand and what I have learned. Bone in versus Boneless You can make this dish either way. I prefer to use the bone in chicken as it lends…
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Thanksgiving Leftovers
So, it is the Monday after Thanksgiving. Most likely we have already forgotten about the holiday we are onto Christmas. In full shopping mode and thinking about what cookies we are going to make! BUT, we may still be holding onto some turkey, ham and mashed potatoes. If that is the case, here are a few Thanksgiving leftover recipes for you to use up the rest of those yummy bites that we do not want to throw away! Let’s start with the Turkey 2020 of all years is probably where we have the most turkey leftover. We all celebrated with much smaller groups than normal. Even though we gave leftovers to our few…
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Stuffed Shells
I love Fall foods and recipes, I think I have definitely said that more than once! One thing I love most in the Fall are stuffed pastas. Sure, you can eat these year round, but they have such a comforting feel in the Fall when the weather starts getting chillier outside. You can make them with hearty meat sauces and countless filling options. In house we have the great stuffed pasta debate of meat filling versus cheese filling! Which do you prefer? I am cheese all the way, but the hubby prefers meat. Since we are both Italian, but come from two different regions in Italy, this does not surprise me at all.…
