I’ve been up in North Florida at St George Island with the family for the past few days, just relaxing and fishing. I just came home to rainy and dreary weather here in South Florida. Since it actually dipped below 80 degrees, I was in the mood for a bit o’ soup. One of my most favorite soups is Pasta Fagioli. It’s an incredibly easy and quick cooking soup, and is made from basic ingredients I usually have in my pantry. There are many, many different recipes for this soup, some adding marinara, some adding Italian meatballs… I don’t add either of those. I’ve been tweaking it a bit each time I make it, and this last time was just perfect. My secret (which is now no longer a secret) is to puree half of the white beans.
{ Read the rest }
Archive for September, 2007
Dreary Days = Soup
Posted by Candace on Thursday, September 27th, 2007
Salad… Its What’s for Dinner
Posted by Candace on Wednesday, September 26th, 2007Anyone that knows me knows that I’m a steak and potatoes kind of gal. As I’m maturing, and that darn metabolism slows, I try to eat less of that and more salads. Here is one of my favorite ways to incorporate red meat into a healthy dinner. Grilled Filet Mignon served on top of a delicious salad with lots of goodies in it. Its really the best of both worlds: Raw veggies… check! Yummy grilled steak… check! Candied Almonds… check! OK, the candied almonds are not exactly “healthy” but they sure are tasty.
{ Read the rest }
Hakuna Frittata!
Posted by Candace on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007Just like Lion King, when making a frittata, there are no worries! :)
I began my love of frittatas while working as a Pastry Chef at the Aquarium Restaurant in Kemah Texas. I often worked early mornings, prepping for the dinner service that night. The kitchen prep ladies would make breakfast for the staff, and one of the most popular items was a frittata. They would go from station to station, grabbing a handful of bacon from Garde Manger, perhaps some par-cooked Haricots Verts from the saute station, julienne of carrot… whatever tickled their fancy. I’ve even had it with lobster on a few occasions when the executive chef was away from the kitchen… but we were sworn to secrecy!
Paste Di Meliga
Posted by Candace on Monday, September 24th, 2007Also known as Italian Cornmeal Butter Cookies from Piemonte. I was looking for something different to bake this past weekend. I came across this recipe in Cookies Unlimited by Nick Malgieri. This book, by the way, is fabulous, and I suggest everyone buy it. It not only has every cookie you can imagine, it has pictures… of every cookie. All of the recipes I’ve made from this book have been delicious. I use several of his recipes for my Christmas baking… which I go completely overboard on… so stay tuned!
The cookie has a nice crunch, but is also very delicate. Very nice combination of butter and vanilla.
{ Read the rest }
Feeling Blue?
Posted by Candace on Friday, September 21st, 2007Stephan was watching a food show recently and saw a blue cheese stuffed hamburger, and asked me to try it. Since I had not seen the show, I had to wing it a bit, but it really turned out great… except I always forget how much burgers shrink when they cook. I think the next time I make burgers at home, I’ll make them the circumference of a human head, then it will hopefully fit the bun! Gosh, my buns looked huge next to the burger :p
One warning, however, when you bite into it, a bit of hot cheese *may* squirt out, and if it does… its like red hot magma…
{ Read the rest }
