Italian Flag Marinated Tomato Sauce

Ingredients
  • 1 large ripe tomato, 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 15 leaves fresh Basil
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • lots of fresh black pepper
  • 1/2 lb mozzarella cheese in small wedges
Directions
  1. Mix all ingredients. Let marinate for an hour.

Pear and Cream Cheese Tart

Ingredients
  • 1 sheet Puff Pastry
  • 4 oz softened Neufchatel
  • 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 Pear
  • 20 Blueberries
Directions
  1. Roll edges of Puff Pastry to make a boat shape.
  2. Mix softened Neufchatel, Brown Sugar, Vanilla and Cinnamon. Spread in bottom of Puff Pastry Boat.
  3. Thinly slice and core a Pear. Layer in Puff Pastry, put Blueberries on top.
  4. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Gnocchi Alla Romana

Ingredients
  • 5 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 cups semolina
  • 2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 1/4 cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes, plus 3 Tbs. melted butter
  • 1/3 Cup Heavy Cream
Directions
  1. In a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the milk to a simmer. Add the semolina in a thin, steady stream, whisking constantly until incorporated. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the salt and continue whisking to prevent lumps from forming. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan, until the semolina is thick and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 3/4 cup of the cheese, the egg yolks and the 6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) butter until incorporated.
  2. Butter a 9-by-13-inch pan, line the bottom with parchment paper and Butter again. Pour the semolina mixture into the pan, spreading it evenly and smoothing the top with a rubber spatula. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
  3. Preheat an oven to 425°F. Butter a 9-inch French skillet or round casserole dish.
  4. Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter or water glass, cut the gnocchi into rounds. Arrange the gnocchi in the pan so they are overlapping, resembling shingles. Brush the top of the gnocchi with the 3 Tbs. melted butter, 1/3 cup Heavy Cream and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the top is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes, then serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.

 

 

Puff Pastry Broccoli Strudel

Ingredients
  • 1 sheet Puff Pastry
  • 1 head of Broccoli
  • 1/4 cup each Parmesan, Asiago and Feta
  • 4 oz Cream Cheese (or Neufchatel)
  • 1 Egg
Directions
  1.  Take Pastry sheet – using a rolling pin stretch on baking sheet.
  2. Take head of broccoli, chop – saute in butter until crip, tender, and dark green.
  3. Mix Broccoli with 1/4 cup each Parm, Asiago and Feta – add 4oz cream cheese (or Neufchatel)
  4. Fold ingredients into pastry and seal with egg wash (egg plus tsp of water) – glaze top of pastry as well.
  5. Bake at 400° for 25min, until golden brown

Sweet Potato Wedges

Ingredients
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Garlic Salt
  • Pepper
Directions
  1. Scrub sweet potatoes (1 or 2) Cut into 1/4 in slices with corrugated slicer (if you have one, or knife if not)
  2. Fry in cocnut oil (with lid on, stirring frequently) until brown.
  3. Season with Garlic Salt & Pepper