Tag Archives: main course

Classic Mussels with White Wine and Herbs

Classic Mussels with White Wine and Herbs

This mussel recipe is brought to you by my wonderfully talented friend Arber – given the low price point of mussels, quick cooking time and ability to stand up to any sauce that you could throw at them, there is no reason that more home cooks shouldn’t include them in their repertoire. Continue reading

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina

Potato Gnocchi alla Sorrentina

In the amount of time that it took me to boil a pot of water and futz around with a marinara sauce, I had a dough that was pliant, smooth and gorgeous. A little effortless rolling and cutting resulted in photo-ready dumplings. And a quick trip into a jacuzzi of water yielded gnocchi that tasted of heaven. Where were the Franks grandmas so that I could kiss them on both cheeks and throw my hands up in the air? Continue reading

Beef Tenderloin with Artichokes in Bechamel

Beef Tenderloin with Artichokes in Bechamel

Learning about this filet obsession shook me from my carb-focused complacency, and I decided to go with a Filetto ai Carciofi, a filet mignon simply grilled with artichokes. It was in that moment that I had felt as if I’d wasted how many dinners not indulging on a perfectly cooked steak. Continue reading

Wild Mushroom Risotto

The Quickest Wild Mushroom Risotto Ever

Yes, it takes only 10 minutes to cook. Yes, it frees you from 45 minutes of straight elbow grease. And yes, it’s simple enough to serve as a side. The only problem I now have is finding a dish complicated enough to cook for the folks I love for them alone. Continue reading

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ange’s Lazy Chicken Cordon Bleu

I’ve tricked this chicken out deconstructed cordon bleu style with a slice each of prosciutto and provolone. When the chicken emerged from the oven, the clouds parted in the heavens and the angels began to sing. It was ever so perfect, with prosciutto like bacon and “everything’s-better-with” melted cheese. J’adore! Continue reading

Tuscan Ribeye

Tuscan Grilled Ribeye

Making a steak at home is surprisingly forgiving and has more to do with the quality of the meat and the amount of time you give it to cook. Letting the steak come to room temperature before cooking, letting it sit on the grill undisturbed before flipping, and letting it rest so that the juices redistribute are all necessary steps to the perfect bite of steak. Continue reading

Tiropita (Greek Cheese Pie)

Tiropita (Greek Cheese Pie)

I keep things creamy with a bit of ricotta as well, but feel free to substitute other cheeses such as cottage cheese or even crumbly, salty mizithra. If you’re planning a party of sorts, consider making this tiropita with a spinach pie as an accompaniment and a greek salad to tie the whole thing together. It’s a whole lot of buttery goodness without any fuss. And we all know that fusses are way overrated. Continue reading

Potato Leek Soup © Photo by Angela Gunder

Potato Leek Soup

The lovely leek is a tricky little bugger. While its cousin, the onion, smells fragrant and marvelous immediately upon entering the pan filled with butter or olive oil, the leek can be downright funky. But the patient are always rewarded for their efforts, and the leeks become luscious and silken if you let them hang out and do their thing. Crown this glory with white truffle oil and breadcrumbs toasted with a little butter and you are in for a real treat. Continue reading

Italian Sausage and Rice Soup © Photo by Angela Gunder

Italian Sausage and Rice Soup

No surprise that one of my favorite dishes to prepare, soup, became one of my most loved pressure cooker experiments. This soup was no exception – wild rice usually taking a half an hour to cook is simmered for a mere 10 minutes. Best of all, because of the lack of evaporation, the stock retains all of the concentrated liquid without steaming up your house. Continue reading

Butterflied Chicken with Lemon and Herbs © Photo by Angela Gunder

Butterflied Chicken with Lemon and Herbs

I adore the way in which a little love, butter or olive oil, salt, pepper and aromatics transform the lowly chicken into something worth honoring. Crisp, golden skin and tender meat come into their own with very little effort, and a homestyle supper is on the table for loved ones without a second thought. Or if you love them EVEN more, you’ll just tuck in with them without even leaving the kitchen. Continue reading

Pasta with Camembert, Asparagus and Peas © Photo by Angela Gunder

Pasta with Camembert, Asparagus and Peas

Have I ever led you astray? This is absolutely no exception – very limited work with glorious results, and the taste is a celebration of spring. Camembert kicks alfredo on its ass in a meltingly luscious sauce. Asparagus spears and tender peas enliven the dish as a call to green goodness. It’s so good, it’s stupid. Continue reading

Pappardelle con Cinghiale

Pappardelle con Cinghiale

I’ve toyed with the definitive recipe for bolognese from Marcella Hazan, and in making a few tweaks, discovered that I could replicate her 5 hour masterpiece with literally 20 minutes in the pressure cooker. Genius! And what a lovely way to coax the boar into tender glory. Continue reading

Spicy Bucatini with Wild Boar Meatballs

Spicy Bucatini with Wild Boar Meatballs

For those in the know, the secret to a good meatball is a good crust on the outside and a tender, juicy center. Although I’ll still sear off a meatball or two in a pan with olive oil, I’ve since converted to the baked meatball camp. You still get the lovely outer crust and it’s a whole hell of a lot less messy since you don’t have to tend to these over a greasy stove top. Continue reading

Tortelli with Wild Boar and Nettles

Tortelli with Wild Boar and Stinging Nettles

The nettles take a lovely home as the filling for meat tortelli – wild boar is simmered until perfectly tender and blended with mortadella, pancetta and cheese. Wrapped in homemade pasta and dressed with a light sauce of cream and peas, underneath the delicate flavors lies an air of mystery and danger. Continue reading

Breakfast Taco with Potatoes, Chorizo and Egg © Photo by Angela Gunder

Breakfast Tacos with Potatoes, Chorizo and Egg

I’d be lying if I told you that I actually eat this for breakfast. This is the kind of home cooking that is thrown together at midnight and eaten directly from the kitchen island standing up. Continue reading

Enchiladas Suizas © Photo by Angela Gunder

Enchiladas Suizas (Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas)

Incredibly, the dish originates from Swiss settlers in Mexico contributing swiss cheese to the traditional enchiladas verdes, or corn tortillas rolled and sauced with tomatillos. The dish now refers less to the use of swiss as the inclusion of a creamy sauce with white cheese. Continue reading

Caldo Verde © Photo by Angela Gunder

Quick Caldo Verde

Like Italian Wedding Soup, Caldo Verde is a celebration of meat, greens and broth, with the star carb as tender, simmered potatoes. This soup is as hearty as it is easy to make, and a great use of winter kale when in season, cheap and plentiful. Continue reading

Savory Meat Pie © Photo by Angela Gunder

Savory Meat Pie

This version, though similar in construction to the French Canadian tourtiere, is all its own – a hearty blend of meat, vegetables and spices that produce a pie that looks gourmet. And yet, it only takes a few minutes of actual work – the meat becomes meltingly tender from simmering in milk and wine for a little under an hour, which you can leave bubbling away while you take care of other things. Not a bad deal at all. Continue reading

broccolifrittata2

Broccoli Fritatta

This recipe is uber-simple and works well hot or warm, so break it out for a breakfast, lunch or brunch option. It also holds up with other varieties of veggies, so feel free to raid your produce bin for other stars of the frittata. Continue reading

veggiechili

Lexi’s Favorite Vegetarian Chili

I know what you’re thinking, folks, “Really, Angela? Vegetarian chili?” But you must, must, must try this, die hard meat eater or no. My father, who I am sure is 99% dinosaur (and I’m talking the T-Rex variety) loves this chili like no other, and he doesn’t give out the compliments for non-meat dishes lightly. Continue reading