Recipe #263: Mac and Cheese

This is Will's mom's recipe. She has two in her recipe book: one for when she is in Italy and then her American version! :) We decided to make the Italian version!

You need:
1 box of noodles (we used rottini)
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup shredded mozzarella
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper
cut up ham

• boil noodles according to package directions
• drain and return to pot
• add olive oil and butter
• mix in cheese, salt and pepper
• turn the heat on low so that the cheese will melt.
• add in ham

Recipe #227: Supli

Supli is that wonderful italian food that didn't make it out of Italy the way pizza did. Often you will eat them together--perfect street food. You pay for pizza by the kilo and have a supli on the side. It is Italian version of the Japanese Onigiri. Just great food to eat on the go...wish the US had more of that!

You need: (these measurements are all estimates)

2 cups rice

1 cup spaghetti sauce

2 Tbsp parmesan 

9 cubes of mozzarella

2 eggs

bread crumbs

oil

• once your rice is done cooking, mix it with spaghetti sauce and parmesan
• take a handful of rice and form it into a ball (I used a piece of plastic wrap to help form it quicker and it wasn't so hot then
• stick a cube of cheese in the middle of the rice and reform ball around it. 
• dip in egg to coat then in the bread crumbs. 
• Deep fry in hot oil. I used a small pot to use less oil and put two in at a time. 
• makes about 9 supli

It was so delicious!

Recipe #209: Arrabiatta

A delicious Italian dish that literally means "angry"! Love it. It is angry because of the heat! It is a quick meal that I was fortunate enough to have all of the ingredients on hand!

You need:
pasta of your choice
can of diced tomatoes
8-10 strips of turkey bacon
1 onion, diced
hot sauce
crushed red pepper

• start water for pasta and boil according to package directions
• in a pan fry the bacon
• after taking out bacon add a little olive oil to pan and saute onions
• break up bacon into small pieces and add back to onion
• add can of diced tomatoes 
• once pasta is ready, drain and put back in pot. 
• add bacon mixture to pasta and mix up
• add as much hot sauce and crushed red pepper as you want!

Recipe #82: Carbonara

I must say, mine never seem's to turn out as good as Will's mom, but it still is good!
I used different noodles to make it more interesting!

you need:
one box of spaghetti noodles, or a bag of Farfalle (bowtie) noodles
start that boiling

in a fry pan, fry up at least half a package of bacon (I used turkey bacon) do not drain all the grease. Use that to saute 1/2 of an onion. Put onion and bacon to the side.

In a small bowl mix about 3 eggs and parmesan in a bowl.

Once noodles are done, drain. add onion and bacon mix and egg mixture. Mix together over a very low heat just to make sure the egg cooks!
Enjoy!

Recipe #69: Taco Salad (Plus Recipes #70 and #71: Salsa and Taco Sauce)

Isn't it such a wonderful, colorful meal! Taco Salad--Its it wonderful! So hodgepodge and so easy!

you need: 

Chips

cheese

ground beef and taco packet, prepared according to directions

lettuce

other veggies: corn, beans, etc. anything you want to make a salad.

sour cream is also great but we didn't have any.

taco sauce and salsa (see recipes below)

Make your salad, add the taco meat, cheese etc. on top! 

Salsa:

you need:

5 tomatoes

corn

pepper

1/4 of an onion

2 cloves garlic

4 torn up leaves of basil

2 Tbsp of lemon juice

I would recommend cilantro too but I didn't have any.

Also add some jalapeno if you like it hot

I diced up the tomatoes and heated them up on the stove. I added just a titch of water.

Add in some onion, corn, pepper, garlic, basil, lemon juice etc. Heat until the tomato is softer. 

If you wanted it really fresh don't heat it, but the warm salsa tasted really good on top of the salad.

Taco sauce (or Will also uses it for BBQ sauce):

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup vinegar

2 Tbsp chopped onions (optional)

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp mustard

Heat all ingredients to boiling over medium heat. Stirring constantly, reduce heat.  Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes.

Will's family uses this for a bbq sauce too!

Recipes #8 and #9: Spaghetti Sauce and Caprese Salad

Well, my husband is doing the dishes and my son is in bed, and I finally get to put my feet up...and write my post! Today was a great day in my kitchen. Lots of fun! When Will and I were deciding what we should eat tonight, we knew it had to involve one thing...bread! (another post on that coming soon!) So I decided to make another Plunkett favorite...Spaghetti!
 
You need:
carrots, just a couple
onion, one
olive oil, a drizzle
stewed tomatoes, one or two cans
tomato sauce, equal parts to the stewed tomatoes
basil, to taste
oregano, again whatever you like
salt, a pinch or two

I didn't have all of that so I substituted crushed and diced tomatoes for the stewed tomatoes and tomato paste for the tomato sauce... I actually think it helped it cook faster because it was already thick and small pieces. anyways, you could also use roma tomatoes instead of the stewed, i just didn't have enough.

• grate up carrots and dice onions, saute with the olive oil until soft.
• add tomatoes and sauce and let simmer
• add basil, oregano, and salt. I added rosemary too, both the rosemary and basil were from my garden! :)
• Simmer over low heat until the tomatoes cook down and thicken stirring occasionally.
• it may take 2-3 hours depending on what you use, but if you use a short cut like I did it won't take that long! 

The noodle were special--straight from Italy, thanks to a friend. I was just waiting for a fun occasion to use them!



Along with the spaghetti we had some herb bread and caprese salad, another italian favorite, taking several things I love and putting them together!
Caprese Salad:
Mozzarella, go for the good stuff, not the low fat stuff...
roma tomatoes
basil, fresh is best
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

I like to cut up the mozzarella and tomatoes into small chucks. then i added some fresh basil that my boys went outside to pick for me, only moments before I made the salad! :) drizzle the olive oil on top and mix together. Fresh and delicious!

Recipe #7: Cole Slaw

A southern favorite, but not my favorite until I tried some of Will's mom's Cole Slaw! Now I willingly eat it. :)
I decided to make it because I had half a bag of shredded cabbage left after making yakisoba last night! Too often it goes to waste, but not this time! :)
Here is the recipe:

1/2 head of cabbage
4 carrots
(or use the handy bag of shredded cabbage and carrots!)
pickle slices 2 or 3
salt and pepper
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup pickle juice or vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil

• Chop up carrots and cabbage in a bowl....or pour mix out of bag and into bowl! :)
• In another small bowl whisk together the mayo, pickle juice/vinegar, and olive oil
• Pour over the cabbage and mix together
• Enjoy!