Mushroom/asparagus sauté

Since we gobbled all of Alex's polenta the other night, I needed a quick veggie to go with our leftover short ribs

1 12 oz pkg sliced crimini mushrooms
1 12 oz pkg sliced white mushrooms
1 small bunch organic asparagus, steamed for 2 minutes and sliced on the diagonal
1 handful chopped parsley
1 large or 2 small garlic cloves sliced
Olive oil
Salt/pepper
2 tbls balsamic vinegar

Sauté the mushrooms in 2 tbls oil. Cook until the water comes out of them and evaporates. Then they will start to brown. Push the mushrooms to the outside of frying pan. Add another tbls oil to the empty center of pan, add garlic and chopped asparagus. Cook and toss about another 3 minutes. Add parsley then salt and pepper and 2 tbls balsamic. Toss to coat and cook one more minute and enjoy. Ciao Bella!

Italian Peasant Salad

Prepping a little salad for the Oscars to go with an already prepared flatbread with mushrooms, Emmental and Parmesan cheese. Somebody pour me some wine while I slip on my stilettos!
Ciao Bella

1 package mini heirloom organic tomatoes cut in half
4 small cloves garlic minced
1/3 cup fresh basil, leaves rolled tight and cut into small strips aka "chiffonade"
1/3 cup white kidney beans or garbanzo beans
Salt to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste
EVOO
Splash of red wine vinegar
Mix everything in a bowl and let set for at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld
Easy and will be the perfect match with the "no" tomato flatbread!
BTW Georgie you alway have my vote!
Enjoy the Oscars everyone...

Zucchini A Gratin

I made this earlier in the week and forgot to post. Served with a blood orange and citrus marinaded chicken.

5 zucchini sliced on the diagonal 1/2" thick
1 cup plain panko bread crumbs
4 cloves garlic minced
1 sprig Rosemary (from my yard) chopped
2 tbls Italian parsley chopped
2 tbls fresh basil chopped
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/3 cup feta cheese
Olive oil
salt and pepper
Oven at 350. Mix together all of the topping ingredients except oil and salt and pepper. Place zucchini slices in a circular pattern in round glass pie plate. Sprinkle 1st layer with a pinch of salt/pepper and half of the topping mixture. Add a touch of olive oil over the top and then proceed to second layer. Top with the rest of the topping and a bit more oil to moisten. Cook for approx 20 minutes until zucchini is soft and topping is browned. I made this a day ahead, refrigerated and just cooked it the night we ate it. It will actually hold in the refrigerator ahead of time for a couple of days so it's a great do ahead" side dish. Ciao Bella!

Beans....not just for burritos anymore!

Black bean burgers. Ok, ok that's what I thought too! Yuck was definitely the word that came to mind, but anyone that knows me knows I LOVE good food and these are delicious even if you aren't a giant black bean eater, which I am not. Let me just say THESE are one of my new favorite things. Sorry I forgot to take a picture, but pretty much they look like a beef burger. Try them I think you'll be surprised!

2 cans organic black beans rinsed and drained
1 large shallot
4 big cloves garlic
1 egg
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
3 tbls Italian parsley
3 tbls cilantro
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
Salt/pepper
1/4 tsp cumin (optional I didnt use)
1/4 - 1/3 cup olive oil

In food processor, pulse onion and garlic. Add drained beans and rest of ingredients and continue pulsing until blended. Note: you can leave out 1/2 can of the beans and add the whole beans in with the blended ones but this time I didn't.
Heat oil over med heat. Form "burger patties" and fry till browned and then flip and continue to brown. That it! I made Ron's into a whole burger thing but I just had mine on the side of brown rice/sweet potato/Parmesan mix and it was great. Give them a try...super healthy and a great "meatless" night dinner. Ciao Bella!

Hoedown for Hoecakes

The first time I had these was from a mix by Ms Paula Deen. Been salivating for them ever since. If you haven't had one...kind of like a fluffy corn pancake. Although we had a "breakfast for dinner" with them I can see they would be perfect to "sop up" anything...just delicious! Good job my Kentucky boy.
Note: although the recipe called for self-rising flour and self-rising cornmeal, I made my own.

1 cup (minus 2 tbls) all purpose flour with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt added
1 cup cornmeal (do the same as above)
2 eggs
1 1/2 tbls sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup + 1 tbls water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
We also added 6 cooked crisp strips bacon and crumbled into big pieces

Very simple. Heat oil over med heat, mix all ingredients and drop by serving spoon size heaps into hot oil. Top with bacon, let brown and rise and flip and cook another minute or so. We served them with fried eggs, a touch of maple syrup and my homemade applsesauce.
I think my mother-in-law would have definitely used her favorite line with these..."best thing I ever put in my mouthhhhh"! Said in a southern drawl.
So tonight enjoy and ciao Bella y'all!

Fresh applesauce with cherries

I made this today to go with the Hoecakes my honey is making shortly.
The apples were so sweet I didnt need any additional sugar.

5 organic fuji apples chopped
1 organic granny smith apple chopped
1/3 cup apple cider (you can just use water if you want)
A heaping tbls of cinnamon (or to taste)
1/2 to 1 tsp ground ginger
1/3 to 1/2 cup dried cherries
Simmer all the Ingredients in a med saucepan over low heat till fruit is soft but still whole.
I used an immersion blender and puréed 3/4 of the way. I like a little texture. Chill for 3 to 4 hours. Perfect with breakfast, as a snack or a side with pork. Using fuji apples was perfect for sweetness with just a hint of tart from the granny smith. Ciao Bella!

Home made croutons

I've been asked for this recipe today. It's easy and can't compare to "store-bought"! They're sooo addicting, they may never make it into your salad.

1 loaf ciabatta bread cut into 1" dice 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil
1 Tbls butter
Dried basil to taste
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Garlic powder to taste
Pinch salt

Heat oil and all the other ingredients over low heat. Add bread dice and quickly toss to cover completely. Continue tossing until bread just starts to toast and absorbs all of the oil mixture. Turn heat off and let cool and crisp up. The key is take of flame BEFORE they toast too much or they will burn. Ciao Bella!

Italian Blood Orange Salad

Blood oranges have a very short season. On this rainy night I was looking for a little ray of sunshine so I came up with this, a tweaked version of a Sicilian salad. Try it for a side dish with seafood which is what I'm doing this evening....ciao bella!

3 blood oranges pealed and broken into segments
1/4 minced fresh mint
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion or shallot
Drizzle of fruity extra version olive oil
Drizzle of champagne or white vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Simply toss all ingredients together and and let set for about 30 and enjoy!
The Forneys will be enjoying this with salmon and a brown rice/mushroom pilaf tonight

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback...keep it coming it always makes my day.