Ciao from Positano, Italy!

I am settled in to a gorgeous villa atop Positano, gearing up for my first week of scuola di cucina (cooking school) and am beyond excited!!!! I do not know what awaits me in the kitchen, but I am ready to immerse myself in Cucina Italiana!  So, I am rolling up my sleeves and ready to get started...

Day 1- Fiori di Zucchine Ripieni (Stuffed Zucchini Flowers)
            Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina (Potato Dumplings with Tomato & Mozzarella)
            Peace All'Acqua Pazza (Fish in 'Crazy Water')
            Panna Cotta con Fragole (Italian Custard with Strawberries)

Wow! What an amazing first day. Filomina, my instructor, was a jewel. Slow, methodical, and very informative.  All courses were such a treat to sit and enjoy with un bicchiere di vino (a glass of wine) after class.

I will have pics to follow of the scenery but more importantly the food, but unfortunately the Internet here is very sporadic.

Saluti!
Stay tuned!!!!!!!!

Arrivederci

Shishito Peppers

Shishito peppers....every one in 100 is hot.  Delicious as an appetizer or side dish. Toss is olive oil, season with salt and pepper, broil on high until blistered, about 4 minutes....enjoy!

Thought for the day....

Super Bowl Food



 Baked Salt & Pepper Chicken wings.  Super simple.  Preheated oven 425 degrees.  Toss wings in 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Season both sides of wings with salt and fresh cracked black pepper.  Place on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, or until nicely browned.  Turn frequently.  To make the wings less greasy, place on a baking rack on a sheet pan and then bake.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juicing

Well, I've started 2013 off with my new juicer!  My goal this year is to be in the best shape of my life, now that I just turned 40.  Today's juice was this gorgeous purple drink that included beets, apples, pears, fresh ginger, and fresh lemon juice!  So good!!!  Bring it 2013!

What is Jack Rudy Tonic?!?!?

I was mixing a cocktail last night and used up the last of my Jack Rudy tonic and decided to give a shout out to the owner/maker of this lovely tonic.  Brooks, job well done!  Congratulations on this new endeavor!  For those of you not familiar with this tonic, please visit the website below.  You will not be disappointed in the flavor.  It is truly unique.  It will leave your guests or customers and friends and family asking, "so what's this yummy goodness I'm tasting in my drink and where can I get some?" 

http://www.jackrudycocktailco.com/

Healthier Coffee

Most of us drink one or three cups of coffee per day.  And most people use artificial sweeteners, skim milk, or even sugar to make coffee taste a little sweeter or more to our liking.  Well, ever tried unsweetened coconut milk?  Coconut milk and coconut oils are some of the healthiest things to put in our bodies.  Place 1/8 cup coconut milk in coffee mug then fill to the brim with black coffee.  Stir and devour.  It's easy and delicious.  For those of you who still need coffee to be sweeter, try vanilla flavored coconut milk.  Has a few more calories per serving but still yummy! 

Paleo Bread

Check out this website!  Great breads that are wheat free, low carb, and high in protein!!

  http://www.paleobread.com/

Storing frozen berries

Absolute best way to freeze any berry is to rinse them, lay them on a parchment lined sheet pan and place in freezer.  Once frozen, place in Ziploc bags!  Enjoy!

Zucchini Chips

Lots of fresh produce at the Farmer's Markets these hot summer days.  Turn zucchini or squash into "chips".  Slice zucchini into very thin rounds and season with your favorite spice blend or simply season with salt.  Place on cookie sheet lined with foil and sprayed with non-stick spray.  Bake for 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 250 degrees.  Remove and flip chips to other side and continue to bake until crispy, about 45-50 minutes longer.  Enjoy!!!!! 

Awesome post workout snack

1/2 cup shredded sweet potato, sauteed in coconut oil, crushed red pepper flakes, topped with toasted pecans and unsweetened coconut flakes!!!  YUM-O!

Yummy snack packed full of energy....

Gluten free cinnamon raisin bread toasted with coconut oil and topped with smashed blueberries and raspberries!

The perfect rice

Cook rice in a sauté pan, covered, instead of a sauce pan (pans with high sides). This allows the rice to cook perfectly because it has more surface area, it's in a single layer and allows the steam to circulate all around the rice. In a sauce pan, rice on the bottom overcooks, the rice in the middle is just perfect, and the rice on top is under cooked!

Quote worth repeating

"You have to eat to cook. You can't be a good cook and be a non-eater. I think eating is the secret to good cooking." -Julia Child

Spot tails on the half shell

Amazing fish recipe that is a MUST!  This fish was swimming this morning!

2 fillets of spot tail, skin on, scales on
light dusting of Cajun or blackening season- not too much, you don't want to overpower the fish
a pinch of salt
pat of clarified butter
lemon zest
lemon juice- squeeze on the fish right before you bring it off the grill

Cook fish over charcoal, skin and scale side down.  About 8 minutes.  Depends on the size of the fillets.  Fish should be white when done.  Do not overcook!!!!  And do not flip to grill on the flesh side.  No need!
ENJOY!

Fresh Herbs

So, the end of the gardening season is coming to an end.  Have any fresh herbs left in the garden or in pots or containers that are going like wild weeds?

Snip a bunch of rosemary, thyme, or oregano, or all three, and throw them on top of any meat you have in the fridge as an easy way to "marinate" the meat and then cover and keep refrigerated.  Or add the herbs to a Ziploc bag along with steak, chicken, pork, etc.  The fresh herbs will add flavor to the meat and what a piece of cake!

Just remember to remove the herbs prior to cooking, as fresh herbs will burn before your protein is cooked through!

Great picnic presentation for a crowd

I cook whole hogs for pig pickin's many times throughout the year.  And summertime is perfect for cooking whole hogs and entertaining.  But I always have leftover BBQ.  So I turn leftover BBQ into BBQ sundaes.  And then invite friends and family over for a BBQ picnic the next day!  It's all the picnic fixin's in one jar!

To assemble the sundaes:
You will need pint size mason jars, BBQ, coleslaw, baked beans, BBQ sauce, diced red onions.  And something cold to drink, like an ice cold frosty beer!

Layer the mason jars like so; baked beans on the bottom, next comes the BBQ, top with coleslaw and red onions.  Finish the sundaes with a drizzle of BBQ sauce. And enjoy!!



  

Watermelon Granita

Easiest dessert ever! Watermelon is at its peak right now. Very ripe and sweet. Turn it into a yummy frozen treat! Super healthy too!!!

6 cups seedless watermelon, diced
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
Handful of fresh mint leaves

Purée watermelon in blender. You may have to work in batches. Add the lime juice and mint. Blend until mixed.

Pour mixture into a 9x9 inch metal pan, cover and freeze. Stir mixture every hour with a fork. The granita is ready to serve when the mixture is frozen and resembles ice crystals, about 5 hours. Use a fork to scrape granita into large ice crystals. Serve in a chilled martini glass and garnish with a mint sprig.

New toy!!

New toy added to the kitchen. Meat grinder. Just made fresh ground hamburgers from chuck roast and a few strips of bacon. Grinding your own meat DOES make a difference! HUGE difference!!!!!! Simply amazing burgers! Give it a try and then YOU can influence what ingredients go in to your ground meat!

Turn "overgrown" veggies in to something yummy

Been away on vacation to come home to an overgrown garden? Take those large zucchini and squash and slice them to 1/4 inch, toss in to some buttermilk and then in to some seasoned cornmeal and fry until golden brown. Yes, I said fry. Remember to salt when they come out of the oil!