Puff Pastry Antipasto Stromboli

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, use a fork or back of a spoon to mash 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, three finally chopped anchovies and a 1/2 teaspoon of grated garlic into a smooth paste and set aside

Lightly dust counter, a half a package of puff pastry (17.3 ounces), thawed, and a rolling pen with flour. Rollout pastry to approximately 16”x 13“and transfer pastry to a prepared baking sheet.

Spread anchovy mixture evenly on pastry, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border on all sides. Using 6 ounce of thinly sliced Italian style cured meat such a salami, mortadella soppressata and/or capicola and 4 ounce slice of provolone cheese, layer half of the cured meat, half of the provolone, remaining cured meat and Remaining provolone on top of anchovy mixture. Top evenly with 1/3 cup of sliced roasted red Peppers; three canned artichoke hearts packed in the water, chopped and squeezed dry; 1/2 cup of sliced large green pimento stuffed olives; 3 ounces of fresh mozzarella, cubed; and three pickled hot peppers, sliced. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried oregano and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of balsamic or red wine vinegar. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

With 13 -inch sides at top and bottom, roll up Stromboli jelly roll style. Turn Stromboli seam side down tucking ends to seal. Chill at least 30 minutes and up to two hours. Chilling the pastry helps it to hold it shape as it bakes.

Arrange a rimmed sheet pan on center rack of oven. Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, combine one large egg, 1 tablespoon of water and 1/4 teaspoon spoon kosher salt.

Brush over surface of Stromboli. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Pick up parchment, with Stromboli and placed on preheated sheet pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until deeply browned. Tent with foil during last 10 to 15 minutes of baking if cheese gets too dark. Cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 8 to 10

SHRIMP SCAMPI

Ingredients:
• 1 (8 ounce) package angel hair pasta
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1-pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in pasta and return pot to boil. Cook until al dente. Drain well.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic and shrimp. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in wine and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook for 30 seconds while stirring constantly.
Mix shrimp with drained pasta in a serving bowl. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.

Eggplant Hasselback

Ingredients:

• 1 eggplant
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• tomato, sliced
• fresh basil
• mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• olive oil
• ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut eggplant lengthwise, keeping it connected at the stem.
3. In a baking dish, place marinara sauce and spread to cover the bottom.
4. Place the eggplant directly on the sauce.
5. Slice the tomato and mozzarella into thin slices. Alternate tomatoes, basil, and cheese in each eggplant slice.
6. Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic, and olive oil, and cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes until eggplant is tender.
7. In a small bowl, combine panko, cheese, salt, and pepper.
8. Place the panko mixture on top of the eggplant and bake uncovered for another 5 minutes. Or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
9. Cut into your desired size pieces.

Weeknight Bolognese

Ingredients:
• Good olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground sirloin
• 4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1¼ cups dry red wine, divided
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound dried pasta, such as orecchiette or small shells
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and hot red pepper flakes and cook for one minute. Pour the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1½ teaspoons pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the box.
While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, and cream to the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. When the pasta is cooked, transfer it with a slotted spoon or sieve to the pan with the sauce, saving the cooking liquid. Cook for one minute, add the remaining ¼ cup of wine, and cooking liquid, if necessary, to make enough sauce. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.

Pasta Fagioli

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving, 4 ounces of pancetta, diced, 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced, 2 medium carrots, finally diced, 2 medium celery ribs, finally diced, 2 cloves of garlic, minced, 1/2 cup of white wine, 6 cups of low sodium chicken broth, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 of a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, 2 (14.5 ounce) cans of cannelloni beans or chickpeas (or combination), rinsed and drained, 1/4 a cup of dried lentils, rinsed (preferably French green lentils, but any green or brown lentils are fine), 1 cup of diced or chopped canned tomatoes, with their juices, 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of minced fresh rosemary, 3/4 cup of dried pasta, such as elbow macaroni or ditalini (whole wheat is fine), 1/3 cup of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving.

Instructions: Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and increase the heat to medium; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions become translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. Add the wine and cook until it has nearly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add broth, salt, pepper, beans, lentils, diced tomatoes, bay leaves and rosemary. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are just tender, 15-30 minutes, depending on the type of lentil to use. Use a slotted spoon to transfer 1 cup of the bean mixture and a little liquid to a blender. Remove the center knob of the blender so steam can escape. Hold a paper towel or a kitchen towel over the opening to prevent splatters. Purée until smooth and set aside. Add the dry pasta to the pot and stir to incorporate. Turn the heat up to a gentle boil and cook until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, anywhere from 8-12 minutes depending on the type of pasta you used. The soup will thicken a bit by the time the pasta is cooked. Fish out and discard bay leaves Stir the reserved puréed bean mixture into the soup. (If you are having a hard time getting the mixture out of the blender, remove as much as you can with a rubber spatula, and then add some of the hot soup broth to it and swirl around to loosen it up; it should come right out). Cook briefly, until the soup is heated through. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. If the soup seems too thick, gradually add 1-2 cups of water or more chicken broth and thin to desired consistency. (Note the longer it sits on the stove, the thicker it will get). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls. Drizzle each portion with a touch of extra -virgin olive oil and sprinkle with more cheese, if desired. Note: The soup is best served immediately, as it sits, the pasta and beans soak up the broth. If the soup gets too thick, you can thin it with a bit of broth or water. Freezer Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen, without the pasta, for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stove top over medium heat until simmering, add the pasta and cook until the pasta is tender. (The beans may have soaked up some of the broth while frozen, so add more broth to thin out the soup, if desired)

RACK OF PORK FROM LIA

Marinade:

  • 1/3 Cup of Extra virgin olive oil;
  • 3 Tablespoons of peeled chopped fresh ginger;
  • 2 Large cloves of garlic, chopped;
  • 3 Tablespoons of chopped fresh basil;
  • 1 Tablespoon of Kosher salt;
  • ½ Teaspoon of black pepper; and
  • 1 pork loin (Rack of) 5 pounds total w/ 1 chop per person.

Spread marinade all over pork & let it sit overnight or at least several hours.

 Place fat side up in oven at 425 degrees for about an hour, roast to 138 degrees. Remove from oven, cover with foil and let sit for 20 minutes.

 Caramelize sugar

Sauce:

  •  ½ Cup of sugar – Heat in a saucepan until just light brown (about 5 minutes) & add:
  • 6 Star anise pods, roughly crushed & a pinch of red pepper flakes & stir for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and cool for 2 minutes & add:
  • 1 Cup of chicken stock and ½ cup of sherry vinegar. Return to heat and cook until sugar is dissolved.

Set a roasting pan on stovetop over medium heat & add caramelized sugar and deglaze pan. Keep sauce on simmer.

Add: 2 tablespoons of candied ginger, finely chopped & 2 teaspoons of sesame oil ; salt & paper to taste.

 Pass Sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OVEN HAM SAMMIES

  • One package King Hawaiian Rolls, 12 count
  • 16 oz. Thinly sliced deli ham
  • 12 slices Swiss cheese
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • ½ teaspoon ground mustard
  • One teaspoon poppy seeds
  • 2 teaspoons onion flakes
  • One teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Fold up ham and cheese and put between the sliced rolls.

Combine the remaining ingredients and spoon over the sandwiches.

Let set overnight or for several hours.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.