Archives for posts with tag: parmesan

genius one pot pasta.

August 4, 2014 //
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cherry tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes are finally here and in abundance. Be careful of storing your summer bounty. When you refrigerate a tomato you damage the internal membrane and create the ubiquitous mealy texture that we connect with bad or off-season tomatoes. The best place to store tomatoes is in the open air, they continue to develop their flavor until maturation peaks a few days after harvest.

I wanted to try out this recipe from Food52 that was originally a Martha Stewart creation. Claiming to create a sauce as it cooked the ingredients in one pot by simply using the appropriate proportions appealed to me, as well as being able to feature the beautiful sungold and cherry tomatoes coming from our local farms.

Here is the recipe

12 ounces linguine
12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
1/2 onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
1 shallot, thinly sliced
4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, I used more than recommended for extra spice
2 sprigs basil, plus torn leaves for garnish
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 1/2 cups water
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Combine pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, basil, oil, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and water in a large straight-sided skillet (the linguine should lay flat). Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning pasta frequently with tongs or a fork, until pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide among 4 bowls, and garnish with basil. Serve with olive oil and Parmesan.

I sautéed crimini mushrooms and a little onion in a sauté pan, and added them at the end for a little more substance. This negates the dish being truly a one pot pasta, but I was worried the mushroom flavor would overwhelm the rest of the dish. I made this for my friends with a delicious light salad and everyone was happy and full as we dined alfresco in the Summer air. This became an instant classic, and something I am bound to cook for the rest of my life.

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kale pesto.

June 4, 2014 //
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Photo Apr 25, 1 55 51 PM (1) Versatile. Fresh. Bright. Super green. Delicious.

One of my favorite things about walking into a kitchen is the smells. Roasted garlic, chiffonade basil, tangy meyer lemon, vibrant california olive oil, roasted almonds. Kale does not arouse the same tantalizing response that these smells do, despite it’s popularity, yet it is the main ingredient in this simple condiment. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, you won’t even feel guilty about adding parmesan cheese and spreading it on a ooey gooey grilled cheese sandwich. Use this on anything, never buy store bought pesto again, and maybe it will awaken your senses and change your whole day or night.

kale processor

Ingredients:

1 meyer lemon, juiced

1/2 cup raw almonds, lightly toasted

1-2 large garlic clove, smashed

about 3 cups chopped kale (or, a big handful of leaves, torn roughly)

a sprig of basil

1/4 cup grated parm cheese

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
In a food processor, pulse smashed garlic clove until chopped finely (about less than a minute). Add kale, toasted almonds, meyer lemon juice and parm cheese until combined, stopping to push down the kale on the sides a couple times.

With the food processor running on low, add olive oil in a steady stream until you get the consistency you want. I went with about a full cup of olive oil.

Add salt and pepper; taste; adjust as you like.

You may omit the cheese, pick different nuts or even use seeds instead. This turned out pretty garlicky so you may want to only use one clove. Use your blender if you do not have a food processor.

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grown up pizza

February 25, 2014 //
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Photo Feb 20, 7 57 17 PM

Cheese + bread and I am happy on my desolate island, maybe let me bring soft bedding, a few good books, and Laura Mercier body cream in Fresh Fig, but most importantly the good cheese and bread. I have always been a super practical girl. Obviously I am a total sucker for pizza and I know I am not alone. Last week I made a grown up version at home, a throw back to when we used to make mini pizzas on english muffins as kids and got so excited to put on our own toppings. There are so many ways to add healthy, fresh, seasonal ingredients to pizza all year long, and it’s fun to get creative. Try to stick to one or two cuisine types for each pizza, like a mexican inspired, or california seafood style pizza when creating

I had some local baby fennel, and yellow cipollini onions on hand and decided to make a sauceless simple pair of pizzas.

2 baby fennel bulbs, sliced thinly
1 medium yellow cipollini onion, sliced thinly
Olive oil
2 prepared pizza dough packs from Trader Joes
1/2 cup Parmesan shavings
1 container of ovoline fresh mozzarella
1 granny smith apple
a few ounces of proscuitto
sea salt

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees and place a rack in the lower third of the oven. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a small sauté pan over medium low heat, add the onion and fennel and let them soften. In the meantime, stretch the dough and transfer to a baking sheet or pizza stone, cook each pizza on the same sheet or separately. Brush with olive oil and bake until dry to prevent the toppings from making the dough soggy. Remove from oven and place the onion/fennel, proscuitto, mozzarella and Parmesan on one pizza, and on the other substitute apple for the proscuitto. Bake until bubbly, tender and golden. Enjoy with a light and simple salad.

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