Lunch – Page 2 – Parmesan Princess

Category: Lunch

08
Jul
2016

Kafta Kabobs!

categories: 20 Minutes or Less, Dinner, Fun for Kids, Grill, Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, Lunch, Recipes, Sides

Kafta, Kofta, Kefta…every translation spells it differently! Let’s call it meat on a stick. Ok, really flavorful meat on a stick.

With Lebanese exotic flavors of cumin, cinnamon, and of course the garlic, Kafta has a deep layering and tastes like a full meal. Often served cold for lunch, or hot for lunch or dinner, it is a fun opportunity to try something different that is really quick and easy to make.

My kids are fans because it is on a stick I think. They first started eating “things kids aren’t supposed to like” when skewered. Try it, seriously!

A few tips, I used an egg. (Gasp!) Kafta is traditionally stuck together by using soaked white bread that’s rung out and put in the food processor. Yeah, So are traditional meatballs, but sometimes you don’t want to clean the thing, right? Feel free!

Soak the sticks! I forgot and a few of mine burned!!

The cucumber salad is amazing and accompanied meat dishes quite often on my table in the summertime.

And guys, the sauce…simple and delicious! It’s more powerful than a smoothe tahini with the punch of Romesco. I used a delicious jarred Romesco, but you can get crazy and make your own!

Here are the recipes…

Kafta Kabobs

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1 egg
1 tsp. Allspice
1 tsp. Cumin
1/2 tsp. Paprika
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
Salt/pepper to taste
Skewers

Directions:
Soak skewers in water for at least one hour until ready to mold the

Heat grill to 300 degrees.

With hands, mix beef, garlic, onion, egg, and all of the spices, salt and pepper.

Mold 1/6 of the mixture onto one end of each skewer trying to keep mold to 1 inch thickness.

Grill approximately 4 minutes each side until cooked to desired fineness.

Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:
1 cucumber chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 small red onion or Vidalia onion, sliced
Handful parsley, chopped
1 lemon , squeezed
3 tbsp. Garlic oil
Salt/pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large moxing bowl, toss to coat.

Greek Yogurt Romesco Sauce
1/4 cup plain Greek Yogurt mix with
1/4 cup Romesco
Chopped Parsley flakes and sliced tomato garnish

Enjoy!
Ciao!

22
Apr
2016

Spinach and Goat Cheese Stuffed Meatballs!

categories: Dinner, Healthy Living, Homemade Italian, Lunch, Party Time, Recipes

Spring is here! So on a recent grocery run I picked up some spinach and crumbled goat cheese. You know, to make my favorite Springy salads- spinach, fruit, pecans, topped with goat cheese and a drizzle of olive oil or a fruity balsamic. So today I made…stuffed meatballs. Ha!

At least I used the spinach and goat cheese, right?

I only had one lonely pound of ground beef. This might be the reason I decided to stuff. I honestly love a beef/pork combination with loads of garlic and fresh grated parm. The unique thing about meatballs is that they are a blank canvas. Adding Greek flavors, Mexican flavors, Bacon and Cheese, takes the Italian meatball on a fun vacation!

Stuffing the meatballs adds an element of surprise. My kids took their first bites and my Brady, age 7, says, “Hey mommy, what did you hide in here.” As he’s chewing spinach happily I just smiled. Bella said, “Is this goat cheese?” Ummm, my Bella is almost 5 and hates goat cheese- unless it’s hidden really well. Apparently, the meat heavy garlic, and spinach wasn’t enough camouflage. Nope, she reached for a spoon and scooped out the goat cheese and ate the rest of her meatball. She told me I shouldn’t post this one.

Here is the recipe…

Spinach and Goat Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef (use your favorite meatball meat ground turkey, ground veal, or a mix!)
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 egg
salt/pepper
1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
1/3 cup spinach, finely chopped

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, mix meat, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, salt and pepper.
Using your clean hands, mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.
Section off 1/2 inch clump of meat mixture and flatten.
Place one tablespoon goat cheese and one tablespoon of spinach on patty.
Roll up the sides and top with an equal amount of meat and form into a ball.
Put meatballs on a cookie sheet one inch apart and bake 12-18 minutes until desired doneness.
Top with finely chopped spinach and crumbled goat cheese and serve.

Enjoy!
Ciao!

15
Apr
2016

The Best Grilled Cheese and Gourmet Roasted Tomato Soup!

categories: 20 Minutes or Less, Dinner, Lunch, Recipes

With two kids, a food blog, a foodpreneur business, and co-hosting Between The Eats, grilled cheese is a welcomed “easy meal”. I like to add amazing flavors to the base of the cheese being used- sweet grilled onions, rich sundried tomatoes in oil, buttery toast, and the zing of a spicy mustard!

The absolutely necessary accompanying soup often gets completely ignored! Here is an amazing roasted tomato soup recipe. With bold, herbed flavors, it pairs beautifully with a gourmet grilled cheese.

Here are the recipes..

SunDried Tomato and Onion Havarti Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

4 slices havarti cheese
1/2 onion sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp. fresh grated parmesan cheese
6-8 sun dried tomatoes in oil
2 slices of your favorite bread
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. spicy brown mustard

Directions:

Add butter, garlic and onions to a hot pan and cook until lightly browned.
Remove onions from pan and butter slices of bread.
Grill bread until desired toastedness.
Layer cheese slices, parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and onions on grilled bread.
Allow cheese to melt on low heat.
Top with mustard.

Roasted Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 -32 oz. cans whole San Marzano tomatoes
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil+ some for garnish
1 cup heavy cream
1 quart chicken stock
2 tbsp. Butter
2 tbsp. Rosemary
Salt/pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375.
Add olive oil, garlic and onions to a hot pan.
Cook until softened.
Spread tomatoes, garlic and onions, and leftover olive oil in a single layer on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with a lip.
Roast at 375 for 20-30 minutes until tomatoes are caramelized.
Remove from oven and place in a stock pot.
Add chicken stock and butter.
Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced.
Puree in a blender until smooth and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender).
Add heavy cream and mix well.
Salt and pepper to taste.
If too thick, add more stock.
Garnish with sundried tomatoes, a dash of rosemary, and serve hot!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

22
Mar
2016

The Best Egg Salad Ever!

categories: 20 Minutes or Less, Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, Lunch, Recipes

Use up your leftover hard boiled eggs and transform them into a creamy egg salad you can slather on some fresh bread. The flavor is bold, but very comforting. I totally forget about egg salad! With Easter right around the corner, you have the eggs already made, so….

Of course you could just mix the eggs with mayonnaise, but that is totally boring. Channel the flavors of your favorite deviled eggs, the spicy, the sweet, the savory. By savory I absolutely mean BACON! First, you need my perfect hard boiled eggs recipe. Now, the egg salad…

The Best Egg Salad Ever

Ingredients:
6 hard boiled eggs
1 cup chopped bacon, cooked
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tbsp. spicy mustard
1 lemon
salt/pepper
fresh dill, finely chopped
paprika, sprinkle
your favorite soft bread

Directions:
Add hard boiled eggs to a large bowl.
Mash with a fork or coarsely chop into squares.
Add mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper to taste.
Mix in chopped bacon.
Squeeze 1/2 lemon.
Top with fresh dill.
Spoon a heaping pile of egg salad between two slices of fresh bread.

Enjoy!
Ciao!

05
Feb
2016

Vegetable & Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats

categories: 20 Minutes or Less, Dinner, Healthy Living, Lunch, Recipes

Healthy, delicious, quick and easy meals do exist! Often the easy part of the recipe involves planning ahead, having the ingredients on hand, or in this case, using up what’s in the fridge!

Chop up left over vegetables to create the filling for the scooped out zucchini boats. Use what you have – I did! Carrots, celery, mushrooms, spinach would all be delicious too. The chicken can easily be left out to create a vegetarian version of the dish.

Here is the recipe…

Vegetable & Chicken Stuffed Zucchini
(Makes 2 boats)

Ingredients:
1 medium zucchini, cut in half and scoop out half of zucchini
1/2 small red onion
1/2 bell pepper, sliced or chopped
3/4 cup broccoli florets
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
1 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small chicken breast, diced
2 tbsp. olive oil
salt/pepper to taste
fresh gated Locatelli Romano

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Add olive oil, scooped out zucchini, and garlic to a hot pan.
Sauté onion, pepper, broccoli, tomatoes, and chicken.
Salt/ pepper.
When vegetables are cooked but still crisp, spoon mixture into zucchini boats.
Bake 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until zucchini softens.
Remove from oven and top with grated Locatelli Romano.

Enjoy!
Ciao!

16
Nov
2015

Potato Soup!

categories: Dinner, Healthy Living, Lunch, Recipes, Soup

I am convinced that sometimes we want things only because we can’t have them! I made this creamy and delicious soup last week for Meatless Monday, and all I could think about was adding bacon. Crispy delicious totally crunchy bacon bits were on my mind. Hearty, creamy, and full of your favorite vegetables, this soup is a meal! Think loaded baked potato and add some fun toppings like chives, shredded cheese, sour cream, even chili. Serve with your favorite crusty bread and Enjoy!

Potato Soup
makes approx. 2 quarts

Ingredients:
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
2 carrots, chopped
5 celery stalks, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 cups water
4 cups vegetable stock
4 tbsp. Butter, sliced into tbsp.
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
6 tbsp. Flour
1 cup heavy cream
Salt/pepper to taste
(Optional- 1/2 lb. bacon/pancetta, finely chopped and cooked until crunchy)

Directions:
In a large stock pot, add potatoes, carrots, and celery. Fill 4 cups water or to top of vegetables and heat.
Cook in water until tender.
Remove vegetables and set aside.
Add onion and butter to pot and cook until the onions are translucent, add stock.
Stir in flour and Parmesan cheese.
Add heavy cream, little by little, while stirring.
Bring to a boil to thicken, and add vegetables.
Add more vegetable stock until desired consistency.
Salt/pepper to taste

Top with bacon, shredded cheese, any of your favorite baked potato topping would be delicious!
Enjoy!
Ciao!

04
Sep
2015

Fried Heirloom Tomatoes!

categories: 20 Minutes or Less, Dinner, Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, Homemade Italian, Lunch, Recipes, Sides

Traditional Southern fried green tomatoes are actually tart, unripened red tomatoes, breaded and fried in oil. Their firmness makes them perfect for frying! I was given some gorgeous, solid heirloom tomatoes that were so sweet, not mushy at all, so I decided to fry them for a sweeter version. Of course topping them with parmesan cheese and fresh basil for a totally perfect mix of flavors!
Heirloom tomatoes are the best. Passed down from generation to generation, heirlooms’ taste will far exceed any tomato you find at the grocery store. Found in an array of colors, they all taste a bit different.

I made a Caprese salad last night using really ripened heirlooms. I’m not sure which ones tasted better yellow, orange, red/green striped, brown? They are all amazingly delicious!
Ok, back to frying them. So the trick is to use firm tomatoes, and fry them in a hot pan. This way the outside “crust” will be nice and crunchy.

Fried Heirloom Tomatoes
Ingredients:
2 firm heirloom tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 cup flour
1/2 tbsp. dried basil
1/2 tbsp. dried rosemary
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
2 eggs, whisked
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
3 tbsp. olive oil
salt/pepper
fresh grated parmesan cheese
fresh basil

Directions:

Add olive oil to pan and heat on high.

Mix flour, basil, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder in a bowl.

Whisk eggs in a second bowl.

Add Panko breadcrumbs to a third bowl.

Prepare tomatoes by lightly salting slices, coating in flour, dipping in egg, and covering in breadcrumbs.

Add slices to pan, fry until golden brown on first side, then flip.

Remove slices, let oil absorb on a paper towel covered plate.

Top with fresh grated parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and serve!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

14
Aug
2015

Summer Zucchini Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette!

categories: 20 Minutes or Less, Dinner, Healthy Living, Lunch, Recipes

Do you have zucchini coming out of your ears? I definitely do! It is that time of year when I have had enough- totally zucchini breads, zucchini boats, and zucchini breakfast-ed out! What else can you make? There is always the chocolate-zucchini craze of hiding the veggie in chocolate cake, muffins, cookies or brownies. Chocolate is always a great idea, but how about a salad sans lettuce and a smooth and summery homemade vinaigrette? Now that sounds perfectly summer!

Summer Zucchini Salad
(Serves 4)
Ingredients:
2 medium zucchini
2 vine ripe tomatoes
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
1 lemon
salt/peper to taste

Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dijon mustard
6 lemons- squeezed for juice approx. 1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grapeseed oil or canola oil

Directions:
Peel zucchini with a vegetable peeler in long strips and place into serving bowl or platter.(I roll-up some of the strips for easy eating and because it adds to the beauty of the dish.)

Cut tomatoes into wedges and add to the salad.

Sprinkle with 2-3 tbsp. crumbled goat cheese.

For dressing:
Whisk all ingredients except oils.

Add oils, lid, and shake vigorously until well mixed.

Top salads with 2 tbsp. of dressing and squeeze a halved lemon over salads.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!
Ciao!

07
Aug
2015

Roasted Chicken Salad

categories: Healthy Living, Lunch, Recipes

For a refreshing summer luncheon or back to school favorite , homemade roasted chicken salad wins the “hits the spot” award. I cannot stand a wet, super mayonnaissy, yogurty, sour creamy (eek!) consistency. So I add the minimum amount ever of mayonnaise to moisten – I know, there is seriously no other word to be used here- some sweet grapes and the crunch of celery to the dressing.

Super short cut. You can totally buy a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store. Take out bones and skin, shred or dice. I like to make a whole roasted chicken for dinner and make this chicken salad with the leftovers. That is why I say 1/2 chicken because that is usually what’s left! Smooth and delicious with a crunch, this roasted chicken salad can easily become your go-to recipe!

Here it is…

Roasted Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
1/2 chicken
2 tbsp. olive oil
salt/pepper
1/2-1 cup mayonnaise
1-1/2 tsp. dill
1 cup grapes, halved
3 stalks celery, chopped

Directions:
Preheat over 350 degrees.

Rub chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake 35-50 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.

Cool chicken and dice or shred.

Mix the dressing by adding your comfortable amount of mayonnaise, grapes, celery, and dill.

Fold in diced chicken and mix well.

Add more mayo if needed! Remember, I like my chicken salad on the dry side so feel free to add away!

Chill and serve with crackers or on your favorite bread or roll!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

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