Tag: the only parmesan

Linguini Bolognese!

My family style sauce is a San Marzano base with basil and lots of garlic. I often add ox tail, pork bones, meatballs, and/or sausage to infuse the sauce with flavor. Winter comfort or a perfect Sunday supper, a hearty pasta is probably my kids’ favorite meal!

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A traditional Bolognese does not contain tomato products, but I love the flavors of tomato with the chunky, thick sauce. Here is my recipe…

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Linguini Bolognese
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. Olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup carrots , finely chopped (optional)
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped (optional)
1/4 tsp. Dried oregano
1/4 tsp. Dried thyme
2 tbsp. Tomato paste
3/4 cup white wine
2 cans whole San Marzano tomatoes
I cup Parmigiano Reggiano + topping
1-1 1/2 lb. linguini
Salt to taste
Salt/pepper
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. spicy Italian sausage

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Directions:
In a large , deep pan cook onions, garlic, carrots, and celery until softened.
Brown meat with herbs
Add meat, tomato products, and wine to the pan.
Cook pasta until al dente, drain, and top with Bolognese.
Finish with fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

Enjoy!
Ciao!

I am proud to be the US Ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano -Parma, Italy. The only Parmesan!

Sausage & Parmesan Spinach Dip

Ok, so to be honest, the first time I made this dip I added pancetta in addition to the sausage and it was totally amazing! I have been toying with this question, Are double meats acceptable? I have no clue, but I seem to do it often.

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First of all, if you have never mixed ricotta, mascarpone, and Parmigiano Reggiano, you have not lived! Exaggeration? Maybe… The creaminess is unbelievable and the blend of cheeses adds so much deliciousness. I use the trio quite often when looking for that punch of Italian!

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This dip should be at every party, everywhere. Here is the recipe…

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Sausage and Parmesan Spinach Dip
Ingredients:
1/2 lb.ground sausage
2 cups spinach
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese, squeeze liquid out
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano + fresh grated for topping
salt/pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Brown ground sausage in a pan. Remove to a plate.
Add olive oil, onions, and garlic to the pan and cook until softened and onions are translucent.
Throw in spinach at the end to wilt.
In a mixing bowl, combine cheeses, sausage, salt and pepper and mix well. Hold a little sausage back to crumble on top.
Bake 18-25 minutes or until cheeses are melted together and firm.
Top with fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano and serve with your favorite baguette, crackers and vegetables!

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Enjoy! Ciao!

I am happy to be representing Parmigiano Reggiano as their US ambassador! Don’t forget to make sure you are using the only parmesan! Real Parmigiano Reggiano from Parma, Italy!

Chestnut & Parmigiano Reggiano Stuffing!

With two turkeys stuffed and an extra pan for the vegetarians, I always have a ton of leftover stuffing!

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We eat some on the “leftover plate” or sandwich, but never really turn it into another meal. Lately, my eyes have been opened to the wonderful world of fresh chestnuts.  I was in an old Italian section of Pittsburgh, Bloomfield, and there was a chestnut stand on the sidewalk. I bought some and thought I would experiment.

Of course adding cheese and chestnuts, changes the flavor of traditional stuffing completely. Add turkey, chicken, or sausage and turn the dish into a hearty meal!  Here is the recipe…

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Chestnut Stuffing
Ingredients:
2 cups chestnuts
2 loaves white bread, cubed
1 stick butter
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
salt/pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh grated
1 cup pulled turkey

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut an “X” shape on the chestnuts with a sharp knife.
Place into a saucepan and cover with cold water.
Bring to a boil, then lower the temperature and simmer for 30 minutes, or until tender
Drain and let the chestnuts cool.
Peel skin and chop the inside.
In a large pan, melt butter and add onion, celery, garlic, salt and pepper.
Add sage and chestnuts and stir.
Mix 1/2 cup of mixture with 2 cups of cubed bread in a large mixing bowl until incorporated.
Add chicken broth as needed until just moist.
Stir in pulled turkey and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Transfer to a casserole dish and bake 40 minutes.

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Enjoy!
Ciao!

 

I am happy to be representing Parmigiano Reggiano for Parma, Italy as their US Ambasador.  Remember, Parmiginao Reggiano is the only parmesan = )

Spicy Roasted Eggplant Linguini!

I always make Eggplant Parmesan when I have an eggplant. Lately, I have been roasting eggplant and squash in the oven with olive oil and salt and pepper, it is delicious!
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These roasted vegetables can be ingredients or stand alone as a side dish! In this pasta dish, the roasted eggplant is garnished with red pepper flakes, oregano and Basil, fresh tomatoes, and of course the fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

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Adding the red pepper flakes to the pasta dish adds a new layer of flavor without being overwhelmingly spicy. Here is the recipe…

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Spicy Roasted Eggplant Linguini
(Serves 4)
1 large Eggplant
2 tbsp. Olive oil +1/4 cup
Salt/pepper
1 tsp. Oregano
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 Roma tomatoes, wedged
2 tbsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp. Fresh basil, finely chopped plus some for topping
1 lb. linguini, fresh or dry
Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh grated

Directions:
Preheat oven 425degrees.
Slice Eggplant and place in a single layer on an inset cookie sheet.
Salt/pepper and let sit for 20 minutes.
Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes until softened and starts to brown.
Meanwhile, sautéed garlic and onion in a pan with olive oil.
Add tomatoes, Basil, pepper flakes and oregano. Let it bubble until it thickens.
Remove Eggplant and continue to simmer 10 minutes.
Being a pot of water to boil, cook pastas until al dente and drain.
Add 1/4c cup pasta water and incorporate pasta into pan with the sauce.
Top with red pepper flakes, Basil, parsley, and fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

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Enjoy!
Ciao!

Remember, always use fresh Parmigiano Reggiano, the only real Parmesan cheese from Parma, Italy.

Parmesan Princess is a proud US Ambassador Parmigiano Reggiano.

Homemade Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup!

We all have our own favorite comforting chicken noodle soup recipe. When we crave to feel warm and loved inside, nothing else will really do!  When the air turns chilly and the house is cooler inside than out, it has to be a classic chicken noodle soup!

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My grandma’s recipe is the best, with homemade drop noodles and mounds of fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese!  I remember the smell, the taste, how hot it would be in the kitchen from the stove while eating the hot soup. (My pappap’s loud slurping.) ; ) One thing I still do is eat a few bites and and cover the top in cheese again before it melts back into the bowl.

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Is it necessary to make your own chicken broth?  No way!  But in my opinion, if you are going to cook the soup for hours anyway…why not?!  So when you roast the chicken anytime, always keep the bones and drippings.  I freeze them in a ziploc bag.  If you are starting from scratch, you will be roasting the chicken.  After it cools you pull the chicken off of the bones, gather the drippings from the roasting pan, garlic, the bones, the dark meat, bay leaf, and water to make a stock.  This is your soup! Cook the stock for 2 hours, strain and cook the broth with the veggies for the last hour.  If you roast the veggies in the oven at the same time, you get even more flavor without having them just boil.

Shortcuts that totally work; buy a rotisserie chicken and pull the chicken off of the bones, use store bought chicken broth, throw in 1/4 lb. of your favorite dry, fresh noodles.  But when the kids are sick, or when you will be home all day on a rainy Saturday, please try the homemade stock.  It is seriously a game changer.

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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

(Feeds 4 + a bowl or 2 leftover)

Ingredients:

1-1/2 tbsp. butter

4 carrots, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 medium onion, diced

3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 roasted chicken, meat off the bone shredded and chopped

2 quarts of chicken stock (homemade or bought)

Salt (if needed) / Pepper to taste

1/4 lb. Linguini noodles, cut into 3 2-1/2 inch noodles

Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh grated

Directions:

Cook the stock….

OR

Melt butter with garlic, and onion to a large pot and cook until the onions are translucent.

Add carrots, celery, and chicken and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Add pepper (and salt) to taste.

Add noodles 10-15 minutes before you are ready to eat.

Spoon into bowls and top with fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese!

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Enjoy!

Ciao!

Enjoy Parmigiano Reggiano, the only Parmesan, made in the PDO zone of Parma, Italy. I am thrilled to be US Ambassador for the brand!