Sausage Ravioli with Swiss Chard and Bacon

I often buy Rana tortellini and ravioli because they are the closest thing to what we would normally buy at the store in Italy. Plus they are something easy and quick to cook, especially for the nights in which it is my husband's turn to cook.
Today I was out of pasta though so I decided to toss them with the swiss chard we got from our CSA yesterday, some bacon and some of the delicious Parmesan my sister brought me from Italy. I also used some chicken broth I made a few days ago out of the carcass of a roast chicken.
Everything cooks in one pan, which is something I always like (less washing afterwards!) and it's fairly quick to make.

Sausage Ravioli with Swiss Chard and Bacon

12 oz of Rana Sausage Ravioli

1 bunch of swiss chard

2 slices of bacon

1 garlic clove

2 cups of broth

1 cup of grated parmesan 

Thoroughly wash and dry the Swiss chard. Separate stems from leaves by cutting along the stems. Chop the stems and chop the leaves but keep them separate.

Warm up a large frying pan with tall sides and add the bacon slices at medium heat. Try to render as much of the fat as possible. Remove the slices when close to being done. Here there is a bit of a divergence of opinion between me and my husband: I like chewy bacon, and I use it like I would pancetta. So I just chop the bacon up and keep cooking with it. My husband likes crispy bacon, so if you are like him I suggest at this point you stick the bacon in the microwave to finish cooking and making it crisp. Then you can make it into crumbs and add on top of the ravioli at the end. Up to you.

Add the chopped stems and a couple tablespoons of the broth and cook until the stems are getting softer.

Now add the garlic (minced or sliced), the chard leaves, the ravioli and the broth. Bring to a boil and cook until the ravioli are tender (it should take about 5 minutes). If the ravioli are done and you still have too much broth in the pan, take the ravioli out with a spoon and set them aside and keep cooking the sauce until most liquid have evaporated. Then add the ravioli back and most of the parmesan cheese and toss (gently or you will break the ravioli) . Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Our CSA experience 2015: Green Earth Farm - Season Preview.

This is not our first CSA experience. We had two experiences with two different farms. The first one was a very good experience but it was a few years ago and they were not offering a pickup near enough to us anymore. The second experience was not so good because the owners were young and inexperienced but also because that year that was a drought in Illinois that definitely did not help the crops. This year we decided to join Green Earth Farm after glowing reviews by some friends and because we liked the idea of picking up the produce directly on the farm thus giving us the chance to show our kids where their food is coming from.

From our previous experience we know that joining a CSA requires a certain amount of flexibility when it comes to food tastes. You have to adapt to eating what comes in the box that week instead of what strikes your fancy. It is part of living with the seasons, and we appreciate the chance we have to do that in summer. We live in an area where eating seasonal food in the winter would mean not eating fresh vegetables for months. As much as we enjoy canned or pickled vegetables we are not ready to do the switch just yet. But summer gives us the opportunity to enjoy fresh, seasonal and local crops so why not take it? Moreover we are supporting a local farmer and thus our own local community. It's a win-win.

The season hasn't started yet, but 6/13 the farm had a "Season Preview" and we were able to meet the farmers, the kids got to feed the animals and pick some strawberries and we got a nice bag of veggies to bring home.

As you can see we got:

•  a lettuce head
•  a small box of strawberries
•  a bunch of swiss chard
• a bunch of kale
• fresh oregano
• fresh chive (with flowers!)
• three parsnips (or parsley root. I forgot to ask!)

We are definitely looking forward for the season to officially begin. I will detail what we get in every box in this blog and post about recipes I make with each item.
Yesterday I made a potato salad with the fresh chives and I have used the flowers as well. It was nothing special, just potatoes, vegan mayo, olive oil, vinegar and lots of chives. The flowers have a delicate chive flavor and add color and prettiness to the salad, so give it a try!
The strawberries are already all gone as a snack, they rarely last more than one day in our house!

Our Food Summer Plans: trying to eat fresh, local, sustainable and healthy.

This summer we are trying to do things differently as far as food goes. We want our food to be fresher. We want our food to be local and sustainable when possible. We want to skip the supermarket. We want to make as much food from scratch as we can.
We are taking several steps in this direction:

1. We joined a CSA called Green Earth Farm for the summer; 
2. We joined a CSF (Community Supported Fishery) called Sitka Salmon Shares for 7 months starting in May;
3. We are trying the local meat from a farm called Riemer Family Farm;
4. We are getting milk and eggs delivered from Oberweis;
5. We are getting organic fruit delivered from Door to Door Organics;
6. We are getting cheese, honey and other miscellaneous things from our wonderful local farmers' market, the Woodstock Farmers Market;
7. We are making our own yogurt, vilii and bread;

As you can see we had to compromise on some fronts.

The fish we are getting is definitely not local, but it is sustainable. Fresh fish is an unparalleled source of healthy, lean protein as well as Omega 3s and we simply love eating fish. So we decided to at least try to find a sustainable source for it and one that would have the fish come as directly as possible to us. We live in the Midwest, very far from any ocean, so there was no way for us to limit our fish consumption to local fish.

The fruit from Door to Door Organics is not local either. In the Midwest fruit is available for a very short time, and with very limited varieties. We will get local fruit from the local farmers' market when available, but fruit is such a great snack for our kids that we cannot just rely on local sources to feed two growing boys on it. 

The milk and the eggs from Oberweis are not organic but they are local and their bottles are all made of glass and reusable ( you return them to Oberweis and they refund you a bottle deposit) thus reducing waste immensely. Their milk is also gently pasteurized, unlike most organic milk available at the store that is Ultra-pasteurized. This means that more beneficial nutrients are available in it and we found it also means better yogurt (we make our own, remember?).

The meat is not organic either but it is local. Reimer Family Farm offers a CSA as well as some sampler boxes. We are not sure we consume enough meat for a monthly box, so we decided to give the sampler a try and then go from there.

I will be posting about our experiences in this blog as well as recipes that I develop with the ingredients that we are given. Let the summer of freshness begin!

I am looking for a way to get other stuff locally as well, particularly flour and grains. I will update you if I find any.

Shrimp, lettuce, mango and avocado salad

This is a delicious summery fresh salad. I love the creaminess of the avocado combined with the mango-shrimp mix which is always a winner. Tortilla chips add that little extra crunch that my husband loves .

Ingredients:

6 oz of small raw shrimp peeled deveined and tail off

1 small head of butter lettuce 

1 avocado

1 mango 

1 cup of tortilla chips hand crushed in small pieces

2 tablespoons of olive oil

The grated peel and the juice of half a lemon 

2 garlic cloves

Preparation:

In a  closed jar mix oil, lemon peel, lemon juice and minced garlic and shake vigorously to emulsify.

Toss the shrimp in the oil mixture.

Heat a medium skillet on medium heat and cook the shrimp for about 4 minutes stirring at least once to allow both sides to color. Make sure not to overcook the shrimp as it would turn chewy and rubbery.

In a large bowl mix the salad, the peeled and cubed avocado, the peeled and cubed mango. Add the shrimp making sir to add all the pan drippings too. Toss well. Add the tortilla chips just before serving so they won't lose their crunch.

Frittata with onion and cheddar

This is a very simple recipe, one of those you can make almost anytime and with infinite variations : frittata!

Ingredients: 

4 small onions or two large ones

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar or other cheese

6 eggs

1/2 cup of half an half

1 tablespoon of chives

1 tablespoon olive oil

Preparation:

Turn the oven to 425 degrees.

Slice the onion very thin.

In a large pan cook the onion on the olive oil until translucent and soft . Turn the stove off to let the onions cool off a little .

In a large bowl stir the eggs, the half and half, the chives and the cheese. Add the onions and stir.

Pour the onion-egg mixture back in the pan then put the frittata back in the oven for about 15 mins or until golden brown. 

Serve it warm but not hot accompanied by a fresh salad and a nice crusty bread .

Onion and cheddar frittata

Brown Rice with Kale, Chicken Sausage and White Beans

I made this recipe today and it not only is very filling it is also full of good things: lean meat, fibers, veggies and whole grains. I just made it up as I was going so sorry if the measurements aren't very precise.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of brown rice ( I used texmati not the instant one, if you use the instant one you will have to adjust your cooking time on your own!)
1 box of low sodium chicken broth
1 bunch of lacinato kale ( but you can use whatever kale you like or even swiss chard or mustard greens)
4 chicken sausages with sundried tomatoes ( I used the Aidell's brand, I found them at Jewel)
1/2 can of diced tomatoes
1 onion
1 clove of garlic
olive oil
1 can of white beans (navy or cannellini)
1 cup of white wine (optional)
Sweet Paprika

BEFORE YOU START COOKING

The most boring part: cut the stems off the kale and then chop the leaves into approx one inch squares. To remove the stems run your knife along both sides of it and then remove. Feel free to keep the stem and use it but remember that it is a little more fibrous and if you have a picky eater in your midst ( like I do) he/she might not like the texture.

Cut the onion and peel the garlic.

Slice the sausages into 1/4 inch thick slices or cube them, as you prefer.

Open the white beans and rinse them.

PREPARATION

In a large deep pan put the onion, the garlic and enough olive oil to cook them without burning them.
Once the onion is translucent add the rice and the wine and cook until the wine has evaporated.
Add the broth and the kale and cover until the kale is wilted, then cook uncovered until the rice is ready. If necessary add warm water to cook the rice more.
Once the rice is almost ready, add the sausage, the beans and the tomatoes. Cook another few minutes and stir to let the flavors come together. I like to add some sweet paprika to add color and flavor. I avoid cooking spicy foods, but I think some red pepper flakes or some cayenne pepper would go great in this dish too.
Enjoy!

Pasta alla Carbonara

I have decided to post this recipe, which is a very basic one, as part of my efforts to clarify what is "authentic" Italian and what is not. This is how it is done in Italy. No peas. No large amounts of cream. And no, the eggs are not properly "cooked". I love Carbonara, it's a go to when you are starving and want a rich dish but don't have much left in the fridge. The only problem is the pancetta. I have tried to find one here in the states that was exactly as the one in Italy. The closest I have come is some diced pancetta I found at the Fresh Market, I think the brand was Fiorucci, but it still didn't taste the same. Anyway, if you want you can also substitute pancetta for some thick cut bacon, which actually might taste even better in the end, or some German Prosciutto but be careful with that because sometimes it can be a little too salty.

Ingredients for 4 people

4 eggs (3 egg yolks + 1 whole egg)
1/2 lb of diced pancetta
1/2 pound of grated parmesan
salt
pepper
1 lb of thick spaghetti

Preparation

- In a pan cook the diced pancetta over medium heat without adding any oil. Cook until the fat is transparent and the pancetta is slightly crispy and remove from the heat.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add 1/4 cup of salt to it.
- In a large bowl toss the eggs and the parmesan cheese, make sure the cheese is enough so that the mixture becomes very thick. Add the pancetta.
- Cook the pasta as directed.
- Drain the pasta and IMMEDIATELY add to the egg mixture, the heat from the pasta will help "cook" the egg. Toss vigorously and serve with black pepper on top.

Quick Tilapia/Swai/Flounder with Cherry Tomatoes and Olives

I find white fish pretty boring, I have to admit. I usually think you should let the flavor of a fish speak for itself, when it does have a flavor of its own, but I find tilapia, swai and flounder to be all pretty bland and overall tasteless. But I do enjoy eating fish and I know it's healthy to eat it often, plus these kind of fish are easy to find even in Illinois and often not very expensive. You can find them often reasonably fresh but I do like to buy them frozen, that way I don't have to worry about cooking them the same day I bought them or else they will spoil. The recipe includes olives, but they are completely optional, some people like them, some ( like me) not so much, unless they are in a martini of course! It is a quick way to make any white fish taste a lot more interesting and flavorful and you will find yourself eating fish a lot more often. I like serving this fish with a side of steamed brown rice.

Ingredients

Olive oil
1 or 2 fish fillets per person
All purpose flour
2 cups of cherry tomatoes
2 anchovy fillets ( optional)
2 cloves of garlic
1 cup of fresh chopped parsley
1/2 cup of finely diced black olives (optional)

Preparation

- Salt the fish fillets then coat them in flour by pouring the flour in a large plate or shallow baking dish and then coating the fillets on both sides
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in half or quarter them depending on the size.
- In a large skillet put 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and turn the heat on medium
- When the oil is hot cook the fillet for about 3 minutes per side working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Once the fillets are cooked take them out of the pan and reserve them on a plate.
- In the same pan add some oil ONLY if necessary and add the garlic and the optional anchovy fillets. Cook on medium low for a couple of minutes making sure the garlic doesn't burn and pressing the fillets with a wooden spoon to make them "melt" into the oil.
- Add the tomatoes to the pan, add salt and cook on medium until the tomatoes are soft but not completely liquid, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add the olives and the parsley and turn off after 1 minute.
- Put the fish back in the pan allowing the sauce to cover the fillets and serve.

Pasta with Smoked Salmon in Creamy Vodka Sauce

This pasta will look like something very fancy but it really doesn't take much time or skill to make, actually I think it's pretty foolproof. The ingredients might be a little expensive (especially the smoked salmon) so it's not something I do everyday, but it is a nice idea if you are entertaining guests and want to impress them with something easy to cook.

Ingredients for 2 people

1/2 lb of bowtie/farfalle pasta
1 package of smoked salmon ( usually they are between 4-6 oz)
1 small onion
olive oil
1/3 cup of vodka
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1 teaspoon of tomato paste

Preparation

- Finely dice the onion
- Place a 2 quarts pot of water on the stove on medium
- In a frying pan pour approximately 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook the onion in it on medium until the onion is soft and transparent. Avoid burning the onion by keeping the fire on medium low. If it's still getting brown too quickly you can add a dash of white wine or even some water.
- Cut the salmon in little bits of about half an inch.
- Add the salmon to the onion and stir it allowing it to caramelize a little.
- Add the vodka and cook until the salmon is caramelized and the vodka has mostly evaporated.
- Add the cream and the tomato paste. The tomato paste doesn't add much in terms of flavor but makes the sauce pink which looks prettier with the pink salmon.
- Cook for a few minutes on medium low allowing the cream to thicken. Once the cream is thick enough turn off.
- When the water is boiling add about 1/2 cup of salt then cook the pasta as directed.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet. You can turn the stove back on for a few minutes to help the sauce really stick to the pasta.

New England Fish,Clam and Corn Chowder

I modified this recipe from one on Epicurious.com. As usual the recipe from Epi included a lot of what I consider to be unnecessary steps to make the recipe sound more fancy and discourage people from actually cooking and it also had less variety in the ingredients. I like a variety of colors and textures in my soup so I added the clam and the corn, which I thought would never be bad in a chowder.
I used frozen/canned goods because I live in Illinois where fresh fish is hard to come by and because this way I can make this soup any time since most of the ingredients are staples in my pantry anyway, but of course it would taste a lot better with fresh ingredients so feel free to substitute.

Ingredients

4 slices of bacon
1 medium onion
1 lb of potatoes
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons of dried thyme
2 cups of fish stock or chicken broth
1 can of small neck clams
1 package of frozen cod fillets ( approx 1 lb)
1.5 cups of frozen corn kernels
1 cup of heavy cream
1/4 cup of chopped parsley

Preparation

- Cut the bacon slices into little strips
- Wash, peel and finely dice the potatoes ( the dices should be about 0.5 inch small)
- Make sure the cod is thawed or immerse the plastic bag in room temperature water to thaw more quickly
- Get the corn kernels out of the freezer to thaw. You can also put them in a small colander and rinse them with room temperature water to thaw more quickly
- Finely dice the onion
- In a large stockpot cook the bacon so that it renders the fat. Once it is starting to brown remove the bacon bits from the pot with a slotted spoon and place them in a plate with paper towels. Reserve them for later.
- Cook the onion in the bacon fat for a few minutes, until it is soft and translucent but not browned.
- Add the potatoes, the thyme, the bay leaves and mix well to coat the potatoes with the fat.
- Add the fish stock/chicken broth as well as the water from the can of clams ( make sure the liquid is enough to just about cover the potatoes, if it isn't enough add more stock or some water).
- Bring the pot to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are soft but not mushy.
- You can choose to leave the cod fillets whole or chop them before hand. I like chopping them because I like everything to be bite sized, but some people like to leave them whole and then fish them out and cover them with soup, it's up to you.
- Add the cod, the clams and the corn to the soup. Cook for about 5 minutes if you cut the cod in chunks, a little longer if you put the whole fillet but not longer than 10 minutes, to avoid overcooking the fish.
- Add the cream and let get back to a boil for a couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste
 ( remember you are going to put those bacon bits on top of the soup so don't overdo it!)
- Serve with the bacon bits and the chopped parsley on top. If you can let the soup rest for 15 minutes before serving it, even better.

Mushroom and Barley Soup

As the weather is already getting cooler here in Illinois it is finally time for soup!I love soup for many reasons: the aromas that fill the house, the way it warms your heart and your stomach, you get to use only one pot (less dishwashing later! yay!), you can make soup with pretty much anything you have in the house and they are pretty foolproof. You might make a soup that is a little bland, but it's hard to make an unedible one.
Fall also makes me crave earthy flavor and therefore it is a great moment to have mushrooms. I found this recipe and tried it yesterday and, believe me, you will be surprised by the amount of flavor contained in such a simple recipe. Don't skimp on the herbs and you will be rewarded.

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds of sliced mushrooms ( I used 1 pound of Portabella and 1 pound of white mushrooms, but the more variety the better!)
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
olive oil
3 large carrots sliced diagonally
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
1/2 cup of white wine
1 quart of chicken broth ( for a vegetarian version use vegetable broth)
1 cup of barley (not the instant one)
Rosemary (fresh or dry) about 3 sprigs.
Thyme (fresh or dry) about 5 sprigs.
Parsley (fresh) about 1 tablespoon.
Salt and Pepper

PREPARATION

In a large saucepan cook the onion and the garlic in some olive oil until the onion is translucent and the garlic is golden.
Add the sliced mushrooms and the soy sauce and cook until the natural liquid of the mushrooms have been released.
Add the white wine and cook until evaporated.
Add the carrots, the barley, the rosemary, the thyme and the broth and cook covered for about 1 hour.
Add salt and pepper. Add the parsley just before serving.

Chicken Sausage with Rhubarb and Onions

This is definitely not an Italian recipe. Almost every ingredient here screams United States, starting from the rhubarb which I had never tasted until moving here. In Italy rhubarb is used to make some kind of hard candy that people used to eat fifty years ago or so, and I know my father still likes to eat it, when he can find it, just out of pure nostalgia. Apart from that it is not used in anything else. I got some rhubarb from the garden of my husband's aunt and I wanted to find a way of using it without making a pie. I just recently finished an enormous and delicious apple pie a friend made for me and I think I need to be off pies for a while. I know there are a lot of other desserts with rhubarb but not many savory dishes. I like the taste of onions with something sweet, and I had some chicken and apple sausages at home that are already slightly on the sweet side so I came up with this recipe. It is surprisingly delicious!

INGREDIENTS

1 large onion
4 stalks of rhubarb
4 chicken and apple sausages (precooked)
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 tablespoons of olive oil

PREPARATION

Chop the onion and the rhubarb and cook them in a skillet with the olive oil until the onion is soft and translucent and the rhubarb is mushy.
Add the balsamic vinegar and the sugar and cook another 5 minutes.
Slice the sausages and add them to the onion-rhubarb mix, stirring until warmed up.
Serve with a side of brown rice if needed.

Ragu' alla Bolognese - Authentic Italian Meat Sauce

This is another one of those classic recipes that are subject to endless variations. Every household has their secret for the perfect meat sauce, and everyone prefers their own version over any other. Even I have at least two different ways of doing it: one is stronger and involves a lot of red wine, and one is milder and it includes milk. I have recently discovered that the official recipe includes milk too, so I am publishing this one. The official recipe though is made with different kinds of meat that are not easily available in the States and it takes a lot longer to make. As usual I chose a simpler version that you can do any day. It is not a quick recipe, you still have to let the sauce simmer for at least one hour, but once you started you just have to let it cook, so it is not a very elaborate one and I think anyone can easily replicate it at home. It is not a light or healthy recipe either. If you want a lighter version try getting a cut of meat with less fat and substitute the sausage with ground pork. If you decide to do so add more pepper and paprika,as you will lose a lot of the flavor.

Ingredients

1 lb. of ground beef ( 85/15)
2-3 Sweet Italian Sausages
1 medium yellow onion
2 medium carrots
2 medium celery ribs
1 large can of tomato puree (1lb 12oz)
1 cup of milk
1 clove (optional)
1 bay leaf (optional)
paprika (optional)
salt
pepper (optional)
olive oil

PREPARATION

Finely chop the vegetables and put them in a large pot with enough olive oil to coat them. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent.

Take the casing off the sausages and add the meat to the vegetables. Stir until it's browned.
Add the ground beef to the pot and stir until it's browned.

Add the tomato puree and bring to a simmer.

Add the clove, the bay leaf, paprika and pepper. ( I marked them as optional just because you shouldn't feel like you can't do this sauce without them, but it definitely tastes better with them!)

Add salt and partially cover with the lid. Let simmer stirring every once in a while for at least 1 hour.The goal is to have the sauce and the meat really come together, while the tomato sauce itself will reduce in size.

Once you think the sauce is ready, add the cup of milk and stir. Cook for another 5 minutes and turn off.

For a perfect dish serve over fettuccine, sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or use it to make the perfect Lasagna.

Ciambotta - Italian Mixed Veggies

There are infinite versions and almost as many names for this dish. All Italian regions, especially in the south of Italy, have their own traditional variations on this dish with different regional names. The one I chose to publish is my own home-made quick version. You could definitely find more elaborate version that include many more ingredients and roasting the vegetables separately. They are wonderful and taste great, but I wanted to share with you the version I would make on a day to day basis. It isn't very quick to make, because the vegetables need some time to cook down to the proper consistency, plus it tastes better lukewarm so allow it some time to rest and cool off. I like making it in the early afternoon and then having it for dinner for example. It can be a wonderful side dish for example to a nice grilled Italian sausage, but it is also great eaten along with a nice fresh mozzarella sliced and seasoned with salt, olive oil and oregano. Do not forget to have some nice fresh french or Italian bread to accompany this dish and make lots of "scarpetta" the Italian word for dipping your bread in the sauce and cleaning the plate with it!

INGREDIENTS

1 medium eggplant
2 zucchini
1 yellow or red bell pepper
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 can of diced tomatoes with juice ( I like the fire roasted ones from Muir Glen)
pitted olives (optional)
olive oil
fresh basil or dried oregano
salt
red pepper flakes (optional)

PREPARATION
Dice the eggplant ( without peeling it!) and then put it directly in a skillet on medium heat. Stir often to avoid sticking. The eggplant will brown and reduce in size, so don't worry if in the beginning the skillet seems to be overflowing.
While the eggplant is cooking, slice the onion and peel the garlic cloves.
Cut the zucchini in quarters lengthwise then slice it.
Open the pepper, remove the stem and all the seeds and white parts then dice it.
In a large skillet cook the onion and the garlic in generous olive oil until the onion is translucent and soft.
Add the zucchini and pepper to the skillet with the onion and garlic and cook stirring every once in a while to avoid sticking.
When the eggplant is reduced in size and browned turn the heat off under it.
Wait until the zucchini and pepper are almost done ( taste it for doneness, they have to be soft and you shouldn't feel the skin under your teeth) probably at least 20 minutes.
Add the eggplant to the zucchini and pepper and stir.
Add the tomatoes with the juices to the vegetable stir and turn the heat to medium high.
Add the red pepper flakes if desired (don't add them if you want to share this dish with kids), salt to taste and the dried oregano flakes.
Let the tomatoes boil down for about another 10 minutes then turn off the stove and let the vegetables cool off.
Once lukewarm add the pitted olives if desired.

Miller Sole fish - Sogliole alla Mugnaia

I like the delicate taste of Sole fish and in Italy it is often recommended to get kids used to eating fish. This recipe is called miller Sole fish because of the presence of flour in it and it is a very common way of preparing not only Sole but any kind of white salt water fish. It is very easy and quick to make, it involves ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. I am not indicating specific quantities because it depends on how many fillets you are making. Sole fillets are pretty small so you will need at least 2 per person.

INGREDIENTS

Sole fish fillets
Milk
Flour
Fresh lemon juice
Olive oil
Salt

PREPARATION

Let the fish fillets soak in milk for 15 minutes to half hour.
Coat the fish fillets in flour.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan ( not a lot of oil, just enough to coat the pan).
Cook the sole fish in the oil turning it once. About 2-3 minutes per side.
Plate the fish and generously sprinkle with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add salt to taste.

White Wine Donuts - Ciambelline al vino

I spent part of my childhood in Rome, where they have the most amazing markets where you can buy fresh produce but also meets and cheeses and local products from the surrounding area. I remember loving going with my mum also because I would always get some kind of treat. One of them was this awesome little donuts shaped cookies that were made in the towns on the hills surrounding Rome, called Castelli Romani. I never found those again once I moved back to Pisa and always thought they were the best treats ever: just the right amount of sweet, crunchy and with an unmistakable perfume. Thanks to the internet I now found the recipe, and I found out that, as for most of the good Italian food, it is very simple. The region of the Castelli Romani is famous for its white Frascati wine, that, although it is not internationally acclaimed, it is very easy to drink and table friendly. This recipe was probably born to be made as part of the celebrations for the new wine ( usually in the fall there are many wine related "sagre" or festivals) but you can do them year round!

Ingredients


1 cup of sugar (plus extra for coating)
1 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 cup of white wine
3-4 cups of flour

Preparation
Turn on the oven at 350 degrees.
Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl then mix the flour slowly until you reach a consistency that can be easily molded without being too dry.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour some sugar on a plate.
With your hands scoop up a ball of dough and roll it to form a cylinder then join the extremities to make a doughnut.
Press both sides of the doughnut on the sugar so that it is evenly coated and then set on the parchment paper. The doughnuts can be pretty close together since they are not going to grow very much.
Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until they are dark brown on the bottom.

Pasta with Broccoli Rabe

This recipe is easy, tasty and a perfect example of how traditional Italian food can be healthy too: you have your greens, your complex carbs ( just watch how much pasta you throw in!), your fish oil and the spices to keep you satisfied. It is traditionally made in the Apulia region ( think the heel of the boot) and it is made with Orecchiette pasta, literally "little ears". If you can't find Orecchiette, use another kind of short pasta, like Pipette from Barilla.

INGREDIENTS

2 Bunches of broccoli rabe

2 cups of short pasta

4 cloves of garlic

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 anchovies or 1 teaspoon of anchovy paste

2 tablespoons of plain bread crumbs

red pepper flakes 

salt

Pecorino Romano

PREPARATION

Cut away all the stems from the broccoli rabe then cut the leaves in 1 inch thick strips.

In a large pot of boiling water throw in a fistful of salt. 

Once the water boils again throw in the pasta and the broccoli rabe.

In the meantime in a skillet warm up the oil and throw in the chopped garlic, the anchovies or the anchovy paste and the red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic is cooked but not burnt.

Add the breadcrumbs and cook until browned.

Once the pasta is "al dente" drain the pasta and the broccoli.

Throw the pasta and broccoli in the skillet with the oil-garlic mixture and cook with the fire on high for 2 minutes or until the pasta is thoroughly coated with green.

Serve with grated Pecorino to taste.

Minestrone

This is a vegetarian version of minestrone, which traditionally includes some pancetta or bacon. The great trick that makes this minestrone super tasty is the Parmesan rind, and it is one of those grandma's tricks that I love because they were invented at a time when throwing out something that could still be edible was considered a shame and so people found a use for all kinds of leftovers in the kitchen. So, if you have bought a piece of Parmesan cheese and you are left with that dry piece of rind in the fridge, or even if you have a piece of Asiago or Romano that dried out in your cheese box, do not throw it out! Throw it in your soup instead! Then of course discard it before serving the soup, but the rind will add creaminess and flavor and "bring together" your soup so to speak. I used the vegetables that I had at home in that moment but there is a number of variations you can do, according to season and taste. If you want to add pasta, choose the kind called "ditalini" and add at the end of the cooking process.

INGREDIENTS

1 leek (white and light green part, chopped)

2 stalks of celery

2 large carrots scrubbed and chopped

1 parsnip

1 medium yellow onion

2 garlic cloves

4 Roma tomatoes

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 bunch of rainbow chard, stems and leaves separated

1 can of Cannellini beans, drained

2 cups of vegetable broth ( or more)

the rind of a hard cheese (preferably Parmesan Cheese)

1 Turkey bay leaf

salt

pepper

PREPARATION

For this recipe it is important to chop the ingredients quite small and all at about the same size. Chop the first 6 ingredients and the stems of the rainbow chard and toss in a large pot with oil.

Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are soft, stirring to avoid sticking (about 20 minutes).

Add broth and bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low.

Add beans, chard leaves, cheese rind and bay leaf and simmer over medium heat until leaves are cooked through.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Discard rind and bay leaf before serving. It can be served with a splash of extra virgin olive oil.

Pasta with Tuna

This is a dish I could make with my eyes closed. It is a sort of comfort food in my family, and it is made with ingredients that are always available in an Italian pantry, so you could make it when there is "nothing" in the fridge. The same maybe is not true of an American pantry, since anchovies have a very bad reputation around here and I don't think many people has even ever tasted capers. You can use any kind of canned tuna, or, if you want to have an Italian experience, go to an Italian supermarket and find Mediterranean Tuna in a jar, like Callipo, but at about 10$ a can I don't know that I would recommend it for such a simple recipe. As for the tomato sauce, I like the sauce that comes in a glass bottle, when I find it, and that is just tomatoes, no onions, no herbs, no other aromas. Otherwise I just buy a tomato puree, like Defratelli or any other regular brand. I did not indicate the exact amount of tomato sauce because it depends on your taste: some people like it more "white" others like it swimming in sauce, I am for something in between. As for the pasta, the rule in Italy is about 3.5 oz per person. I like using spaghetti grossi from Barilla, which is a kind of spaghetti that are slightly thicker than the average, but of course any spaghetti would work.

INGREDIENTS

(for 4 people)

14 oz of Tuna packed in water

Tomato Puree

1 big head of garlic

2 anchovies

2 teaspoons of small capers

1 tablespoon of fresh Italian parsley

salt

red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 teaspoon of paprika 

about 1 lb of spaghetti grossi

1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil

PREPARATION

Fill a large pot with water and start boiling.

While the water is warming up, in a medium skillet heat up the olive oil and the peeled garlic clove.

Add the anchovies and smash them with a wooden spoon while cooking so that a sort of anchovy paste is created.

Add the drained tuna and keep stirring with the spoon for about 3 minutes.

Add the tomato sauce, the paprika, the red pepper flakes ( to taste) and a pinch of salt.

Bring to boil then reduce the heat to medium and let simmer until the sauce is thickened ( about 10 minutes, it depends on the amount of sauce you added).

Add the capers, stir to warm up about 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Discard the garlic clove.

When the water is boiling add a fistful ( yes a fistful is the right technical italian measurement for salt when it comes to pasta!) of salt then stir and wait for the water to boil again.

Add the pasta and cook until al dente (follow instructions on the package).

Drain the pasta, shake the excess water away then immediately toss the pasta in the sauce.

Turn the heat back on and toss the pasta for about 3 minutes.

Add the parsley and toss the pasta, reserving some parsley as a garnish.

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT SERVE WITH PARMESAN CHEESE.

IN ITALY IT IS CONSIDERED A CAPITAL OFFENSE.

Honey-Orange Pork Chops

I created this recipe today on a whim. I had some oranges that were getting old and that were not very good to eat like a fruit, they were juicy but very small, so basically to get a glass of juice I had to squeeze at least four of them and found myself too lazy to do all that work for a glass of juice. Plus, I like pork chops and I think that if they are good pork chops, like the organic ones I buy in the summer at the Woodstock Farmers Market, they don't need much fancy addition to it: just grill them or pan fry them with salt and pepper and maybe some rosemary. The problem is that the store bought pork chops instead have almost no flavor at all, I can't even imagine the miserable life those porks live and the amount of antibiotics and hormones they go through. That being said, in the winter there is no Farmers' Market, I live too far from a Whole Foods, I can't purchase a whole or half organic hog because I wouldn't know where to put it, so I have to buy regular meat. And pork chops are usually pretty inexpensive too, plus, if you don't eat the fat ( which, alas, I always do) they are quite lean and can even fit into a diet.

If you want to sound fancy you could call this a "honey marinated pork chop with orange gremolata". Gremolata is a word adapted from Italian ( I never heard it in Italy, but I think it's from the Milan region) and it means a condiment that traditionally include lemon zest, garlic and parsley. In America they use it to refer to any mixture of herbs and fruit zest though. I think the reason they use it is that is sounds fancier than saying with "grated orange zest and rosemary" for example, plus it is shorter, but that's really what it is.

INGREDIENTS (for 2 people)

2 small oranges or 1 regular one

2 pork chops

2 teaspoons of honey

1 teaspoon of fresh chopped rosemary

1/4 cup of white wine

salt

pepper

olive oil

PREPARATION

Grate the zest of one of the oranges and reserve.

In a bowl combine the juice of the oranges and the honey. Immerse the pork chops in the liquid and let marinate for 1 to 2 hours covered in the fridge.

Heat up in a pan enough olive oil to coat the pan (about 1 teaspoon).

Take the pork chops out of the marinade ( do not discard the marinade) and season with salt and pepper.

Cook the pork chops about 5 minutes on one side, then turn and cover and cook at medium heat until cooked through ( you can use a meat thermometer to see if they reach the temperature of 160 degrees), about 8 minutes.

Remove the pork chops from the pan and keep them covered.

Add the reserved marinade and the wine to the pan, scraping any browned bits. 

Cook for about 3-5 minutes, until the sauce becomes thick and brown, like a syrup.

In a little bowl combine the grated zest with the finely chopped rosemary.

Plate the pork chops, cover with the syrup and then sprinkle with the gremolata.