Minestrone - Italian Vegetable Soup

This is a really traditional dish of the Italian tradition. Perfect hot on a wintry day or cold on a summer day.
I need to thank my lovely Nanny Tata for giving me her delicious recipe that brings me back to my childhood.

Ingredients

-1 Zucchini or Courgette
-2 Tomatoes
-1 onion
-2 carrots
-2 potatoes
-2 cans of borlotti beans (or fresh)
-1 handful of runner beans.

 In a big size sauce pan mix all the vegetable cut into small pieces.
Add 1-1/2 litre of water, a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
Cook on medium heat for around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Add the canned beans 10 minutes before the end.

Enjoy! Buon appetito!

Pasta with Cream, Peas and Ham

This is one of my absolute favorite Italian pasta dishes!
The combination of flavors and consistency of the cream in this pasta dish makes it so heavenly delicious! A must try trust me!

 Ingredients:
-1 bag of frozen peas
-1 onion
-Ham already cut into cubes
-Extra virgin olive oil
-Penne pasta
-Heavy cream or double cream
-Brown sugar

In a nice big pan (Wok style is good too) start by 

browning the chopped onion with olive oil 1 teaspoon of sugar (so that the onions will be deliciously caramelized) and salt. 

When golden throw in the peas (even from frozen). Let it cook until the peas will be tender.

Now add the ham and cook until brown.

In the meantime bring water to a boil in another pan and cook the pasta. 

Add the cream to the ham and peas, as well as some salt and pepper. 

Mix pasta into the cream mixture and serve!

Enjoy! Buon Appetito!!

Ham & Veggies Pasta Bake

Hello everyone!
I must apologize to all my readers since I have been gone for so long... many changes happened to my life and I even moved continent, infact I am now writing to you from the UK.
During these past few months I have been gathering lots of pictures of new recipes to share with you all!
Enough chatting now... let's get started with this delicious heartwarming dish!

-Ingredients
500 gr Pasta (whichever shape you like)
2 big Broccoli florets
1 red bell pepper
Extravergin olive oil
Breadcrumbs
1 onion
1 heavy cream carton (or Double cream)
Grated parmesan
Ham cutted into cubes
Grated mozzarella cheese
Salt & Pepper


In a pan, sautee the onions with olive oil, broccoli and bell pepper. All the veggies need to be cut in small pieces. When all vegetables are super tender add the ham and brown it for a couple of minutes. Now add the heavy cream, salt and pepper. In the meantime boil the pasta according to the time indicated on the package. When the pasta is al dente (which means ready but not too soft) pour it in the pan with the condiment and mix it all together. Prepare a good size oven pan and oil the base. Pour the mix with the pasta, sprinkling to each layer some mozzarella and parmesan cheese. When it is full, top it off with a final layer of cheese and breadcrumbs. Leave in the oven at 160 degree Celsius for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Sublime Rosted Potatoes

Here is my recipe for oven roasted potatoes!

Ingredients:

4 or 5 large potatoes
rosemary
olive oil
garlic or garlic powder
salt
pepper
onions
hot pepper

Peel and Cut the potatoes into 1 inch cubes. In a big bowl mix well the cut potatoes with all the ingredients. Bake at 400 Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Brown Rice with Peppers and Blue Cheese

Here is a quick and healthy way to prepare your next meal!

Ingredients:

Brown Rice
Bell Peppers
Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola
Onions
Extravergin Olive oil
spices

In a pan, bring the water to a boil and cook the rice according to the instructions. In the meantime, in another pan, sauteed the oil, onions, and peppers. Let everything cook until tender. Drain the brown rice and put it in the same pan where the peppers are. Adjust, salt, pepper, and any other spice you might like. Towards the end you can sprinkle your crumbly blue cheese or Gorgonzola on top. Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Honey Glazed Carrots

Here is one of my favorite side dishes.


You need:

1 1/2 cups baby carrots
3 Tbsp honey
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Bring the carrots to a boil for 10 minutes, until tender and crisp. Drain carrots and in another pan sauteed the honey, sugar and lemon juice. Place the carrots into the saucepan with the honey mixture and coat well. Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Whole Wheat Stuffed Tortillas

Happy New year everybody! I really wish for this 2012 to be filled with happiness, health and all the comforts possible! In another of my adventures in my kitchen, looking for some lunch inspiration I came up with this delicious recipe.


Ingredients:

Breaded Eggplants (See my other recipe called "Crispy Eggplants - Melanzane Impanate")
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Hummus
Mozzarella slices

Spread your tortilla with some hummus, place the eggplants and top with some mozzarella slices. You could also add some ham or prosciutto to it! Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Supreme Mashed Potatoes

I made mashed potatoes many times cause it is one of my favorite side dish, but this time I wanted to add a few extra ingredients to make it even more yummy!


Ingredients:

4 Large potatoes
Sour cream
Milk
Butter
Salt
Pepper

Start with boiling the potatoes. Drain them and start mashing them when still hot, incorporating the butter immediately.... so that it will melt nicely. Add the milk and the sour cream little by little. Salt and pepper to taste! Sometimes I also add some ham and chives to it! Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

The other night I decided to try one a Thai restaurant by my house I heard a lot about, and I am so glad I went there!!


It really was the best fried rice I have ever had! It had Macademia nuts, bell peppers thinly sliced delicious beef, pineapples chunks, green onions and it was pretty spicy! Sooo good!!! I will definitely try to make it myself with my Wok pan! :)

Eggplant Crostini

As you already know, I love finger food! Here is another recipe I created the other day while looking around my fridge :)


Ingredients:

Melba toast (or any other crostini like cracker)
Cream cheese
Eggplants

I started by coating my eggplant slices with a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Then I grilled them. I put some cream cheese on my toasts and topped each of them with a slice of eggplant. They were delicious!! Enjoy! Buon appetito!

Fried Pickles

Here is a southern North American recipe. Fried Pickles!


First you need to slice your pickles (I used the ones pre-sliced in the jar). Beat an egg with some milk, paprika, salt, pepper, and hot pepper. Dip the pickles in the egg batter and then coat them with some breadcrumbs. Fried them until golden brown. Place them on a paper towel sheet to drain the excess oil, sprinkle some salt on top when they are warm. Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Crispy Eggplants - Melanzane Impanate

I wanted to show you an easy but yet delicious way to cook your eggplants! My Lovely nanny Tata makes the best! In fact, this picture was taken at my nanny's in Sardinia (Italy).

You will need:

a couple of eggplants (Depending on how many people you are having over)

bread crumbs

a couple of eggs

some flour

Vegetable oil (Or any kind of oil you use to fry)

Cut the eggplant in thin slices. To have a nice breading coat, you will need to dip each slice first in the beaten eggs, secondly in the flour, after again in the eggs, and finally in the bread crumbs. Fry them and place them on some paper towel sheets, so that they will eliminate the excess oil.

Sprinkle some salt on top and enjoy! They are so yummy! Buon Appetito!

PS: you can do the same with zucchini!

Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms

Here is a recipes for my HCG friends and non... this recipe is actually delicious even when you are off the maintenance of your diet!


In a pan sautee olive oil, onions and chicken cut in chunks... keep on until everything starts to brown. Now add the mushrooms. Cook until everything starts to get a nice brownish color. Adjust salt and pepper. Turn off the stove and add 2 Tbsp of sour cream. Here you have it! A fast and delicious recipe! Of course when you are off your diet you are more than welcome to add some pasta to this dish! Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Extra Lean Beef & Tomatoes

This is one of my favorite dinner during my HCG diet P2 :)

Be sure to have the extra lean ground beef and mix it with chili powder, pepper, salt, and oregano. Then make it into a burger and grill it. Cut 1 tomato and season it with salt, pepper, and basil. There you have a delicious dinner that will not make you feel you are on a diet! Enjoy! Buon Appetito! :)

Grilled Chicken & Asparagus

Here is a recipe for HCG P2, and also for anybody else who wants to have a light and healthy dinner.

Marinade your chicken breast with some lemon juice, curry, salt, and pepper. Grilled chicken and asparagus. I poured some lemon juice, salt, and pepper on the asparagus too.

Serve with 1 Melba Toast. Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Chicken & Broccoli

Another healthy and yummy way to mix our proteins with your veggies is this following recipe I am going to tell you.

Sauteed in a pan some onions with olive oil and chicken chunks. Once the chicken is half way cooked throw in some broccoli... Let it cook covered for around 20 minutes. Let the broccoli and the chicken roast very well and get darker. The taste of the broccoli is incredibly enhanced once they are almost burned! I always serve this dish with a dollop of sour cream on the side and dip it! Enjoy! Buon appetito!

Chicken sauteed with oil, onions, peppers and zucchini

A very delicious way to mix your veggies and proteins in a delicious combo!

In a pan sauteed olive oil, onions and chunks of chicken. When chicken starts to be half way done throw in the sliced peppers and zucchini. Cook everything covered for around 10-15 minutes.... Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Cauliflower Pizza

This is a great alternative to the traditional pizza! In this recipe you will not use any flour, cause the "dough" of your pizza is going to be made with cauliflower!

Ingredients:

1 cauliflower head

1 egg
oregano

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Low sugar tomato sauce

And any toppings you would like on your pizza!
1 to prepare the cauliflower, take a fresh cauliflower head and cut the florets of and put them in a microwave safe bowl.
2 DO NOT ADD ANY WATER OR LIQUIDS! put in the microwave on high for 7 minutes, mixing them half the way.
3 with a food processor grind the cauliflower, until it looks like rice.
4 mix the grounded cauliflower, and the egg, for better blending, use a blender.
5 put on loaf pan with parchment paper making sure that it evenly distributed, sprinkle with oregano, and bake at 450F for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
6 if using for sandwiches, let cool down before u

sing, if using for pizza as soon as out of the oven add your pizza toppings and bake until the cheese is melted.

I made half of it with ham for my boyfriend and half of it with eggplants for me :)

Enjoy! Buon Appetito!

Spinach Chips

Ciao!!!

If you crave a crunchy snack but you are on a diet and can not cheat, here is a wonderful and light snack idea!

Just preheat your oven at 400 degrees. Place the spinach leaves on a sheet of parchment paper. Sprinkle the spinach with salt, pepper, and any other spice you might like.

Bake for 20 minutes. Your oven will work as a dehydrator, leaving the spinach super crunchy! Enjoy! Buon Appetito! :)