Spring Salad

I think I have mentioned before that I am completely obsessed with yummy salads! Here is a fresh Spring Salad that is healthy, earthy and very satisfying. This salad would be perfect for a Sunday brunch or a quick healthy dinner. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Ingredients

4 cups of Spring tender greens

5 to 6 red potatoes

1 bunch of fresh green beans

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

4 hard boiled eggs

1 cup of Buttermilk salad dressing

salt and pepper

olive oil

Directions

Boil your eggs just until the centers are cooked, about 10 minutes. Just before you drain the water from your eggs quickly blanch your green beans in the same boiling water. Do not over cook, just a quick 1 min in the boiling water is perfect for your green beans. Peel your eggs while hot and set aside to cool. Wash and dice your red potatoes, place them on a cookie sheet and drench in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake at 425˙until potatoes are crisp and golden brown. Take your potatoes out of the oven and set aside to let cool. Slice your sharp cheddar cheese, and hard boiled eggs. When all of your ingredients are cool, assemble your Spring Salad. Toss with your buttermilk dressing and season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Breakfast Burrito

There is nothing more satisfying than breakfast for dinner. Breakfast burritos are easy and fun to make. My secret to a successful yummy burrito is to take your flour tortillas and put them on a dinner plate each separated by a damp piece of paper towel, then microwave them for 2 to 3 minutes. This makes the tortillas warm and chewy. :) Do this step last then assemble your burrito.

Ingredients

Flour tortillas

2 cups of frozen cubed potatoes

9 eggs

1 pound of chicken chorizo, crumbled

1 small can of sliced jalapenos

2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

4 Tbs. butter

a splash of milk

salt and pepper

Directions

In a large non stick skillet on med high heat melt you butter. Add your frozen potatoes to the pan and cook until potatoes are golden brown, season with salt. Take your potatoes out of your pan and set aside. In a medium sauce pan crumble your chorizo until cooked through. The pan will still be buttery, you do not need to add more. Crack your eggs and beat then with a splash of milk and salt and pepper. Add them to your pan and scramble them. Grate your cheese and set aside. When your eggs are finished assemble your burritos to your liking. I like mine spicy so I add lots of jalapenos. This recipe makes 3 to 4 burritos.

Enjoy!

Bruschetta

This recipe is one of my Spring favorites! I could easily be a herbivore. I love the pungent fresh flavors this appetizer offers. The smell of ripe tomatoes is the best, I wish I could bottle this divine smell. I often serve bruschetta for a light dinner, along side a good red wine, a perfect combonation.

Ingredients

1 loaf of fresh french bread, sliced thick

3 to 4 ripe red tomatoes, chopped

1 bunch of fresh basil, chopped

1 large ball of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

good olive oil

good balsamic vinegar

2 whole garlics, roasted

sea salt and fresh cracked pepper

Directions

Roast your garlic, set aside to cool. •Roasted Garlic Recipe• Slice your french bread into thick slices and place on cookie sheet. Place in oven on broil and brown both sides of your bread. Be careful your bread will burn quickly on broil. Take you bread out of the oven and set aside. Chop your tomatoes, basil, and slice your cheese. On a big platter assemble your bread slices in one single layer. Once your roasted garlic has cooled take all the caramelized cloves out of the garlic paper. Lightly smear the roasted garlic gloves onto the toasted bread without crushing your bread. Lay a slice of cheese over each slice of bread. Top with your tomatoes and fresh basil. Drizzle generously with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Homemade Pizza

Pizza pie is an open canvas, you could go wild and top this yummy crust with anything. My pizza's are always different. This particular pie is topped with, store bought Mariana sauce, basil pesto, feta cheese, freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves, and Italian chicken sausage.

•Crust•

Ingredients

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour


Directions

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and brown sugar in the water, and let sit for 10 minutes.
Stir the salt and oil into the yeast solution. Mix in 2 1/2 cups of the flour.
Turn dough out onto a clean, well floured surface, and knead in more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Place the dough into a well oiled bowl, and cover with a cloth. Let the dough rise until double; this should take about 1 hour. If you are limited on time sticking the whole bowl into a warm oven (200˙) works beautifully. Punch down the dough, and form a tight ball. Allow the dough to relax for a minute before rolling out. Use for your favorite pizza topping recipe.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). If you are baking the dough on a pizza stone, you may place your toppings on the dough, and bake immediately. If you are baking your pizza in a pan, lightly oil the pan, and let the dough rise for 15 or 20 minutes before topping and baking it.
Bake pizza in preheated oven, until the cheese and crust are golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Tuna Pasta Salad

Spring is calling my name so I have been craving light pasta salads. Serve this salad on a bed of lettuce with fresh blueberries or cantaloupe, the salty tuna with sweet fruit is a tasty combo. :)

Ingredients

1 pound of shell macaroni

1 cup of mayonnaise

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1 large handfull of snow peas, diagonally cut in half

2 large carrots, chopped

2 6 oz. cans of tuna in water

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Cook your pasta and set aside to cool. In a large bowl mix, mayonnaise, onions, thyme, snow peas, carrots, salt and pepper, and tuna. When the pasta is cooled add pasta. Mix well and refrigerate until the salad is cool.

Enjoy!

Baked Ziti

A comfort dish for sure, Baked Ziti is one of my favorites, of course it's a pasta dish. Baked Ziti easy to prepare and even tastes better the next day when all of the flavor have melded together. This recipe goes well with, garlic bread, a big leafy Caesar salad or even a simple side as broccolini.

Ingredients

1 pound of ziti

4 cloves of garlic

1 pound of Italian sausage, removed from casing. ( I use chicken Italian sausage)

15 ounces of ricotta cheese

1 pound of fresh mozzarella cheese, diced

1 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese

2 Tbs fresh basil, chopped

26 ounce jar of marinara sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Heat oven to 400˙ Cook pasta so it is al dente. Set aside. In a skillet crumble your sausage along with your garlic on med high heat until cooked through. In a large bowl toss the pasta with the meat mixture along with the marinara sauce, basil, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. Salt and pepper to taste. Transfer mixture to a large baking dish that is lightly greased with olive oil. Sprinkle the top of your pasta dish with extra parmesan . Bake until bubbly and golden brown about 25 minutes.

Enjoy!