Author: Linda

Vaca Frita

| Linda

Vaca Frita
As I’ve said before, Alma de Cuba is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I’ve shared my version of their Skirt Steak and today’s I’m sharing my version of another favorite – Vaca Frita! Vaca Frita means fried cow in Spanish. In the traditional recipe, flank steak or skirt steak are cooked twice creating a delectable dish. My recipe uses boneless chuck roast instead of skirt steak for two reasons – first, I’m serving four people and a chuck roast is just the perfect size for us and second, skirt and flank steaks are just so darn expensive for the smallest steak. I have to say that after shredding and frying the roast no one would have been able to tell the difference! This is another winner – the combined flavors of the fried shredded meat along with the onions & peppers was stupendous…and with the addition of a side of Spanish Red Rice and Goya Maduros…all I can say is WOW! Go ahead, give it a try…all of these flavors together are just incredible! Continue reading →

Hearty Chicken Chili

| Linda

Hearty Chicken Chili
During the summer months we try to head down to the beach for at least a week…I think we’ve visited almost every beach-town in the state of NJ! Some years we go solo and sometimes we rent houses with family. A few years ago my brother and his family invited us to share a house with them in Bethany Beach, MD. It’s always a good time when our two families meet – our kids are right around the same ages and have a blast! My brother’s wife Maria and I are good friends – she loves to cook just as much as Heidi and I do! This particular summer we shared the cooking and Maria made a fabulous chili that everyone enjoyed. The kicker was adding a jar of Spaghetti Sauce…what a nice addition that was. Today I’m sharing an adapted version of her recipe; using ground chicken, adding in some fresh garlic and mixing in fire roasted tomatoes. Maria used DelMonte Spaghetti Sauce which I haven’t been able to locate in my area so I use Classico Fire Roasted Tomato & Garlic Spaghetti Sauce and it sure hits the spot…Hope this meets with your approval Maria! Continue reading →

Italian Meatball Sandwich

| Linda

Italian Meatball Sandwich
On Monday we cooked up some delicious Italian Turkey-Capocollo Meatballs…with the leftover meatballs we made some fantastic meatball sandwiches. A hearty sandwich filled to the brim with freshly sliced Parmesan cheese, Italian Meatballs, sauce & grated Parmesan. We love our Wawa meatball sandwiches but ‘Man, oh Man’ were these so much better! Continue reading →

Italian Turkey-Capocollo Meatballs & Cellentani Pasta

| Linda

Italian Turkey-Capocollo Meatballs & Cellentani Pasta

Tonight we’re cooking Italian in our house! These meatballs are slightly different than your average meatball…they’re chock full of ground turkey and Capocollo, a traditional Italian pork cold cut, along with fresh grated Parmesan…super yummy…oh so tender! Combined with a twist of a noodle – the Cellentani – and some sauce – Italian comfort food all the way… Continue reading →

Waldorf Salad Wraps

| Linda

Waldorf Salad Wraps

I love New York City in the Spring! The hustle and bustle of the crowds, the sights and colors…so exciting! My husband and I like to have a drink in the Waldorf-Astoria lounges – either the Bull & Bear or Peacock Alley…so elegant and absolutely lovely. For today’s post I’m sharing a take on a special salad that was created back in the 1890s by the maître d’hôtel Waldorf, Oscar Tschirky. This delightful salad has diced apples, thinly sliced celery, crunchy walnuts and is mixed with a mayonnaise-based sauce. I add a handful of seedless black grapes and wrap it up in Boston lettuce leaves for a light lunch…truly delicious! Continue reading →