Author: Linda

Mushroom & Sage Risotto

| Linda

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In New York City there was this wonderful little restaurant whose specialty was risotto. The name of the restaurant was Risotteria. It was located in the West Village on Bleecker St. They prepared a multitude of different risottos including a fabulous mushroom risotto. Unfortunately, they’ve closed but they inspired me! I also prepare a mushroom risotto but mine is flavored with andouille sausage along with cremini mushrooms. I top it off with sage sautéed in butter, a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and a swirl of truffle oil. It’s creamy and delicious…Enjoy!
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White Lasagna

| Linda

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We had a few family and friends over for dinner last night and I wasn’t sure what to serve for dinner! What can feed a small crowd and still be easy to prep ahead of time so I’ll be able to spend time chatting instead of cooking? Lasagna…of course! The go-to crowd-pleaser. This delicious lasagna is made with a white sauce instead of red and is warm and scrumptious… Continue reading →

Osso Buco

| Linda

Osso Buco

Sunday Dinner…my favorite time of the week. This is the day when we all sit down together and enjoy a delicious meal. Sometimes it’s elaborate and sometimes it’s simple; but I love the process…a glass of red wine in hand, the chopping, stirring, roasting, baking…the mouthwatering aromas of whatever is cooking on the stove or in the oven…the kids and hubby popping their heads into the kitchen asking “when is it going to be done??” I love Sundays…

Sunday Dinner today was Osso Buco…tender veal shanks braised in a tasty broth until tender and almost falling apart…served atop creamy mashed potatoes…I special ordered the veal shanks on Wednesday from my local butcher and picked them up this morning…They are well worth the wait! Hope you enjoy this meal as much as we did! Continue reading →

Feather Pancakes

| Linda

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It’s Sunday morning…it’s still cold outside. This calls for warm syrupy pancakes for breakfast! Years ago my mom’s friend Fay gave her a recipe for homemade pancakes. Although they tasted really good for some reason they always came out flat. With some changes to the original recipe I was able to add fluffiness to the pancakes. And with the addition of vanilla they became our favorite weekend pancakes. Sometimes we add chocolate chips; sometimes it’s sliced bananas, strawberries or blueberries. They’re as easy to make as they are to eat! Enjoy!    Continue reading →

Balsamic & Sage Pork Chops Meal

| Linda

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Last night we were in the mood for a quick & tasty pork meal! There are so many ways to cook pork! These fabulous pork chops marinate while the potato salad and vegetables are being prepared and are cooked in just about 10 minutes. How easy is that? The key to cooking these pork chops is to almost treat them like a steak – high heat cooking for a minute or two on each side and then popping them in the oven to finish up. Then let them rest for a few minutes to redistribute the juices. When they’re not overcooked pork chops are tender and delicious! Continue reading →

Spaghetti Bolognese

| Linda

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I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love pasta! My boys ask for it on a daily basis…so I try to make a different pasta every week to broaden their taste buds. This Spaghetti Bolognese is by far their favorite! And it will soon become your family’s favorite too. A classic Bolognese sauce simmers for hours on the stove to achieve the perfect balance of tender meat and flavor. This sauce is a really easy to make meat and blush-sauce and thankfully doesn’t take hours to make but the results taste like they have been simmering all day.    Continue reading →

Fish & Chips

| Linda

Fish & Chips

Growing up in Central Pennsylvania, our family did not eat a lot of fish. The only time I remember seeing fish on our dinner table was during Lent when mom served it with her usual two accompanying side dishes; stewed tomatoes and spinach leaves with a bitter vinegar dressing. Don’t get me wrong, mom is a good cook…she’s made some really delicious meals, but back then fish was not one of them. When I went off to college and met my husband, who is from Panama (which actually means abundance of fish), he was surprised that I didn’t like fish and even though he encouraged me to try it, I still just found it so unappealing that I wouldn’t. I can be pretty stubborn sometimes.  Continue reading →