Recipes tagged with: Italian

Here is another amazing (if I may say so myself) one-pot Paleo Italian recipe!  OMG OMG OMG is all everyone was saying after each bite!  This is why I love to cook and entertain. We normally grill when we have company at the lake but I wanted to just relax in the sun with my girlfriend Pam and let the oven do the cooking.  What a big hit!  I served with sauteé spinach.

Cindy's Note: I used boneless pork shoulder and they came in 3 pound packages.   I picked up 2 because it really is better the next day!

To prepare on you BGE - Heat your grill to a medium temperature and set the covered pan in the center for 2 hours!

kale pesto is my new "thing" and I love it in this zucchini pasta dish!  Enjoy

I love starting my Italian cooking with pancetta and onions! This is a great way to make a traditional Italian Sauce.

Amatriciana goes great with seafood, chicken cutlets or even pasta! It does have a different taste than your Italian marinara but once you give it a try…

You will love it.. Sometimes I add capers right before serving! Cooking Italian is certainly my favorite! Enjoy…

If you are Italian or have traveled then you know why this recipe is in my cookbook. An anchovy pizza is the most common pizza in the entire Tuscan region. The pizza is thin with a perfect amount of anchovies, a sweet sauce, and no cheese. I decided to develop a Paleo version for you to enjoy and feel like you are in Italy!

Thank you Danny at D&D Market, Hartford for all of your support.

The foods offered before the meal is called the Antipasti. The plates are colorful with a variety of meats, olives, artichokes, eggs, anchovies and other ingredients to create a mini-feast.

An Italian tradition is to create an antipasti with a selection of color, flavor, texture and how well each complements each other. An antipasti is also considered a great way to get everyone socializing together.

*Cindy's Note* Antipasti or Antipasto? I get this question all the time. Here is the literal definition, Antipasto (plural) means "before the meal" and is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Traditional antipasto includes cured meats, olives, pepperoncini, mushrooms, anchovies, artichokes, cheese, picked vegetables or meats and drizzled with oil and vinegar! 

I love keeping frozen vegetables handy in the refrigerator.  We were invited to a friends house and came up with these to bring.  I had all of the ingredients.  Enjoy!

PS - I made these, packed them up and they vanished.  I totally forgot to take a photo of the finished balls.  New time...  

I grew up with my Nana steaming the large pot of artichokes on Sunday's and we would sit around the table before dinner with our bowl and just eat them with lots of laughter and smiles.  My Nana was very smart and she knew if she was making artichokes we would all sit around the table with her and that is all she wanted.  I came up with this recipe to add a different twist to artichokes but I still enjoy them steamed with olive oil and tons of chunky pieces of garlic!

You can also find this recipe in my cookbook:.

**Cindy's Tip!  We all want to get to the heart of the artichoke.  Enjoy each leaf peddle by putting in your mouth then using your teeth to get the delicious flesh in your mouth.  Enjoy each leaf and don't hurry for the heart!  When you arrive to the bottom of your artichoke, there is a little "fuzzy hair"--just remove them and cut around the heart.  Put on your plate, cut it into pieces and just lightly dip and take a bite and enjoy that flavor in your mouth.  Enjoy with your family and friends! **

I love using baby spinach for the delicate salad. The perfect dish for a break in the middle of the day!

*CHEFS NOTE* A little shopping tip: when cooked frozen shrimp is on sale- make sure you grab a bag! They thaw out easy and quick and go great in a salad in a jiffy.

I am known for opening the refrigerator and creating a quick and healthy dish.  I was looking at baby kale and 2 pieces of bone-in chicken breast along with zucchini, eggplant and red onions.  I decided to make a pesto!  Go ahead and give this one a try!

If you asked me what is  my favorite Italian dish - My answer is always the same.  Chicken Cutlets.  There are so many way to enjoy "Cutlets"  Check out my blog post on some of my tips and other recipes.  

Many recipes include frying your cutlets but I don't always want the mess of splatter to clean up so I love to bake them.  So easy and less mess!

Check it out.  I hope you try this recipe and enjoy.  This is also a 30 minute meal from start to finish :)

Cindy's Tip:  You can make many of these and separate in containers or sealable freezer bags then freeze to enjoy another time.  

Enjoy xo Cindy

My husband loves short ribs and every time we go out to dinner and they are on the menu he wants to try them - just to check if they are better than mine!  I really wish he would stop doing that because he is always disappointed!  I try to tell him to order something else but he never listens...   

I have another great short rib recipe but made this one a little different and we really liked the balsamic glaze.

Tip: Buy a little extra as they are even better the next day!  Also, when at the butcher I like then a little smaller as they fit in the pan better.  If they only have the longer short ribs just ask them to cut in half and will gladly!

I normally double or triple this recipe and freeze them in individual containers. I try to make it basic then depending on the recipe I can add more flavors such as wines or chicken broth. When making a marinara/sauce remember that dried herbs hold their flavor and color when slow cooking. If you are using fresh herbs don’t add them in until you are finished with the cooking process and just before serving. If you have fresh tomatoes then use them starting with 3 pounds.

**Cindy’s Tip!: Use with your favorite recipe or divide and store in your refrigerator or freezer. **

You can also find this recipe in my cookbook:

As an Italian we grew up with zucchini in almost any dish.  From scrambled eggs and zucchini, zucchini bread, sautéed or even roasted.  Now I just love zucchini noodles.  They are great with just garlic, EVOO, salt and pepper or with your favorite sauce!  Any way you enjoy zucchini noodles it will be amazing!

#zucchini

My friend Rosemarie gave me a beautiful planter of fresh basil and this recipe just happened in my kitchen.

These drumsticks are perfect for our Paleo Picnic! If you have the time marinade the chicken overnight but for at least 6 hours for an amazing chicken drumsticks.

My husband and I love serving pulled pork over the summer.  It's easy to prepare in advance and keep warm while we are enjoying time on the lake with friends and family.  

We love our Big Green Egg and we know this was the best pulled pork because there was not one single piece left over.  

I have a few ways that I make my pulled pork such as my 5 ingredient pulled pork or Italian pulled pork that I prepare in the slow cooker.  

Since my spice rack is filled with Simply Organics we decided to do a dry rub and let it sit overnight.  

Give this recipe a try and even my vinegar based barbecue sauce that goes perfect with my vinegar cole slaw.

Enjoy

Cindy's Note:  Get a spray bottle and add about 1 cup of apple juice.

In Florida we can get some amazing fresh fish.  While at the market I spotted Yellow Tail Snapper wild caught and local.  I had all of the other ingredients to make this amazing dinner for 2.  This is a great dinner if you are following the Paleo diet or a healthy Mediterranean diet

Note:  You don't have to buy blackened seasonings as I am sure all of the spices are at home in your cabinet.  

Julienne is a knife cut where you slice long strips and keep them all in the same length. 

I was at our local Whole Foods staring at the meat case poultry.  I decided to get 2 bone-in chicken breast, 2 bone-in chicken thighs and 2 hot chicken sausage (for some heat).  I grabbed a bunch of vegetables and got home and started to cook.  I really didn't  have a plan and this recipe was created.

Feel free to add more ingredients to feed a family. This is a perfect recipe for 2. 

I roasted some chopped red potatoes and added them into the pot before serving.  I knew my husband would wants some carbs in the dish.  Totally optional. 

Go ahead and give this one a try!  I did a little video and put in on my Facebook Page and Instagram page.

Enjoy! 

The butternut squash adds amazing fall flavors to this lasagna.  If you have a mandolin, use it to create the perfect lasagna noodles.  To make this a more heartier lasagna, saute up ground beef, ground chicken or even sausage for a meatier meal.

You can also find this recipe in my cookbook: .

I can't believe how easy this vegan parmesan cheese is to make and it taste AMAZING!  

Risotto is a Northern Italian rice dish that is cooked for a long time stirring often.  A traditional risotto is cooked with a warm broth added slowly to create a creamy consistency.  As a paleo dish, it takes less time to prepare and the cauliflower gives it a perfect risotto feel.

I remember my Nana would make a cup of coffee and grab her stool and sit at a stove for an hour while preparing risotto!

 **Cindy's Tip!--Take the liquid from the porcini mushrooms and strain to use in soups.  You can also add a little to your risotto to gain a richer flavor!**

You can also find this recipe in my cookbook:

This is another way I share my love for Cauliflower and Italian together!  This is delicious!  Go ahead and give it a try.  Enjoy xo Cindy