Linguine with Spicy Chorizo and Tomato Sauce

November 3rd, 2007

I’ve been craving pasta a lot lately. Rachel (my wife) and I went to Iovino’s last week and I ordered spaghetti (it was delicious). Before that I made homemade (with fresh tomatoes) spaghetti sauce and spaghetti with bread, olive oil and vinegar (one of my favorites). When I was thinking up menu items for this week’s menu I found a Linguine recipe in my “Nightly Special’s” book.

I knew it looked good, but I had NO idea how good it would actually be. I have to say the Chorizo is what made this recipe. It gives the sauce a spicy-delicious-amazing flavor. Rachel said it was probably the best linguine/spaghetti sauce she had ever had. That means it is REALLY good. So go ahead, try this one! Did I mention it takes only about 15-20 minutes to make?

Here’s what I did:

Ingredients:

• Linguine Noodles
• 2-3 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1/2 Large onion
• 3-5 garlic cloves
• 2-3 cups chorizo (spicy sausage)
• two 14-oz cans of plain, crushed tomatoes (mine were actually stewed)
• 1 cup of dry white wine
• 15-30 large basil leaves

Directions:

1. Fill a pan 3/4 full of water (large enough to hold your linguine) and boil
2. While the water boils get out your large heavy-bottom pan and heat up the olive oil on a medium heat
3. Add the chopped onions and chorizo, for about 5 minutes
4. Add the pressed garlic and stir
5. Add both cans of tomatoes and wine
6. lightly add kosher (or sea) salt and freshly ground pepper
7. Stir occasionally and let simmer for 5-10 minutes (I had to turn up the heat here to reduce the juicy tomato sauce — I don’t like mine too watery)
8. While that’s simmering, throw the noodles into the boiling water and cook them as the package directs (until Al dente)
9. When the sauce is almost done add the basil leaves and stir lightly to mix
10. Mound some noodles on each plate
11. Add some sauce, making sure to get chorizo and basil on each plate.
12. YUM! YUM! YUM!

I really hope you enjoy it!

Sesame Codfish with Ginger (and Broccoli)

November 2nd, 2007

Seafood is good for you right? I like to incorporate fish into my dinner menu at least once a week. Again I got the idea for my recipe from the Nightly Special’s book.

Tonight I wanted to cook something fast, light and delicious since we were planning on going ballroom dancing and wouldn’t have much time after work to cook and eat.  I found this recipe and modified it to my taste and really enjoyed it!  Here’s what I did.

Ingredients:

• 1 large fillet of Cod (USA Wild Caught — don’t go for that farmed fish and stay local!) Salmon or Snapper will do too.
• 1 minced shallot (an small onion will do though)
• 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil
• sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons of shredded ginger
• 1/2 tablespoon chili oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• For Broccoli as a side, you’ll need some fresh or frozen broccoli

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Brush the fish with the olive oil
3. Place the sesame seeds in a plate and lay the fish on the plate to coat with seeds.  Repeat on both sides (if there is no skin — no need to do this on the skin side) — set the fish aside
4. Add the shallots, ginger, soy sauce, and chili oil to a shallow baking dish
5. Add the olive oil to a frying pan and cook the fish on each side over a medium heat for 2 minutes each
6. Place the fish in the baking dish and bake for about 10 minutes
7. While you wait, fill a small pan with a small amount of water.
8. Add the chopped broccoli to the water and steam (on high) for a few minutes to soften.
9. Serve the broccoli with the finished Codfish

I hope you enjoy it!

Fresh-Pumpkin Cookies

November 1st, 2007

I’ve noticed the pumpkin recipes on my blog have been pretty popular so I thought I would try another. I’ve been using Stahlbush’s “Farmer’s Market Foods Organic Canned Pumpkin” only, it’s straight from the processing plant where my wife works. All the food she brings home is a great perk of the job! It almost makes me wish I had her job!

I’ve never really made pumpkin cookies, nor do I remember what they are supposed to be like, but I sure can imagine. I envisioned an extremely moist, pumpkin/spices flavored goodness melting in my mouth. YUM! I just ate my sample cookie and the rest are now baking! It is good!

Keep in mind when looking at my list that I cut back on the sugar — they are still sweet and delicious. You can feel free to add up to 1 cup of sugar depending on your taste. I also added too much flour and for fun poured in a little heavy cream to thin out the dough. I still feel like this dough is missing something (perhaps more butter?), even though the cookies turned out good. I am going to continue reading my food science books so I can learn more about the science of what we bake. Here is how I did it (minus a little flour and the cream):

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/4 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• a pinch of ground cloves
• a pinch of ground ginger
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of Farmer’s Market Foods Organic Canned Pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/4 stick of butter — melted

Now to make the cookie dough:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixer or bowl
3. Whisk the eggs until they are well beaten
4. Add the pumpkin, vanilla and butter to the eggs and combine
5. Mix the egg and pumpkin mixture into the mixer and mix well.
6. Place about 24 large spoonfuls of the batter onto two cookie sheets and bake each for 15 to 18 minutes
7. Cool and enjoy!

Here’s your chance to have your sweets and save the world too.

I hope you enjoy it!