Polenta with Sausage and Rapini

Polenta with Sausage and Rapini

I just tried the recipe and I will make again! I really like Polenta and there is so many variations. Altough just plain tomato pasta sauce with grated parmesan cheese is my favourite, this recipe is a good way of getting your veggies in! My mom's favorite recipe is made only with added broccoli. If the rapini is to bitter for your taste, replace with broccoli :)

Ingredients
Polenta (basic recipe found on the blog)
1 bunch rapini blanched in salted water
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic minced
2 Italian sausage links hot or mild chopped

Directions
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat and add chopped Italian sausage. When sausage is almost cooked, add garlic and sauté about 30 seconds. Cut blanched rapini in half and add to sausage and garlic. Mix well.
Add 3/4 of the sausage and rapini to the polenta and mix well. Place the polenta on a serving platter and garnish with the remainder of the sausage and rapini.

Note
If you like, add dried chilli peppers into skillet after adding the blaunched rapini. Also sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
#polenta #rapini #sausage #brocolli

30 Minute Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

2 lbs potatoes, such as russet, peeled and cubed

2 tablespoons sour cream or softened cream cheese

1 large egg yolk

1/2 cup cream, for a lighter version substitute vegetable or chicken broth

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 3/4 lbs *ground beef or ground lamb

1 carrot peeled, and chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 tablespoons butter 

2 tablespoons all purpose flour 

1 cup beef stock or broth

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them in a bowl. Combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.

While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef or lamb. **Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings. Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.

Preheat broiler to high. Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve. 

Recipe by Rachel Ray

Foodie Fran's Notes:

 *I have used ground turkey as well. I'm sure ground chicken will work as well.

Gnocchi with Peas and Pancetta

Gnocchi with Peas and Pancetta

Just tried this tonight and it was amazingly delicious! You can buy frozen gnocchi or make the ricotta gnocchi (one of my favs) found on my blog.

Ingredients
1 tbsp of olive oil
4 oz of diced pancetta
2 tbsp of chopped onions
1 tsp of chopped garlic
1 cup of frozen peas
1/2 cup of chicken broth
1 tbsp of butter
1/4 cup of cream
1 lb of frozen gnocchi
2 tbsp of grated parmiggiano
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Start by lightly browning pancetta in olive oil in a saute' pan over low flame.
Add onion and garlic until golden.
Add peas and chicken broth.
Cover and let simmer until peas are tender but not mushy.
Meanwhile, cook gnocchi in a pot of boiling water until they come to the surface (only a few minutes).
While gnocchi are cooking, add the butter and cream to the peas and let simmer on low to form a sauce (it will be thin). Add salt and pepper to taste.
Drain the gnocchi and add to the pan with the peas.
Add the parmiggiano and stir on low heat until flavors blend together.
Serve immediately.
#gnocchi #pancetta #peas #ricottagnocchi

Recipe from Cooking with Nonna

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

My family looks forward to leftover turkey for my shepherd's pie recipe next day. Sometimes I am lucky to have just enough of everything not having to add much. I usually buy store frozen pie crust because really, after having cooked an entire Thanksgiving meal the day before, I need an easy day in the kitchen.

Ingredients
2 store bought frozen pie shells (or make your own)
1tbsp butter and a splash of olive oil
1/2 medium chopped onion
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup corn, peas or whatever you have left over or frozen vegetables
4 cups cooked turkey cubed small
1 cup leftover gravy plus more for serving (or 1 can Turkey gravy)
4 cups leftover mashed potatoes or make up fresh if you don't have any
1/2 cup milk

Directions
Cook pie shells according to package. In the meantime, melt butter and add olive oil. Add onions and sauté till soft. Add chicken broth and vegetables. If vegetables are frozen, bring to a boil and simmer till almost cooked. If you are using leftover vegetables bring to just a boil. Add gravy stirring well.
Add this mixture to the cooked Turkey. Mix well. Divide and add to cooked pie shells.
If using leftover mashed potatoes warm them up. Place potatoes and milk in stand mixer and blend gently till smooth. Top the pies with the potatoes and place in hot oven at 400 degrees until the
potatoes start to brown. Serve with gravy.
#turkeypie #turkey #turkeyshepherdspie #turkeyleftover

Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

Cheese Scalloped Potatoes
Yet another favourite I've been making for years :)
This makes a lot! 10-12 servings. You can half the recipe.

Ingredients
9-10 cups sliced potatoes
6 tbsp butter
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups milk
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese or more if you like

Directions
Cooked potatoes in small amount of water until just glossy. Melt butter in saucepan. Blend in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk gradually, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thick and smooth. Remove from heat. Add cheese, stirring until melted. Spoon potatoes in cooking sprayed baking dish. Pour cheese sauce all over. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
#potatoes #cheese #cheesescallopedpotatoes
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