THE GNOCCHI LUNCH WENT WELL

The lunch went well. Something for everyone. Gnocchi was a hit-very little remained. Chicken- cooked in the oven as the meat dish as even the grandkids love it. Lots of vegetables-broccoli, mushrooms, potatoes, roasted red peppers, and a big dish of salad. Birthday cake for the birthday girl!! Even heart jelly beans in pink, red and white. To top off the lunch- a platter of fruit- watermelon slices, pineapple, grapes, strawberries and cantaloupe. Now back to my daily cooking. It did give me something to do at 3am when I was up!!

GNOCCHI FOR A DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY

With my daughter's birthday next week, I thought a quick Sunday lunch was a good thing to do. The kids are going away for her real birthday so an early celebration would do.So I boiled 1/2 bag of potatoes to make a few gnocchi for it. Well I needed to knead and knead the dough plus add lots of flour. I called my helper or sous chef as she likes to be called to help with the shaping and finishing of them. Barb said we will be here until midnight but actually once we got rolling, it was 9 p.m. Barb also commented- there is enough for several Sunday lunches. 

Of course we needed to have a few with a quick dinner during the week.
Gnocchi are a great side dish or can be the main event. For the Sunday meal, there will be a variety of chicken. Everyone likes chicken! Lots of veggies. Haven't decided yet on the final menu! A cake! I'll probably let you know how the event went.
If you need the recipe for gnocchi, just hunt in my list of posts and you will find it.
#gnocchi#redsauce#potatoes#potoatognocchi#birthdaycelebration#kneadthedough#Sundaydinner#souschef

MAPLE SYRUP-A TRULY CANADIAN FOOD

It is going to be a good year for Maple Syrup in Canada. The warm days of Spring and cooler nights will make a sweeter product. It will be a shorter season. Barb loves maple syrup. She tries to encourage me to use it in foods. She loves it on pancakes or french toast. There are many recipes that use it. It is really is a Canadian food that is good for your health. Don't know how I can use it in Italian cooking but thought I would pitch this wonderful Canadian food.
#maplesyrup#sweettreat#Canadianfood#springformaplesyrup#useonpancakes#maplesyrupfudge

PENNE CASSEROLE WITH LOTS OF MOZZARELLA CHEESE

A good way to use some leftover sauce is to make the oven penne casserole. With cooked penne, grated mozzarella cheese and the tomato sauce well mixed in a casserole dish, it can be cooked in under 30 minutes. Giving time for the cheese to melt into the mix and being hot enough, it is ready. Of course sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. Barb likes this dish.

#pennecasserole#mozzarella#usingleftoversaucecreatively#tomatosauce#casseroledish#parmeseancheese

ITALIAN VEGGIE MIX-VEDURE ENSIEME

A good and easy way to enjoy some vegetables is my "veggie mix". It is a fun dish to use eggplant if you are not a fan of eggplant.

INGREDIENTS

Eggplant.
Zucchini.
Red pepper.
Potato.
Frozen tomatoes or canned tomatoes.
Olive Oil. Garlic. Salt. Pepper

DIRECTIONS

Chop and dice all the vegetables to have them ready.
Fry some diced garlic-clove or two in olive oil in the pan.
Put the chopped veggies in the pan to cook.
Add the tomatoes. I like to use my frozen ones from the summer-peeling off the skin when warm. But you can use canned if you want.
The juice from the tomatoes gives it the moisture needed.
Salt and pepper to taste.


The dish is ready when you have your veggies cooked as much as you like. The dish for me is mushy so the veggies are well cooked.
It can be eaten as a lunch or side dish. With some crunchy bread of choice it is a tasty non-meat dish.
An added note-other veggies of choice can be added like carrots, onions, green peppers etc. It is a good way to use any vegetables that are starting to soften or have bruised spots. Of course if you find you have added too much oil, just drain before eating.
#italianveggiemix#granpalovestocook#vedureensieme#potatoinaveggiemix#waystouseeggplant#waystousesucchini#redpepperinaveggiemix

GRANPA ENJOYS A SUPERBOWL PARTY PACK-2014

Superbowl Sunday is a day for the guys to get together and yell at the TV. It is really an American day of football delights but many Canadians enjoy it too. So Barb decided since we were not going to anyone's house as we have in the past to have our own little party at home. Ordering one of those party packs-pizza, garlic bread, chicken wings and dip- from a Pizza place would help with the mood. Of course, a nice platter of fruit to round off the meal! Nice to have a day off cooking! Sunday as you may know if you read my blog regularly is usually my day off!
#granpalovestocook#superbowlpartypack#wingsandpizza#garlicbread#wingsanddip

GRANPA-IL NONNO COOKS FOR JANUARY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

With my wife Barb's and son-in-law Domi's birthdays January 22, my daughter Natasha always has a family get together to celebrate. So last Saturday January 18, this cook offered to make most of the meal to help with the preparations. Keeping the mess at my house!! Making chicken legs and breasts sprinked with rosemary-rosmarino, hot and sweet sausage as well as a hearty ground beef red sauce-sugo to fulfill the protein requirements the aroma in the kitchen was great for the senses.

The sauce was added to the tortellini with cheese-formaggio, as the pasta dish for all. Everyone in our family group love vegetables so I made broccoli, mushrooms-funghi, rapini, peas-piselli and roasted potatoes-patate.

Natasha made a large bowl of Greek salad along with boccincini and olives on the table as appetizers. Lots of healthy eating.

Of course no birthday celebration would be complete without a cake or two accompanied by a large platter of fruit!

Happy Birthday Barb and Domi! Buon Compleanno! Now to have another event so this cook can show off his culinary skills!