With fresh basil growing like crazy in our garden this summer, it’s hard to find ways to use it all. But here’s a really tasty (and easy) way to make a light pasta “sauce” (more of a dressing, really) using fresh basil leaves and a few other ingredients. Best of all, you don’t have to cook anything except the pasta. Ingredients: 2 cups of tightly packed fresh basil … [Read more...]
Green Chile Frittata Recipe
We’ve got lots of green chiles growing in our garden this summer and here is a really tasty way we used some of them - by making a cheesy, tangy green chile frittata. Ingredients: 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 white onion, finely diced 12 roasted green chiles, such as Anaheim or Hatch chiles, peeled, seeded & diced. 8 extra large eggs, well beaten 1 Tbsp. ground … [Read more...]
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
The Instant Pot pressure cooker/slow cooker is quite the rage these days, and rightly so. It’s an invaluable tool for the kitchen. I use mine at least a couple times per week. And, although I prefer smoking a pork butt or shoulder outdoors to make pulled pork for sandwiches, I don’t always have 10-14 hours to do so. Here is a recipe for making pulled pork in the Instant Pot … [Read more...]
How to Make a Fab Fresh Pasta Dough
Through the years, I’ve tried dozens if different recipes for making fresh pasta dough. And after many, many trials and experiments, I’ve found this one to be the most dependable, resulting in homemade pasta that is worthy of the best restaurants Italy has to offer. The key to success with this recipe and technique is to let the pasta dough rest, allowing the gluten to … [Read more...]
Halibut with Cherry Tomatoes & Basil
This time of year, we have an abundance of fresh tomatoes and basil in our garden and so I was recently perusing recipes online to find a new way to use them. I came across this delicious halibut recipe that is perfect for a summertime meal. It originally appeared in the Once Upon a Chef cookbook by Jennifer Segal and was reprinted on The Splendid Table website. Try it; it’s … [Read more...]
Light Pasta with Shrimp and Arugula Recipe
At the original Michelangelo restaurant in SLC, they used to serve a pasta dish that was similar to this one and that I tried to recreate at home. This is a really nice, light pasta dish that’s perfect for a spring meal. And it’s a great way to use up some of the arugula from the garden. Ingredients: 1 lb. dried penne pasta (or your favorite pasta - … [Read more...]
Arugula & Strawberry Salad
I planted more arugula in our garden this year than we can keep up with. So I’ve been trying to find new ways to use the peppery and nutty-tasting leafy green. Since we’ve also got lots of ripe strawberries growing right now, I decided to combine the two with a slightly sweet, mild dressing. Here is the recipe for this easy Arugula & Strawberry Salad. Ingredients: 2 … [Read more...]
Cajun-Creole Crawfish Pasta Recipe
Years ago, a college friend suggested we eat at K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, chef Paul Prudhomme's original restaurant. Even though, I thought this restaurant was a tourist trap, my meal at K-Paul's was one of the most memorable I've ever had. In particular, I recall a rich, decadent pasta dish -- similar to fettuccine Alfredo, but made with crawfish. It was … [Read more...]
Rich and Hearty Chile Colorado Recipe
Chile Colorado is a rich, hearty dish that can be made with beef, pork or even chicken. I like to make mine with lean, mild-tasting pork that soaks up the flavor of dried red chiles that have been reconstituted. Although this recipe requires about 2 hours of cooking time, most of that is unattended, while the Chile Colorado is simmering away on the stove. Ingredients: … [Read more...]
BLT Bucatini Recipe
BLT Bucatini is one of my very favorite pasta dishes - one that makes use of pancetta (bacon), arugula (lettuce) and cherry tomatoes: BLT. I like to make this using thick bucatini pasta, but feel free to use any type of pasta you like. Ingredients: 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 1/2 lb. cherry tomatoes, roasted (see instructions below) 2 garlic … [Read more...]