CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI STROMBOLI

This is another no-brainer, "I've just walked in the door and need dinner on the table pronto" idea.

1 can thin crust pizza dough
1 head broccoli, trimmed into florets and steamed
1 cup diced chicken (you can use rotisserie or poach a large breast)
1 1/2 cupsshredded  Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
1 cup favorite tomato sauce for dipping

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Steam the broccoli and chop roughly. Dice or shred the chicken. Unroll the pizza dough and gently pat into a large rectangle. Spread to within an inch of the edge the broccoli, the chicken, and the cheese. Fold in the short sides, then roll with the seam on the bottom. Make 3 or 4 slashes so the steam can escape. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with a side of your favorite tomato sauce. Serve with a large salad for a quick meal.
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TASTE NOTES
This take on stomboli (a wonderful crust filled with Italian meats) made a quick and tasty supper alongside a big salad. It's not rocket science and there's nothing gourmet about it, but children and adults will enjoy getting their protein, veggies, and carbs in a neat package and, let's face it, cheese makes everything better.

TACODILLAS

If I could only eat one meal each day, I would choose to eat lunch. I would have to say that my decision is greatly influenced by the fact that the sandwich is often the star of lunch. Whether it's a PBandJ sandwich, a mozzarella and prosciutto panini, or a chorizo and cotija quesadilla, there's just something about being able to get your hands around your food that makes me smile. Next to pizza (which could be counted as an open-faced sandwich), quesadillas have been making a lot of guest appearances in the Food of Love kitchen this summer. I was pleased to learn that I'm not alone in my devotion to the Mexican cheese sandwich. Visiting one of my esteemed food-blogger friends the other day, I learned that the inimitable Foodycat is equally passionate about her cheese and breadstuffs.

Getting to the point (will she ever? you ask), I decided I had overlooked an obvious choice of filling and set about remedying this while indulging my obsession with this week's quesadilla fix. How had I not seen this before? Why not simply replace the messy taco, whose crumbs end up all over my dining room floor and whose sauce usually manages to migrate to whatever shirt I'm wearing, with an easy- to- hold, dainty triangle of taco filling and cheese and condiments on a non-crumbly flour tortilla? And that's just what I did.

There's no need for a recipe here. Just take your favorite taco meat filling, some lovely cheese (preferably Mexican), and your pepper of choice, place it on half a flour tortilla, fold over and gently press, then heat in a skillet that has been brushed with a small amount of oil until golden brown. Cut in half and enjoy with crema, guacamole, and salsa. Life is good!

BOURBON AND VANILLA BRINED PORK CHOPS

Seldom does a week go by without my seeing a recipe for some protein or another that is brined. I've not yet brought myself to brine my Thanksgiving turkey, but thought that I'd see what all the fuss is about by trying this recipe found in the August/September issue of Fine Cooking.

For the brine:
1 oz Kosher salt
1/4 cup bourbon
3 tbs dark brown sugar
2 tbs unsulfured molasses
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

4 bone-in pork chops (2-3 lbs total)

For the spice rub:
1 tbs sweet Hungarian paprika
1 tbs dark brown sugar
1 tbs Kosher salt
1 tbs freshly ground pepper
2 tsp dried ground sage
1 tsp ground cayenne
1 1/4 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Brine the pork chops:  in a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups warm water with the brine ingredients, stirring until dissolved. Add 1 cup ice to the bowl to quickly cool the brine. Place pork chops in a 9X9 inch baking dish and pour the brine over. They should be submerged. Cover with plastic wrap and put on a tray (in case of spillage). Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours. Remove the chops from the brine (discard brine) and pat them dry.

Make the spice rub: combine all of the spice rub ingredients in a small bowl or jar. The rub will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 months.

To prepare:
Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for indirect cooking over medium-high heat (400-450 degrees F). Sprinkle 2-3 tbs total of the spice rub generously over all sides of the chops. Grill the chops over direct heat, flipping once, until grill marks form on both sides--about 2 minutes on each side. Once the chops are marked, move them to the indirect heat, cover, and cook until their internal temperature registers 140-145 degrees F on an instant read thermometer, 4-6 minutes more per side. Transfer chops to a serving platter, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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TASTE NOTES
Keeping it real, I have to say that in my opinion brining is much ado about nothing. The chops were flavorful, but I found them salty. I will use the rest of the spice rub on unbrined chops and I'm sure they will be much more to our liking. As for brining making the pork juicier, I contend that if you don't overcook your pork, it will be moist and delicious (and not too salty).

ONE PAN OVEN-ROASTED CHICKEN FEAST

I remember my mother often made chicken in the oven surrounded by potatoes, onions, and whatever other vegetables were available--sometimes peppers, sometimes spinach. Looking through my copy of Skinny Italian by RHONJ Teresa Giudice, I happened upon her take on this Italian classic. I decided to try her version, but deviated a bit in the method of preparation. What follows is a recipe for 6 servings using a combination of Teresa's and my approach to this homey meal.

For the chicken:
Six 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup white wine (I used my leftover Mateus)
1/4 cup EVOO
2 tsp dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed hot pepper

Lightly pound each chicken breast until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Whisk the wine, oil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper in a 13X9 inch glass dish. Add the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 1/4 hours (no longer or you'll have mushy chicken).

While the chicken marinates, prepare the vegetables.

For the vegetables:
9 medium red potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
6 large carrots, cut into 1/2 inch rounds
1 tbs EVOO
4 ripe plum tomatoes, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
2 medium onions, sliced into 1/4 inch half moons
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 tbs chopped fresh parsley

Toss the potatoes, onions, and carrots with the oil in a large bowl. Place them in the roasting pan. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

To finish:
Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Scatter the tomatoes over the vegetables in the pan, add the salt and pepper, and toss together. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade and arrange them in the pan on top of the vegetables. Pour the marinade over all. Return to the oven and bake until the chicken is opaque when pierced in the center, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve hot.
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TASTE NOTES
You'll be looking at the clock while this dish finishes and the smells become impossible to ignore. Confirmed lovers of dark meat, DSO and I both loved this chicken. It was so moist and flavorful thanks, in part, to that marinade. Adding the onions in the beginning made more sense than adding them with the tomatoes, but what I'll be sure to do next time is uncover the vegetables after 30 minutes to allow them to carmelize a bit. Yes, there will be a next time. At 510 calories (49g carb, 16 g fat, 7 g fiber, 45 g protein), this is a healthy as well as delicious one pan meal.

NEW YORK STEAKS WITH MARTINI BUTTER

One of the reasons steaks taste so incredible at a fine restaurant is that they are basted, liberally, with butter. When I saw this recipe in the August/September issue of Fine Dining, I knew I'd have to try this flavored butter the next time I craved beef. The original recipe serves 4, so I have plenty of martini butter left over. I've already used it on corn on the cob and I have a feeling it will be equally delicious on steamed broccoli and the pork chops I have in the freezer.

4 (9-10 oz) beef strip steaks, about 1 inch thick, trimmed of excess fat (I used bone in, though the recipe called for boneless)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup drained, pimento-stuffed Spanish olives (martini olives)
2 tbs vodka or gin
1 tbs dry vermouth
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 oz (4 tbs) unsalted butter, softened

Generously season both sides of the steaks with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. (I use a well-seasoned cast iron skillet and cook outdoors on the burner of my gas grill--no mess in the kitchen.) Add the steaks and cook 4 minutes on each side for medium rare. Let the steaks rest for 5-10 minutes while you prepare the martini butter.

Combine the olives, vodka, vermouth, Dijon, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse, scraping down the sides as necessary.

Divide the martini butter among the steaks, letting it melt a bit.
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TASTE NOTES
I love a dry vodka martini, but I loved these steaks with martini butter even more. This is not a healthy choice for dinner, but it isn't something we'll be eating often (sadly). The compound butter turned a simple steak into something absolutely mouth-watering. It was so rich that only an ear of corn and a salad was needed to make it a meal. I guess I was feeling nostalgic eating an old favorite like this compound butter because I picked up a bottle of Mateus to accompany our meal. If you don't care for steak, try the martini butter with your protein of choice; you won't be sorry.

PANCAKE MUFFINS WITH BERRY SYRUP

Today I qualified for Social Security. When I look in the mirror I don't see a 62 year old who's been retired for 7 years--I am blind as a bat and stand across the room from the mirror. I know it's true, though, because I have the time now to write this blog, to devote hours to my passion for quilting and beading, and because I could vacation for 2 weeks on what I spend for moisturizer in a year.


I recently spent 3 days at a Hudson River Valley Fiber Art Workshop at the Greenville Arms in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. Along with 8 other bead enthusiasts, I spent from 10-12 hours a day happily beading and laughing and, in general, having the kind of good time women have when they share a passion for art and living. The Greenville Arms is a lovely Bed and Breakfast and one of the specials on my last day was these pancake muffins with strawberry syrup. I did not try them, though they got rave reviews from all who did. I had already seen them on Chef Mark LaPolla's blog and decided to make them when I returned home. Since strawberries are no longer in season, I used some gorgeous fresh blueberries to make my syrup. I also halved the recipe, but got 12 muffins plus a small "cake" that resembled a Dutch baby.


Here is Mark's recipe with some notes from my experience:

Makes 24 muffins

Muffins:
Nonstick cooking spray

2-1/3 cups of all-purpose flour

1 cup of pastry flour

2 teaspoons of baking soda

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 teaspoon of kosher salt

6 large eggs, at room temperature, yolks and whites separated in two bowls.

3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

6 Tablespoons granulated sugar

2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3-1/3 cups buttermilk, at room temperature (in a pinch, milk with a tsp of white vinegar will do)


Prepare the Muffins:

Pre-heat the oven to 400F. Generously spray two 12-cup muffin pans with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, pastry flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until firm, but not dry. About 2 - 3 minutes. Set aside.

In another large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the mixer on medium-high until thick, ribbony, and lemon-yellow. About 6 minutes. Add the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla; mix on medium-low until combined. Add one-third of the flour mixture and mix on low speed. Add one-third of the buttermilk and mix to combine. Alternate adding the remaining flour mixture and buttermilk, ending with the buttermilk and mixing until just combined.

With a large rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped egg whites into the batter, leaving some streaks.

Fill the muffin pans, about 1/2 cup of the batter into each muffin cup. Bake, rotating the pans after 10 minutes, until browned on top and puffed, and a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out dry, about 20 to 25 minutes total.

Prepare the Strawberries in Syrup

1 cup pure maple syrup

1 cup quartered, hulled ripe strawberries (fresh blueberries were a wonderful substitution)


In a small saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil over medium-high heat. Put the strawberries in the syrup and turn off the heat. Set aside in a warm spot.

To Serve:

Pop the muffins out of the cups and arrange 2 to a plate, spoon syrup and strawberries of the muffins, and then sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.



Have the sous chef take care of the dishes!
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TASTE NOTES
I didn't have pastry flour, but found a substitution using cornstarch. I was expecting these to behave and taste like popovers, but to my great surprise, they were a lovely cross between a cake-like muffin and a buttermilk pancake. Two was more than enough for a satisfying breakfast and, according to Chef Mark, they are even better after being frozen, defrosted, and reheated. A bit fussy to make, but a real treat for Sunday brunch.

FIVE-SPICE CHICKEN WITH HOISIN-MAPLE GLAZE

I've written about indirect grilling before and when I saw this recipe in the August/September 2011 issue of Fine Cooking, I knew I had to try it. We eat a lot of chicken and I'm always on the lookout for different ways to prepare it. Summer is a great time to grill and both DSO and I love a good glaze, particularly one with an Oriental flair. Using this method of grilling prevents flare ups and ensures that the chicken will be cooked inside without being incinerated on the outside.

Since we prefer dark meat, I used 3 pounds of chicken quarters. There were leftovers for lunch the next day.

2 tbs dark brown sugar
1 tbs sweet Hungarian paprika
1 tbs minced fresh garlic (about 3 cloves)
2 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
1 tsp dry mustard
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 lb bone-in chicken pieces
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tbs pure maple syrup
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs honey
2 tsp Asian sesame oil
2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1/4 cup peanut oil

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, garlic, 2 tsp of the 5 spice powder, mustard, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tsp pepper. Put the chicken pieces in a 9X13 inch baking dish and rub the spice mix all over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and no more than 6 hours.

Prepare a grill for indirect cooking over medium heat (this means heating all 3 sections of the grill, then turning off the back 2--those are the indirect cooking sections). In a small bowl, combine the hoisin, maple syrup, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and the remaining 1/2 tsp of 5 spice powder.

Lightly brush the chicken pieces with the peanut oil and arrange skin side down over direct heat. Cover and cook until the grill marks form, 3-5 minutes. Flip the chicken and repeat so there are grill marks on both sides.Brush the chicken with the glaze, flip over and  move the chicken to the indirect heat, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Turn chicken over, brush with the glaze and cook for 20 minutes more or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees for breast pieces, 170 degrees for dark meat. Brush more glaze on the chicken, move to direct heat for 30-60 seconds, flip chicken and repeat. Serve immediately.

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TASTE NOTES
Using both a spice rub and a glaze really amped up the flavor profile of this dish. The chicken was succulent inside and incredibly flavorful throughout as well. In the future I think I'll make legs and thighs on the bone rather than the quarters just because they're easier to pick up and eat. There's no comparison between boneless chicken and chicken on the bone. The latter is always more flavorful and juicy. We enjoyed this chicken with some potato salad and fresh corn on the cob. The recipe is definitely a keeper.

SPINACH ARTICHOKE MACARONI AND CHEESE

When the lovely Kim from Stirring the Pot posted this recipe, I knew it would be cutting the queue so as to appear on our dinner table as soon as possible. I confess I don't own any of Rachel Ray's cookbooks nor have I watched her TV show very often. Seeing this dish on Kim's blog, it occurred to me that I may not have given her a fair chance before banishing her from The Food of Love kitchen. I prepared the dish just as Kim adapted it below:

Spinach and Artichoke Mac 'n' Cheese

Adapted from Rachel Ray's Look + Cook

Serves 6-8

Salt

1 pound cellantani

2 tablespoons EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 large Vidalia onion, finely chopped

 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 cups 2%milk

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 (14-ounce) drained artichoke hearts, chopped

1 (10-ounce) box frozen chopped spinach, defrosted & wrung dry in a kitchen towel

Black pepper

1-1/2 cups shredded Italian Fontina cheese, plus additional for sprinkling on top

1-1/2 cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus additional for sprinkling on top

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta, salt the water, and cook the pasta to al dente.  While the pasta water comes to a boil, place a medium pot over medium-low heat with EVOO and the butter.  Add the onions and garlic to the pan and cook until very soft, about 10 minutes.  Heat the broiler and position the rack in the middle of the oven.  Turn up the heat under the pot to medium-high and sprinkle the flour into the pot.  Cook for about 1 minute, then whisk in the wine and cook for another minute to burn off the alcohol.  Whisk the milk into the pan and bring up to a bubble.  Add the nutmeg, artichokes, spinach, and salt and pepper to the sauce and simmer until thickened and the vegetables are warmed through, 2-3 minutes more.  Add 1 cup of each of the cheeses to the sauce and stir until melted.  Toss the prepared sauce with the cooked pasta and transfer to a casserole dish.  Sprinkle the remaining Fontina and Parmigiano over the top and brown under the broiler for about 3 minutes.
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TASTE NOTES
I knew from the description of this dish and the gorgeous photo Kim took that this was going to be a delicious dinner and I was right. DSO and I both love spinach artichoke dip; we are also big fans of mac n' cheese. So, what's not to love when you combine the two? The creaminess of the sauce, broken up by chunks of artichoke and spinach, was as big a hit in the middle of summer as I know it will be when the leaves are falling. Leftovers--and there are plenty of those--make a great side dish with almost any protein. Make this soon; you won't regret it. And Rachel, my apologies.

VOLUPTUOUS VEAL PICCATA FOR COOK THE BOOKS

While I almost always read the books suggested by the foodie book club,Cook the Books, I don't always find the time to participate in cooking something based on the selection. I was determined to get back in the swing of things despite deadlines for finishing my latest quilt, a family wedding, and life, in general.


Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen raises an issue dear to a foodie's heart:  do certain foods really have the power to control our emotions?  Claire Waverly, a successful caterer, prepares dishes with the mystical plants that grow in her garden. If it sounds like a familiar theme (e.g. Like Water for Chocolate), I would venture to say that is because those of us who take our food seriously believe that food can and does alter moods and emotions. How sisters Claire and Sydney resolve their long-standing issues and how Claire finally uses her special gifts to transform her own life are questions I'll leave you to discover by reading this charming southern novel.


While no mention was made in Garden Spells of the caper, in biblical times the caper berry was purported to have aphrodisiac properties. In fact, the Hebrew word for caper berry abiyyonah (אֲבִיּוֹנָה)  is closely linked to the Hebrew root אבה, meaning "desire". That said, I decided my offering for this Cook the Books' event would be "Voluptuous Veal Piccata." I based my recipe on one I found in Skinny Italian, one of Teresa Giudice's (Real Housewife of New Jersey) cookbooks. While the veal was relatively healthy, I served it with creamy polenta (yes, it has heavy cream in it) and some lovely roasted asparagus. 


Serves 2-4
1 lb veal scaloppine, cut into 8 pieces
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tbs EVOO
1 cup dry white wine
2 tbs unsalted butter
2 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbs drained capers
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbs chopped fresh parsley


Pound the veal between 2 sheets of waxed paper until about 1/4 inch thick. Mix the flour, salt, and pepper and place in a shallow dish. Dredge the cutlets in the mixture, shaking to remove excess flour.


Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add the veal to the pan, in batches without crowding, to brown--1 minute per side. Remove the veal from the pan and set aside.


Add the wine to the skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the butter, lemon juice, capers, garlic, and parsley. Return the veal to the pan and cook, turning the veal to coat with the sauce, until the veal is tender, about 1 minute more. Serve hot.
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TASTE NOTES
This is a very simple recipe, but it is delicious. Served over creamy polenta, it was, indeed, voluptuous. Was my SO more amorous after finishing it? Some things are better left to the imagination. Be sure to head over to Cook the Books to see what other members are cooking up for Garden Spells.

PASTA SALAD WITH SUN DRIED TOMATO DRESSING

It was time for something new! I love my pasta pesto salad and my antipasto salad, but let's face it, sometimes you just want to move out of your comfort zone and treat your taste buds to something different. For my cousin's annual Father's Day picnic, I decided to try out one of Ina's pasta salads, this one in her Family Style cookbook.  The recipe that follows is a modified version of her recipe. I've added some roasted red peppers which I'd just made and increased the amount of pasta. To adjust for that, I doubled the dressing.




Serves 6 - 8
3/4 lb fusilli
Kosher salt
olive oil
1 pint grape tomatoes, quartered
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and diced
1 lb fresh mozzarella, medium diced
10 sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

For the dressing:
10 sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained
4-5 slices of roasted red peppers
4 tbs red wine vinegar
12 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 large garlic clove, diced
2 tsp capers, drained
2 tsp Kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 cup freshly grated pecorino-Romano cheese
1 cup packed basil leaves, julienned

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions. Add salt to the water after it comes to the boil. Drain well and allow to cool. Place the pasta in a large bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and chopped sun dried tomatoes.

For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt, and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients, sprinkle with the cheese and basil, and toss well.

This salad gets better as it sits, so make it a few hours ahead, if you like.
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TASTE NOTES
This was a delicious dish and one that I will make again and again. The dressing would be equally delicious on a green salad. I particularly enjoyed the saltiness of the capers and olives juxtaposed with the sweetness of the sun dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers. The corkscrew shape of the pasta was perfect to catch all that wonderful dressing.

GRILLED PIEROGIES AND KIELBASA

I probably haven't eaten regular kielbasa in years; it's just too filled with fat to be a regular on our menu. Luckily, there are several more healthful versions of this sausage--turkey kielbasa or a light version of pork kielbasa. I prefer Hillshire Farms turkey kielbasa and was pleased to find a recipe in the July/August issue of Food Network Magazine that I could make more figure friendly. My modified version follows.

Serves 4
1 lb Hillshire Farms turkey kielbasa
2 tbs whole-grain mustard
2 tbs apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, sliced
1 box mini pierogies, do not thaw
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley

Preheat a grill to medium. Grill the kielbasa, turning until marked, 8 - 10 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep in a 200 degree oven.

Meanwhile, whisk the mustard and cider vinegar in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in 2 tbs olive oil until smooth.

Toss the onions and pierogies with the remaining 2 tbs oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, until the pierogies thaw and the onion begins to turn golden, 5-10 minutes. I used a grill pan to prevent food from falling through the grills.

Slice the kielbasa into pieces and add to the bowl with the mustard dressing. Add the pierogies and parsley and toss gently. Divide among 4 bowls.
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TASTE NOTES
What an easy dinner this made! The dressing is what pulls this meal together and makes it special. It also saves calories since I generally eat my pierogies with sour cream and/or applesauce. Another keeper, particularly during warm weather.

CAVATAPPI WITH TOMATO SOFFRITO

A soffrito is a combination of onions, carrots, and celery, mixed with herbs and sauteed in olive oil. In addition to serving as the base for a meatless tomato sauce, it can also be a base for other Italian dishes. I've been using a soffrito as a base for my quick sauce since I bought my copy of Marcella Hazan's Classic Italian Cookbook over 25 years ago. As my regular readers know, I'm in the throes of infatuation with another Italian cookbook, New Jersey housewife Teresa Giudice's Fabulicious. When I saw Teresa's recipe for tomato soffrito, I decided to give it a try to see how it stacked up against my tried and true recipe. While I did tinker a bit with her recipe--I added a carton of crushed tomatoes to my 8 plum tomatoes--I loved her combination of herbs and was pleased to put my thriving herb garden to use. I would normally use just basil and parsley, but Teresa's addition of rosemary and sage to those two stand-by's was wonderful and I won't leave them out in the future. While the sauce cooks in just 15 minutes, I have always preferred a more robust sauce and simmered mine over a very low heat for about an hour and a half.

Makes enough to sauce 1 lb pasta; serves 4-6
3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery rib with leaves, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 (26 oz) carton Pomi crushed tomatoes
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 tbs chopped fresh basil
1 tsp chopped fresh sage
1/2 cup water
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 lb pasta
1/4 cup freshly chopped Italian parsley
freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, rosemary sprigs, chopped basil, sage, and water. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked into a thick, chunky sauce. Season with salt and pepper and discard the rosemary sprigs. (as I mentioned, I don't like "raw" sauces; I simmer my sauce for 1-2 hours over very low heat).

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add salt and pasta and cook according to pasta directions for al dente. Drain well.

Return the pasta to the pot and add the sauce and parsley and mix well. Serve hot and pass the cheese.
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TASTE NOTES
We loved, loved, loved this simple, meatless sauce. Clearly there are many similarities between Teresa's family's style of cooking and my family's. Since Naples and Salerno are relatively close to one another, I guess that isn't surprising. What is surprising is how much I am enjoying cooking my way through her two books. Too many celebrity cookbooks are vanity affairs and it becomes obvious that the "author" has no cooking chops. This is not the case with Teresa and I have to admit I am becoming a bit of a "groupie." Stay tuned because there are many more wonderful recipes I've tried and will be sharing.

CORNFLAKE-CRUSTED BANANA-STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

While I eat breakfast every day, it's not my favorite meal of the day. Winter mornings I like a bowl of Irish oatmeal with blueberries. The rest of the year I switch between cold cereal, an egg, or the occasional toast with Nutella. Browsing through this month's Self magazine with its spread of spas around the country and some of the food featured at these spas, I came upon the Red Mountain Resort's healthful version of a classic breakfast dish. Though this is a far heartier breakfast than I usually eat, I decided to give it a try with just a few small changes.

Serves 2
1 cup Special K cinnamon pecan cereal, lightly crushed
1 tbs toasted sliced almonds
1/2 cup egg whites, or egg substitute
1/2 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 slices cinnamon raisin bread
1 mashed banana
optional:  blueberries or strawberries

Spray a griddle or nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium high heat. Combine cereal crumb and almonds in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl combine egg whites, vanilla, and cinnamon. Dip 1 slice bread in in egg batter, then dip in cereal mixture, gently patting to help crumbs adhere. Repeat with remaining bread slices. Spread 1/2 mashed banana on each of 2 slices, top with remaining 2 slices to make 2 sandwiches. Cook sandwiches about 4 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Cut in half and serve with fresh berries or powdered sugar.

N.I.: 321 calories per sandwich, 5g fat, 54g carb, 4g fiber, 14g protein
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TASTE NOTES
This sweet, crunchy treat could make a breakfast lover of me for sure! If you love cinnamon, this is a perfect dish for you. The original recipe called for cornflake crumbs, but I love the Special K with cinnamon and pecans. Topped with blueberries this breakfast was so satisfying. It's a perfect brunch dish (or half a sandwich would be a great dessert or snack). While I think it's too much breakfast to have on a regular basis, I will definitely make it again for a Sunday special. Definitely yummy.

LOW-CAL FETTUCCINE ALFREDO

Do you know how it is when you get something in your head and can't get it out? It can be a song (I haven't stopped singing/humming Born This Way since the CD came out) or a craving for a food. When Kim of Stirring the Pot mentioned garlic-crumbed broccoli the other day, I kept thinking of dishes that might benefit from that tasty combination. Then I remembered a recipe I'd clipped from Food Network Magazine for a lighter version of fettuccine alfredo and my search ended.

While I followed the recipe exactly, the directions got my English teacher up. I rewrote them based on what I learned from making the sauce and will make the dish again my way. If you wish to top your pasta with the bread-crumbed broccoli, I've added that recipe at the end. It would make a great side dish on its own.

Serves 2 - 4
1 tbs unsalted butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp grated lemon zest
2 tsp all-purpose flour
1 cup 2% milk
Kosher salt
2 tbs Neufchatel cheese (or low fat cream cheese)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbs chopped parsley
12 oz fresh fettuccine
freshly ground pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Make the sauce:  melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook about 1 minute. Add in the flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, about 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, 3/4 tsp salt, and cook, whisking constantly, until just thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the Neufchatel and Parmesan cheese and whisk until just melted, about 1 minute. Set aside while you add the fresh pasta. Cook the pasta 2-3 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot.

Set the sauce over low heat while you add the reserved water, a little at a time, stirring constantly. When it reaches the desired consistency, add to the drained pasta, sprinkle with parsley, and toss gently to combine. Serve at once.

N.I.:  490 cal, 15g fat, 48mg cholesterol, 734mg sodium, 66g carb, 3g protein, 20g protein

Garlic-crumbed Broccoli
1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
2 tbs olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced

Steam the broccoli. While broccoli steams, heat oil in a non-stick skillet until hot (ripple stage). Add the garlic and cook 2-3 minutes, making sure not to brown it. Add the bread crumbs and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes more, until just browned.
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TASTE NOTES
This is not the first lightened fettuccine alfredo I've posted on The Food of Love, but this sauce is, by far, the most abundant and the creamiest. The recipe as written called for adding the pasta water AFTER you put the sauce on the pasta, but this made it extremely difficult to thin the sauce without demolishing the pasta. I will caution that you must eat this as soon as it's made as the sauce tends to "seize" or harden up rather quickly. That said, for a lightened version the sauce is unctuous and plentiful. I think the addition of the garlic-crumbed broccoli made this special.