SMASHED Potatoes

So I have been talking about them long enough, here is a super awesome easy side if you need something easy and cheap. I call 'em SMASHED potatoes. When I told Hubby, he got so excited (I promise you he acts 6 or 12 half the time, depends on the day) because he got to smash something. This is a fun dish to do with little ones (or those who act like little ones at heart) or even after your have had a stressful day. What you do in your own home is your own business, I don't need to see and I won't judge, lol.

Alright here is what you are going to need:
Red Potatoes, about 1-2 per person. Maybe 3 if you are really hungry.
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Any bake potato fixings you like.
Set your oven to 350

So start off boiling your potatoes. You do not want them over done to where you can mash them, but you want them done enough to where you can slide a knife or fork in and out of it easily.

As always, drizzle your pan with a little olive oil

Easiness of moving the fork in and out of the potatoe

So once your potatoes tender, then place them on your oiled up pan. You don't want them cramped and right next to each other. It's ok to give them a little breathin' room, trust me they will appreciate it in the long run.

I Crush, I mean SMASH, you!

 Now here is the fun part! Take your potato masher and SMASH them once in each direction. You want them to crack open for you and succumb to your power of the SMASH. (Can you tell we had fun making this side?)

 Next drizzle a little olive oil over your newly smashed potatoes.

 Now add some salt, pepper, maybe some chopped green onion. Don't add cheese if you want to do that yet. After you have seasoned to your hearts desire, go ahead and place your Smashed beauties into the oven at 350 for about 10-12 minutes. You just want them to firm/crisp up a little, so don't go crazy.

So after they are done you can add your other fixings to them. Hubby hates sour cream so we usually don't buy it (I know he is weird). If you want to add some cheese and you want it a little melted. Take out your potatoes about 3 minutes early and put it on them and put back for the remaining time. Well as always Live, Laugh, Love!!!

Yummy Spaghetti Carbonara

Ok before you run for the hills because you think Spaghetti Carbonara is to difficult and you should only eat it when you go eat out. Trust me it's not. It's a very very very simple pasta dish. A true Carbonara is just pasta, bacon, eggs, and cheese. There are some variations here and there, you will see a slight variation or two in mine also. It's quick, simple, and Del-i-cious!

Before we get started, just to let you know a few things. As always I tell you to make this recipe your own. I had to improvise what I normally use. In the ingredient list I will tell you I use peas, but last night, where I thought we had peas, alas we apparently ate them all. So we substituted spinach with it. Last time I made this dish I had pork chops on the side, but Hubby requested chicken in the dish. Just another great example of making this dish your own!

Ok your grocery list:

• Spaghetti
• 2 Eggs
• Parmesan
• Bacon (sliced or cubed)
• Peas
• Olive Oil

See simple so far right? Ok start with cooking your spaghetti. Now while you have your water boiling and the pasta is cooking, start on the bacon.

Boiling the spaghetti

Before we go on, just to let you know I LOVE bacon. Can't get enough of it. And before you ask, yes I have tried chocolate covered bacon. It was ok, the place we got it from served us more a sliver of bacon drowned in chocolate. Maybe again, but I am not going to rush to be the first in line. But Bacon for breakfast, ahh it's heaven. lol.

So get your bacon, I used about 6-8 half strips. Took the stack and make sliced is and started cooking it in a large sauce pan. Yes a large sauce pan, use the biggest one you have. Your dish will start and end here, so get a biggin'.

Yummy, yummy, yummy bacon

For us after the bacon was close, then we added the chopped chicken. ( We made a whole chicken over the weekend, so e just used cooked chicken meat. If you are using raw, then add it in with the bacon in the beginning)

Bacon with the chicken

Then after the bacon is cooked, we added our spinach. For you add the peas. Just use your imagination and pretend that my chopped spinach is peas. As that sautes, put it on low heat and check on your pasta. If your pasta is done, drain it, and reserve about half a cup of pasta water. Then add the pasta to the pan. Let it soak up all that bacon flavor, yummmmm.

*Jedi Wave* This dish has peas in it

As that is mixed up, in a separate bowl, add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of Parmesan and mix thoroughly with 2 eggs. Make sure that there are no lumps. Once it is mixed up, add it to the pasta in the pan.

Get rid of all the clumps

Adding the two eggs

This should be your final result

Mix it all together! *Note: I accidentally made to much pasta* Now remember, keep it on low and you don't want to cook for too long. Just a few minutes, because you don't want the cheese and egg to become Ala scramble cheese eggs amongst the pasta. If you think it is stiff, then add a little pasta water, little by little, to loosen it up.

YUMMMYYYYY!

Voila! Multi Bene! You have yourself a simple quick pasta dish, all under thirty minutes! Now sprinkle some more parm, get a glass of vino, and let the special person/family/friend tell you how much of an amazing cook you are. Live, Laugh, and Love! Enjoy!

Quick Easy Green Bean Fries

So I have been on this healthy kick lately, trying to watch my portions and what not. Hubby and I already eat pretty healthy but I have been focusing on working out and eating portions. So I thought of this dish my mom makes every now and it's delicious! I call it green bean fries. It's quick and they come out crisp like a french fry. I make these for little ones I watch every now and then and for parties, and everyone eats them up!

So it is simple. Go to your store and get some fresh stem green beans. About one handful of green beans is enough for one serving for one person. After you wash them go ahead and snap the ends off. Just the tips. Why you may ask, I have no clue, I always did this with my mom and I have always done it since. After you have done this go set your oven to broil, if possible do low broil.

Next take some olive oil and drizzle and spread on a cookie sheet. Then spread out your green beans on this pan and lightly drizzle olive oil over the green beans. Also sprinkle with salt, pepper, and maybe some garlic powder if you wish (I always do!)

With your hands mix up the green beans with the oil and spices that you picked. Once it is all mixed up place it closest to the flame. NOTE: this dish will cook very quickly, so don't just put it in and walk away. This dish should not take more than 12 minutes to cook, and I have had it done in 8 minutes.

The green beans all mixed up

Your green beans should be done in 8-10 minutes. They should be kind of crisp to the bite, just be careful because you do not want it to burn. Let it cool for a couple of minutes and you have your self a great healthy side dish. If you want to do burgers but don't want to temp yourself with potatoes, this is a great option! Enjoy and Live, Laugh, Love!!

Gamberetti Pasta Luce, or a Light Shrimp Pasta

So since Hubby came back last weekend, I decided I wanted to make him a nice home cooked meal, something a little fancy but nothing to difficult. He has also had nothing but restaurant food for three weeks so I figured, something lighter would be better.

This is so light, refreshing, and pretty healthy if you discount the pasta. But again everything in moderation!

Gamberetti Pasta Luce
- about 1 lb. of Shrimp ( we didn't have a pound so I got some imitation crab to subsitute, trust me the shrimp is better, and the crab did a bad job trying to be a crab let alone a shrimp.)

- capellini pasta
-Grape tomatoes
-1 lemon
- garlic
-spinach
-Fresh herbs,such as basil, rosemary or thyme
- Red Pepper flakes

Ok first step, get your pasta started. Set it on low and then as that is going prep your seafood. Layout all your shrimp or mixture that you deviate from and sprinkle the Red Pepper, zest half a lemon over it (safe the other half for later), some salt and pepper. Now rule of thumb with red pepper, always respect the great power of the red pepper flakes. Don't get me wrong, I love spicy food! I am pretty sure my tongue and stomach are going to start retaliating when I hit Thirty, but hopefully my Sicilian lineage with save me! But back to the Pepper Flakes, even though I love spicy food, in this dish, too much can ruin the simple taste. This dish is all about simplicity and everything melds so well.

 

Next step is to to satuee some garlic for about thirty seconds, or as Hubby said "smells garlic-tastic!". As soon as it smells wonderful then add the quartered tomatoes into the pan. Once the tomatoes are in, zest the other half of the lemon over the tomatoes. 

Next slice up or shred some fresh spinach and saute for a couple of minutes.

When the tomatoes and the spinach a close to done, place all your shrimp, or your mixture if you are a rebel like me. I like to lay all my stuff out flat and cook for about 1 minute and half on one side and the flip over. Shrimp does not take long to make. Then just mix all around.

He is such a "great" helper

 I forgot about the fresh basil so I just tore some up and threw it in there. Worked out great!

Once your stuff is done, add your pasta to the pan. Note: Reserve about 1/2 of cup of pasta water. Once your pasta is in the pan add a little olive oil and mix in with the mixture. If it is a little stiff, add little by little the pasta water, you should not need that much.

Yummmm....

Add a little fresh grated cheese over the top and enjoy!

I have more recipes up my sleeves and a craft project I am working on, so until then, Live, Laugh, Love!!

I love the Italian Flag and Food

So if you haven't read or noticed that I am Italian. I love being Italian and I love everything about my heritage. I especially love cooking it! So sometimes I subconciously catch myself sticking the colors of the Italian Flag in my meal, don't judge, you would do if your heritage was awesome to! :P

Viva Italia!

I am technically from a small town in Sicily!

So last night I wanted to whip up something quick, easy, and healthy and it's all in my repertoire! So let's get started.

Ingredients needed:
- Chicken Breast, 2-3 (more if you are making it for a huge crowd)
- Mushrooms
- Fresh Spinach!
- Grape Tomatos
- Seasonings
- Garlic
- Olive Oil

That's it, half the stuff you probably already have. Hubby and I just love fresh ingredients in our meals so I tend to go shopping often for our fresh stuff. Ok first step, slice your chicken into bite size pieces and season with all that you like. I like to stick to my holy trinity: Garlic, Basil, and Oregano. (Tip: It's so much cheaper to grow your own herbs and dry them yourselves. We need to dry soon so I will make sure to show you how, so simple!)

My sliced chicken with garlic, and awaiting everything else. Can you tell I love Garlic?

 So let your chicken saute a little bit. As it is cooking in the olive oil over medium heat, start slicing your mushrooms. Then just chunk them in. Again bite size is optimal but if you get smaller mushrooms your can just halve them and saute them that way. Again, make it your own! It's all about making it your own in cooking!

I love mushrooms, love,love, love

 Then take a hand full and a half, that's right hand full and a half. Figure it out, there is not exact measurements in my home. I like to just slice it here and there because they can get long and stringy in the pan.  Once the mushrooms are soft, throw in the spinach and saute.

Spinach is so healthy and good for you!

 Then half your grape tomatoes and saute together. Then you are done! Add Olive Oil as needed and I do recommend adding just half a cap full of lemon juice to help with the bite of the spinach, but it still tastes great with out it to!

Fin!

So when I first made this I made some risotto to go with it, yummmm. But Today I just had this and some green peas. Yummy, delicious, and healthy for you! Don't be afraid to shred some Romano or Parmesan over it. One pan, one cutting board, and one knife. Simple and quick clean up!

I am working on some baking recipes so keep an eye out soon! Until then, Live, Laugh, Love!