chicken parm grilled cheese

 I used a whole loaf of Schar white bread and made these in the oven on a sheet pan for ease. It was an easy dinner with no complaints thanks to What's Gaby Cooking!

Ingredients

• GF Schar white bread
• red sauce (I used Rao's)
• 10 slices sliced mozzarella
• 1 lb deli sliced chicken
• salt and pepper
• olive oil and/or butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. Generously butter or oil one side of each slice of bread.
3. Place half the bread, butter side down, on a sheet pan.
4. Spread red sauce on each slice of bread
5. Layer slices of cheese on each piece of bread, followed by sliced turkey and an additional slice of cheese. Add top slice of bread, buttered side up.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the bread is toasted. Flip sandwiches and bake another 3-5 minutes until both sides are toasty
7. Remove from the oven and carefully and serve.

cheesy pizza tortellini

 We didn't make this Cooking in the Midwest recipe on the griddle, but boiled the tortellini as normal assembled in a large skillet. Everyone was happy with this one!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper
• 1 tsp each of onion powder and Italian seasoning
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 1 24 oz jar of marinara sauce
• 19 oz frozen tortellini (Taste Republic)
• Pepperoni
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Brown 1 lb of ground beef on a griddle over medium heat and season with salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
2. Add some pepperoni (I used half of a pack - 2.5 oz). Let that cook until pepperoni are getting browned. Drain any grease from the ground beef or pepperoni. Add the minced garlic and stir everything together well.
3. Lower the heat on the griddle to low and add one bag of frozen tortellini to the griddle and pour some water over the tortellini. Cover with a griddle dome and let cook for about 5 minutes or until the tortellini is tender.
4. Stir together the tortellini and ground beef. Top with one jar of marinara sauce and stir well. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover with a griddle dome for just a minute to melt the cheese. Top with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

tortellini with sausage and marscapone

 A simple yet delicious recipe from What's Gaby Cooking that the entire family enjoyed-- no leftovers! The only requested change is that I dice the shallot versus slicing. 

Ingredients

• 12 ounces spicy Italian sausage, crumbled
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 cups of your favorite red sauce (I used Rao's)
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 9-ounce package refrigerated tortellini (I used Taste Republic GF)
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• Freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste

Instructions

1. Take the sausage meat out of the casings and crumble it into a skillet. Cook it over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until it's browned. Drain most of the fat and leave the sausage in the pan.
2. Add the garlic, shallot, and red pepper flakes to the same pan and saute for 60 seconds. Add the red sauce, cream, and mascarpone. Cook for 5-7 minutes until saucy.
3. Cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Save ¼ cup of the pasta water and add it to the sauce along with the drained pasta. Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve with fresh parmesan sprinkled over top.

Chicken alfredo tortellini

 An Instagram find from Cooking in the Midwest, this was an easy weeknight dinner that made everyone happy. Cooking in the Midwest

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
• 1 tsp onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 19 oz bag frozen tortellini (We used two packs of Taste Republic GF)
• 15 oz jar Alfredo sauce (We used Rao's)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 6 pieces of bacon
• dried parsley

Instructions

1. Cook bacon in a skillet or in the oven and chop into small pieces and set aside. Start a pot of water boiling on the stove.
2. Cut chicken into small cubes. In a large skillet melt butter over medium high heat. Add chicken to the skillet and season with salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
3. Once water is boiling cook tortellini according to the directions on the package.
4. Cook until chicken is cooked through and is golden brown. Stir in 1 tbsp of minced garlic and remove the skillet from the heat.
5. Add drained/cooked tortellini to the skillet and a 15 oz jar of Alfredo sauce. Stir well. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and the chopped bacon.
6. Let sit covered until the cheese melts or pop in the oven under broil for just a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.
7. Top with some dried parsley and enjoy!

chicken alfredo tortellini soup

This rich, filling soup from The Slow Roasted Italian was a hit with the entire family. I used a full bag of spinach and stirred it in before removing from heat, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly and we'll definitely make it again. We used Taste Republic gluten free cheese tortellini, which were perfect, as always. 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 ounces baby carrots, halved lengthwise and sliced into half-moons
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size cubes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 9 ounces cheese tortellini, frozen or fresh
• 2 cups freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
• 6 ounces fresh baby spinach

Instructions

1. Warm a large pot over medium-high heat. Once you can feel the heat when you hold your hand 6 inches above the pot, add the butter and let it melt. Add the onion and carrots. Cook the vegetables until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
2. Then add the chicken, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes, just to get a little color on the chicken, stirring occasionally. Don’t worry about the chicken being cooked through, because we are going to continue cooking it.
3. Sprinkle the flour over the chicken and veggies. Stir to coat everything and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes to cook out the floury taste. Stir in the chicken stock, half-and-half and red pepper flakes. Continue cooking until the soup thickens, 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Add the tortellini to the pot and cook until al dente (has a bite to it), 5 to 7 minutes (frozen takes longer). Stir in spinach. Remove the pot from the heat. Sprinkle a handful of cheese over the soup and stir. Once it has melted into the soup, add another handful. Slowly melting the cheese will give the soup a smooth consistency. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as necessary. 

sheetpan lasagna

Using Jovial lasagna noodles, this sheetpan lasagna recipe from Abby Thome was easily adapted to gluten free, made a TON of food, and was an overall hit. 

Ingredients

-Ricotta Dollops -

• 5 ounces organic spinach, sautéed
• 2 cup ricotta cheese
• 3 Tbsp parsley, chopped
• zest of 1 lemon
• good pinch of salt + pepper

- Meat Sauce -

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 lb sweet or mild italian ground sausage
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 Tbsp onion powder, garlic powder + italian seasoning
• Good pinch salt + pepper
• 2 (28 ounce) jars Rao's marinara

• 1 box Lasagna noodles, par boiled (5 minutes of boiling in salted water) + cut into 3rds
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan

-Extra Toppings-

• 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
• few tablespoons grated parmesan
• Chopped Parsley

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°
2. Drizzle 10x17 baking sheet with olive oil
3. Par boil your lasagna noodles, then cut into thirds - set aside
4. In a large add the spinach, with a drizzle of olive oil + pinch of salt + pepper. Allow it to wilt completely and then remove from the pan + set aside
5. To the same pan, add the chopped onion with a drizzle Olive Oil, pinch of Salt + pepper and sauce until tender
6. Add in the ground sausage, beef, garlic powder, onion powder, italian seasoning + good pinch of salt and pepper and cook all the way through 
Stir in the two jars of marinara, lasagna noodles, 1 cup shredded mozzarella + parmesan cheese and stir to combine everything
7. Pour lasagna noodle/meat sauce onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer
8. Add more mozzarella cheese + parmesan
9. In a separate bowl mix all ingredients for the ricotta mixture
10. Top lasagna with dollops of the ricotta cheese
11. Bake at 425° for 25-30 minutes until bubbly

Chicago style deep dish pizza

This No Gluten, No Problem recipe has been our absolute favorite gluten free homemade pizza since Cael's celiac diagnosis. I think there is no telling that it's GF and, while it requires a lot of ingredients and some time, it's been worth it. We do one 1/2 cheese, 1/2 pepperoni and one full sausage, pepperoni.

As written below, this makes two 9" pizzas. We do one 1/2 cheese, 1/2 pepperoni and one full sausage, pepperoni.

Crust

• 310 grams warm water
• 1 TBS sugar
• 2 tsp active dry yeast 
• 100 g brown rice flour
• 100 g cornstarch
• 100 g potato starch 
• 24 g cornmeal
• 24 g millet flour
• 2 tsp ground psyllium husk
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp xanthan gum
• 6 TBS melted butter

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the water, sugar, and yeast. Set aside to allow the yeast to activate, about 5 minutes, until foamy.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice flour, cornstarch, potato starch, cornmeal, millet flour, psyllium husk, salt, and xanthan gum.
3. Pour 1 tablespoon of the butter into each of two 9-inch (23 cm) round nonstick cake pan. Use your fingers or a pastry brush to spread the butter over the bottom of the pan.
4. When the yeast mixture is foamy on top, add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and stir to combine.
5. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and stir vigorously with a spoon until it is smooth, there are no lumps, and it forms a wet dough.
6. Use a spatula to scrape the dough into the prepared pans. Using a piece of plastic wrap, press the dough into a uniform layer on the bottom and 1½ inches up the sides of the pan. Set aside and allow to rise for 30 minutes.

Sauce

• 2 TBS olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cups canned San Marzano tomatoes, pureed
• 1 TBS tomato pasted
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 TBS sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

1. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until fragrant, about 2 min. Add the garlic and saute 1 additional minute. 
2. Add remaining ingredients and saute over medium-low heat for about 10 minutees, stirring occasionally until sauce is no longer watery.

Pizza

• 8 slices mozzerella
• 16 ounces shredded mozzerella
• 1/2 pound cooked italian sausage crumbles
• pepperoni

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. After the dough has risen, layer sliced mozzerella (4 slices per pizza) over the dough, tearing slices to be sure dough is fully covered.
3. Cover sliced cheese with shredded mozzerella.
4. Add toppings of choice to each pizza.
5. Divide sauce on top of each pizza's toppings and spread to fully cover. 
6. Bake pizzas side by side on the center rack for 30-35 minutes.
7. Use a spatula to lift pizzas out of their pans onto a wooden cutting board. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing with a large chef's knife. 

sorta pasta alla norma

 Another Caro Chambers hit recipe--Sorta Pasta alla Norma. My eggplant-hating children didn't complain much and didn't even realize the hidden veggie was eggplant until I told them, so I think this is a keeper! We used Rao's marinara and Jovial GF fusilli. Below are the instructions of how I adapted from Caro's original recipe. 

Ingredients:

• 1 (1 1/2 to 2 pound) globe eggplant
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt 
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage
• 4 garlic cloves
• 12 ounces gluten free pasta
• 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce 
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 packed cup fresh basil leaves (slice thinly right before adding to pasta)
• Optional: red pepper flakes 

Instructions:

1. Peel 1 eggplant like a zebra then cut it into 1/2-inch cubes. Warm 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a wide skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the eggplant and 1 teaspoon kosher salt and toss to coat. Cook, stirring every minute or so, until very tender and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a bowl. 
2. While eggplant is cooking, prepare your pasta in a separate pan according to package instructions.
3. Return the eggplant skillet to medium-high heat and warm 1 tablespoon oil. Add 1 pound mild Italian sausage and cook, using a wooden spoon to break it into small crumbles, until almost cooked through. Meanwhile, mince 4 garlic cloves. Add the garlic to the sausage, then continue cooking until the sausage is cooked through. 
4. Add the cooked eggplant back to the pan with the sausage. Stir in 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce, cooked pasta, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. 
5. Stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (make sure it has no anti-caking ingredients) and most of the basil (leave some out for garnish).
6. Serve the pasta with a sprinkle of Parm, basil, and red pepper flakes i. 

homemade spaghettios

While is didn't really taste like spaghettios, our family loved this quick tomato sauce and pasta from Abby Thome on Instagram way more than expected. 

Ingredients

• 1lb pasta (we used Jovial GF fusilli)
• Pre-made small meatballs (frozen, GF)
• 1 small white onion, fine dice
• 2-3 Tbsp butter
• 4oz Organic Tomato Paste
• 28oz tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 cup reserved pasta water
• Salt + Pepper

Instructions

1. Boil your pasta, reserve 1 cup of water + set drained pasta to the side
2. In a dutch oven or deep pan, sauté the onion with butter + a lil’ olive oil, salt + pepper
3. Once translucent add tomato paste + stir 
4. Pour in the tomato sauce, sugar, garlic + oregano - stir 
5. Let simmer over medium/low heat (few minutes)
6. Add meatballs into the sauce + 1 cup pasta water
7. Let simmer to come together, stirring frequently

            *If using frozen meatballs, simmer until cooked throug

Quarantine pasta

We are late to the party on this early-covid Instagram recipe from A Life from Scratch, but our family loves it and we regularly make it when C has a pasta dinner for track or XC so he can take it along as his gluten free meal and we can enjoy it at home. The recipe is way too simple for how delicious it is!

QUARANTINE PASTA

Ingredients

• 1 lbs pasta (we use Jovial GF fusilli)
• 1 lbs Italian sausage
• Olive oil
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for topping
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 cups freshly chopped spinach
• 1 cup frozen peas (we use if we have some in the freezer, but the kids prefer it without...)

Instructions

1. Cook your pasta according to package directions.
2. In a large deep sided pan brown up your sausage with a little olive oil. Set aside.
3. In the same pan combine the cream, stock, Parmesan, and seasonings. Let bubble away until thickened, about 10 minutes.
4. Add in spinach, peas, and cooked sausage. Stir together and let spinach wilt. Mix sauce with cooked pasta. Top with more parmesan and fresh basil

creamy spinach artichoke chicken

 A delicious dinner from The Forked Spoon, which I modified slightly. Everyone really liked this (Elle liked everything but the artichokes...) over GF pasta. 

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoon olive oil - divided
• 1-2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, butterflied 
• salt + black pepper
• 2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 3 tablespoon butter 
• 2 shallots - minced
• 4 cloves garlic - minced
• 2 (15 ounce) cans artichoke hearts - drained and roughly chopped
• 6 ounces fresh baby spinach
• ½ cup chicken broth - 
• 1 cup half-and-half 
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese - shredded

Instructions:

1. Place chicken breasts to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with approximately 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, mixing well to coat the entire surface of each chicken breast.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, drizzle with approximately 1 tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Work in batches, if needed , to cook the chicken until golden, approximately 5-6 minutes per side, (or until nearly cooked through). Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the butter and shallots and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Add the minced garlic and stir continuously for 30 seconds more. Mix in the artichoke hearts, fresh spinach, and chicken broth. Mix well to combine. Cook until the spinach has just wilted. Add the half-and-half and bring just to a simmer. Stir in the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
4. Return the chicken back to the skillet. Reduce heat to prevent the half-and-half from boiling. Allow the chicken to simmer and finish cooking for an additional 5 minutes or so. Serve over pasta. 

baked ziti

 Kory, Elle, and I all really liked this giant pan of comfort food from Ree Drummond. Neither of the boys love Italian food, so it was no real surprise that they were less excited. Next time I would divide the recipe into to 9x9" pans and cook one and freeze the other for a future meal. 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1 large onion, diced 
• 1 pound ground beef 
• 1 pound Italian sausage 
• Two 14.5-ounce cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce 
• One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes with juice 
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound ziti
• 1 1/2 pounds mozzarella, grated 
• One 15-ounce tub whole-milk ricotta
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
• 2 eggs 

Instructions 

1. Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and sauté until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
4. In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).
5. Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.
6. Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.
7. Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.

giardiniera and italian cheese scones

 I had half a jar of giardiniera in the fridge and was craving a spicy snack, so I modified a cheddar and jalapeno scone recipe from The Black Peppercorn to use giardiniera and mozzarella instead. Cael and I both loved them!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter cut, grated on a box grater
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup hot giardiniera, drained of as much oil as possible
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• parmesan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Grate cold butter into the flour mixture and stir gently to just incorporate Stir in the grated mozzarella and migiardiniera.
4. Pour the milk into the flour and stir together until just combined. Work gently and be careful to not over-mix the batter.
5. Spread a little flour on a flat work surface. Dump the batter onto the floured work surface and pat down to make a 7 inch square. Cut into 4 quarters. Cut each quarter into 4 more quarters.
6. Place wedges on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Sprinkle with parmesan. 
7. Bake for 14-16 minutes. The scones should be just starting to brown on top.

smoked mozzerella pasta salad

Kory, Gage, and I love this pasta salad from the Whole Foods deli, but found this copycat recipe from Made in a Day to make a bigger batch for much cheaper at home.

Ingredients

• 16 oz organic rigatoni pasta
• 9 oz roasted bell pepper strips
• 8 oz smoked mozzarella, cubed
• 2.5 oz shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 oz white wine vinegar
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more as needed
• 5.5 oz mayo
• 5-6 oz fresh baby spinach
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• salt & pepper 

Instructions

1. Boil water in a large saucepan and cook rigatoni as directed. While pasta is cooking, place fresh spinach in the colander When pasta is al dente, pour hot pasta and water over the spinach to blanch it. Rinse, drain and run cold water over noodles and spinach to cool .
2. Whisk together in a large bowl (big enough to hold pasta salad), vinegar, garlic, parsley, cayenne pepper, and mayo.
3. Add rigatoni noodles, spinach, peppers, smoked mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. Toss with a large spoon until blended. 
4. Chill for 30 min to 1 hour. Tossing every 15 minutes to blend. Serve as a side dish with your favorite summer meal! 

chicken ragu

 After binging Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Netflix, Kory and really liking Samin's ragu recipe, I checked out the book from the library and we decided to try to poultry variation. We only made a half recipe again and I used Voga Pina Grigio from TJ's.Kory thinks he likes this variation even more than the beef/pork version.

Ingredients

• Approximately 1 cup (200 grams) extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 pounds whole chicken legs (drumstick and thighs with skin and bones
• 2 medium yellow onions, minced
• 1 large carrot, minced
• 2 large celery stalks, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced thin
• 1 1⁄2 cups (340 grams) white wine
• 3 cups (450 grams) chicken stock 
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1- by 3-inch (3- by- 7 centimeter) strip of lemon zest
• 5 tablespoons (80 grams) tomato paste
• 1 fresh rosemary sprig (or about a teaspoon dried)
• 1/4 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• Parmesan rind
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over high heat and add enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Brown the chicken in batches 8-10 minutes. Do not season the meat yet—salt will draw out water and delay browning. Use tongs to transfer the meat to a large bowl, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
2. Add the onions, carrots, and celery—the soffritto—to the same pot and cook over medium-high heat. The amount of fat should be sufficient to nearly cover the soffritto, so add more olive oil as needed, at least another 3⁄4 cup (150 grams). Cook, stirring regularly, until the vegetables are tender and the soffritto is a deep brown, 25 to 30 minutes. (You can cook the soffritto in olive oil a day or two in advance, if you like, to break up the time-intensive steps in the recipe. Soffritto also freezes well for up to 2 months!). For the last 20 seconds or so, add in the garlic slices until fragrant.
3. Return the meat to the pot, increase the heat to high, and add the wine. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits into the sauce.
4. Add stock, the bay leaves, zest, tomato paste, rosemary, mushrooms, and Parmesan rind, if using. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
5. Let the sauce continue to simmer, stirring occasionally. After 30 to 40 minutes, start tasting the mixture and adjusting salt, acid, sweetness, richness, and body. If it needs some acid, add a secret splash of wine. If it seems bland, add tomato paste to bring it to life and lend sweetness. If the ragù seems thin, add a generous splash of stock. It’ll reduce as it simmers, leaving behind its gelatin to help thicken the sauce.
6. Simmer over the lowest possible heat, skimming off the fat from time to time and stirring often, until the meat is tender and the flavors have melded, about 1 1⁄2 to 2 hours. When you are satisfied that the ragù is done, use a spoon or ladle to skim off the fat that has risen to the surface and remove the Parmesan rinds, bay leaves, and citrus peels. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper again.
7. To serve: Bring a large pot filled with at least 5 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Season generously with salt until it tastes like the summer sea. Don’t worry too much about how much salt it takes to season the water properly: Most of it will go down the drain. You just need to create a salty cooking environment that will season the pasta in the few minutes it spends in the pot.
8. Add 4 portions fresh pasta or 1 pound dried pasta to water and cook until al dente. While pasta cooks, bring 2 cups ragù to a boil in a large skillet. Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss to coat along with butter and a little pasta cooking water. Serve with ample freshly grated Parmesan.

focaccia

 Another recipe from Salt, Fat, Acid Heat. The overnight rise makes this much chewier and more flavorful than my other focaccia recipe. I couldn't get Diamond Crystal salt, so used 365 kosher sea salt and would definitely halve the amounts next time. 

Ingredients: 

For the dough: 

• 2½ cups (600 grams) lukewarm water
• ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
• 2½ teaspoons (15 grams) honey
• 5 1/3 cups (800 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons (18 grams) Diamond Crystal Kosher salt or 1 tablespoon fine sea salt
• ¼ cup (50 grams) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for pan and finishing
• Flaky salt for finishing

For the brine:

• 1½ teaspoons (5 grams) Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
• ⅓ cup (80 grams) lukewarm water

Instructions: 

1. In a medium bowl, stir together water, yeast, and honey to dissolve. In a very large bowl, whisk flour and salt together to combine and then add yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir with a rubber spatula  until just incorporated, then scrape the sides of the bowl clean and cover with plastic wrap. Leave out at room temperature to ferment for 12 to 14 hours until at least doubled in volume.
2. Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons oil evenly onto a 18-by-13 inch (46-by-33 cm) rimmed baking sheet. When dough is ready, use a spatula or your hand to release it from the sides of the bowl and fold it onto itself gently, then pour out onto pan. Pour an additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil over dough and gently spread across. Gently stretch the dough to the edge of the sheet by placing your hands underneath and pulling outward.  The dough will shrink a bit, so repeat stretching once or twice over the course of 30 minutes to ensure dough remains stretched.  
3. Dimple the dough by pressing the pads of your first three fingers in at an angle.  Make the brine by stirring together salt and water until salt is dissolved. Pour the brine over the dough to fill dimples.  Proof focaccia for 45 minutes until the dough is light and bubbly. 
4. Thirty minutes into this final proof, adjust rack to center position and preheat oven to 450°F (235°C). If you have a baking stone, place it on rack.  Otherwise, invert another sturdy baking sheet and place on rack.  Allow to preheat with the oven until very hot, before proceeding with baking. 
5. Sprinkle focaccia with flaky salt. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes directly on top of stone or inverted pan until bottom crust is crisp and golden brown when checked with a metal spatula.  To finish browning top crust, place focaccia on upper rack and bake for 5 to 7 minutes more.  
6. Remove from oven and brush or douse with 2 to 3 tablespoons oil over the whole surface (don’t worry if the olive pools in pockets, it will absorb as it sits). Let cool for 5 minutes, then release focaccia from pan with metal spatula and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. 
7. Serve warm or at room temperature.  
8. To store, wrap in parchment and then keep in an airtight bag or container to preserve texture. Gently toast or reheat any leftover focaccia before serving. Alternatively, wrap tightly to freeze, then defrost and reheat before serving.

ragu

 After binging Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Netflix, Kory and I wanted to try Samin's ragu recipe. We only made a half recipe and used TJ's Moon X pinot noir. I'd consider making a full recipe next time and freezing half. 

Ingredients

• Approximately 1 cup (200 grams) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound (450 grams) coarsely ground beef chuck
• 1 pound (450 grams) coarsely ground pork shoulder 
• 2 medium yellow onions, minced
• 1 large carrot, minced
• 2 large celery stalks, minced
• 1 1⁄2 cups (340 grams) dry red wine
• 2 cups (450 grams) Chicken or Beef Stock or water
• 2 cups (450 grams) whole milk
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1- by 3-inch (3- by- 7 centimeter) strip of lemon zest
• 1 1- by 3-inch (3- by- 7 centimeter) strip of orange zest
• 1⁄2-inch (1 1/2 centimeter)  piece cinnamon stick
• 5 tablespoons (80 grams) tomato paste
• Parmesan rind
• Whole nutmeg
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over high heat and add enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Crumble the beef into the pot in walnut-size pieces. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a slotted spoon until it sizzles and turns golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Do not season the meat yet—salt will draw out water and delay browning. Use the slotted spoon to transfer the meat to a large bowl, leaving the rendered fat in the pot. Brown the pork in the same way.
2. Add the onions, carrots, and celery—the soffritto—to the same pot and cook over medium-high heat. The amount of fat should be sufficient to nearly cover the soffritto, so add more olive oil as needed, at least another 3⁄4 cup (150 grams). Cook, stirring regularly, until the vegetables are tender and the soffritto is a deep brown, 25 to 30 minutes. (You can cook the soffritto in olive oil a day or two in advance, if you like, to break up the time-intensive steps in the recipe. Soffritto also freezes well for up to 2 months!)
3. Return the meat to the pot, increase the heat to high, and add the wine. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits into the sauce.
4. Add stock or water, milk, the bay leaves, zests, cinnamon, tomato paste, and Parmesan rind, if using. Add 10 zips of fresh nutmeg by grating it on a nutmeg grinder or other fine grater. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
5. Let the sauce continue to simmer, stirring occasionally. Once the milk breaks down and the sauce starts to look appetizing, between 30 to 40 minutes, start tasting the mixture and adjusting salt, acid, sweetness, richness, and body. If it needs some acid, add a secret splash of wine. If it seems bland, add tomato paste to bring it to life and lend sweetness. If it needs to be richer, add a little milk. If the ragù seems thin, add a gener- ous splash of stock. It’ll reduce as it simmers, leaving behind its gelatin to help thicken the sauce.
6. Simmer over the lowest possible heat, skimming off the fat from time to time and stirring often, until the meat is tender and the flavors have melded, about 11⁄2 to 2 hours. When you are satisfied that the ragù is done, use a spoon or ladle to skim off the fat that has risen to the surface and remove the Parmesan rinds, bay leaves, citrus peels, and cinnamon. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper again.
7. To serve: Bring a large pot filled with at least 5 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Season generously with salt until it tastes like the summer sea. Don’t worry too much about how much salt it takes to season the water properly: Most of it will go down the drain. You just need to create a salty cooking environment that will season the pasta in the few minutes it spends in the pot.
8. Add 4 portions fresh pasta or 1 pound dried pasta to water and cook until al dente. While pasta cooks, bring 2 cups ragù to a boil in a large skillet. Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss to coat along with butter and a little pasta cooking water. Serve with ample freshly grated Parmesan.

tagliatelle with bolognese

Another great, hearty, comfort food lunch from ATK.

antipasto squares

From plainchicken.com, a comfort food lunch. The kids think they'd eat it with other cheese and no peppers. Maybe I'll try...

ANTIPASTO SQUARES

PREP TIME: 5 MINSCOOK TIME: 50 MINSTOTAL TIME: 55 MINS

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 (8-oz) cans refrigerated crescent rolls or crescent sheet
• 1/4 pound thinly sliced deli ham
• 1/4 pound thinly sliced salami
• 1/4 pound thinly sliced pepperoni
• 1/4 pound provolone slices
• 1/4 pound swiss cheese slices
• 1 (12-oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained and cut into strips
• 3 eggs
• 3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp basil pesto

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. Unroll one package of refrigerated crescent roll and press into bottom of prepared pan.
3. Layer ham, swiss cheese, salami, provolone cheese, pepperoni, and red peppers, on top of the dough.
4. Unroll second can of refrigerated crescent rolls, and place on top of peppers. Press seams to seal.
5. Whisk together eggs, parmesan cheese and pesto. Pour over crescent rolls. Cover pan with aluminum foil.
6. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into squares.

penne with corn and spicy sausage

I regularly make this Giada Di Laurentiis recipe for lunch using Trader Joe's frozen roasted corn, spicy chicken italian sausage, and farro instead of pasta.

Ingredients

• 1 pound penne rigate
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 12 ounces spicy Italian sausage (about 4 links), casings removed 
• 2 shallots, diced 
• 2 cup frozen corn, thawed 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus for the pasta water
• 8 ounces mascarpone, room temperature 
• 1 tablespoon Calabrian chile paste
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, plus for serving 
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped 

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the penne and cook according to package directions or until al dente. Drain well, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Meanwhile, heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and sausage; cook for about 5 minutes, breaking up the sausage into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon. Add the shallots and cook for another minute. Stir in the corn and salt, and cook, stirring often, until the corn is warmed through, another 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

To the bowl, add the mascarpone, chile paste and the hot pasta and reserved pasta water. Add the Parmesan directly over the untossed hot pasta. Using a large serving spoon, toss everything together well. Add the basil and toss again. Serve with additional Parmesan if desired.