Summer Series - Salt Potatoes Omelet

Salt Potatoes are a regional delicacy. Summer time would not be the same without them in Upstate New York. Here is a great recipe for the left over salt potatoes that is a great breakfast omelet.

Ingredients

Salt Potatoes Largely Diced

8 eggs

1/4 milk

Bleu Cheese Dressing

Bacon Bits (Fresh)

Shredded Cabbage and Carrots

Green Onions Chopped

Italian Seasoning

Cajun Seasoning

Cracked Pepper

In a skillet coated with a cooking oil (Preheated Medium Heat) fry the cabbage, potatoes carrots green onions until lightly browned. (Salt potatoes are cooked so frying should be about 7-9 minutes over a medium heat) In a separate bowl, scramble the eggs and milk add the rest of the ingredients together. Scramble the eggs in your mixture and you have an amazing omelet that is refreshing and a great use of left over salt potatoes.

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Summer Series - Pizza On The Grill

Pizza on the grill is as close as your going to get to Wood Fired Pizza. Quick and easy, it is a great summer treat. The most common pizza I enjoy is a white sauce pizza with mushrooms. I will provide this for our friends and family to enjoy. However, you can fire up any pizza on the grill. Generally, just like a wood fire grill, the pizza will cook in 3 - 5 minutes. Gas Grills as like convection ovens and your pizza cooks evenly as long as you keep the grill cover shut.

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

Olive Oil (Regular)

Garlic (Fresh)

Mozzarella (Grated) 

Asiago Cheese (Grated)

Wild or Domestic Mushrooms (Roland Abalone Are Excellent If Pre Cooked)

Italian Seasoning

Cracked Pepper

Cracked Salt

Second Recipe - Basil Mozzie

Same as above for the Pizza Dough

Use a red sauce as a base

Mozzarella slices

Fresh Basil from the garden

Roll your dough to a Sicilian thin crust consistency. A random oval shape is pretty typical. Spread a nice base of olive oil and crushed garlic as a base. Add the grated cheese mix on top of your base and your precooked mushrooms. (Precooked recipe on the blog) 

Prior to heating the grill, prepare the cooking surface with an oil based brushing to ensure your pizza will not stick to the grill. Some people use a spray, however I like to use a brushed on oil and I am not sure what the propellant sprays have for chemicals. Set the temperature for a medium high heat and ensure that it is a peak temperature prior to grilling your pizza. Place the pizza on the grill and cover immediately. Check the pizza at a 2 minute and 3 minute interval. Most pizzas will take about 3-5 minutes. Until you get use to cooking pizza on the grill, check in one minute intervals. It is okay if you get a wood fired crust that is a bit burnt on the bottom. Your first attempt allows you to adjust as your learn.

Tip: You can get wood for your gas grill at most stores that sell accessories. This adds to the experience.

Summer Series - Fried Zucchini Flowers

Oh my, we love Fried Zucchini Flowers. If you have a garden, this is such a treat as it is only available during the summer months in most northern climates. My mom taught me how to make them. If you live in an Italian/European community, you might be able to find them at a Farmer's Market. You can also request a local farmer to consider a trial run at selling them. We just love them in our family. You can use any time of flower from a squash or pumpkin that is similar. They all taste great.

Ingredients

Flowers (Lightly washed)

Bisquick 

Bread Crumbs

3 Eggs whisked in a separate dish

Garlic Salt and Pepper mix

Cracked Pepper

Italian herb mix

Olive Oil

Add all the ingredients minus the eggs in a large platter for dipping.

Warm a skillet to medium heat on a stove top. The skillet should be lived with an 1/8 inch of olive oil. Choose the consistency you think you need for frying. Dip the flowers in egg then roll them into the base you made of breading. The flowers will fry quickly. You probably will turn them over minute or so as they turn a light brown. In a separate plate of papers towels, let then cool and then serve.

You can replace the bisquick with flower in a pinch. As with all recipes, try different herbs and spices. You have a base to get started. Your kids will love this Italian Delicacy.

Summer Series - Tomatoes, Basil, and Mozzie

My kids love garden fresh tomatoes. There are so many amazing things to do with tomatoes. One simple recipe is Tomatoes, Basil and Mozzarella. With a homemade dressing and some garlic....oooof you got a classic for summertime snacking.


Recipe

2-3 good sized tomatoes thickly sliced

Fresh Basil Leaves

Thinly sliced Mozzarella

Olive Oil (Mixed blend of Regular and Extra Virgin)

Red Wine Vinegar

Cracked Sea Salt

Cracked Pepper

Italian or Oregano Seasoning Mix

Fresh Garlic Thinly sliced

Preparation

In a large plate or platter place the Tomato slices as a base on the bottom. Drizzle with Olive oil, Vinegar, Garlic and seasonings. Next, place the Mozzarella on top and provide another layer of drizzle as you did with the tomatoes. Top with the fresh basil and this layer is optional. I like a third layer of drizzle, and I like the fresh pop of basil. Either one is fine. Let set for at least an hour for brine to flavor the Tomatoes and Mozzarella.

There are many options to choose from. On it's own or with bread. You will love this summer time snack.

 

Pasta Aglio E Olio

Oh my. A friend of mine gave me a gift the other day. A bunch of garlic, a string of dried red peppers, and a quick recipe for me to share with the kids.

Pasta aglio e olio is simply a pasta and olive oil dish. You flavor the oil with the garlic and red pepper. You add some grated cheese and that is the base of your meal. So good, and the possibilities are endless.

Ingredients

1lb Angel Hair Pasta (Al dente)
1/3  cup of olive oil
8-10 cloves of garlic
1-2 Dried Red Peppers Diced (The Heat Index Is Different....Know Your Peppers)
1/4 - 1/2 cup of grated cheese
1 - 2 tsp Oregano or Italian Seasoning
Tsp of salt
Tsp of Cracked pepper


Additional Items To Try Down The Road

12 oz shrimp or chicken
Broccoli
Asparagus
Or anything that you like that goes with pasta

Boil the pasta and set aside. In a skillet, add the oil, garlic, and pepper. Over a medium heat, sauté the ingredients together until the pepper is tender and the garlic is cooked a light brown. This will flavor the oil.

In a pasta bowl, poor the oil and ingredients over the pasta. Stir and mix. Next, add the cheese and you have the best pasta in under 10 mins for your family.  Add the seasoning to your liking.

You can change up the recipe and add additional items. You can cook the shrimp or chicken with the olive oil or separate.

Manga Manga.....so good.

Simple Lemon Vinaigrette

Salads are a standard in our house. Making your own dressing teaches your children the value of fresh versus processed. Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing is easy to make. It is a fresh alternative to traditional dressings. Wonderful on fresh greens. Your kids will surely enjoy this dressing.

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind.

2 tsps. of freshly squeezed lemon juice or bottled - (Kids love to squeeze lemons and fresh is better)

1 tsp. of red wine vinegar (Optional)

Cracked Salt to taste

Crushed Pepper to taste

3 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

 

I like the addition of red wine vinegar. Most recipes do not include a vinegar. However, I feel it adds to the flavor and the kids like it. Some people add a tsp. of sugar. As always, experiment to you get the dressing that you and your family enjoys. I prefer a bitter with my greens, so I do not include the sugar.

Thai - Peanut Sauce

This sauce is great for a couple of purposes. First and foremost, as a dipping sauce. Very common for recipes like summer rolls to have a dipping sauce. You can also use this recipe for a base for Pad Thai.

Ingredients

1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons Hoisin Sauce
2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
1-2 cloves of finely minced garlic
Chili Sauce - Spicy or Regular in Oil
2 tablespoons of water
Crushed Peanuts

In a small mixing bowl, mix all of the ingredients in a bowl minus the crushed peanuts. Adjust the recipe to your taste. (If you can not find an authentic chili paste in oil, you can substitute Srirachi Sauce)  In a small bowl, top with the crushed peanuts.