THE PERFECT PULLED PORK

Have you ever had that one meal or recipe that you are constantly on the search for "the perfect one"?  I did and it was a quest for the perfect pulled pork recipe.  There are complicated recipes for pulled pork where you have to use a smoker.  There are recipes where you add smoke flavor.  There are recipes where you use the slow cooker.  There are recipes that call for Carolina bbq sauce that is vinegar based.  There are recipes that call for Texas bbq sauce that are  tomato based.  Let me tell you....I have tried them all.  All the recipes I have tried have just been ok, but they have not been that "keeper" recipe that you can make again and again.  A few months back I found THE ONE!  I actually found it on another blog called Kevin & Amanda.  They said it was the perfect pulled pork and they did not lie...it is the perfect pulled pork.  You first brine the pork roast for at least 8 hours.  Then you completely cover the brined pork roast with the best dry rub mix.  Next, you slow cook the roast at 225 degrees for about 8-12 hours until it shreds like butter!!  I paired this perfect pulled pork with a super simple bbq sauce recipe by Emeril.  You don't even have to cook the BBQ sauce.  The only thing I added to the bbq sauce was a bit of hot sauce or Franks' Red Hot to spice it up a bit.  I have made this recipe for the past several catered parties and it is always a huge hit!  You can use any type of bun or roll that you want....but I drive about 1/2 hour to a deli in Naperville to get the best Challah rolls ever.  They really do make the sandwich!

SWEDISH MEATBALLS W/ EGG NOODLES

I did it!  I stepped out of my "realm" of Italian cooking and made something non-Italian. Not only did I make up this new recipe for Swedish Meatballs, but I blew it out of the park!  I mean I reallly had to pat myself on the back for this one.  My husband had been away for work in Germany for a week and he was getting home right around dinner time last friday.  Before he left I made him a nice Italian dinner.  I know he ate lots of sausage, weinerscnitzel (sp?), saurkraut and potatoes while in Germany so I was trying to rack my brain to come up with something different for him to come home to.  I decided on Swedish Meatballs w/ Egg Noodles.  When I started doing my research I noticed that many of the Swedish Meatball recipes did not call for mushrooms, but for some reason I could not get mushrooms out of my head...so in my recipe I added mushrooms.  I also noticed that alot of the recipes called for a really thick & chunky gravy that looked really white.  I decided to thin my gravy up a bit, but since I served it with egg noodles the gravy coated the noodles great!  I made so many of these meatballs we ended up eating them for three days.  The great news is that not only did I love this meatballs, but my husband loved them and so did my three year olds!  Like I said...I hit this one out of the park!  Yesterday when I was trying to come up with my new catering menu I actually  made an executive decision to add these meatballs as an entree'.  You guys really need to make these at home for yourself and your family.  I do have to worn  you though...this recipe is certainly not one for Cooking Light magazine!  The key to the flavor is to actually use butter to brown the meatballs.  Using butter for cooking (not baking) is actually something I don't do...but the flavor and outcome of these meatballs just would not be the same if you  used olive oil or vegie oil.  That being said....go ahead a splurge...what the heck the holidays are coming up and we are all going to blow our diets anyway.  Plus....I am pregnant....so who am I kidding I threw my diet out the door months ago!

GRILLED SKIRT STEAK W/ GRILLED TUSCAN BREAD SALAD

I believe I have created  " The Perfect Summer Meal"!  This is very exciting to me.  The key to this dinner is to use very fresh ingredients.  It is a simple grilled steak served with a tuscan salad atop a slice of grilled rustic italian bread. My tuscan salad consists of a spring green mix,, fresh grape tomatoes, artichoke hearts, northern beans, kalamata olives, fresh chopped basil and mozerella cheese. It is super simple to make, but the flavors of this dish are outstanding!  I season and layer each component to this salad so that every layer comes together with the best flavors imaginable.  Whether you are making a summer meal for your family or for guests this dish is sure to please!

THE "GUYS APP"

When my husband and I were in Germany a few  years ago we had different views on the food there.  Sauasage & kraut was what the meals consisted of.  Throw in a pretzel, some mustard and some spatzel and you got yourself an authentic German meal.  After a week of eating nothing but sausage and kraut I was dreaming of the days when I would be back home eating a nice green salad or some mixed vegies and fruit.  Don't get me wrong, I completely loved Germany, the food included...BUT.....the sausage thing can get really old.  My dear husband on the other hand absolutely could not get enough German sausage!  He mixed that in with some fried pork cutlets...and let me tell you he was in Heaven!  This past Sunday was Father's Day.  My brother and sister n' law host a family party.  My job is to bring an appetizer.  I always try to think of an app that all the "dads" will like.  This year I came up with a good one!  I actually did not invent the recipe  because overall they are just "Pigs In A Blanket", but my version was the gourmet version because I used high quality polish sausage and vienna beef hotdogs. I sliced the sausages and wrapped them up in a crescent roll and baked them until golden.  I also got three different kinds of gourmet mustard at Caputo's (Honey Mustard, Hot & Spicy and a really good Stone Ground Brown.  The guys went crazy for them.  The next time you want to make your man happy make these...this recipe truly should just be called
"The Guys App"!

MOTHER'S DAY - Part 2

We hosted a Mother's Day party this past week-end and I came up with a menu where I could make everything before my guests arrived.  There is nothing worse than a host or hostess that works and works and works and does not take at least a few minutes to enjoy her guests.  So that being said.....here is the menu with recipes following for our special Mother's Day Party:

Speciality Cocktail: 
    - Viognier Fruit Spritzer (see Mother's Day - Part 1 post for recipe)

Dinner:
   -  Grilled Lemon & Oregano Chicken (see Mother's Day - part 1 post for recipe)
   -  Honey & Orange Marinated Pork Tenderloin Kabobs
   -  Orange Salad with Basil & Feta
   -  Fresh Bean & Bell Pepper Salad
   -  Orecchitte w/ Fresh Mozerella, Tomatoes & Garlic Chives
   -  Red Potatoes Roasted with Garlic & Dijon Mustard
   -  Eggplant Capanata
   -  Flatbeads:  Tomato & Basil  and Artichoke & Green Olive

Dessert:
   -  Lemon Layer Cake w/ Raspberry Curd & Whipped Cream
   -  Cherry Baby Cakes
   -  Store bought Brownie Bites

TURKEY BURGERS WITH A TWIST

I am always trying to come up with new and improved ways of making turkey burgers.  By far the best turkey burger I have ever eaten has been at Red Robin.  If you have not been there or tried their turkey burgers....it is a must!  Anyway....the other night I was standing in my kitchen looking at a pound of ground turkey and wondering what I could do to it to make really good turkey burgers.  Plus I wanted to make them healthy.  I decided to throw a couple of ingredients into the mix to make my Turkey Burgers With A Twist.  I wanted them nice and moist so I added one large shredded carrot and 2 TB. of low fat thousand island dressing.  Added a bit of breadcrumbs to hold it all together grilled them up, melted some provolone on top and grilled the buns....tadah.....turkey burgers were done....and they were fantastic!

THE FIRST OFFICIAL COOK-OUT OF THE SEASON

Is anybody else as excited as I am about cooking out?  Finally the weather is getting warm enough where we have all started to think about grilled food and eating outdoors.  We had a busy day spreading about 15 yards of mulch around our plant beds this past saturday.  We enlisted the help of my 7 year old nephew (I know, I know child labor laws..).  He was really a good worker!  After they finished I invited my brother and sister n'law and thier kids over to our house for the first official cook-out of the season.  Here is what was on my menu:  Grilled Balsamic & Rosemary Porkchops, Italian Bread Salad, Fresh Green Bean Salad with Shallots, Bacon & Blue Cheese.  We washed it all down with some ice cold beers and the official summer cocktail: Spiked Lemonade!  Since there is always room for dessert I made a quick Open Faced Strawberry Shortcake.  This meal was quick and easy to make. I actually came up with it based on what I had in my pantry, fridge and freezer.  Sometimes spur of the moment dinner parties turn out to be some of the best!

HONEY- ROASTED PORK ROAST

Back in 2002 I received the best gift in the mail, it was the May issue of Bon Appeti!  The title of it was: "Islands of the Mediterranean: Delicious Food in Magical Settings".   This special edition had recipes and menu's from the most beautiful islands of the Mediterranean; Sicily, Capri, Majorca, Santorini, Crete, Corsica and Sardinia just to name a few.  This magazine has become my bible for Mediterranean cooking.  There was no cutting out of recipes from this magazine.  I kept it whole and in tact because every recipe in this issue is to die for.  One recipe in particular that I love is the Honey-Roasted Pork Roast.  This has become my go to recipe for pork roasts.  It is great for company if you want to impress, but you can also serve it for sunday dinner for your family.  I adapted it a bit, but the recipe was almost perfect.  Make sure to add a little chicken broth to the sauce in the bottom of the pan when done cooking.  The sauce it makes is outstanding.  Keep it in a little gravy boat and have your guests ladle it over the pork....delicious!

Marinated Grilled Flank Steak with Rosemary Mashed Sweet Potatoes & Spinach Salad

The flu had overtaken our home since last Thursday. So for about one week most of us only had the taste for noodles and chicken broth.  I thought tonight was a good night to finally make a home-cooked dinner for us, but I wanted something light.  Marinated Grilled Flank Steak was first I mine mind.  I decided to marinate it in some olive oil, worcestshire sauce, balsamic vinegar and some garlic.  I marinate it for a few hours and then pop it on the indoor cast iron grill....it turned out awesome!  I also mashed up some yummy sweet potatoes and seasoned them with a bit of rosemary for a different flavor.  For a little something green I put together a super simple baby spinach salad with blue cheese and dried cranberries.  This salad goes perfect with any kind of steak.  The flavors of all three of these recipes go so well together they seem made for eachother. 

A Family Valentine's Day Dinner

We are having some family come over for dinner on Valentine's Day.  The perfect way for me to show them that I love them is to cook for them.  One other way for me to show them I love them is to actually spend time with them and enjoy their company instead of  cooking and cleaning the kitchen the whole day and night.  So I decided to make a dinner where I could make most of it before hand to make it    bit easier on me.  I made an awesome Tomato Basil Sauce today which I can keep in the fridge until Sunday.That will be served over some store bought ravioli.   The morning before they come I am going to make a  huge roating pan filled with Sausage, Peppers and Potatoes that I will roast in the oven while they are here.  Also, the morning before they come I am going to make an Italian Layered Salad with  a home-made Balsamic Vinegarette.  For a special Valentine's Day "touch" I made a home-made loaf of Italian Bread that is formed in the shape of a heart!  For dessert I am  making an awesome White Chocolate  & Lemon Mousse Trifle!  You don't want to miss this special Valentine's Day menu!

Pork & Green Bean Stir Fry

If  you have not been able to tell yet from reading my blog...I am not a big asian food cooker.  I used to love all food asian....but...a funny thing happened!  I got pregnant with twins and took a trip with my husband to Hong Kong & Singapore during my first trimester.  Can you say morning sickness, afternoon sickness and nightsickness!  The smell of asian food set me off!  It has not been until recently (about 2 or so years later) that I am able to eat asian food.  So that being said....I decided to make a stir fry the other night.  I saw a recipe in Bon Appetit 8/03 that looked simple and healthy!  The only thing I added to this recipe to make it a bit better was a tablespoon of fresh chopped cilantro.  I served it with some brown rice and ta-dah...dinner was served!

Braised Short Ribs

Okay...so I know I said that I wanted to start making some more healthy meals...but come on you gotta splurge every now and then right?!?!?!?  My mom was over at our house the other night so I wanted to make her something "homey" and "comforting" since it was so cold outside.  When she walked in we had a cozy fire in the fireplace and the house smelled awesome!  I decided to make a Braised Short Ribs recipe I found in the October 2009 issue of Bon Appetite.  There were certain ingredients that I did not care for in their recipe so I have included my adapted version of this recipe on this post.  The short ribs were braised for a few hours with some red wine, vegetables, chicken broth and herbs....they were fall off the bone delicious!  The brasing liquid and vegetables are then pureed and turned into a yummy gravy.  Here is my version of Braised Short Ribs which I served with some creamy mashed potatoes and some sauteed garlic spinach.  Enjoy!

A Good Luck Meal For The New Year!

Funny story....a few months after I started dating my now husband we celebrated New Year's Eve and New Year's day together.  On New Years Day he looked at me and said "oh man, we need to make saurkraut and kielbasa today!"  My first reaction..."WHY?"  He went on to tell me that his mom always made saurkraut and kielbasa on New Years Day for good luck.  This to me was slightly strange coming from a family with the last name of "Francesconi" !  Sure a big bowl of pasta and meatballs would make more sense...but a crock pot full of saurkraut, kielbasa and pork?  That did not sound like an italian tradition to me.  BUT....I thought it was the cutest thing ever that he wanted to keep up the traditions that his parents created.  We called his mom, got her recipe and made this good luck meal for the New Year!  Now, years later, we make it a must on our New Years Day menu....I call it "Grandma Sconi's Saurkraut and Kielbasa". 

This meal will literally melt in your mouth.  It is slow cooked in a crock pot for 4 to 6 hours.  You can serve it with mashed potatoes, potatoe pancakes or pierogies.  It creates a juice/gravy that is to die for!  I have never been a saurkraut person...but as soon as I tasted this recipe...I was hooked!


GRANDMA SCONI'S SAURKRAUT & KIELBASA 

• 32 oz. saurkraut (drained and rinsed)
• 2 lbs. boneless country style pork ribs
• olive oil
• 1 apple - peeled and cut into thin wedges
• 3 garlic cloves sliced thin
• 1 onion - peeled and sliced thin
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 lb. polish kielbasa sausage ( cut into 4 inch pieces)
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Salt and pepper all sides of the pork.  Heat about 1-2 TB. olive oil in a frying pan.  Brown pork on all sides.
2. Add drained and rinsed saurkraut, browned pork, kielbasa, white wine, chicken broth, garlic and onion to a crockpot.  Add fresh ground pepper and mix well.
3. Slow cook in crockpot for 4 to 6 hours stirring occasionally.
4. Serve with mashed potatoes, potatoe pancakes or pierogis

Pasta Dinner Just Like Grandma Used To Make

We had my husbands family over for dinner this past Sunday to celebrate Christmas.  I wanted to make something that could be made ahead of time so I decided to make a pasta dinner with homemade slow cooked sauce.  I made the sauce and meatballs last Sunday and then froze everything.  I took everything out of the freezer, thawed it, and cooked it up on the stove....tadah....dinner is served.  Well, of course it was not that easy!  But I did make things a bit easier on myself by making those things ahead of time.  It all came together extremely well.  Everyone had a great time and I believe everyone enjoyed the food.  I was pretty proud that I made a "Pasta dinner just like my Grandma used to make"!

Christmas Dinner - Prime Rib With All the "Fixin's"!

A few years ago my mom and dad took over hosting our family for Christmas dinner.  My grandmother passed away and the "torch" was passed on to my mom.  The first year I believe she made a beef tenderloin, but the second year and third she made a prime rib to die for!  Last year she perfected her menu and we told her not to change one thing.  This year she listened to us and she did not change a thing!  It is the perfect Christmas menu for our family.  It is relaxing...my mom gets to relax as well because a lot of the recipes she can prepare ahead of time.  Check out our Christmas dinner menu: Prime Rib With All The "Fixin's"!

Grilled Italian Steak with Winter Caprese Salad

Are we "turkeyed out" yet?  It is just the day after Thanksgiving so I have yet to make my turkey sandwich's or turkey pot pies.  I know in a few days I will be completely "turkeyed out" and will want to make something as far away from turkey as possible.  If you too have these feelings, please try this menu that I made for my husband and I the night before Thanksgiving.  It involved RED MEAT and not turkey!  I made a simple Grilled Italian Steak on our indoor cast iron grill and a Winter Caprese Salad served with some Herbed Couscous.  It was simple and delicious!  Try it out if you are "turkeyed out"!

My Version Of Beef Stroganoff

Have you ever read or tried to make a traditional Beef Stroganoff recipe?  I have, and boy is there ever a lot of butter, sour cream and heavy cream.  It is like a heart attack ready to happen by the time you add the animal fat from the beef.  I have also tried to make the fat free version of Beef Stroganoff and let me tell you...it is not worth eating at all!  So I went ahead and tried to make my version of this dish...it is not extremely light, but it is also not laden with butter and tons of fat either.  Serve this with a nice garden salad and you have a nutritous meal.  Here is My Version of Beef Stroganoff.

NOT YOUR ORDINARY MEATLOAF & MASHED POTATOES

Ok...I may be biased but for some reason I believe everything tastes better with a little italian twist.  Last week my mother and father inlaw came in for a visit.  I always like to try to make something special for them.  This way we can sit down at the kitchen table and catch up while we have a nice home cooked dinner.  This night I made an italian meatloaf and parmesean mashed potatoes.   The meatloaf makes a nice tomato based gravy that tastes great spooned over the mashed potatoes.  The carrots on the side of the meatloaf make a great vegie side and you could also serve with some broccolli or a side salad.  Just an FYI the meatloaf and mashed potatoes come together nice the next day to make a sandwich!!