Arugula

PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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“Cacio e Pepe” is undoubtedly the most minimalist among Roman pasta.
It´s secret lies in its wonderful creaminess, which is achieved by the perfect balance between its four main ingredients: pasta, water, Pecorino Romano and black pepper. (Because of the saltiness of the Pecorino, no additional salt is needed)
(A similarly simplistic, yet very different flavor and texture are present in “Spaghetti Aglio e Olio”, which, in its most basic form, contains only spaghetti, water, olive oil, garlic, and grated hard cheese. This is usually enriched with pepperoncini and/or arugula).
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When preparing Cacio e Peppe, there are a few RULES one MUST follow to achieve the creamy texture for which Cacio e Peppe is priced, otherwise there will be just “Pasta with Cheese and Pepper”, which is not too bad either, but comes in no way close to the magic of Cacio e Peppe.
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First, – grate the cheese as fine as possible.
Second, – take the pasta straight from the water to the pan with the cheese and pepper.
Third, – quickly and thoroughly lift the pasta with two forks or a tongue from the bottom of the plate to blend and achieve a creamy sauce when the moisture and starch of the pasta and the cheese combine to form a heavenly, creamy, delicious “sauce”.
Fourth, – use warm plates to mix and serve the pasta at once.
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And there you have it !   One of Rome’s and  Italy´s most iconic, simple, delicious and wonderful dishes ! 🙂
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Bon Appétit !   Life is Good !
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Click here for Recipe of  Spaghetti Aglio e Olio  on  ChefsOpinion
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Click here for more  Pasta  on  ChefsOpinion
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PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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PERFECT Cacio e Pepe

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Preparation: 
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Summer Feast Salad

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Today  the temperature was hovering around 100F and the humidity was almost unbearable.
So what, you say; You have A/C, you say….
Well, we do, but Bella and I spend half a day  at the Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, which is just a few miles up the road from our house. It was very relaxing and beautiful, but oh so hot.
So when we got home, a light meal was in order and what better than a salad and a pool of iced tea to cool a scorched body down 🙂
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Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
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P.S.
I usually don’t use much fruit in my salads, but the firm, slightly tart nectarines perfectly complimented the cheese, salad and nuts.
P.P.S.
Instead of croutons I used tarallini (Small  Taralli , (sometimes marketed as “Italian Love Knots”)

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Summer Feast Salad

Summer Feast Salad

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Summer Feast Salad

Summer Feast Salad

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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Week One – Tuesday Dinner

H'LHCF Logo
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Today’s post on “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” 

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Week One – Tuesday Dinner
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Chicken Noodle Soup
(Cornish Hen, Whole Grain Pasta, Broccoli)

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Bon Appetit ! Enjoy a Healthy, Happy Life !
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Salad Tessinoise

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Salad Tessinoise

Salad Tessinoise

 

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Preparation : 
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll



After being sick as a dog for the past few day’s, today I can at least walk again without fear of falling on my behind because my legs could not hold me up. So, as any sane person would do, the first thing to do was to prep a meal that would make me feel better. Shrimp and mayo might not seem very smart as a first solid meal in three day’s, but I am happy to report that three hours later I am still ok 🙂
(In case you wonder how I posted the last post about the fish in black bean sauce:
I usually have one or two post’s on stand-by for situations like this and all it needs is the push of a button, the rest takes care of itself)
Anyway, I hope my recovery is going to last for a good time to come and things will be back to normal, at least healthwise.
So here we go, today’s early, delicious lunch:

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll



Preparation :

mise en place

mise en place

shrimp, green peas, golden grpe tomatoes, radish, scallion

shrimp, green peas, golden grape tomatoes, radish, scallion

mayonnaise, sriracha, ketchup, brandy, horseradish, dijon mustard, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, lime juice

mayonnaise, sriracha, ketchup, brandy, horseradish, dijon mustard, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, lime juice

slice italian garlic roll in half (toasting optional)

slice italian garlic roll in half (toasting optional)

top with romaine leaves in  lime vinaigrette

top with romaine leaves in lime vinaigrette

top with generaos amount of shrimp salad

top with generous amount of shrimp salad, garnish with fennel leaves

serve with lime wedges and arugula in french dressing

serve with lime wedges and arugula in french dressing

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll

Old Fashioned Shrimp Roll



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Breakfast Of Champions # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg



Got  up late today, so a substantial breakfast and no lunch will be the order of the day 🙂
Later an early dinner and to bed early, 3.30am the new work week starts 😦
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Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
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Click here for more  Breakfast Of Champions

Breakfast Of Champions  # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions  # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg



Preparation :

fresh croissant

fresh croissant

cut croissants in half

cut croissants in half

saute ham in garlic oil, top two croissant halves with ham

saute ham in garlic oil, top two croissant halves with ham

top with sliced spicy chorizo

top with sliced spicy chorizo

top remaining two croissant halves with sweet chili sauce

top remaining two croissant halves with sweet chili sauce

grate asiago cheese on top of chorizo

grate asiago cheese on top of chorizo

top with two soft boiled eggs each

top with two soft-boiled eggs each

top with arugula in french dressing

top with arugula in french dressing

Breakfast Of Champions  # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions  # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions  # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg

Breakfast Of Champions # 38 – Croissant, Ham, Spicy Chorizo & Soft Boiled Egg



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Breakfast Of Champions # 36 – Naanwich

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A great  way to start a relaxing saturday at home with a couple of good movies, some good reading and lots of great food is to have a hearty breakfast of bubbly and a wonderful sandwich.
Here is what I fancied for a late breakfast by the lake this morning (besides a glass of veuveclicquot):

Naan with eggs, spicy chorizo, shrimp, chilies and arugula. Life is Good !

Bon Appetit & Cheers !   Have A Great Weekend !

 

Naanwitch

Naanwich

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cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

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Preparation :
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bake naan until golden, brush with butter and sprinkle with sea salt

bake naan until golden, brush with butter and sprinkle with sea salt

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saute diced chorizo in plenty of butter

saute diced chorizo in plenty of butter


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whisk whole eggs with chili sauce, sea salt and garlic paste

whisk whole eggs with chili sauce, sea salt and garlic paste

 

add to chorizo, add finely sliced chilies and butterflied cooked shrimp

add to chorizo, add finely sliced chilies and butterflied cooked shrimp

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking


Naan

Naan


 

top naan with eggs, top eggs with arugula in lime vinaigrette

top naan with eggs, top eggs with arugula in lime vinaigrette

Naanwitch

Naanwich

Naanwitch

Naanwich



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Pork Blade Steak



If  you are on a budget but still like to have more than a tiny steak for dinner, you might want to try this cut. While not overly popular, probably because folks don’ know how to prepare it, it is a great piece of meat, tender, juicy and very economic (meaning bloody cheap 🙂 ) The three steaks in the picture were just $ 4.20, so the whole meal was under six buck’s. Even if you are not on a budget, these steaks make for a great, tasty meal. I guess that most people would have had enough with just one steak (which would then be about $ 2.50 per portion, including the salad), but since I did not prepare any starch, the three of them with a small salad were just the right sized portion for me. And of course, Bella had a few bites too.

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula In White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula In White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

arugula with radish and onions in balsamic vinaigrette

arugula with radish and onions in white balsamic vinaigrette



Preparation :

season sliced onions and sliced radishes with kosher salt, set aside

season sliced onions and sliced radishes with kosher salt, set aside

season blade steaks with kosher salt, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper, dredge in flour, saute in peanut oil

season blade steaks with kosher salt, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper, dredge in flour, saute in peanut oil

almost.......

first one done, two to go…..

 

two done, last one on the way

two done, last one on the way



saute grapetomatoesin garlic/olive oil, season with salt and pepper, just before serving add fresh chives

saute grape tomatoes in garlic/olive oil, season with salt and pepper, just before serving add fresh chives

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meanwhile, squeeze and discard excess juice from radish and onions, add arugula, white balsamic vinegar, freshly ground white pepper, garlic/olive oil and a splash of maggi seasoning

meanwhile, squeeze and discard excess juice from radish and onions, add arugula, white balsamic vinegar, freshly ground white pepper, garlic/olive oil and a splash of maggi seasoning

 

 

arrange steaks on serving platter, top with sauteed tomatoes and chives

arrange steaks on serving platter, top with sauteed tomatoes and chives

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula In White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

arugula with radish and onions in balsamic vinaigrette

arugula with radish and onions in balsamic vinaigrette



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please be so kind and click on the video on the bottom of this page.  Thank you 🙂






Pizza With Mushroom, Gorgonzola, Gruyere, Tomato, Onion & Arugula

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Tonight,  my culinary enthusiasm was a bit limited by my lack of sleep last night.
( I went to sleep early at 11.30 pm, but Bella thought 2.30 am was a good time to get up, so she pestered me until I gave in and took her for a walk at 2.45 am.
Since I had my alarm set for 3.30 am ( busy 1st   day of school ), there was no point of going back to bed afterwards.
So, when I got home at 4.00pm, a quick and easy pizza had to make do for dinner.
( However, quick and easy should not mean crappy ! )
This little gem was far from crappy, on the contrary, I thought it was pretty awesome.
Quick, easy,crispy, tasty, juicy, delicious 🙂
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Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
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Click here for Pizza Dough Recipe

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Pizza With Mushroom, Gorgonzola, Gruyere, Tomato, Onion & Arugula

Pizza With Mushroom, Gorgonzola, Gruyere, Tomato, Onion & Arugula

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Poached Chicken, Arugula, Strawberry & Pomegranate

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This  dish was a bit unusual for me to prepare for myself, (fru fru ?  🙂  , but I had this craving for poached  chicken  with a twist. I really enjoyed the combination of chicken with: spicy  (chili oil, green peppercorn), sweet  (strawberries, pomegranate), slightly bitter ( arugula) and acidic  (lime juice). All in all, a successful dish which I will surely prepare again  🙂
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Poach the chicken in seasoned water until just done, still very juicy but cooked through.   ( Remove from simmering liquid at 162F. Cover loosely and let chicken rest  for 10 minutes. The carry-over heat will take it to a safe 165F without giving it a chance to dry out ).  Drizzle with chili oil mixed with a bit of soy sauce and lime and sprinkle with sauteed green peppercorn. Serve with salad and fruit of your choice .

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

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” What Would I find In My Fridge At 2.30AM? “

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Well, this morning, I found this:

Perigord pate, frozen bread roll, arugula, greek yoghurt, chili. radishes, avocado, seasoning.
Stuff to make a decent vinaigrette.     🙂

Life is good ! (More so at 2.30 am)
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