Tag: family
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Traditional Herb Crusted Prime Rib with Red Wine Reduction!
A true prime rib that is labeled USDA Certified Prime, is heavily marbled with a generous amount of fat. These cuts are usually reserved for top restaurants and are hard to come by. It may be better to seek out a fine aged prime rib. Aged beef is similarly hard to find in the supermarket,…
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Holiday Cheat Sheet- How Much to Shop, Cook and Serve!
As a professional chef, one of the most frequent questions I’m asked is how much food do you need to feed each guest? So, I decided to build a mini cheat sheet for the upcoming holiday season! Hope this helps! Every 2.4 pounds of food you donate creates a meal…
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The Brussel Sprout Files!
Below is a formula sure to make your Brussels sprouts a success, no matter what flavor profile you’re after—sweet, salty, or tangy! Brussels sprouts are aggressive in flavor. You either love them or hate them. There are many ways to cook them, too—from baked chips to chopped salads. At home,…
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Charred Beef Tip with Chinese Five Spice and Grilled Cara Cara Oranges
Chinese five-spice is pungent and encompasses all five tastes—sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami—and uses five different spices. This dynamic Asian seasoning is a mixture of star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. It’s easy to make at home, but it’s ok to purchase it premade too.…
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Stuffed Mushrooms with Italian Sausage, Sherry and Parmesan Cheese
First, a little “Housekeeping” regarding mushrooms: How to purchase a brown ( Cremini ) or white (Champion or Button) shaped mushroom. If you know me, you know I love to forge in the wild for mushrooms. Shopping for mushrooms in a large chain grocery store can be like hunting. By…
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The Best Thanksgiving Stuffing I’ve Ever Made!
Grand Mariner Apricot and Sausage Stuffing. This recipe is adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook. One of the first cookbooks I ever purchased. Co-Authors, Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso Miller were hot on the gourmet carry-out scene in 1980’s. They really kicked off the “Artisan” food trend! From that birthed,…
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Fresh Summer Cherry Vinaigrette
It’s easy to speed through the Central Valley of California or roll along the farm-bounded country roads less traveled, and find some great fresh fruits, nuts and delicious vegetables, especially during summer. If you find yourself in the heart of some of the world’s most productive farmland, grab yourself…
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Skinny Garlic Pommes Frites
In the production of a really good ‘French Fry” the type of fat used to fry with can make all the difference. Not to mention the type of potato and the potatoes sugar content will make a difference as well. Seriously, this subject for scholarly debate! Many establishments that place “Pommes Frites”…
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Stromboli- Dinner in 30!
Unlike a calzone, a stromboli does not contain sauce. Invented in the 1950’s on the east coast in Pennsylvania. An Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria claims to be the first to have used the name, Stromboli. Rumor has it the pizzeria owner had experimented with “pizza imbottito”, or “stuffed pizza”, and…
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Flatbread Made Three ways. Grilled, Baked or on the Stove Top
I love making fresh Flatbread, from Fry Bread, Naan, and Pitas. The list goes on. Just about every country has a type of prized flatbread recipe. I can’t decide if I like it made better in my cast iron pan on the stovetop, or my pizza stone baked in the…
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Soft HomeMade Pretzels
Ingredients: 1 cup warm water (105°F) 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast Vegetable oil 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon organic cane sugar 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus Maldon or Large grain salt for garnish 8 -10 cups water 1/8 cup baking soda Method: With the vegetable oil,…
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Buttered Baba Ganoush
Buttered Baba Ganoush -(Moutabal aka, baba ganoush) is made with aubergines, tahini, pine nuts and plenty of garlic. Beautiful and exotic — these are two words that best describe a delicate, aubergine. They come in so many varieties. Most commonly seen are the lavender to purple varieties, but what many of us didn’t know,…
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10 Minute Umami Fried Rice
During the week families need meals that are fast, cheap and easy. If I make rice I ALWAYS make additional and set some aside just for this recipe. My family loves this fried rice and I do too because it is practically a meal-in-itself. Add sautéed shrimp or grilled chicken…
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Green Monster Muffins!
My stance on getting sneaky in the kitchen is very simple. I don’t like to lie about food, especially to children. I also know how hard it can be to get little ones to eat green. Fun holidays like, Halloween or St. Patricks Day and year end holiday are a…
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Loaded – Jalapeno Popper Potato Skins!
Ingredients: 3-4 jalapeños 2 pounds small round baby potatoes, about 2 inches in size. 2 Tablespoons organic canola or vegetable oil, divided 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 pound pancetta or center cut strip bacon, cooked crisp, drained of excess…
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Fun P B & J Sushi Rolls The Littles Can Make Themselves!
Kids should be in the kitchen as little as 2-3 years old with supervision! Teaching them and getting them get tactile is so important in so many ways. Here is a good introductory lunchtime activity to get them involved. Keep in mind, kids are more likely to eat what they…
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Pumpkin Spiced FlapJacks with Bacon Maple Butter
This recipe is best when made with fresh pumpkin puree. Pancakes won’t be so orange and the batter will result in a lighter, fluffier pancake. If pumpkins are not in season, or you are rushed for time– it’s fine to use canned pumpkin. Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour…
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French Onion Soup, from an Italian Nona’s Kitchen!
Ingredients: 4-6 Tablespoons unsalted cold butter, divided 12 yellow onions. Peeled and sliced in 1/4 inch rings 1 Tablespoons good quality olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 -1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 6-8 cups the best quality, low-sodium beef broth 1 large bay leave 4 sprigs of fresh thyme…
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Individual Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pies, topped with Buttery Puff Pastry! Perfect Cold Weather Comfort Food!
Ingredients: 2 -3 Tablespoons flour, plus more for surface 1 pack frozen puff pastry, preferably all-butter, thawed 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 onion, diced 1 small carrot, peeled and thinly sliced into 1/4 inch pieces 1 large celery stalk, peeled and thinly sliced into 1/4 inch pieces 4 small Yukon…
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Plain and Simple. Chicken Udon Noodle Soup. (If you have a noodle eater in your family, this is a recipe must have! )
This recipe is an adaption from Chef Gigi’s signature cooking class; for kids, “Have you Lost your Noodle”? A pasta & noodle making series. You can really add just about anything to your soup. It’s YOUR Soup! Experiment. Ingredients: 1/2-1 rotisserie chicken, deboned and skin removed- meat cut or torn…
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Meatballs are all the rage! Here is one of my fun recipes you can make at home. Sunday Italian Meatballs- in a Spicy Red Sauce with Basil and Burrata!
Burrata [boor-RAH-tuh] The name ‘burrata’ means ‘buttered’ in Italian. A delicious, rich, glossy-white, unripened cheese made by combining mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella – while the inside contains creamy texture! For the meatballs: 1 pound ground pork 1 pound ground beef or veal 2 large eggs …
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Yay, Slow Cooking Season has Arrived! Try my Families Favorite, Slow Sunday Chicken Chile Verde!
There’s a bit of prep up front- but this makes the final flavors all worth the extra effort! Ingredients: 2 lbs. tomatillos, husked (paper skins, removed) and cut in half 4 lg. poblano or anaheim peppers, cut in have seeds and stem removed 1-2 jalapeños, (depending on your spice preference)…
Chef Gigi Gaggero 