BAKED RIBS

GREEK SPAGHETTI

The first time i ate this pasta was on a boat on our way to Patras, Greece. I just love this pasta and so with my family that's why i decided to make it at home


INGREDIENTS

1 lb spaghetti
1 lb ground beef
1 medium chopped onion
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1/3 cup chopped parsley
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup red wine
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp cinnamon powder
1 can 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste

In a pan sautee the onion, parsley and tomato paste. Add the ground beef let it brown then add the red wine. Add the can of tomatoes, nutmeg and cinnamon after it boils let it cook in a low heat for 45 minutes stir it occasionally. Then you can add the sauce to the cooked spaghetti and add some cheese any kind that you want for me i like it with shredded mozzarella and provolone cheese.

GARLIC BREAD

                              One of my favorites especially if i am having Pasta for dinner

INGREDIENTS

2 loaves of french bread or any bread that you like
4 cloves crushed garlic
1 8 oz cream cheese softened
1 stick butter softened
1/2 cup chopped parsley

Mix all the ingredients on a bowl then spread on a bread and bake it @ 375 for 30 minutes

BAKED CHICKEN with MUSTARD

                               This is my husband's recipe i love it and the kids love it :)

INGREDIENTS


1 whole chicken cut into pieces
4 thin sliced medium potatoes
3 cloves chopped garlic
1/2 cup mustard
1 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp oregano
2 whole lemon
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp fresh thyme

In a baking dish arrange the chicken and potatoes. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, oregano and thyme. In a bowl put the zest and juice of lemons then mix it with the mustard then add the olive oil and mix it again then add it into the chicken. Bake the chicken @375F for 45 mins to 1 hour.

BAKED WHITING FILLETS

                                                        Very light and easy to make
                               I made this recipe just for you my dear sister ENJOY!!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb whiting fillets
salt and pepper to taste
dash of oregano
pinch of red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 lemon

In a baking dish arrange the fish then season it with all the ingredients. You don't need to put the red pepper if you don't like it and you can add more olive oil if you want it. Bake it @350F pre heated oven for 20 minutes. When serving add the lemon juice as well as the zest .

PASTA WITH MUSSELS and SHRIMP

The seafood here in Italy are really good and fresh especially if you buy it in the market i am going to miss it when we go back to the states :)


INGREDIENTS

3/4 lb spaghetti
1 lb mussels
1/4 lb fresh shrimp
3 cloves chopped garlic
1 lemon
1/2 cup parsley
2 sliced button mushrooms
1 carrot thin sliced
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup white wine or vermouth
salt and pepper to taste
1 can baby clams

In a pan add the olive oil and butter then sautee the garlic, mushrooms and 2/3 of the parsley . Then add the can of baby clams with the liquid, juice and zest of whole lemon and the wine. Let it boil then add the mussels and cover it when the mussels are cooked add the carrots and shrimp then when the shrimp is done add the cooked pasta. It's good with parmesan cheese and that's another good thing of living here in Italy fresh parmesan are so affordable !!

SLOPPY JOE's

                                   This is the kind of food that verybody will like especially the kids :)


INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground beef
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 diced white onion
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp vinegar
8 mini buns

Sautee the onion with the olive oil in a pan add the meat then the rest of the ingredients except for the bun. Mix it thoroughly then after it boils let it simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve it in a bun...

TALLARIN SALTADO

                                                      Another great Peruvian dish !!!!


INGREDIENTS


3/4 lb spaghetti
1/2 lb sliced beef or chicken
3 green onions
1 sliced red onion
1 sliced tomato
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp white vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

In a pan stir fry the beef for 2 minutes then add the red onion, tomato and green onions then season it and add the soy sauce. When it's done add the cooked spaghetti and the vinegar after mix it all together. You can use chicken instead of beef if you want too.

CARROT and CABBAGE SALAD

This is a crunchy and delicious salad and of course easy to make and it has these beautiful colors. Presentation wise this will really look good on your table.


INGREDIENTS

3 shredded carrots
1/2 purple cabbage sliced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 red onion thinly sliced
1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil

In this salad sliced the red onion first add some salt, pepper, lemon zest and the juice of the whole lemon then set it aside. Sliced the rest of the ingredients and mix it with the onion then add the olive oil.

COUSCOUS with SHRIMP

This is a great recipe you have everything in it protein, vegetables and the carbohydrates also it has a lot of flavor. The leftover you can eat it cold kind of a couscous salad and it is very easy and fast to make.


INGREDIENTS

3 cups couscous
1 lb fresh shrimp
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 carrot minced
3 mushrooms thinly sliced
1 small diced onion
2 cloves crushed garlic
3 Tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
3 thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

In a pan sautee the garlic, onion mushrooms and carrot then add the broth and shrimp. When the shrimp is cooked take it out from the pan and set it aside. When the broth is boiling add the couscous the moment it goes back to boiling again turn the fire off and cover it. After 5 minutes fluff it with a fork then add the rest of the ingredients.

BAKED TILAPIA

                              I grew up in the Philippines so we eat a lot of fish there!!
                                         Also very FAST and EASY to cook ...

INGREDIENTS


1 lb fillets tilapia
1/2 lb cherry tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp dried oregano
3 Tbsp olive oil

Arrange the fillets in a baking dish then add all the ingredients if you want a little spice to it add red pepper flakes then bake it @350F preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

LOMO SALTADO

I have to say this is a CLASSIC Peruvian dish,  there is an Asian influenced to it . Lomo Saltado is the first Peruvian dish that i really like when i was living there. My friend Susan have eaten it in a Peruvian Restaurant in California and of course she love it too in fact she always ask for the recipe :) My friend here it is ....

INGREDIENTS

1 lb Sirloin Strips
2 medium sliced fried potatoes
1 sliced red onion
1 sliced tomato
1 clove chopped garlic
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp white vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil

I normally turn the fire high on this because it is like cooking a stir fry. In a pan add the olive oil when it is hot add the sirloin, garlic, salt and pepper as well as the soy sauce. When the meat is almost cook add the onion then the tomato when it's done add the cilantro and the vinegar then serve it with the fried potatoes.

SEAFOOD RISOTTO

This is one of my favorite food when i was pregnant with my son Trey. That was the time we moved here in Aviano, Italy so i always ordered it everytime we're on a restaurant. Just this year i created my own seafood risotto recipe and a few friends are already asking for this recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 lb shrimp                                                             3 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb mussels                                                           3 Tbsp butter
2 1/2 cups arborio rice                                            6 to 8 cups veg or chicken broth
1 onion diced                                                         4 Tbsp tomato paste
2 cloves garlic                                                        1 tsp red pepper flakes
3 tomatoes diced                                                   2 Tbsp tabasco sauce
1 cup white wine                                                    1/2 cup parmesan cheese
a few sprigs of parsley for garnish

In a pan add the olive oil and butter then sautee the onions, garlic, tomato paste and the rice. Add the rice, red pepper flakes and tabasco sauce. For those of you doesn't like spicy food you can skip with the red pepper and tabasco and for those who wants more flavor you can add spicy chorizo instead of red pepper flakes. When the rice is brown add the wine and when it boils turn the fire down to simmer you have to keep stirring while slowly adding the broth until the rice cooked to al dente. Then add the shrimp and mussels and cover it to let it cook. Serve it with the parmesan and garnish it with parsley.

FRIED CALAMARI

Also good with TZATZIKI SAUCE it is my family's favorite food  !!!! check out my other blog for the tzatziki sauce recipe


INGREDIENTS

1/2 lb fresh calamari rings
1/2 cup flour
salt and peper to taste
1 Tbsp paprika powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper ( only if you like spicy food)
oil for frying


Put the flour, salt, peper and paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper in a baggy then shake it so all the flour and spices will be mix.  Then coat the calamari with the flour and spices mix then fry it. I always use olive oil for cooking and frying. I just think it is healthy especially for my 2 angels Zoe and Trey:)

BAKED SLICED POTATOES

Very simple to make and kids would love it,  the reason i posted this recipe in my blog because this is so good with tzaziki sauce ,,, one of my son "Trey" 's favorite food 

INGREDIENTS


3 medium sliced potatoes
olive oil (calculate)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp dried oregano

Arrange the potatoes in a dish or cookie pan put salt, pepper, oregano and olive oil then bake it @400F for 30 to 45 minutes

TZATZIKI SAUCE

Tzaziki sauce is a dressing that they use for gyros also very good for fried calamari, bread and fried potatoes. My daughter Zoe just love it especially for her fried calamari and bread.


INGREDIENTS

1/2 shredded cucumber
300 gms of greek yogurt
3 cloves crushed garlic
3 Tbsp olive oil

I normally kind of take out some of the juice of the cucumber then i mix it with the yogurt, garlic and olive oil. It will taste a lot better if you make it a day before you will use it. Also if your kids doesn't like fresh garlic you can put just a little or not at all it is all up to you

GREEN BEANS SALAD

I think this is the time of the year that people make green bean recipes especially casserole but i'd rather make a green bean salad :)

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs fresh green beans                            
1 lb grape or cherry tomatoes
1 red onion thinly sliced
1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup thinly sliced shallots                   
2 cups sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 cup pancetta or bacon
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Boil green beans when it's tender put it in a strainer and put cold water with ice on it to stop from cooking also to preserve that gorgeous green color of it. Then take the water out and put it in the refrigerator. In a pan add olive oil and the pancetta or bacon then the shallots and mushrooms when it's cooked put it in a bowl and set it aside. Add the zest and juice of the lemon in the red onion then add salt and pepper then add it with the green beans, tomatoes then add the pancetta and mixed it together.

SHRIMP PASTA

One of the things that I really enjoy doing is COOKING but frankly speaking I am not a good writer :) Most of my friends ask for my recipes everytime I cooked something that is the reason I  decided to create a blog where they could look and read at it then cook at their home. This parcticular recipe my kids love SHRIMP PASTA simple and very easy to make ...

INGREDIENTS                                       

1/4 lb fresh shrimp
1/2 lb spaghetti pasta
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 tsp oregano
3 ripe diced tomatoes
1/2 cup fresh or dried basil
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste


Add a couple of Tbsp of olive oil in a pan brown the garlic then add the oregano, basil, and tomato paste. Then add the tomatoes and the shrimp. When the shrimp is cooked take it out from the pan let the tomatoes cook more then add the pasta and put back the shrimp. If you don't like shrimp you can also put chicken also add cheese if you want.