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.