Few dishes say warm comfort food like Shepherds Pie. It’s easy, delicious, and a welcome friend at the table during these cold weeks of February. Traditionally made with lamb, I prefer ground beef, if you like lamb ( I don’t) you can certainly use it. I start by sauteing 1 small white or yellow onionContinue reading “Shepherds Pie”
Author Archives: philomenaaceto
Creamy Potato Soup (with no cream)
This is my wife’s favorite of all the soups that I make. It’s also one of the easiest and is one of the soups we especially love in these chilly Fall and Winter months. I have also discovered that this soup goes particularly well with Bourbon……but that’s another story! The best thing about this soupContinue reading “Creamy Potato Soup (with no cream)”
One Pot Roasted Tomato, Orzo and Feta
So it’s no secret that I love roasted/blistered tomatoes. I made this recipe as a main course but it can also be a great side dish. The orzo cooks right in the sauce which makes it a simple and minimal clean-up. I used my cast-iron dish skillet for this. Chop 1 medium onion and addContinue reading “One Pot Roasted Tomato, Orzo and Feta”
Eggplant Parmesan
My wife tells me that I am “picky” picky about my groceries, picky about restaurants on that rare occasion that we eat out, and picky about how things are prepared. Well after over 30 years in the food business, I reserve the right to be picky and I am very picky about my eggplant parm!Continue reading “Eggplant Parmesan”
Favorite Summer Salads
In my house, summer means no inside oven if I can possibly help it. These last few days have been just so hot and sticky so I thought I would share one of my favorite go-to summer salads. This salad is super simple and delicious and requires little time. As a kid this bread andContinue reading “Favorite Summer Salads”
Lemon Lover Greek Chicken & Potatoes
If I had to choose a favorite cuisine besides Italian it would definitely be Greek. I love the savory spices and the constant infusion of lemon in the Greek dishes. One of my favorite dishes in Greek restaurants is roast chicken and potatoes. In this house, we are lemon lovers, and any recipe that usesContinue reading “Lemon Lover Greek Chicken & Potatoes”
Red Pepper Love
It would be really difficult to pick one of the five senses that we have and single out a favorite. I mean they are all equally important right? But I think I would have to single out the sense of smell as the one that can totally transport me to a place of long, longContinue reading “Red Pepper Love”
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
It’s no secret that I have a real thing for blistered tomatoes and I use them in many recipes. This season, I will try my hand at actually growing my own…..gardening has never been my strong suit, but hey I’m willing to give it a whirl! This soup is a favorite in my house, asContinue reading “Roasted Tomato Basil Soup”
Eggplant Caponata: Ode To Stanley Part 2
I love eggplant and apparently so does my dear Stanley Tucci. This recipe is from his first cookbook and is a recipe of his mother’s. In fact, Stanley’s mother made this caponata and served at his first wedding to his late wife Kate. Caponata should be “agro dolce” which means slightly sour and slightly sweetContinue reading “Eggplant Caponata: Ode To Stanley Part 2”
Classic Marinara Sauce
When I used to teach classes my students would always ask me about my red sauce. In particular how long did I cook it. Italians are somewhat known for cooking their sauce or “gravy” as some refer to it for hours and hours. In my family, we never did that, I do remember my grandmotherContinue reading “Classic Marinara Sauce”