Italian Wedding Soup

Recipe courtesy of https://allrecipes.com

Ingredients for Italian Wedding Soup:

  • ½ pound extra-lean ground beef
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 5 ¾ cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups thinly sliced escarole
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
  •  cup finely chopped carrot

 

Instructions

  1. Combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and onion powder in a bowl.
  2. Shape beef mixture into 3/4-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined tray.
  3. Heat broth in a large pot over medium-high heat until boiling. Stir in escarole, orzo, carrot, and meatballs and return to boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook at slow boil, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until pasta is tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes.
  4. Serve hot and enjoy!

Quick and Easy Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Recipe courtesy of https://allrecipes.com

Ingredients for Cinnamon Roll Casserole:

  • 2 (12.4 ounce) packages refrigerated cinnamon roll dough with icing
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup brown sugar

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Open cinnamon roll packages and set icing packs aside.
  2. Chop cinnamon roll dough into 1/2-inch cubes and place in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour melted butter over dough pieces and toss lightly; spread into an even layer.
  3. Whisk cream, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla together in a small bowl; pour evenly over the dough pieces. Drizzle maple syrup over top and sprinkle with brown sugar.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 22 minutes. Drizzle icing over the top and serve.

Cook’s Note:

You can substitute milk for the heavy cream if preferred.

Fresh Spinach Madeline

Recipe courtesy of https://allrecipes.com

Ingredients for Fresh Spinach Madeline:

  • 1 (8 ounce) package baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup half-and-hlaf
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 2/3 cup shredded habanero-flavored cheese (such as Cabot®)
  • 2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs

 

Instructions

  1. Place spinach and water in a microwave-safe steamer. Microwave until spinach is wilted down, about 2 minutes. Drain off liquid and set spinach aside.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  3. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk in flour to create a paste. Season with salt. Pour in half-and-half, whisking continuously until smooth. Add onion, garlic, ancho chile powder, and cayenne, whisking until incorporated. Add spinach.

  4. Set aside 2 tablespoons habanero-flavored cheese. Stir remaining cheese into the spinach mixture and spoon into a small oval baking dish. Sprinkle with reserved cheese and bread crumbs.

  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Turn on the oven’s broiler and broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Quick Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

    Recipe courtesy of https://allrecipes.com

    Ingredients for Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins:

    • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
    • 2 cups white sugar
    • 1 cup solid pack pumpkin
    • 1/2 cup corn oil
    • 2 tablespoons orange zest
    • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
    • 1 teaspoon basking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 1/2 cups cranberries, halved

     

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

    2. Beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, corn oil, and orange zest in a small mixing bowl until smooth.

    3. Mix flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl with a fork. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour pumpkin mixture into the well; stir until the dry mixture is just moistened into a batter. Fold cranberries into the batter.

    4. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.

    5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes.

      Spaghetti Squash Carbonara

      Recipe courtesy of https://allrecipes.com

      Ingredients for Spaghetti Squash Carbonara:

      • 1 large spaghetti squash (4 to 5 pounds)
      • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
      • salt to taste
      • 8 ounces pancetta, cut into 1/4-inch dice
      • 2 large egg yolks
      • 1/2 cup water
      • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
      • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
      • 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
      • 1/2 cup grated pecorino Romano cheese
      • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley, for garnish

       

      Instructions

      1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.

      2. Cut 1 inch off each end of squash. Carefully cut squash crosswise into 3 equal sections. Use a spoon to scrape out all the seeds.

      3. Place squash pieces on the prepared baking sheet. Coat both sides of each section with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Generously season both sides with salt.

      4. Roast in the preheated oven until squash is tender, and strands can be easily pulled apart, 1 to 2 hours. Separate strands with two forks into “spaghetti.”

      5. Meanwhile, cook pancetta in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil until lightly browned, or as browned as you like, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.

      6. Add egg yolks, water, and freshly ground black pepper to a large mixing bowl, and whisk thoroughly.

      7. Transfer hot squash “spaghetti” into the bowl, and add butter and cooked pancetta, along with all rendered fat in the pan. Toss thoroughly with forks until evenly mixed. If desired, reserve a tablespoon or two of cooked pancetta to garnish the top once the final dish is baked.

      8. Add the Parmigiano and pecorino cheeses, and toss again. Taste for salt and add more if needed. Transfer into a shallow baking dish, and top with a little more grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
      9. Return to the oven at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) until heated through, about 15 minutes. To serve, scatter reserved pancetta over the top and sprinkle with a little more grated cheese and parsley.

      Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Peaches with Burrata and Basil

      Recipe courtesy of https://allrecipes.com

      Ingredients for Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Peaches with Burrata and Basil:

      • 2 ripe, sweet (but not soft) freestone peaches
      • 3 thin slices prosciutto, or more as needed, torn into ribbons
      • 8 small bamboo skewers, soaked in water 20 minutes
      • 6 ounces burrata cheese
      • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
      • Coarse sea salt to taste
      • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
      • 1 tablespoon finely sliced fresh basil leaves

       

      Instructions

      1. Preheat an outdoor grill at medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
      2. Cut peaches in half and remove peach stones. Cut each half in half again.
      3. Wrap prosciutto around each peach section; secure with small bamboo skewers.
      4. Grill peaches, turning often, until prosciutto gets a little crisp around the edges and peaches begin to caramelize, about 6 minutes.
      5. To serve, spoon burrata onto serving plates. Remove peaches from skewers; place several grilled peaches around cheese. Drizzle with olive oil. Top with a sprinkle of sea salt and pepper; garnish with basil.