Pasta with Olives and Ricotta

Are you in a hurry?!? Here a quick solution for your meal!

Persons: 4

Preparation: 20 min

Ingredients:

400g pasta

1 jar of black olives

4 full soup spoons of Ricotta

Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Steps:

1. Cut the Olives in pieces taking away bones and place them in a pan with 3 spoons of oil, salt and pepper for 2 min.
2. Meanwhile, start cooking pasta in boiling water.
3. When pasta is ready add it in the pan with the Olives, ricotta and a spoon of the boiling water from the pasta.
4. Stir all together for 2 min.

Potatoes and Mushrooms Soup

Persons: 2

Preparation time: 10 min

Cook time: 20 min

Ingredients: 

2 table spoons of olive oil

1/2 litre of vegetable stock

parsley

250 grams mushrooms

2 potatoes

pepper 

salt

half onion 

Steps:

1. Clean mushrooms and cut them in pieces.
2. Clean, peel and cut the potatoes in square (nearly 1cmx1cm).
3. Heat the Stock in a big pan.
4. Meanwhile, in a fry pan heat the oil and add the onion finely chopped, mushrooms and potatoes.
5. Add the vegetables to the stock and cook them for nearly 15/20 min.
6. When it is ready, add salt, pepper and parsley.

Spaghetti puttanesca

Persons: 4 (hungry)
Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 15 min

Ingredients:
1 pound spaghetti (I love the thick one)
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 handful capers
2 handfuls big black olives
12 anchovy fillets chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil
400 gr cans tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

1. Cook the spaghetti in salted and boiling water. 
2. Fry the garlic, capers, olives, anchovies in a little olive oil for a 2 minutes. 
3. Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer, and continue to cook for 10 minutes low heat.
4. Remove from the heat, plunge the drained spaghetti into it, toss it over, and cover with the sauce. 

Suggestions: You can put on the top either black pepper or hot pepper and extra olive oil.

Aubergines Sandwiches

Persons: 4

Preparation time: 20 min

Cook time: 10 min 

Ingredients:

2 medium aubergines

ricotta cheese

3 tomatoes

Olive Oil

Salt

Basil

Steps:

1. Cut the aubergines in slices. Meanwhile, heat in a pan the oil.
2. Now place the aubergines in the oil and fry for a couple of minute each side.
3. When the aubergines are ready (wait them to become cold) start make the sandwiches with one slice of tomatoes and one tablespoon of ricotta, salt and basil (each sandwich will have two layers)
4. Cook the sandwiches in the oven for 5 min, 180°C

Suggestions: Toast some bread slides to eat with them

Fennel, potato and onion soup

This is my mum's new soup recipe. It is excellent and extremely easy to prepare.

Persons: 6
Preparation time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h

Ingredients:
2 fennel (large)
2 big onions
2 potato
100 ml milk
1 cup of water
1 clove of garlic
500 ml vegetable stock

Steps:

1. Cut the fennel, onions and potatoes in small pieces.
2. Place the veggies and all the other ingredients in a big pan.
3. Cover with the lid and cook for 1 hour at low heat.

Suggestions: Toast some bread slides with a teaspoon of olive oil and rosemary. Cut it small pieces and place on the top of the soup.

Pasta with broccoli and anchovies

Persons: 6
Preparation time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min

Ingredients:
2 broccoli
1 anchovies
1 lb short pasta
1 garlic
salt
1 teaspoon of olive oil
hot pepper

Steps

1. Place broccoli in small pieces into a big pan with salt and at least 2 l of water. 
2. When the water boils and the broccoli have changed color (they are greener than before) add the pasta.
3. In a different pan place the olive oil, garlic and anchovies at low heat.
4. When the pasta is cooked (around 10 minutes), add the pasta and broccoli to the anchovies mix and cook for 1 more minutes.

 Suggestions: before serving you might add some hot pepper and olive oil on the top.

Fish Fillet au gratin

Persons: 2
Preparation time: 20 min
Cook time: 20/25 min

Ingredients:
2 white fish fillets
breadcrumbs
oil
capers
salt
sage

Steps:

1. Cover the upper side of the fish fillets with olive oil, now add the breadcrumbs to cover fillets.
2. Add salt, 2 teaspoons of capers and sage.
3. Cook in oven at 180C for 20/25 min.

Suggestion: As side dish, cook with the fish some potatoes (cut in small pieces) so they can be ready at the same time.

Bigoli in salsa - Spaghetti with anchovies

This a traditional sauce for pasta in Venice. It requires few ingredients and it is excellent in many occasions. The best type of pasta for this sauce are "bigoli" although, it is not easy to find them outside Italy. A good alternative are thick spaghetti.

Persons: 4
Preparation time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 large onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
12 anchovies
500 grams of spaghetti (bigoli, bucatini or other thick pasta)
1 bunch flat leaf parsley (chopped)
1/4 dry white wine

Steps:

1. Finely chop the onions (the onion should melt into the sauce).
2. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the very finely chopped onion over a low heat until you have a soft, golden mush - about 15/20 minutes. 
3. Add the anchovies finely chopped and the wine, stir it in and let the mixture cook for 20 minutes at very low heat.
4. When this has come together as a puree, take the pan off the heat.
5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in abundant salted water according to the packet instructions, removing a ladleful of cooking liquid just before you drain it.
6. Tip the drained pasta into the anchovy and onion sauce and add the reserved cooking water to help lubricate the pasta. 

Option: you can sprinkle over the parsley, just roughly chopped or some ground pepper.

Frittata with potatoes

Person: 2
Preparation: 20min

Ingredients:
2 potatoes
4 eggs
1 onion
Oli
Salt
Peper

Steps:

1. Cut the potatoes and cook them in boiling water for around 10 min.
2. Meanwhile, cook onions in small pieces in a pan with a teaspoon of oil.
3. Add the potatoes to the onion and cook all together for 5 min.
4. In a bowl, stir 4 eggs with salt and pepper.
5. Add the mix to the potatoes and onions.
6. Cook for 5 min and after it, with the help of a plate turn up side down and cook for other 5 min.

Insalata di spinaci con pancetta e pomodori secchi - Baby spinach with dried tomatoes and crispy bacon

Persons: 1

Preparation: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups of baby spinach
1/2 cup dried tomatos
2 slides of bacon

Steps:

1. Cook at low heat the bacon, it takes 5 minutes to become crispy. Dry it with a paper towel and cut in small pieces
2. Place baby spinach in a plate, on the top place some dried tomatoes and the crispy bacon.
3. Use olive oil, ground pepper and salt as dressing.

Suggestions: you can substitute the baby spinach with arugola and the crispy bacon with small pieces of speck. You can also add more ingredient such as flakes of Parmesan cheese and black olives.

Pasta Ricotta and Zucchini

A vegetarian sauce for pasta.

Persons: 4
Preparation: 20 min

Ingredients:
400g pasta
3 zucchini
4 full soup spoons of Ricotta
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Oregan

Steps:

1. Cut the zucchini in pieces and place them in a pan with 3 spoons of oil salt and peper for 10 min.
2. Meanwhile, start cooking pasta in boiling water (cook time depend on pasta's kind)
3. When pasta is ready add it to the zucchini, Ricotta and a spoon of water.
4. Stir all together for 1 minute

Turkey with potatoes, cherry tomatoes and capers

My new recipe for turkey. It is good if you are on a diet but you want something tasty. Buon Appetito!

Persons: 2
Preparation: 25 min

Ingredients:
3 turkey breast
2 potatoes
15 cherry tomatoes
3 tea spoon of capers
Olive Oil
Salt
Oregan or Basil

Steps:

1. Peel the two potatoes and cut them in slices. Put them in boiling water for 5 min
2. Cut the cherry tomatoes and place them in a pan adding two spoons of Olive Oil, salt, oregan or basil
3. Now cut the turkey breast in pieces and add them in to the pan
4. take the boiled potatoes out from the water and put them in the same pan.
5. Now cook all together for 5/10 min until the turkey is ready.

Tilapia fillet with Brussels Sprouts

This is a healthy and quick way for a seafood dish. 

Persons: 2

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

3 Tilapia fillets 

20 Brussels Sprouts

1/4 Onion

Soy sauce

Thyme 

Sesame seeds

Salt

Pepper

Lemon Juice

Olive oil 

Steps:

1. Clean the sprouts and steam them for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Cut onions is small pieces then stir-fry with olive oil and soy sauce.
3. Then stir-fry the sprouts with onions.
4. In another pan cook at low-medium heat the tilapia fillets with a teaspoon of olive oil, a teaspoon of lemon juice, fresh pepper, salt, thyme and sesame seeds for 7 minutes on both sides.
5. Ready!

Mozzarella in Carrozza

The nice thing about a mozzarella in carrozza is that they are just amazing! The taste is awesome and every time a prepare them I am surprised about how quick the preparation is.

Persons: 3 
Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 mozzarella
6 slices whole-wheat bread
3 slides of ham
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
Olive oil for frying
2 cups (about) all-purpose flour

Steps:

1. Divide half of the 6 bread slices (you get 12 slice of bread).
2. Divide the cheese equally among 6 bread slices. 
3. Top with a piece of mozzarella and a piece of ham. Cover with the remaining bread slices, pressing gently, to form 6 sandwiches (check that they are completely closed).
4. Whisk the eggs and salt in a large bowl until well blended and frothy. 
5. Place the flour in a medium bowl. 
6. Add enough oil to a heavy large frying pan to come 1/2-inch up the sides of the pan. 
7. Heat the oil over medium heat. 
8. Dredge the sandwiches in the flour to coat lightly, then dredge them in the egg mixture to coat completely and place in the hot oil. 
9. Cook until the sandwiches are golden (about 2 minutes per side). 
10. Serve hot.

Suggestions: If you like, you can substitute anchovies for the ham, the taste is great!

Crepes with French beans and pesto sauce

This is a quick recipe, low calories and vegetarian!

And if you have kids around, they will love to help you to prepare and eat the crepes.

Persons: 2

Time of preparation: 30 minutes

Ingredients: 

French beans

Pesto sauce

4 eggs 

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup pf milk

salt

Steps:

1. Steam green beans (you can either use the traditional steamer basket or in the microwave with 3 table spoon of water for 5 minutes).
2.  Once the beans have cooked, transfer them to a pan and add two table spoon of pesto sauce. Cook at low heat for 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk together. Beat in flour mixture until smooth. Add salt (and pepper).
4. Heat a pan over medium high heat (you can add either oil or butter, but I have tried without anything an it was great and more healthy). 
5. Scoop the batter onto the pan, using approximately 2 tablespoons for each crepe. Tip and rotate pan to spread batter as thinly as possible. Brown on both sides.
6. When the crepes are ready, add the beans and roll. 

I have also prepare a side sauce with some pesto left and Greek yogurt and it was delicious!

Linguine with Dry tomatoes and bread crumbs

There are hundreds of way to prepare an excellent pasta. This is one of my favorite. The recipe is originally from my grandpa from Sicily.

Person: 2
Preparation: 15 min

Ingredients:
200 g of Linguine
12 dry tomatoes
2 full spoons of bread crumbs
Pepper

Steps:

1. Cook Linguine in boild water with salt for 10 min (check them and do not overcook!).
2. In a pan add the 12 dry tomatoes cut in small pieces, 4 tea spoon of their oil (or if you prefer olive oil) and the 2 spoons of crumbed bread and cook it until it get hot.
3. Add Linguine to the pan and mix all together with pepper for less the one minute.

Beef stew with potato - Bocconcini di manzo con patate

I was not in the mood of preparing the Italian spezzattino, too long!
So I have opted for something easier but very good.
The amount of ingredients used for this recipe varies according how much beef available you have.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
Flour
Beef
Lemon
Tyme
Red potato
Pepper
Butter

Steps

1. While the pan is heating, arrange the flour on a large dish. 
2. Season the cubed beef with some salt and freshly ground black pepper and then toss in the flour to coat. 
3. Shake off the excess flour and add the beef chunks in a single layer to the hot pan with a teaspoon of olive oil and lemon juice. 
4. Thoroughly brown all of the cubes on all sides (it takes around 40 minutes)
5. Once all the meat has been browned remove it to a plate and serve.
6. As side dish I prepare red potatoes backed with butter.

Suggestions: If you do not have time, place your potato in a microwave bowl, cover them and cook at maximum power for at least 4 minutes (time depends on the amount of potatoes).

Cous cous and Salmon

This a Mediterranean way to prepare salmon.

Persons: 2
Preparation: 20 min

Ingredients:
2 salmon fillet
3 peppers
1 onion
2 cups of cous cous
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Oregan

Steps:

1. Cut peppers and onion in pieces and place them in a pan with oil, salt, pepper and oregano. 
2. Place the pan in the oven for 20 min at 180°C.
3. Grill the salmon in a pan (you do not need oil) add salt and oregano.
4. In boil water (should be nearly 1cm over the cous cous) add the cous cous and wait until the cous cous absorbs the all water.
5. Mix the cous cous with peppers and onion.

Enjoy!

Apple Salad

Are you tired of the same salad? Try this one!

Persons: 2

Preparation time: 10 min

Ingredients:

Salad (your favourite!)

1 apple

70 gr walnuts

1 fennel

For the sauce: mix 2 spoons of mustard, lemon juice and olive oil.

1. Add in a bowl the salad, the apple and the fennel previously cut in pieces and the walnuts.
2. Dress all with the mustard sauce!

A Special thank to Fede's mom

Panino prosciutto e mozzarella (mozzarella and ham sandwich)

This is the quickest thing you can prepare and it is great!

Person: 1

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

3 slides of mozzarella

1 slide of prosciutto

ciabatta bread

olive oil

origan

Cut in half the bread and toast in for 2 minutes.

Add mozzarella and let it melt for 2 minutes.

Then add olive oil, origan and ham.