Saturday, May 30, 2015

Tuna Salad with Summer Greens

The Summer is a great time for making light, cool, refreshing salads. Who feels like cooking in the heat !  I am always trying to come up with new ideas for salads and this is my most recent one... it's a good one.    I serve it on a bed of greens but just as god on its own or stuffed in a pita.

Ingredients :

2 cans of tuna in olive oil.  Get the ones in olive oil, it's part of the dressing. Get a good quality, It makes a difference.

1/2 can of chick peas

1/4 of red onion, thinly sliced

3 TB of fresh parsley, chopped

2 celery stalks, diced

2-3 TB of capers

zest of one lemon

juice of one lemon

4 radishes, sliced and then cut into matchsticks

fresh cracked pepper

1/2 cup of shaved parmesan cheese

Mix all ingredients together. 



Salad greens
Sliced tomatoes




Sunday, May 3, 2015

Gnocchi with Mushroom Gorgonzola Cream Sauce

If you are a lover of stinky cheese, like Gorgonzola  you are going to love this dish !  The taste is not too intense  but you can definitely taste it.   Creamy, robust flavor and absolutely delicious. Just try it.  I serve this with sliced rib eye steaks.



1 package of gnocchi pasta, about 16oz or 1 lb.  You can make your own.. it is simple to do.  If you are short on time, packaged gnocchi is just as good.



1 shallot, about plum size or ½ of onion

2 TB butter,

2 Tb Olive oil

1 package of mushrooms, sliced. ( I used white button and baby bella mushrooms, you can use your favorite)

1 TB garlic, chopped

½ cup chicken stock,

½ cup cream

1/2 cup of fresh parmesan cheese ( or romano, asiago)

1 tsp crack black pepper

1 - 4 or 5oz container of crumbled gorgonzola cheese- Use it all.


HOW TO :

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add package of gnocchi.  Cook according to directions.



In a pan, with butter and olive oil, add the shallots, sautee about 1 minute, then add the mushrooms. You made have to add a little more olive oil. Sautee about 3-4 minutes until the mushrooms start to slightly brown. Add the garlic


To the same pan, add chicken stock and the cream. Stir to blend.



Add the parmesan cheese to the pan... stir, the sauce will become thicker.



Add pepper, parsley and the Gorgonzola cheese. Blend until the Gorgonzola has melted.
 
Add the cooked gnocchi
 
 

** I added another generous tablespoon of butter at the end and stirred it in.  Everything is better with butter.  Please don't substitute low fat milk for the cream, or margarine for the butter or low fat cheese. Live a little.


Enjoy Every Bite !