I am so excited to introduce to you a new fantastic product: Mezzetta Everything Spread! These spreads are awesome and I wanted to try them all, and I will. I had some unexpected guests let us know that they would be in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by. I needed to serve them a little something, but I also wanted it to be unique, and delicious of course.
I didn’t have much time, but I knew that I could whip up an recipe that everyone would love!
I have always loved baking. I didn’t discover a love of cooking until after I got married three years ago, but baking, I’ve always loved. Granted, my definition of “baking” before was using boxed mix, I still always loved baked goods more than anything else. As I’ve grown in my cooking skills, my baking skills have grown too. I remember the first time I tried to make muffins. I used a complicated recipe that required lots of unnecessary steps and in the end my muffins didn’t turn out at all. Didn’t even make it to the oven. So now, even though I love baking, I still prefer easy recipes that truly anyone can bake from. Good food just simply doesn’t have to be complicated.
As crazy as it sounds, the most comforting food to me is ethnic food. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cheeseburger hot off the grill or something equally as American on occasion, but 9 times out of 10 if I am feeling tired, sad, or emotional I am craving something from another continent. Last week my husband went out of town for a business trip, and so I was left cooking for just myself. No fun right? Well, I was actually thrilled about it because my husband is not the biggest fan of some of my favorite dishes. So I went to the grocery store, and picked out ingredients that I knew I could never get away with using when my hubby is at home, and off I went.
I made this chow mein to accompany me, my couch, and endless television shows…it was like I was back in college with take out! It was yummy, quick and easy to make, and even better cold the next day! Soba noodles are really great for you as they are made from buckwheat flour, winning!
My husband and I participate in a weekly produce co-op. Every Saturday morning, we pick up a basket full of delicious fruits and veggies–we don’t know beforehand what we’ll be getting each week. This week I was pleased to discover two big, beautiful bunches of asparagus and red bell peppers. It was a sign–we were having smoked salmon farfalle for dinner.
This dish is one of my favorites that we served in the restaurant I worked in during high school–I still have my battered, stained pocket size notebook with the recipe I scribbled down as the chef taught me to make it. My husband absolutely loves this dish too, so anytime asparagus is on sale, we make this pasta. If we’re really craving it and asparagus isn’t in season, we’ll substitute frozen peas.
