Farfalle Alfredo with Pancetta and Mushrooms

it's time to make dinner.

8 – 12 oz. Farfalle

4 oz. pancetta

8 oz. heavy cream

½ lb. mushrooms

1 tbsp. olive oil

¼ lb. butter

1 egg yolk 

black pepper

parmesan

romano

asiago

while the farfalle is cooking, make the sauce.

Food process the pancetta until ground. In a sauce pan, saute the ground pancetta and mushrooms with a little olive oil for 10 min. add the cheeses. When the cheese melts into the sauce, turn the flame off.

Quickly add in the egg yolk and butter and mix. Put the pasta into the sauce pan and add pepper.

i didn't add salt.  the pancetta does it for you!

That's it!  Sorry for the poor picture.

Roasted Cauliflower

i was thinking roasted cauliflower for lunch.  i picked some up at the supermarket this morning.

preheat oven about 425°F

cauliflower
olive oil
lemon juice
salt and pepper
garlic powder
cumin
paprika
sumac
cayenne pepper

*mix all ingredients with the cauliflower.  roast the cauliflower for about 40 min to 60 min (turning on 20 - 30 min).
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for the tahini sauce:

1/2 cup tahini
chopped garlic (as much as you can stand!)
olive oil
salt

*mix it well.

pour the sauce on the cauliflower. 

Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken with Mushroom Sauce

this was slightly difficult especially when you've come home from work on a Friday but cooking prevailed.

i didn't use basil in the stuffing.  i used washed and packed crimini mushrooms.  make sure you reduce the mushroom mixture down to it's thickened (wait a while).  next time i won't salt the chicken, the prosciutto will do that.  it came out slightly salty.  i preferred to slice the chicken when it was done.  i just let it cool down for 5 min.  you pour the sauce on top.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/quick-recipes/2012/11/prosciutto-stuffed-chicken-with-mushroom-sauce

Chestnut Soup

yesterday during thanksgiving dinner, we were served chestnut soup.  it was delicious.  i thought I'd might give it a try.

i used fresh jarred chestnuts and pureed them.

http://www.oprah.com/food/Cream-of-Chestnut-Soup

Souffle with Vegetables

like to make it quick and easy.

ingredients:

Pillsbury cut out dough
chopped and sauteed artichokes, onions, garlic, broccili, mushrooms, salt, pepper, olive oil, and butter.  Add eggs when it cools (about 1 - 2 eggs).

the restis easy.

Chicken Tagine with Dates and Honey

my first night of cooking since i've been back home from Amsterdam.  i thought about all the food io had while i was there an how wonderful it was.  i making chicken tagine tonight.  i start by taking boneless skinless chicken beasts and dice it up to bite sized pieces and saute it in olive oil.  remove the chicken.  then put in minced onion, garlic and spices.  (see below photo).  return the chicken to the onions, garlic and spices.  put in 1 1/2 cups of chicken both and about 1 cup of water.  cover and cook for 1 hour.  remove the lid and put in a bunch of sliced dates and about 1/4 cup of honey.  cook for another 30 min.  and there you have it!

i served it with pearl couscous.

a little bit about the spices.   i used Pezeys Spices ™.  it has all the spices to make this dish.  check it out.  http://www.penzeys.com/