Here are some of the recipes I have been making. I have a bunch of cookbooks, but now I've the time to actually go back through them, identify what I'd like to try, and then attempt to make a grocery list that will hit a few recipes at a time, so I don't have to go for groceries more than once a week. Then when I have leftovers, I use the web to see what I can make with them. So I'll include some recipes I found that way.
I may be half Irish, but really in my soul I'm Italian. So I live for pasta. Now that we're home and anxious at times in all this uncertainty I find myself heading for this comfort food more often than normal (which is still pretty often). It's also something that you can make delicious with very few ingredients.
I may be half Irish, but really in my soul I'm Italian. So I live for pasta. Now that we're home and anxious at times in all this uncertainty I find myself heading for this comfort food more often than normal (which is still pretty often). It's also something that you can make delicious with very few ingredients.
This is from a cookbook by Jamie Oliver called Jamie Cooks Italy that Santa brought me. The classic Cacio e Pepe. Only 4 ingredients. Amazing on its own, or add sausage, or add asparagus, or use as a side dish for steak and veg... or, or, or, also you can vary up the cheese depending on what you have. I have been making this often ever since I did it for the first time. Now I know it by heart. |
This is from the Epicurious cookbook, but you can also check out the website, on which I've found a lot of recipes. I'm big on starting with a recipe but adapting based on what you have. I used bacon, and switched up the cheese. I had Mozzarella and Reggiano. Note: Undercook your macaroni by about 2 minutes, so when you bake it it doesn't get too mushy. |
Also from Epicurious, this is an experiment. If you have breadcrumbs in a box, or from stale bread you can substitute those for the pita. I used canned salmon and tzaziki to dip - trying to cook from the pantry as much as possible. Great with salad or even the pepper pasta above and salad... |
Left, Epicurious; right, Kimberley Snyder's Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life. Soups are so warming and comforting in times like these, and April has not been the warmest! I like it for a light lunch. I had almond milk so I subbed that in. Have it with crackers, a toasty bun, grilled cheese, or add nuts to the top. |
I saw Roasted Cherry Tomato soup on Rachel Ray, so here's my attempt below. Just made regular grilled cheese. |
Here's another pasta recipe from Jamie Oliver's same book. He's so amazing, and really shows you can make delicious food with very few ingredients. You can swap out the asparagus for some other veg easily. You can also find great tutorials on his youtube channel. On his website too you can find a classic carbonara with his mentor Antonio Carluccio. |
Here's another from Kimberly Snyder. She also has lots of goodies on her website MySolluna. Plant-based, easy to make, and very yummy. I find this a bit awkward to eat from the skin, so usually I scoop out the squash, mash it, and serve up my components in a big bowl. |