Saint Patrick's Day!

I am sure that there are kitchens across the continent and beyond beginning to prepare the world's most famous Irish dish for tomorrow festivities...Corned Beef and Cabbage.  I can tell you which kitchen is not brining a beef or shredding cabbage...mine.  Unfortunately this dish is not on my list.  I know absolutely nothing about choosing the best cut of beef, the type of cabbage to use, spices, or cook time.  But what I can tell you is that even though I will not be eating or preparing the traditional Irish feast tomorrow I will be celebrating! I wish you the Luck of the Irish with your meal and I invite you to raise your Guinness and Jameson glasses to a toast and enjoy whichever meal you choose...Corned Beef and Cabbage or Spicy Cauliflower Soup and The Up North Panini.

Kicked Up Cauliflower Soup


1 lb. Cauliflower (cleaned and rough chopped)
3 Tablespoons Butter
3 Large Onions (chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
5 Cups Whole Milk
1 lb. Yukon Gold Potatoes (diced)
A Pinch of Red Pepper Flake
1 1/2 Cup Pepper Jack Cheese (shredded)


In a large stock pot heat butter over medium heat
Add onion and cook for 4-5 minutes
Add  garlic and cook 1-2 minutes
Add potatoes and cauliflower
Season with salt/pepper and red pepper flake
Add milk and bring to a boil
After the boil cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender
Cool slightly
With an hand held blender slowly blend soup to desired consistency
Add cheese and stir to incorporate
Serve Warm


The Up North Panini


Fresh, Sliced Italian Bread
Deli Sliced Roast Beef
Deli Sliced Provolone Cheese
Roasted Red Peppers
Arugula (cleaned and torn into pieces)
Balsamic Vinegar
Pam Spray


Preheat Grill Pan or Skillet


Assemble sandwiches:
Spray Italian bread with Pam Spray (both the outside and inside of bread)
Spoon a little bit of balsamic vinegar onto one side of the bread
Place roast beef, roasted peppers, arugula, and cheese on bread
Place sandwich on grill pan and press down until cheese is melted and bread has grill marks about 3-4 minutes per side


***If you do not have a panini press make one - take a brick and cover it with tin foil for an instant panini press

Meatless Monday Shrimp...

As promised here is a Meatless Monday recipe for tonight...It is fragrant with garlic and pairs so nice with a crisp glass of white wine!  This dish is simple to prepare and so delicious to eat Enjoy...

Shrimp Oreganata
1 lb. Shrimp (cleaned and peeled)
Salt/Pepper
1 Cup Bread Crumbs
3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1/2 Teaspoon Hot Pepper Flake
1 Tablespoon Parsley
1/2 Lemon (juiced)
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Olive Oil

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees
Place shrimp, in a single layer, in oven proof dish
Season shrimp with salt/pepper
In a medium size bowl add bread crumbs, garlic, hot pepper flakes,
parsley, lemon and cheese
Mixing slowly add olive oil to bread crumb mixture for the consistency of wet sand
Evenly top shrimp with bread crumb mixture
Place in oven for 20-25 minutes or until shrimp are pink and cooked through

What Day Is Today...

Well of course it is Wednesday but more importantly it is "Prince Spaghetti Day".  This iconic phrase was coined by the Prince Spaghetti Company and ran for 13 years.  The very famous opening scene was an Italian woman leaning out of a window on Powers Court in the North End of Boston yelling for her son Anthony to come home and eat spaghetti.  So join Anthony and run home tonight for a big bowl of delicious spaghetti and celebrate Wednesday as Prince Spaghetti Day!  Enjoy...


Prince Anthony's Spaghetti 
1 lb. Spaghetti Pasta
1 Pint Grape Tomatoes
Salt/Pepper
Olive Oil
10 Cloves Garlic (peeled)
1 Handful Fresh Basil (torn into bit size pieces)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Spread tomatoes on baking sheet
Season with salt/pepper
Coat with olive oil
Place garlic cloves on top of tomatoes (this will ensure garlic will not burn during roasting)
Roast for 20 minutes
Meanwhile cook and drain pasta
Season pasta with salt/pepper
Remove tomatoes and garlic from oven
Cool for 5 minutes
Give the tomatoes and garlic a rough chop
Toss pasta with roasted tomatoes and garlic
Add basil and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil
Toss and serve warm with Parmesan cheese

Meatless Monday...

Well it is official I have taken the pledge go go meatless on Mondays.  Meatless Monday is a great idea!  I do not eat much meat  not because I do not like it just because it is better for my over all health.  I am only eating meat every 6 weeks and I found it very easy to eat other items in place of meat. Some may find this idea daunting and crazy but it is very easy.  There is no reason to feel deprived of meat when you can eat a stuffed portabella with a veggie side accompanied by a nice glass of red wine. So why not take the pledge with me, http://www.meatlessmonday.com,

and see how easy it is to cut meat out at least once a week. I will help you  along the way with recipes from my cookbook Forkful of Simplicity.

Happy Meatless Monday!  

Bellissimo Bellas

4 Poratabella Mushrooms (cleaned with gills removed) 

Salt/pepper

4 Large Red Roasted Peppers 

4 Thick Slices of Wet Mozzarella 

Dried Basil

1/4 Cup Organic Chicken Soup 

1/3 Cup Red Wine 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

Place mushrooms in a deep glass dish 

Season the inside of each mushroom with salt/pepper 

Place the red pepper inside of mushroom and top with wet mozzarella 

Season mozzarella with a shake or two of dried basil 

Pour soup and wine around mushrooms

Cover with tin foil 

Bake for 30 minutes 

Cool and Enjoy...

Crumbled Asparagus

1 Bunch of Asparagus
Salt / Pepper
Bread Crumbs (plain or seasoned Italian)
Parmesan Cheese
Olive Oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Rinse and remove tough ends of asparagus
Arrange asparagus, single layer, on an oven proof dish
Season with salt / pepper
Cover asparagus with bread crumbs
Sprinkle with cheese
Drizzle with olive oil
Bake for 20 minutes


***Cook the mushrooms for 10 minutes then add the asparagus to the oven for the remaining 20 minutes and dinner will be hot and ready at the same time***

No Meat Today...

For all of us not consuming meat today...here is a very easy and delicious recipe from Forkful of Simplicity.  Make it tonight and enjoy it with your family!

Greek Pizza

1 Thin Pillsbury Pizza Crust
1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
1 Medium Red Onion (sliced)
1 Red Pepper (sliced)
Black Pepper (freshly ground)
Olive Oil
1 Container of Regular Humus
Pam Spray
Crumbled Feta Cheese
A Handful Basil (julienned)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
On a large non-stick cookie sheet toss tomatoes, onion and red pepper with olive oil
Season with black pepper
Place in oven for 15 minutes
Remove from oven and cool
Turn oven up to 400 degrees
Place pizza crust on Pam sprayed non-stick cookie sheet
Bake for 8 minutes
Remove from oven and cool 3 minutes
Spread humus onto pizza crust
Top evenly with tomatoes, onion and red peppers
Top with Feta Cheese and basil
Slice into squares
ENJOY...