My Pasta Sauce!

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                                                              My Pasta Sauce!
                                               

Pasta Sauce! A taste that takes me back a few years to the first time I ever cooked, my very first recipe was pasta sauce. My cooking mentor,my Mom,who passed on her cooking skills to me, I was the oldest so it was inevitable for  me not to cook, I believe I was about 13 at the time. She took two onions, one for each and she said try to do what I do and that was it, we created our first recipe together. I have to admit dicing onions was a teary situation (lol). My cooking skills aren't bad at all but I still enjoy my meals way better when  they are cooked by my Mom. My Pasta recipe has become my trademark among family and friends. I have a knack for creating a scrumptious marinara sauce, it can be used almost anywhere, on pasta, rice, with french fries, even with fried eggs. My in-laws plant abundant tomatoes in their huge garden and  therefore I have the essential ingredient to create various pasta sauces, which I  freeze and use when our pasta craving hits us. Making pasta sauce from scratch is super easy and so much fun because after the basic ingredients, your pasta is alterable and you can add various ingredients, such as, green peppers, carrots, celery, you name it, use your imagination and a little TLC and presto your sauce is ready! Most people before making a pasta sauce, they blanch their tomatoes. (boil,peel and scoop the seeds out ) I honestly don't see a reason for this, I want the whole tomato in my sauce not a part of it.  If your Greek and you love rustic bread they compliment each other perfectly! 

Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 large tomato
• 1 large onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 whole nutmeg(optional)
• cinnamon (optional) 
• 4 cloves (optional)
• peppercorns 
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 
• olive oil

O.K. as I said, I don't blanch tomatoes. I take my cutting board and I dice my tomatoes, onions and garlic. I take my cooking pot, add the olive oil about 1/4 cup, heat the oil until it starts shimmering,   Then I add onions, tomato, and garlic saute for about 10 minutes,start to stir all the ingredients until they are covered with oil. Saute until the onion it's tender but not browned, add a teaspoon of oregano salt & pepper to taste. Don't stop stirring and use a wooden spoon.  During this time if you want you can add diced up peppers, carrots etc. it's all up to you.Then add about 2 cups of  water. Bring to a boil and cover, cook for about 20 -30 min. When water has reached half its cooking point, add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and if you like add spices like cloves, grind a bit of nutmeg etc. Once again try a few things around and see what you prefer. During the summer time I have fresh basil so of course I make pasta sauce using some fresh basil. Yum! Yum! 

                      Another great tasting recipe form my kitchen to yours KALE OREXI!! 

                                                           

My Pasta Creation!

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Pasta! Pasta! and some more Pasta! My family and I can never get enough of pasta anyway I cook it, it's always delicious and fulfilling. Pasta is an all purpose dish, vegan, meat, poultry, salad, eat as a main dish or as a side dish. My favorite pasta is spaghetti and creating my own sauces makes it even better! I would to also like to add, that pasta in any form or shape is also nutritious, yes, you read correctly, nutritious. Pasta contains iron, low sodium and it's cholesterol free, which makes it fat free. When you combine your pasta with solid food like meat or poultry you are providing a full balanced meal.

Take out your favorite pan and whip up this easy, delicious and healthy spaghetti dish. 

My Pasta Creation

Ingredients

• 2 large leeks
• 1 large onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon fresh basil
• 3 sundried tomatoes
• 10 black kalamata olives

Take your pan and cover pan with olive oil add chopped garlic, onions and leeks and saute for about 20 minutes or until leeks become soft but don't change color.Add remaining ingredients and saute for another 10 minutes.  Boil your spaghetti as per package directions. When done add them to your pan and stir with all the ingredients.Serve hot with a glass of white wine,cheers! 

KALE OREXI!

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Bruschetta

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                                                                  Bruschetta

The other day I was just sitting around and I needed a quick fix, ever feel like that? We all do at one point or another.  Took a few steps to my kitchen and opened up my cupboards and ran my eyes across the shelves and there was some leftover bread that I had brought from two days ago, hmmmm I thought how about some bruschetta, I had different types of cheese in the refrigerator,  some cold cuts and had a bit of white sweet wine. In just a few minutes I whipped up a quick fix lunch for me and my hubby, oh , my kids had leftover lunch from the other day. As you can see  it was a lazy kind of a day so I needed something quick and easy. Bruschetta hit the spot.

Bruschetta

Ingredients

• 1 left over bread
• 2 tomatoes
• 3 -4 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 2 -3 fresh basil sticks

Take your left over bread and cut into slices. Place baking sheets on your rack ( makes cleaning easier) Sprinkle with water add chopped up tomato, few pieces of chopped garlic, sprinkle with olive oil and oregano. Bake for about 5 minutes on high. When done add basil on top and serve with cold cuts and cheese. KALE OREXI !!!!




                                                 

Baked Ziti

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Baked Ziti 

I haven't reinvented the wheel nor is this a special or traditional Greek dish but Baked Ziti, marks a certain time of my teen life and it signifies who I am today. This is enough for me to make it a dish of quality and merit.

Just like my Chicken Parmesan my Baked Ziti recipe was also taught to me by my high school teacher Ms.Frangas. Both these recipes hold so many memories. They are reminder of laughter, tears, fears and many accomplishments that rooted from my high school and its faculty. Each time I prepare and serve this dish, I feel as if I am back in that little kitchen, were it all began. I recall the first time one the classes used a microwave, as they were waiting for the cake to be baked and to their surprise the cake didn't change color like it did in the oven so they kept adding more cooking time and the end result, well they needed a chainsaw to cut it. (LOL) The good ole' times of IAK HIGH ( as we liked to call it).     Once again taking another opportunity to thank my high school teacher Ms. Frangas. Thank You, your cooking classes were entertaining and educational. 

Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• 1 package 16 ounce Penne
• 1 Jar  Ragu Sauce( I made my own)
• 1/2 pound Ricotta Cheese ( You can add adjust cheese portion according to your taste) 
• 1/2 pound grated mozzarella cheese ( same as above) 
• salt & pepper to taste

Boil your pasta as per package instructions, make sure they are al dente. 

When pasta is ready, place in a pan add, your ricotta cheese and mix,

Add your mozzarel and parmesan cheese and mix.

Add your sauce and sprinkle some more mozzarella cheese.

Bake in oven at 356 for about 20 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Before serving sprinkle with parmesan cheese, your Baked Ziti is ready!

KALE OREXI!!!! 

Chicken Parmesan

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                                                      Chicken Parmesan

                             


A recipe that takes me down memory lane to time when life was simpler and less complicated. My chicken parmesan recipe was taught to me  from my high school teacher during cooking class, Ms. Frangas.She was an excellent history teacher with exceptional culinary skills and she was quite merry in the kitchen, it was like the history teacher had left. Ms.Frangas was the type of teacher you never forget, the type that not only taught you class lessons but also life lessons. She was a tough cookie but one heck of a teacher. I would like to take this opportunity and say, Thank You Ms.Frangas not only for passing on your cooking skills and  making me a hit at all my events but proving all your students with the backbone they needed to become proper people out in the real world, as you would say many times. Chicken Parmesan  a recipe not only packed with flavors but also with memories of  a school of a high caliber.

Recipe by Mommy's Kitchen

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 hrs
Total time: 2:15
Yield: 8 servings


Ingredients:
For the sauce

• 2 large onions
• 2 large tomatoes
• 4 garlic McCormick cloves
• 1  teaspoon oregano McCormick Oregano
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 4 McCormick cloves
•  If you don't make your own sauce use  Ragu Sauce
• salt Kalas sea salt
• pepper McCormick black pepper
• olive oil
• tomato paste

      To bake the chicken

• 1 1/2 Whole chicken or 8 pieces chicken fillet
• 4Cbreadcrumbs ( or make your own) so you will need various spices and plain bread crumbs
• 1 pound Gouda  or mozzarella
• 3 whole eggs

Wash your chicken thoroughly, then place in a pan, add salt and pepper to taste. Place in oven and cook for 60 minutes turning the chicken 2- 3 times.  ( In my oven I cooked in for 1 1/2 ). In the original recipe we used chicken fillet but I prefer whole chicken pieces ( I use fillet at parties) Add salt and pepper to taste.

                         

                   
                          This is how it should look when it is cooked, make sure it's not over cooked and dry.
                          Must be tender.

                         



                           While your chicken is baking, start with your sauce. In the original recipe we used
                            Ragu, I prefer to make it fresh. Chop up your onions, tomatoes and garlic cloves
                            either by hand or with a blender.

                        



                  Take a skillet, place your chopped veggies, add oregano salt and pepper to taste.
                  In the skillet add 1/3 cup of oil and saute for about 10 minutes or so.

                       

                            Cover with water and let it boil until it thickens and it's ready to simmer.

                         
While your sauce is boiling, start with your chicken. The original recipe calls for 4C bread crumbs but I like to mix my own.  I used a grill mix for chicken which  is quite spicey and I added a bit of extra pepper and oregano. I mixed my spices with the bread crumbs. Beat three whole eggs - to dip your chicken in.

                        


                       
                          
Roll each piece of chicken in the egg mix then roll it in the brea crumb mix as shown in the pictures. 

                          


                          
 

                         
           
Once all your pieces are done, place in the oven for 15 minutes not more or the crumb will burn. Take your chicken out of the oven and cover with your sauce completely. When your sauce is ready to simmer add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.


                 


                     Once completely covered, bake for another 10 minutes.

                


                

Take out your chicken and add your shredded Gouda or Mozzarella cheese. Place in your oven at very low heat and while you set your table, the cheese should be ready. When the cheese has melted, take it out of the oven and serve it nice and hot with french fries, rice or pasta. We all prefer french fries.

                   

Another great dish from my table to yours !! KALE OREXI !!!

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Valentine Pasta

This is a recipe I had found in the back of a pasta package that I had bought a few years ago, I think I bought at Macy's,  I kept the recipe, it's quick, easy, and light.I t doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to make it.

Recipe by Mommy's Kitchen
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45
Yield: 4 - 5 servings
Ingredients

• 12 oz any pasta will do I used ( heart pasta) it was Valentine's Day
• 3 cups frozen petite ppeas ( any size peas will do)
• 6 green onions - sliced I used only two
• 1/2 cup Italian flat leaf parsley- chopped
• salt & pepper to taste

      For the dressing 

• 6 tsp.cider vinegar ( I used grape vinegar it's just as good)
• 2 tsp.whole grain mustard ( regular mustard can be used)
• 1 tsp. sugar 
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 garlic - clove - minced

Cook pasta according to package directions. Whisk the vinegar,salt,pepper and sugar together. When the sugar has dissolved, add the oil very gradually so the dressing doesn't seperate. Add the minced garlic, combine the pasta, peas,parsley, onions and dressing. Mix gently , serve at room temperature. It can be served with the chicken schnitzel on the side.

Directions for pasta salad

Cook pasta according to package directions

Whisk the vinegar,salt,pepper,mustard and sugar together. when the sugar has dissolved, whisk in the oil very gradually - so that the dressing doesn't separate.Add the minced garlic. Combine the pasta,peas,parsley,onions and dressing salt and pepper to  taste. Mix gently. Serve at room temperature,it can be served with chicken schnitzel on the side. I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy dish.

Heart shaped pasta

Parsley

Frozen peas

Gently mix ingredients

Another special dish from my table to yours !! Kale Orexi !!!

Mushrooms a la creme

                        

                                                 Mushrooms a la creme 

While taking a vacation on the beautiful island of Paxos, just 14 kilometers away from Corfu, a paradise that hasn't been touched by time. My dearest friend, Christiana, treated me to her father's personal dish, mushroom a la creme, at their family tavern,Yiannis Tavern. Although, the tavern has been closed down due to Yianni's retirement ( her dad), his mushroom recipe still lives on. To this day this is a must at all my events ! 

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of White mushrooms
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 bayleaf
• 4 fresh onion sprigs
• 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley
• 100 White wine
• 50 grams blue cheese
• 1 Knorr Beef Stock Cubes
• 1  Teapot Warmer
• salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Directions

                            Wash your mushrooms thoroughly I scrub then with a soft sponge.

Once you have washed your mushrooms, cut the bottom of the stem and slice thinly.

Place all sliced mushrooms in your pan add your butter and saute for about 10 minutes.

After you have sauted your mushrooms, add your onions, garlic, bayleaf and parsley, saute for another 10 - 15 minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste 

When they are ready, remove bayleaf, add your bluecheese, then your wine, if you want it spicier add more wine and blue cheese, finally add your creamed milk. Bluecheese should melt thoroughly.

I always serve this on a teapot warmer. * If you have leftovers and you want to reheat it, just add creamed milk.

 You can melt the bluecheese on a stove and serve immediately or you can use a tealight warmer and allow it for about 1/2 before you serve. This is a great dish as a starter for buffet or family dinners, place it in the center of your table and your guests will be amazed. I never have any leftovers. Another great dish from my kitchen to yours !! 

KALE OREXI !!!!

The serene and picturesque island of Paxos 

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Italian Sausages with peppers and onions

                                                   

Another quick and  delish  recipe that was taught to me by my dad. Instead of frying my dad would grill them ( whole) then placed them in Italian bread added bar-b-que sauce the onions and peppers on top. They really sold out quickly, he never had any leftovers. Same thing happens to me when I make them for parties.

Ingredients

• 2 - 4 Italian Sauasages
• 2 big onions
• 4 large bell peppers
• oregano
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

You can use as many sausages as you like. I used two big ones which came out to 5 servings.     

                          Take a sharp knife and  slice your sausages as shown in the picture. Place them in your frying pan   

      

                                                    

* TIP: If you are going to grill them slice them down the middle. 

                             

Slice your onions and peppers and place in your frying pan

I didn't have two big onions so I used 3 regular sized.

        

Same here I used 6 regular sized onions didn't have 4 large ones

                                                       

Add oregano, salt, pepper and olive oil. Fry until your sausages and onions have a golden color.  Fry  for about 20 minutes on medium heat.                            

   

Use a ladle with holes to stir and to remove from the pan so you can drip all the oil before placing on a platter.*TIP: Before serving place on a platter with towels so they can drip all the excess oil.

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Another dish from my kitchen to yours ! It can be served as a side dish with french fries or grilled whole and eaten as a sandwich .KALE OREXI !! 

Yield: 5 servings
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 15 mins.

Cook time: 00 hrs. 30 mins.
Total time: 45 mins.
Tags: Italian Sausages, sausages with onions and peppers, fried sausages,grilled sausages