Chicken Scarparielli

Serves 4 to 6 as an Entrée

1½      Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves
½         Cup Flour for Dredging Chicken
1          Pound Sweet or Hot Italian Sausage Links
4          Tablespoons XVOO
2          Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
6          Garlic Cloves, Finely Minced
1          Medium Onion, Thinly Sliced Lengthwise
6          Large Carrots, Sliced ¼” On the Diagonal
3          Red, Yellow or Orange Sweet Peppers, Thinly Sliced (Use 1 Of Each Color If You Like)
1½      Pounds Small Redskin Potatoes or Yukon Gold Potatoes, Cut into Quarters
1          Cup Marinara Sauce (Homemade or Good Quality Store Bought)
1          Cups Fresh or Frozen Peas (Thaw if Frozen)
2          Teaspoons Coarse Sea Salt
1          Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
¼         Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper

Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Sprinkle the chicken breasts with a bit of the salt and pepper and dredge in the flour to coat.

In a skillet large enough to hold all of the ingredients heat the XVOO and butter over medium heat. Once the butter stops sizzling add the chicken breasts and sauté the chicken until nicely browned on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. (You want the chicken almost cooked but not quite.) Remove the chicken from the pan and add the Italian sausage and brown the sausage on all sides. Remove the sausage from the pan and add the garlic, onion, carrots, peppers and potatoes. Sauté the vegetables for 10 minutes or until the onions begin to look transparent. Add the marinara, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Toss everything together to combine. Lay the chicken breasts and sausage links on top of the vegetables and place pan in the preheated oven. Cook for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes remove the chicken and sausage from the pan and set aside. (Let the chicken and sausage rest for 20 minutes then cut each chicken breast into 3 pieces and the sausage links in half.)

Continue cooking the vegetables in the oven for 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are cooked through. Add the peas, the cut-up chicken and the Italian sausage to the pan and toss to combine with the vegetables. Return the pan to the oven with the peas, chicken and sausage and cook for 15 minutes.

Transfer the Scarparielli to a serving dish and serve immediately.

Hints and Tips: I like to serve this with a side dish of Pasta tossed with XVOO and Roasted Garlic.

Posted in Accompaniments, Ahh Haa Moments, Chicken, Dinner, Food For Thought, Italian Sausage, Italian Specialties, Vegetables | Tagged | Comments Off on Chicken Scarparielli

I’M BACK!

Since I’ve written you all and told you that I was going to stop blogging, I’ve gotten such a wonderful response from so many people asking me to NOT stop. So I’m back. I thought long and hard about stopping not realizing I had so many followers who look forward to my posts. Because of that encouragement I do not want to disappoint anyone and will continue to post as I have done in the past. I seldom change my mind when I decide to do something but thanks to you all I am going to do just that. 

Camille

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

 

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Summer’s Fruit Bounty Equals A Summer Fruit Crostata

Summer Fruit Crostata

What could be more wonderful than summer fruit?  I am talking about the organic summer fruit grown in the United States, not fruit shipped in from South American or Mexico.  Right now the fruit is spectacular; peaches, nectarines, blueberries, strawberries, plums.  I can’t seem to get enough of these sweet, delicious, juicy delicacies.  When I go to the market and see all of the fruit beauty in front of me, my eyes become bigger than my stomach.  I can’t resist because I know as fast as the fruit arrives, the season will be gone even faster.  So I buy a lot and make as many wonderful fruit concoctions as possible.  I have a refrigerator full of preserves, a freezer full of fruit gelato and containers of blueberries (I am a blueberry squirrel, saving some for the non-blueberry months).  On my counter sits a bowl full of peaches, nectarines and plums some of which will be turned into a Summer Fruit Crostata.

What I like the best about this Summer Fruit Crostata recipe is that it cooks for just enough time to get the crust brown and super crispy but the fruit is still firm and holds its shape.  The time in the oven lets the fruit produce just enough juice to keep it from being mushy and runny.  I love that I can feel the texture of the fruit between my teeth.  I also love the rustic look of this tart.  It is a perfect dessert to end a light lunch on the veranda or a casual dinner such as a BBQ.

Hints and Tips: Let the tart cool the whole time recommended in the recipe and use two wide off-set metal spatulas to move it from the pan to your serving dish.  If you try to lift it without the help of the spatulas it will break and you really don’t want that to happen.  If you are not going to serve this to company, it is purely for your pleasure and you don’t have the spatulas to help you move it don’t bother.  Just leave it on the baking pan.

When I make a tart such as this I use my pizza pan with holes on the bottom.  This type of pan helps the bottom of the Crostata cook and become crispy.  The parchment paper will catch any juices that may drip from the Crostata.

As you can see by the picture, the Crostata looks beautiful.  I am doing all I can to keep from diving into it before it cools.  But I will wait and have a great dessert tonight.

Enjoy!

(Click on Summer Fruit Crostata or the photo for the recipe.)

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

Posted in Ahh Haa Moments, Berries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cream, Creme Fraiche, Crostata, Dessert, Dessert/Pastry, Desserts, Food For Thought, Fruit, Fruit Desserts, Hints and Tips, Mixed Berries, Nectarines, Pastry, Pastry Crust, Pate Brisee, Pate Sucre, Peaches, Pie, Recipes To Share, Tarts, White Chocolate | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Summer’s Fruit Bounty Equals A Summer Fruit Crostata

July 4th Menu

For me there is no better day to show off my barbequing skills than on the most important American Holiday of all- The 4th of July.  Since barbequing is an all American summer pastime on the all American Holiday I’m going to fire up the “Q” to get the party started.  Not only is 4th of July the all American Holiday for barbequing it is the all American Holiday for an outdoor party.

This is my menu for a great 4th of July BBQ. Click on the links below for the recipes.

4th of July Feast

Appetizers

Gazpacho

Cedar Plank Grilled Shrimp with Tzatziki 

Black Bean Salas and Tortilla Chips

Dinner

Southwest Spice Rubbed BBQ Ribs with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Beer Can Chicken

Marinated and Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri 

Italian Style Potato Salad

Swamp Cabbage Slaw

Assorted Pickled Vegetables

Dessert

Summer Fruit Crostata

Key Lime Tart with Italian Meringue

S’Mores Tart

Both the Key Lime Tart and the S’Mores Tart are topped with Italian Meringue, but to not be redundant I would top the Key Lime Tart with White Chocolate Whipped Cream.

Happy 4th of July. Stay safe and have a great time.

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

Posted in Accompaniments, Ahh Haa Moments, BBQ, BBQ Ribs, BBQ Sauce, Beans, Beer, Black Beans, Brine, Cedar Plank Grilling, Charcoal Grill, Chicken, Chimichurri, Chocolate Desserts, Coconut, Condiment, Condiments, Corn, Corn Bread, Dessert, Dessert/Pastry, Desserts, Dinner, Entree, Food For Thought, Gazpacho, Graham Cracker Crust, Grilling, Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate, Italian Dishes, Italian Food, Italian Meringue, Italian Specialties, Macadamia Nuts, Menus, Nuts, Pastry, Pickled Vegetables, Pickled Veggies, Pickling, Pie, Pork Ribs, Potato, Potato Salad, Poultry, Pudding, Ribs, Salad, Salad Dressing, Seafood, Shrimp, Summer Fruit Crostada, Tarts, Vegetables, Vinaigrettes and Dressings, White Chocolate Whipped Cream | Tagged | Comments Off on July 4th Menu

Summer Fruit Desserts

Summer Fruits are at their peak just in time for the July 4th BBQ and summer family picnics.

Here are some of my favorite summer fruit desserts. These desserts will be the hit of the party.

I’ve thrown in a couple of non-fruit desserts just for fun. You can serve a lot of these desserts with Whipped Creme Fraiche, Whipped Cream, White Chocolate Whipped Cream,  Creme Fraiche Semi-Freddo, or buy a good quality Vanilla Ice Cream. Just don’t use any fake whipped cream products.

Peach and Blueberry Clafouti

Cherry Clafouti

 

Strawberry Semi-Freddo

Summer Fruit Crostata

Crostada Just Out Of The Oven

Summer Fruit Cobbler Topped with Cornmeal Biscuits

S’Mores Tartlets

Key Lime Tart Topped with Italian Meringue

Happy Summer!

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

Posted in Accompaniments, Ahh Haa Moments, Blueberries, Chocolate, Chocolate Desserts, Clafouti, Cobbler, Cornmeal, Cream, Creme Fraiche, Crostata, Custard, Dessert, Dessert/Pastry, Desserts, Food For Thought, Fresh Fruit, Fruit, Fruit Desserts, Graham Cracker Crust, Italian Meringue, Lemon, Macadamia Nuts, Mixed Berries, Nectarines, Pate Sucre, Peach and Blueberry Clafouti, Peaches, Pie, Semi-Freddo, Strawberries, Sugar, Tarts, White Chocolate, White Chocolate Whipped Cream | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Summer Fruit Desserts

Memorial Day Menu

Memorial Day is just around the corner.  This is the weekend when Swimming Pools open and Barbecues are fired up for the first time after many months of inclement weather. This menu is a crowd pleaser. There are a lot of different flavors that go well together and choices that will make everyone happy. Besides what’s better than Surf and Turf cooked on the grill?

Marinated and Grilled Flank Steak

Marinated and Grilled Flank Steak

Marinated and Grilled Flank Steak

Cedar Plank Grilled Shrimp

Grilled Moroccan Potato and Olive Salad With Roasted Lemon Vinaigrette

Roasted Moroccan Potato and Olive Salad

Roasted Moroccan Potato and Olive Salad

Asian Slaw

 

Strawberry Shortcake

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

Have a great holiday!!!

Posted in Accompaniments, Ahh Haa Moments, Blueberries, Dessert, Dessert/Pastry, Desserts, Flank Steak, Food For Thought, Grilling, Potato Salad, Shrimp, Slaw, Squash Bloxxoms | Comments Off on Memorial Day Menu

Hip Hip Hooray!

I am pleased to tell you that all of the problems I have had with my site through Just Host have been resolved. My site is up and running.

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

 

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Easter Menu 2022

Easter is just around the corner and I have a delicious menu for you. This menu feeds a crowd and I know most of you will be celebrating with family and friends so a menu this size is just perfect.

Usually the entree for Easter is Lamb or Ham. This year I am doing a Whole FRESH Ham. By fresh I mean a leg of pork that has not been cured and smoked. I haven’t done a Fresh Ham for a while and I am looking forward to preparing this for the crowd I will be serving.

I suggest you order your Whole Fresh Ham from your butcher asap. Not many people prepare Fresh Ham and It may take your butcher a while to get one.

It has always been tradition in my very Italian family to start the festivities early on Easter. Easter Mass at 9am, Frittata and all that goes with it starts at around 11am. Dinner is at 2pm.

Here is my Menu for Easter 2022. Click an item for the recipe.

Brunch

Easter Frittata
Grandma Lucia’s Easter Satoni (aka Easter Pizza or Calzone)
Charcuterie and Cheese Platter
Hot Cross Buns
Fresh Fruit

Dinner

Roasted Beets, Orange and Fennel Salad with Humbolt Fog Goat Cheese
Roasted Herbed Fresh Ham
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping
Potatoes AuGratin
Asparagus Mimosa

Dessert

Coconut Cake with Coconut Custard Filling
Apple Tart Frangipane with Caramel Sauce and Crème Fraiche Semi-Freddo

Yes it is a big menu with a lot of choices but when you are feeding a big crowd you must have choices. If you are having a small group and you make only a couple of items on this menu for your Easter Brunch or Dinner at least I have given you some new ideas of what to server.

Buona Pasqua

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

Posted in 7 Minute Frosting, Accompaniments, Ahh Haa Moments, Apples, Asparagus, Beets, Brunch, Cake, Caramel Sauce, Cheese, Cheese Sauce, Coconut, Coconut Milk, Custard, Dessert, Dessert/Pastry, Desserts, Dinner, Easter, Easter Pie, Easter Pizza, Egg Dishes, Eggs, Entree, Food For Thought, Fresh Ham, Fruit, Fruit Desserts, Goat Cheese, Ham, Hints and Tips, Icing, Italian Dishes, Italian Food, Italian Sausage, Italian Specialties, Oranges, Pastry Crust, Pate Sucre, Pork, Potatoes Au Gratin, Recipes To Share, Ricotta Cheese, Roasted Beet Salad, Semi-Freddo, Side Dishes, Sides, Sweet Potato, White Sauce | Tagged , | Comments Off on Easter Menu 2022

Spring Is In The Air

What could be better than a simple light dinner now that the weather is starting to get warmer? We will soon be using our verandas to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather and to partake in our evening meal. Much of the preparation for this menu can be done in advance: The Roasted Beets and Cherry Tomato Compote can be made days in advance and the vinaigrette the day before.  The Cheesecake is always best made a day or two in advance as is the Blueberry Sauce. The only last minute cooking will be the Mussels with Chorizo Sausage and Cherry Tomato Compote.

Springtime Dinner Menu

Blood Orange Salad with Roasted Baby Yellow Beets, Fresh Fennel and Watercress Drizzled with Orange Infused Vinaigrette

Mussels with Chorizo Sausage and Cherry Tomato Compote

Ricotta Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce

““““““““““

Blood Orange Salad with Roasted Baby Yellow Beets, Fresh Fennel and Watercress Drizzled with Orange Infused Vinaigrette

Blood Orange Salad with Yellow Beets and Fennel

Mussels with Chorizo Sausage and Cherry Tomato Compote

Mussels

Ricotta Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce

Ricotta Cheese Cake with Blueberry Sauce

Enjoy the change in the weather and enjoy this menu.

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

 

Posted in Accompaniments, Ahh Haa Moments, Beets, Berries, Blueberries, Cheesecake, Chorizo Sausage, Compote, Cream Cheese, Dessert, Dessert/Pastry, Desserts, Dinner, Food For Thought, Hints and Tips, Menus, Mussels, Oranges, Pastry, Recipes To Share, Ricotta Cheese, Roasted Beet Salad, Salad, Salad Dressing, Sauces, Seafood, Tomato, Vinaigrette, Vinaigrettes and Dressings, Vinegar, White Balsamic Vinegar, Wine, XVOO | Comments Off on Spring Is In The Air

Thanksgiving Feast 2021

It’s been a long time since most of us have been able to spend Thanksgiving with Family and Friends. Two years to be exact. This Thanksgiving has been heavily antisipated and will be special for most of us. I want to take a moment and think about all of the people who are not with us this Thanksgiving and pray that the next years will be better for all.

I was especially lucky to have an early Thanksgiving Dinner with my cousins Robert and Monique and my brother Vincent and his friend Beth. We celebrated over the past weekend with a complete Thanksgiving Dinner. Here is the menu I enjoyed preparing for my family. 

To get the recipe for each click the item and it will bring you to the page.

Appetizers

Austrian Vegetable Soup with Homemade Croutons

Savory Cheese Torte with Buttery Crackers

 Dinner

Roasted and Smoked Weber Grill Turkey
Smokey Turkey Gravy
Cranberry-Orange Compote

Cornbread-Chestnut Stuffing with Andouille Sausage

Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes and Turnips with Fresh Sage 

Brussels Sprouts with Pearl Onions and Pancetta

Southwest Roasted Corn Pudding

Dessert

Pumpkin Cheese Cake with Whipped Creme Fraiche

Apple-Pear Pie with Cranberries and Crumb Topping
Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. We have so much to be thankful for. Please remember all those we lost these past years. Especially all that departed in the past 2 years.

camille@camillecooksforyou.com

 

Posted in Accompaniments, Ahh Haa Moments, Andouille Sausage, Appetizers, Apple Pie, Apples, Austrian Vegetable Soup, Bacon, BBQ, Brine, Brussels Sprouts, Caramel Sauce, Charcoal Grill, Chestnuts, Chicken Stock, Chutney, Chutney Cream Cheese, Condiment, Condiments, Corn, Corn Bread, Corn Pudding, Cranberries, Cranberry Citrus Compote, Cream Cheese, Creme Fraiche, Dessert, Dessert/Pastry, Desserts, Dinner, Dried Cranberries, Dried Fruit, Entree, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Food For Thought, Graham Cracker Crust, Gravy, Grilling, Hints and Tips, Holiday Specialties, Mango, Mango Chutney, Menus, Pancetta, Pastry, Pastry Crust, Pate Sucre, Pears, Pecans, Potato, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Recipes To Share, Sausage, Sides, Smashed Potatoes, Smoked Chicken Stock, Stuffing, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Pies, Turkey | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Thanksgiving Feast 2021