Tag: shallots

Pork and Pancetta Pasta

Pork and Pancetta Pasta

Pork and Pancetta Pasta

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Pasta is a staple of traditional Italian cuisine with the first reference dating to 1154 in Sicily so it’s no wonder there are more ways to prepare it than one can shake a stick at but what I have found over the years is that Italian restaurants really only do a tomato sauce or cream sauce with the pasta dishes they put out all the while ignoring other ways of serving it. So with that in mind I decided to do this pasta dish “naked” ( no not me… the pasta) meaning I didn’t use a sauce and it was a huge hit.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 2 tablespoons Canola Oil
  • 1 large package Compliments™ All Natural Fettucini
  • 2 pounds boneless Pork Loin – cut into bite sized pieces.
  • 12 ounces diced  Pancetta
  • 3 large Shallots – diced
  • 1 large Yellow pepper – diced
  • 1 large Red pepper – diced
  • 2 cups Baby Spinach
  • 3 Garlic cloves – fine dice
  • 2 Shallots – diced
  • 2 medium Tomatoes – diced
  • 2 teaspoons dried Basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried Oregano
  • Salt and Pepper to taste 

Putting it all together:

  1. Heat the oil in a large pan and saute the Pancetta until just brown.
  2. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon and add the pork to the same pan and brown all over.
  3. Add back the pancetta and remaining ingredients, cover and simmer until the pork is tender.
  4. While the pork is simmering bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the fettuccine. Cook for about 5 minutes.
  5. Drain the pasta, plate and top with the pork and pancetta.

Cooks note: Fresh pasta cooks incredibly fast so keep an eye on it otherwise it will go mushy. 

There you have it another “Simple bust tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…….

                            Bon Appetit

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Avocado Toast

Avocado toast III

Avocado Toast

  • Servings: 2 - 4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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When it comes to snack food most people think of potato chips, popcorn and that kind of thing and I admit that I do the same thing however I wanted something different and healthy this time so in searching the pantry I found some Avocados and decided they would be perfect in a snack and they were.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 2 Ripe Avocados – pitted and removed from the skin
  • 3 Garlic cloves – finely diced
  • 2 small Shallots – diced
  • 4 Cherry Tomatoes – sliced
  • 2 ounces of Capers
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Small Baguette – sliced on the bias

Putting it all together:

  1. In a medium non reactive bowl mash the Avocado with a fork until just slightly chunky.
  2. Mix in the garlic and shallots and season with the salt and pepper. Cover and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
  3. Toast the baguette slices and lightly brush them with the Canola oil, spread on the Avocado and top with the tomatoes and capers.
  4. Enjoy.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……

                           Bon Appetit 

Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake

Shrimp Alfredo Bake

Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake

  • Servings: 4 - 6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Around our house on Fridays we try to have fish or seafood just because it’s healthy for you and let’s face it, it’s good. Now this particular recipe came about as a collaboration between my wife and my grandson. My wife said she wanted a seafood pasta and my grandson (all of 7 yrs old) asked for Lobster….. Really?? Where did this kid come up with these Champagne tastes??

Well it just so happened one of my local grocers had Lobster tails on sale for $3.00 each so I said “What the hell” and went for it.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 2 lbs Penne
  • 8 ounces Slab Bacon – diced
  • 1 bag 21 – 30 Shrimp – cleaned, peeled and tail off
  • 4 3 ounce Lobster Tails
  • 2 jars Classico Alfredo Pasta sauce
  • 4 Garlic cloves – chopped
  • 1 medium Shallot – chopped
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Putting it all together:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°
  2. Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package directions.
  3. In a saute pan cook the bacon until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  4. In the bacon fat cook the garlic and shallots for about three minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until pink.
  5. Drain the pasta, add the Classico sauce, half the Parmesan, bacon and shrimp mixture. Pour into a casserole dish, cover with tin foil and bake for about 20 minutes.
  6. While the pasta is baking boil the lobster tails in salted water until pink in colour. Let cool and remove from shell.
  7. Plate the pasta, top with the Lobster tail and garnish with parsley and the remaining Parmesan.
  8. Enjoy.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……..

                           Bon Appetit 

Seafood Linguine Alfredo

Seafood Linguini

Seafood Linguine Alfredo

  • Servings: 2-4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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“Everything you see I owe to pasta.” – Sophia Loren

The last time I posted an Alfredo type recipe was TWO years ago (time sure does fly) so I thought I would do another one but with a couple of variations this time around.

Now the Alfredo Sauce itself is staying the same (why mess with a good thing) however this time around as a time saving element I will be using precooked Clam meat and Mussels along with uncooked Shrimp in addition to Shallots and Spinach. I will also be using TAIL OFF shrimp as I personally can’t stand biting into a succulent shrimp only to try and find a place to dispose of the tail.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 package thawed 31-40 White Shrimp – peeled and deveined
  • 2 1/2 cups Clam meat
  • 2 1/2 cups Mussels
  • 2 Shallots – diced
  • 2 medium Garlic cloves – finely diced
  • 3 cups Baby Spinach
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1 1/2 cups Heavy cream
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cups Grated Parmesan
  • 1 pkg (350 grams) Linguine noodles
  • Shaved Parmesan and Parsley for garnish

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large pot of salted water cook the Linguine according to package instructions.
  2. While the pasta is cooking heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan and add in the garlic and shallot and cook until the shallot is translucent. Add the butter and mix well.
  3. When the butter has melted add the heavy cream, spinach and the grated Parmesan and stir frequently.
  4. Reduce the heat and let the sauce thicken.
  5. Add in the shrimp, mussels and clams and continue cooking until the shrimp has turned pink.
  6. Plate the pasta, top with the sauce and garnish with the shaved Parmesan and Parsley.
  7. Enjoy.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……

                          Bon Appetit