Tuna Puttanesca

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Salt
1 pound penne pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cans (about 5.5 to 6 ounces each) Italian tuna in oil or water, drained well
6 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
A generous handful black olives (Gaeta, kalamata or oil-cured), pitted
and chopped
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1/3 cup white vermouth or 1/2 cup dry white wine - eyeball it
1 (28-ounce) can whole or diced tomatoes (recommended: San Marzano)
A generous handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons lemon zest
Fresh ground black pepper
Crusty bread

Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring up to a boil. Salt
the water and cook penne to al dente.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet with 3 turns of the pan extra-virgin
olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, cook
a minute or 2, then add tuna and break it up with your spoon. Add
olives and capers, cook a minute or 2 more, then add vermouth or white
wine; stir and cook down a minute. If using whole tomatoes, place a
colander over a bowl, crush up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, then add
tomatoes and their juice to pan. Otherwise, stir in diced tomatoes and
juice. Add parsley, zest and black pepper, then simmer the sauce a
couple of minutes more.

Add a couple of ladles of starchy pasta-cooking water to the sauce.
Drain pasta, add to the skillet and toss to coat. Serve with some nice
crusty bread.

Ice Cream Cake

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 1 hour
Yield: 8 servings

1 pound cake, vanilla, chocolate, or swirl
1 rectangular box vanilla, chocolate, or swirl ice cream, slightly softened
1/4 to 1/2 cup coffee liqueur, or any liqueur you have on hand, divided
3 to 4 tablespoons leftover coffee, divided
1 cup cocoa powder

Line a meat loaf pan with plastic wrap so that it is completely
covered, with lots of extra hanging over the edges.

Cut the pound cake lengthwise in 4 equally thin rectangular slabs. Cut
1 of the rectangles in 1/2 widthwise, then cut another 1 of the
rectangles in 1/2 lengthwise. You should have 2 full slabs, 2 thin
rectangular strips, and 2 squares. Begin layering the meatloaf pan
with 1 of the full slabs on the bottom, then the 2 strips on either
side. Place the 2 squares of pound cake vertically on each end of the
pan. The loaf pan should now be completely encased in pound cake.

Lightly brush, our drizzle, the pound cake with the liqueur and
leftover coffee, reserving some for the top piece. Scoop the ice cream
into the cavity of the pound cake and smooth it out with a small
offset spatula or your fingertips so that it is all even around the
pan. Once the pan is full of ice cream, pour the remaining liqueur and
coffee over the remaining piece of pound cake. Top the ice cream with
the remaining piece of pound cake and press down. Cover the cake with
the plastic wrap and put back in the freezer for at least an hour.
Using the overhanging plastic wrap, remove the ice cream cake from the
loaf pan. Place the loaf on a serving platter and sprinkle with the
cocoa powder and serve.

Grilled Halibut with Fennel, Red Onions and Oregano

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

This dish is fast, healthy and combines a Sicilian favorite combo of
mine: oranges, red onions and oregano. Fennel is a winter favorite,
but in most markets it is available year round and in my family we
used it as a digestive during big meals throughout the year.

4 (6-ounce) halibut filets
Extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons plus some for drizzling
Salt and pepper
Crusty bread, cut into thick slices
1 orange
1 bulb fennel, quartered, core removed, thinly sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, a couple of splashes
Handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves, 2 sprigs

Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill over high heat.

Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the fish and season with salt and
pepper. Grill 4 minutes on each side until fish is firm but not tough
and cooked through. Grill bread alongside or char under broiler then
dress with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper as well.

Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat.

While fish cooks, peel the orange as you would a melon: cut off ends,
stand it upright and cut off skin and pith in thin strips from top to
bottom. Cut orange across into thin slices.

To preheated skillet add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan,
the fennel and onions, season with salt and pepper and cook 3 to 5
minutes until seared and beginning to soften. Add vinegar to the pan
and give it a shake. Remove from heat and toss in the oranges, the
parsley and oregano. Adjust seasoning and serve salad on dinner plates
topped with fish, and seasoned bread alongside.

Carbonara Deep-Dish Pasta-Crusted Pan Pizza

2 packages fresh linguini, 9 ounces each
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 pound pancetta, cut as thick as bacon, chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, grated or chopped
1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you like it
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, a couple of handfuls salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 large eggs
1/2 cup cream
2 cups ricotta cheese
A handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 cup shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat water for pasta in large pot, salt it and add pasta for 3 minutes.

While water boils, heat a large skillet with extra-virgin olive oil, 3
turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and brown, 3 to
4 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes.

Drain pasta, add to pan and toss. Stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano and
season with salt and pepper. Beat eggs with cream and pour over top of
pasta. Let eggs begin to set up, about 1 minute, and pat pasta into
even layer to make the pizza pie crust. Place in oven and cook 5 to 6
minutes.

Mix together the ricotta and parsley. Remove pie from oven and smooth
the ricotta over the top. Scatter with the provolone or mozzarella and
return to oven. Bake 8 minutes more until cheese is melted and golden
at edges. Cut into wedges and serve.

Cioppino: A Fine Kettle of Fish

1/4 cup (3 turns around the pan in a slow stream) extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 to 3 flat fillets of anchovies, drained
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup good quality dry white wine
1 (14-ounce) container chicken stock
1 (32-ounce) can chunky style crushed tomatoes
4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed (about 1 tablespoon)
1 handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 1/2 pounds cod, cut into 2-inch chunks
Salt and pepper
8 large shrimp, ask for deveined easy-peel or peel and devein
8 sea scallops
16 to 20 raw mussels, scrubbed
A loaf of fresh, crusty bread, for mopping

In a large pot over moderate heat combine oil, crushed pepper,
anchovies, garlic, and bay. Let anchovies melt into oil. The anchovies
act as a natural salt, the pepper flakes will infuse the oil,
providing heat.

Chop celery and onion near stove and add to the pot as you work. Saute
vegetables for a few minutes to begin to soften and add wine to the
pot. Reduce wine a minute, then add chicken stock, tomatoes, thyme,
and parsley. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to medium low.

Season fish chunks with salt and pepper. Add fish and simmer 5
minutes, giving the pot a shake now and then. Do not stir your soup
with a spoon after the addition of fish or you will break it up. Add
shrimp, scallops, and mussels and cover pot. Cook 10 minutes, giving
the pot a good shake now and again.

Remove the lid and discard any mussels that do not open. Carefully
ladle stew into shallow bowls and pass bread at the table.

Puttanesca Pizza

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons anchovy paste or 6 fillets flat anchovies
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped pitted good quality black olives
Handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 prepared thin crust pizza shell (recommended: Boboli)
3/4 pound very thinly sliced fresh or fresh smoked mozzarella

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil,
garlic, anchovy paste and red pepper flakes. When anchovies (if whole)
melt or garlic is tender, about 2 minutes, add tomatoes and olives.
Simmer sauce 3 to 4 minutes. Top the pizza with sauce and the sliced
cheese. Bake until pizza until cheese melts and crust is crisp, 10
minutes. Cut and serve.

From: food network

Turkey Bacon Double Cheese Burgers with Fire Roasted Tomato Sauce

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling plus 1 tablespoon
8 slices bacon
2 1/2 pounds ground turkey breast
2 green onions, finely chopped
A handful cilantro, leaves finely chopped
1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked sweet paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons zest and the juice of 2 limes
1 red onion, chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, lightly drained
2 rounded tablespoon grainy mustard
8 slices pepper jack cheese, from the deli counter
4 large sandwich size English muffins, lightly toasted

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium to
medium-high heat and add the turkey bacon. Cook until crisp, 3 minutes
on each side, remove to plate.

While the bacon cooks, combine the turkey breast, green onions,
cilantro, chipotle, paprika, salt and pepper, lime zest and juice. Mix
the turkey breast with seasonings and form 4 sections, from each, 2
patties. Place the first 4 patties in the pan; cook 3 to 4 minutes on
each side. Remove from the skillet and place onto a plate and loosely
cover with foil to keep warm

While the first batch of burgers cook heat 1 tablespoon oil in a sauce
pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and soften 3 to 4 minutes,
season with salt and pepper and then add Worcestershire, brown sugar,
tomatoes, and mustard. Let the sauce cook on low.

Add the second batch of burgers to the skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes
on each side. Top with a slice of cheese and 2 pieces bacon. Tent
skillet with foil and cook on low to moderate heat to melt cheese,
about 1 minute.

Place burgers on muffin bottoms. Top with bacon double cheese burgers,
fire roasted tomato sauce and English muffin top.

From: food network