Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini is treated as a vegetable, which means it is usually cooked and presented as a savory dish or accompaniment. Zucchini lasagne is made by replacing lasagne noodles with zucchini to make this delicious, and a light dish.

What you need-

* 2-1/2 cups zucchini, sliced (about 2 medium)
* 1/2 lb lean ground beef (I use 1 lb.)
* 1/4 cup onion, chopped
* 2 small tomatoes, cut up
* 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
* 1/2 tsp. dried basil
* 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/8 tsp. pepper
* 1 egg
* 3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese (or low fat or fat free ricotta)
* 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (I use 8 oz. divided)
* 1 tsp. flour





Way to prepare-
Cook zucchini until tender, drain and set aside. Fry meat and onions until meat is brown and onions are tender; drain fat. Add next 8 ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer, cook uncovered for 10 minutes.

Slightly beat the egg. Add cottage cheese, half of shredded cheese and flour.

In a baking-roasting pan, arrange half of the meat mixture. Top with half of the zucchini and all the cottage cheese mixture. Top it up with remaining meat and zucchini.Bake uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer.

Let it stand 10 minutes before serving so that it gets firm.

This is delicious and this is an understatement.

Potato gnocchi

The word "gnocchi" means "lumps".It is a soft noodle or dumpling which is usually thick.Gnocchi can be made from Semolina,wheat flour,potato and bread crumbs.The smaller forms are called gnocchetti.Gnocchi are eaten as entrees in Italy or as an alternative to soups or pasta.Gnocchi is made in one continuous process: cooking the potatoes, making the dough, forming the gnocchi.

Here's how you can make "Potato Gnocchi":




What you need:

* 4 large potatoes
* 2 cups all purpose flour and some more for dusting
* 2 tbsp plus 2 1/2 tsp of salt
* 2 eggs
* 1/8 tsp of freshly ground black pepper

How to make:

Step I

* Take a large saucepan and out unpeeled potatoes.
* Cover the potatoes with 2 inches of cold water
* Add a tsp of salt and bring to a boil.
* Reduce heat to a medium high and cook for 40 minutes

Step II


* Fill another large saucepan with cold water
* Bbring to a boil after adding 1 tablespoon salt
* Fill a large bowl with ice cold water

Step III

* Drain the potatoes and peel while still hot
* Blend the potato with mixer or potato ricer with its finest disk
* Take out the mound of potatoes so formed and make a well in it
* Sprinkle flour on the potatoes evenly and mix eggs,2 1/2 tsp salt and pepper into it
* Lightly beat the eggs,putting otheringredients to form a dough
* Knead lightly until the dough becomes soft and smooth


Step IV


* Lightly dust the work surface with flour. Divide dough into four balls, and shape each ball into a rope 3/4 inch in diameter.
* Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces.
* Shape the gnocchi: Hold a dinner fork in one hand, and use your index finger to hold a cut edge of a piece of gnocchi against the curved back of the tines of the fork. Press into the center of the gnocchi with your index finger to make a deep indentation. While you are pressing the piece against the tines, flip it away over the tip of the fork, allowing the gnocchi to drop to the work surface. If the gnocchi becomes sticky, dip fork and index finger into flour. The finished gnocchi will have ridges on one side and a depression on the other. At this point, gnocchi can be refrigerated on a lightly floured baking sheet for several hours before boiling and serving.


Step V

* To cook gnocchi, immerse half of them into boiling water, and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes until they start floating on the surface
* Remove with a slotted spoon, and place in the ice cold water for about 20 seconds.
* Transfer from ice bath
* Repeat procedure with the other half of the dough

Rissotto

Rissotto, a Northern Italian dish is conventionally prepared in a heavy bottom skillet,preferably made of cast iron.A certain type of rice is used to prepare Rissotto (usually a aft,starchy,medium ) grain rice. Italian Arborio is the most common rice used to cook it as it is available in all the grocery store in Italy. Other rices that can be used are Roma,Vialone, Carnaroli,Nano and Maratelli.




Here's how you can make a basic Rissotto

What you need:

* 400 grams risotto rice
* 1.1 litres stock (chicken, fish or vegetable as appropriate)
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 large onion, finely chopped
* 1 knob of butter
* 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
* ½ a head of celery, finely chopped
* 2 wineglasses of dry white vermouth
* sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 70 grams butter
* 115 grams freshly grated Parmesan cheese


How to make:

I Stage

* Heat the stock
* Take a seperate pan and heat butter and olive oil
* add onions,garlic and celery
* Fry very slowly for 15 minutes
* Add the rice when vegetables have softened and turn up the heat.





II Stage

* Keep stirring the rice as it starts to lightly fry
* Add vermouth and keep stirring when the rice starts to look translucent
* Any harsh alcohol flavours will evaporate leaving a pleasent smell and taste behind.


III Stage

* Once the Vermouth has cooked,add a ladle of hot stock and a good pinch of salt
* Turn down the heat so that the rice does not cook too fast on the outside
* Keep adding ladlefuls of stock,stirring massaging the creamy starch out of the rice.
* This takes around 15 minutes.
* Continue adding stock until the rice becomes soft.
* If you run out of stock before the rice is cooked, add some boiling water.

IV Stage

* Remove from the heat and add the butter and Parmesan.
* Stir well
* Place lid on the pan and let it cook for 2 minutes.
* Eat it as soon as possible, while the risotto retains its beautiful tex

Artichoke Soup Recipe

This simple mashed artichoke hearts in broth with a bit of garlic and cream makes one of the tastiest Italian recipes of soups . This recipe will make soup sufficient for four.

What You Need:

• 4 cups chicken or vegetables broth
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• Freshly ground black or white pepper

• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice or white wine or distilled vinegar
• 1 tsp. salt, plus more to taste
• 6 large artichokes

How to Make:

1. In a large pot with a tight-fitting lid bring about 1 inch water, lemon juice,and 1 tsp. salt to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, cut stems and thorns from artichokes. Place artichokes, stem-side down and standing, in pot. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until a leaf pulls out easily from each artichoke, about 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water after draining.
3. Pull off and discard dark green, outer leaves. Use a spoon to scrape out fuzzy choke. Cut off any fibrous dark green parts around outside of heart. Roughly chop heart and put in a blender or food processor. Use all the artichokes similarly.
4. Use a spoon to scrape off tender flesh from each leaf. Discard them.
5. In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant for about 1 minute. Transfer garlic to blender with artichokes.
6. Whirl artichokes with broth until very smooth. You will need to let the blender run a bit for this to happen--whirl for at least 2 minutes.
7. Transfer artichoke mixture to saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer. Add cream, and salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve soup hot.

Cucumber-Pasta Salad

A refreshing cucumber salad with pasta and a creamy dressing is a delight. It is a quick, easy and healthy recipe.You can make the pasta and just toss in some cool and fresh cucumber to it for getting the best of taste.

What you need-

* 3 cups pasta
* 2/3 cup vinegar
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 3 teaspoons sugar

* 1/2 teaspoon pepper

* 3 medium cucumbers, seeded and coarsely chopped
* 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
* 2 green onions, sliced
* 1 teaspoon garlic salt





Ways to cook-

Cook pasta and then drain. Rinse it with cold water, and drain again.Combine vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, dillweed, pepper and water. Cover and shake well.

Combine pasta, cucumber, celery, and onions. Add dressing, and toss to coat.

Cover and chill for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve with a slotted spoon.

Zucchini Lasagna

What you need-

* 2-1/2 cups zucchini, sliced (about 2 medium)
* 1/2 lb lean ground beef (I use 1 lb.)
* 1/4 cup onion, chopped
* 2 small tomatoes, cut up
* 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
* 1/2 tsp. dried basil
* 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/8 tsp. pepper
* 1 egg
* 3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese (or low fat or fat free ricotta)
* 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (I use 8 oz. divided)
* 1 tsp. flour



Way to prepare-
Cook zucchini until tender, drain and set aside. Fry meat and onions until meat is brown and onions are tender; drain fat. Add next 8 ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer, cook uncovered for 10 minutes.

Slightly beat the egg. Add cottage cheese, half of shredded cheese and flour.

In a baking-roasting pan, arrange half of the meat mixture. Top with half of the zucchini and all the cottage cheese mixture. Top it up with remaining meat and zucchini.

Bake uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer.

Let it stand 10 minutes before serving so that it gets firm.

This is delicious and this is an understatement.

Parmesan Chicken

This is real comfort and favorite food of every family. If you can, buy the fresh mozzarella. You won't believe the difference and it's worth it. The texture isn't rubbery like the typical mozzarella.

What you need to make Parmesan Chicken-
* 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
* 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 tbsp. butter
* 2 tbsp. olive oil
* more parmesan cheese, for garnishing
* 4 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese (soft & creamy)
Use marinara sauce or store bought spaghetti sauce




How you proceed to make Parmesan Chicken-

Pound the chicken breasts between two slices of plastic wrap until about 1/4" thick. Season with salt and pepper. Remove excess .Dip in egg/milk mixture, then in breadcrumb/Parmesan mixture.

Heat the butter and olive oil in a large deep skillet. Brown the chicken breasts over medium heat until golden on each side (about 2-3 min per side).

Add the marinara sauce to the skillet. Heat to boiling and simmer 10 minutes. Add the chicken breasts to the sauce and sprinkle Parmesan over them. Place a slice of mozzarella on each piece of chicken. Cover and simmer about 8- 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the chicken is tender.

Serve with your favorite pasta.

It can serve minimum four people.