Gourmetcentric

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Mac and Cheese

I never thought when I started this blog, I would ever have a Mac and Cheese recipe on it.  I didn't grow up on Mac and Cheese, like most kids.  Now that I have children of my own, I've learned to accept Mac and Cheese as an occasional part of their diet.  The good thing about Mac and Cheese, is that it makes great leftovers, and with the kids back in school this week, I needed to have that option.  The bad thing about ... continue reading...

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Re-creating Nesselrode Bula Ice Cream

I was in the mood to make ice cream, but I wanted to make something special.  I tried to think back to the best ice cream I ever had.  Well, that had to be Nesselrode Bula. I know, its a weird name.  Upon researching the origin of the name, I found out that Nesselrode was the name of a Russian Count, Karl Robert Nesselrode, to be exact. He had negotiated the Treaty of Paris, after the Crimean War in 1856. His Chef ... continue reading...

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Butternut Squash Soup

I've made this soup many times.  My older daughter came down with a cold and was craving it.  I asked her if she was sure she wanted Butternut Squash soup, considering it was 80 degrees outside. I made it at her request, even though the weather called more for Gazpacho. This is a great "comfort food" soup, but I prefer eating it when it's cold and rainy.       Okay, so I started with two ... continue reading...

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Lucky’s Cafe – Cleveland, Ohio

It's been 2 weeks since my last post.  I've been out of town and just returned, spending the last 2 weeks in Cleveland, Ohio, of all places.  You see, my husband makes movies for a living, which means that family vacations are usually scheduled on a very short notice and at some of the most "un-vacation like" destinations.  When I booked the tickets for myself and the kids, I was not too excited about going to Cleveland.  ... continue reading...

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Raspberry Clafoutis

Clafoutis is the quintessential French dessert.  I would say the texture is similar to custard, yet the flour makes it kind of cakey.  The traditional French Clafoutis is made with cherries.  When made with fruits other than Cherries, it's actually called Flaugnarde.  I'm just calling it Raspberry Clafoutis. I was feeling lazy.  I looked in the fridge and saw that I had 2 nice boxes of fresh raspberries.  With ... continue reading...

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Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Rapini

You gotta like Rapini to like this dish.  Rapini is a bitter vegetable resembling broccoli, but it is more related to the turnip.  Did you know that some people are genetically  predisposed to not like bitter-tasting things?   They are called "Super-Tasters".  If you hate the taste of broccoli, then you are probably a "Super-Taster", and would definitely HATE this dish.  Now here's the good news.  Rapini is packed with ... continue reading...

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Fast and Easy Hummus

Hummus makes a nice dip that can be eaten with Pita bread, vegetables or as a side dish with middle eastern food. Have you ever wondered what's in Hummus?  Well, it's just Chickpeas, Tahini, (which is ground sesame paste), garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and salt.  The Chickpeas are a great source of protein, along with iron, vitamin C and B vitamins.  The Tahini is high in calcium. If you can get your children to ... continue reading...

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Arancini

What to do with leftover Risotto?  Arancini is your answer.  Arancini are basically rice balls that are stuffed, breaded and fried.  What could be better than that? The name Arancini translates to "little oranges" due to it's shape and color.  They are Sicilian in origin. You can fill them with cheese, mushrooms, meat, tomato sauce or whatever suits your fancy.  I chose to fill mine with cheese, and some with crispy ... continue reading...

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Saltimbocca Romana

Saltimbocca is a classic dish found throughout Italy.  It's traditionally made with veal, but can also be made with chicken breasts.  I have never made it with chicken, but when I do, I will let you know which way is tastier.  This recipe is quite simple to make and because the veal cutlets are pounded thin, it cooks in no time. Saltimbocca means "jump in your mouth" in Italian, and that's exactly what this dish does.  ... continue reading...

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Banana Cream

This is a quick and simple dessert recipe you can make with your children.  In fact, it comes from a children's cookbook.  The book is called "The Silver Spoon for Children".  It's the children's version of the best-selling Italian cookbook, "The Silver Spoon".  All the recipes in the book have been tested by children.  It is well illustrated and directions are simple to follow. The book also includes cooking techniques ... continue reading...