Saturday, January 29, 2011

Weekend Fun and food

It has been a while since I have been in touch, but I did not stop cooking!  I am always trying new things and creating dishes to test on my family and friends. 
I have been busy learning Italian also, hoping to take a trip within the next couple of years and experience even more different local food.
Breakfast today - pumpkin pancakes, rosemary, ham and swiss frittatta!  Dinner tomorrow will be a new and interesting experience.  Stay tuned for what's on the menu
We are going through the process of permits and inspections from the town and the state - we are hoping for launch date in March!  Hopefully in time for St. Patrick's day - when even us Italians become Irish and I can make boiled dinner with homemade soda bread for everyone!
Ciao for now!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Winter White Pizza

Since we are snowed in, I decided to try something new and different with one of our favorite meals.....pizza!  We had Jay's favorite sausage and cheese snack to start, then a great meat lover's pizza.  I decided to try a new white pizza, with garlic and truffle oil, fresh baby greens and herbs, sliced roma tomatoes, ricotta, parmesan and mozzerella cheeses.

I didn't think my sons would like this one, figured it was more for me, however.... they are in love with my new pizza.  Have to make more, is the comment.

This would be great for a vegan/vegetarian.  Very tasty, not lacking at all.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Lunch Time!

What a busy morning - how do we manage sometime?  I still want to know how I did what I did when I was working full time outside of the home!  Someone share!

Today proves to be a busy day - pepperoni bread tonight, (pizza dough rolled up with a mixture of ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, parsley, eggs and a few other spices) with home made marinara sauce and a nice salad.  Easy, quick, nutritious and kids love it!

This will definitely be on the menu occasionally at Mia Cucina
Not sure what dessert will be yet... stay tuned

Monday, January 10, 2011

Homemade Sashimi for Dinner!



Homemade Tuna Sashimi and sauce tonight! Was a hit for our whole family, even my beautiful daughter, who is 12, loved it! Served with grilled swordfish, rice pilaf and seaweed salad! The consensus is that this will be added to our menu options. Hope the fish store can get my sushi grade tuna frequently! YUM
I still have white chocolate cranberry biscotti for anyone wanting to stop by and visit.  Cranberry tart was also a huge hit and Andrew asked to add it as a dessert for our menu.  Jay wholeheartedly agreed!  

Monday Monday....

Yesterday's dinner was a hit.  My family all advised that it has to be offered on the "upcoming menu"  And they are my worst critics, other than myself.

Dessert was different for us, but excellent.  Cranberry Almond Torte... I picked so many fresh cranberries with my friend Nikki this past season that I want to use them.  The Torte was excellent, buttery, almond crust, with cream cheese filling and topped with fresh cranberry topping.  The perfect balance of sweet and tart.  Even my daughter liked it and she's not usually fond of nuts. 

White chocolate cranberry biscotti is on the "to do" list today.  I would love for my friends to try some, so if you drive close to my house on your way home... please stop and pick a few up to tell me what you think.  I will also post some pics today. 

Tonight's dinner will be something exciting I am sure!  Stay posted for great information about what's on its way. 

Benvenuto a Mio Cucina!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Sunday Dinner

It's Sunday dinner time again!

Italian house, Sunday dinner = football and family for dinner, what to cook, what to cook? 

I love my local butcher, Bonk's market, he may not be Italian, but he's a great Irish butcher and has been around for years.  When I go into the butcher I find endless possibilities for dinner any night. Today is different, Mass at 11am and everyone is home for the day, parents will be here at 4ish for dinner and it's a day of relaxing, eating and family.

Today I think my menu will include baked ziti, nice salad with homemade dressing (my family prefers) with some fresh scali bread and meatballs, pork and bracciole left from last weeks' Sunday dinner that I froze for future use. 
This will be one of the many menu items that will be offered on my "take home" dinner menu.  Comfort food and what kids don't love macaroni??
Unfortunately we are going to have delay our start of business until the 19th of January.  We want to make sure we are prepared and have taken all the steps to make sure customers are happy and well fed!


After many votes and much consideration, we are deliberating still on the name for our business since we may eventually turn it into a restaurant... Please feel free to still weigh in since we are also considering Mio Cucina = My Kitchen. 

Have a great Sunday and Buona Mangia!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year - Cooking coming to your kitchen - dinners to go soon to begin

Happy New Year! It's 2011 and I can't believe how time flies. The vote is in, I will begin a business from my kitchen cooking dinners "to go" only five days a week. The menu will be selected and posted here and on face book by me, the Thursday prior. I will expand on this venture with teaching as business grows. We all know the search is on for healthy, wholesome food and everyone is always on the run which makes this almost impossible. I am so excited, because in our area, there are limited options for take out...Chinese and pizza.. Or cook it yourself. After a long day the last thing I wanted to do, in between running car pool to dance, drivers ed, band practice, basketball games... etc. I will also be featuring some vegan options by bringing my friend Georgia in to the mix on occasion for those that are health and animal conscious. She has a blog also, see the following: http://vegangeorgia.blogspot.com/2011/01/sustys-cafe.html?spref=fb
Be on the lookout, I hope to begin next week!