Virtual Global Living: February 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Where We Dined: BAROLO North Palm Beach

On Wednesday evening this past week, we decided to step out and try a newly opened restaurant in the area.

Two weeks ago, we happen to be in the Crystal Tree Shopping Center on US 1 (just south of PGA) when we came upon a restaurant preparing for a grand opening. We were invited in to take a look at the newly decorated space and it was very Italian - very modern! Our "host" showed us around and then handed us a menu to take home. We decided, after looking over the menu, we'd like to enjoy a nice dinner there. After all, our host, Massimo Deluca, was from Italy (born in Rome, grew up in Sorrento).

Reservations made, we arrived and were shown to a lovely table tucked into alcove making it perfect for a special intimate dinner for two. Our server was personable and service was professional; we ordered our wine from a nice selection and the meal was ordered to our pace: we like to eat slowly and with time between courses, so we dined for 2+ hours. However, there were many diners who arrived after us and left before us - so it was evident that one could opt to savor a long evening meal or not. Such a rarity to enjoy a 2+ hour meal outside of France, it was a real treat. We hope the policy continues as we will definitely go back.

BAROLO: the menu is well priced, a professional and attentive staff at your service and the chef's well prepared dishes add to overall experience.

For more information: http://www.barolopalmbeach.com/

Fifi

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Travel: The Florida Lifestyle

After watching and reading the daily weather news, thought it was time to pay hommage to the Florida Lifestyle!

Usually by mid January, many 'snowbirds' have taken flight and arrived to the warm sunny shores of South Florida escaping the cold weather. But "Old Man Winter" had other plans. Snowstorm after snowstorm paired with single digit temperatures and accompanied by biting winds made travelling difficult - if one could even get out! However, that all changed this week!

Lately we have taken to enjoying a walk after lunch along the beach and pier at the the Jupiter Inlet. Noticing that the roads seemed a bit busier I realized that we were the only car with a Florida license plate/tag! Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Illinois and more were sharing the roadway with us - "they" got out! Seizing a moment between snow and ice, they arrived to the sunny sands of South Florida. The only shovels around are held by children in the sand and the only ice is that in our beverages. Aahhhh....

This week is especially busy, children are off from school for winter break and they are enjoying a stay with grandma and grandpa in Florida. The happy sound of children's voices as they splash about the shoreline, the relaxing poses of parents in sun loungers make me so grateful to be living here.

The Jupiter area is bustling and growing with a very large complex (hotel, retail, office, residental, recreation) being constructed on the Intracoastal Waterway at Indiantown Road. A new Fresh Market is nearing completion and the overall existing businesses are doing well including - real estate!

The Florida Lifestyle is anything you want it to be: laid back, busy, creative, adventurous. Here is a great link: http://www.palmbeachfl.com Golf, tennis, boating, fishing, spas, theatre, shopping, dining, hotels, equestrian, etc...the options are endless!

And if you would rather have the endless options available to you year round, and at a moment's notice, then consider a move! Find your next home here: www.VirtualGlobalRealty.com Enter your search criteria and start planning your move - there is something for everyone!

In the meantime, let the photos speak for themselves! Fifi

Recipe: Easy Beef Stew

Easy Beef Stew...the title says it all! I've been searching for something new to make while keeping it low carb. There more than a handful of recipes called for 1 cup of red wine, carrots and potatoes - but, most importantly, what to do with the rest of the bottle when you are on a low carb "regime"!! This is a great recipe to do on a "house chores" day. Once you set it on the stove, you don't have to mind it for at least 3 hours!

I thought about a beef stew while I was food shopping yesterday and picked up a few items for the meal:

1 rib-eye steak (about 3/4lb) I cut it into small cubed pieces
1 bag frozen cauliflower (used the whole bag for the "mash")
1 bag frozen small peas (used 1/2)
1 bag frozen sliced mushrooms (used the whole bag)
1 bag frozen pearl onions (used 1/2)
FROM THE PANTRY I HAD:
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1-2 Tablespoons Butter plus 2+ Tablespoons for Cauliflower Mash
1 cup water (room temperature)
1 Beef Bouillon cube
1/4 c flour (add salt & pepper to taste)
1 Tablespoon tomato paste (I use Cento; it comes in a squeeze tube)
1/2+ teaspoon "Essence" (Emeril's blend gives it a spicy "kick")
1/3 cup milk (for Cauliflower Mash)
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese (for Cauliflower Mash)

I know, I know...frozen veggies? But in a pinch, or when time is of the essence, they come in handy. I knew that today would be a busy day for me so I was prepared.

First, add the olive oil and the butter to a large sauce/saute/fry pan with a tight fitting lid (this is very important). Low/medium heat on stove top. (I had 1/2 onion left over from lunch, so I finely chopped it and added it to the oil/butter. This is optional.)
Next, put the 1/4 cup flour (seasoned with salt and pepper) in a baggie, add the beef and lightly coat the meat. (Most of the flour will remain in the baggie, so don't worry about the carbs.)
Now place the meat in the pan and lightly brown the meat - turn up heat to medium. Don't cook it dark brown; just lightly cooked.
Add the tomato paste, pour in the water, drop in the bouillon cube. Stir well, add frozen mushrooms and cover.
Watch carefully until it has a rolling simmer. Reduce heat to lowest setting.
Let cook, slowly, on low heat for 3 hours.
After 3 hours, add the pearl onions and the peas. Gently stir, cover and let cook 1 hour more.
When 15 minutes before serving, bring another sauce pan to boil with a bit of salt, empty the frozen cauliflower into the boiling water and cook until tender (4 min??).
While that is cooking, get blender/food processor ready with the butter, grated cheese and milk. Give a quick mix to blend it all.
Drain the cooked cauliflower and add 1/4 of the cauliflower at a time. Pulse/Mix. Add the next 1/4 amount and pulse/mix. Do the same for the remaining amounts. (The cauliflower is steaming hot. Be sure when pulsing to open the top just a tiny bit to allow the steam to escape each time you add the cauliflower. This is important.)
Blend well until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes
Turn off stove; serve up the stew meat and place a few dollops of the cauliflower mash atop each serving! Serves 3-4.

While I cannot say it is carb free, it is a low carb meal in my book!

Enjoy! Fifi

Recipe: Fresh Pasta

Just before the Christmas holidays we had set aside one day for making fresh pasta. A few years ago we purchased a hand crank pasta machine; cost was under $30. In the past we made pasta more than a few times, but could not get the pasta dough just right. Each time we tried a little more of this, or less of than and finally we hit it just right! So practice does make it perfect and here are the recipes for fresh pasta:

For Spaghetti: 1 cup semolina, 1 cup flour, 2 eggs, 1 egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

For Ravioli/Manicotti: 2 1/3 cup flour, 2 eggs, 4 egg yolks, 1/2 teaspoon salt. (Filling: 8oz ricotta, 4 oz shredded mozzarella, 1 egg, salt and pepper to taste. Finely chopped parsley is optional! Mix very well.)

Either recipe: sift the dry ingredients together. Make a round mound of it and then make a crater in the center (looks like a volcano top). Crack the eggs and yolks into the crater and slowly break the yolks and gently whisk the eggs with a fork, slowly incorporating a little bit of flour as you whisk. When you've blended it all to a crumbly mixture, use your hands mix all the remaining flour into a dough. (If you cannot get all the flour to become "dough-y", add a tablespoon of water.) Knead the dough for about 10 minutes: fold over, push with the heel of the your palm; 1/4 turn and fold over and push, keep repeating this until the dough is smooth. Plastic wrap the dough and let rest an hour. Set up your pasta machine and go! The pasta machines include instructions on how to run the dough through the machine to make the spaghetti or the flat pasta for ravioli/manicotti. I used a small muffin cutter to make my raviolis - place a dollop of ricotta mix slightly off center, brush edges with egg white, fold over and pinch down edges with fingers or lightly with a fork! For the manicotti, we cut rectangles to size: we bought small "toaster oven" size baking pans and determined that 5 manicotti fit nicely and made pasta sheets that were about 5" x 6". Place dollop of ricotta mix close to one edge and roll; brush end with egg white before finally rolling closed. Place in pan and freeze. (Best to freeze both ravioli or manicotti: place ravioli in boiling water and boil about 8-10 minutes; manicotti in a preheated oven 425 degrees - toaster oven is perfect - and bake 25 minutes.)

Check out our pasta pictures below. As you can see our cooking ranges from simple (Poor Man's Lasagna to "starting from scratch")....but good food is good food anyway you prepare and serve it with love!

Helpful Hints: If I Were 30 Years Younger....

I am a great fan of HGTV's House Hunters International. As much as I enjoy seeing the different cities and countries, learning the housing costs to buy or rent, there is something far more appealing to me: it is the people who actually make the move!

I am fascinated that so many people (young,"mature", single, couples) some with families in tow, who take the step and move. True, that some have job or a military transfer, but others just pack up and go. I see many young single people accepting teaching jobs at International Schools. If I had known the opportunity to teach at an International School was available to me, I would have given it some serious consideration. Today's relocation candidates, with or without children, are looking for new opportunities to expand and enrich their lives, meet new poeple, try new food, experience a new way of life and travel. Is it daunting? Yes. If it doesn't work out, can you always come back home? Yes. Is it exciting? Yes. Am I still intrigued? Most Definitely!

Here are some links for International Schools:

http://www.goabroad.com/teach-abroad/search/italy/teach-abroad-1?gclid=CPrOlda8xLwCFWoV7AodJCoApg

https://www.iss.edu/school_list

Contracts are usually for a year - just enough time for you to fall in love or transfer to another city or country! Think Italy, Spain, Germany, Ireland, France, Portugal, Great Britain...endless opportunities! Search the earlier posts for working in Germany or the cost of living "over there".

And not everyone is a "certified" teacher that apply. While taking French classes at a school in France, we met an American girl from Orlando who majored in theatre. At an Orlando job fair, there was a table for teaching abroad and she inquired, signed up and received a teaching post (acting/theatre) in Brussels. The school at which she was teaching offered to pay for her to learn French (they speak French in most of Belgium) and so she signed up and we met. We had two things in common: we were the only Americans in the class and we both lived in Florida. Difference in age? She was in her early twenties and us...well, more than a couple of decades older! During lunch one day, she shared her motivation for learning French: she had fallen in love with a man in Brussels and since his native language was French (he did speak English), she wanted to learn French. How romantic was that! And I am telling this story on Valentines Day! ahhhh!

But if the prospect of moving across "the pond" is too big a first step how about moving across state lines? Some states have lower costs of living than others, some have more temperate weather while others still offer a lifestyle that is either at a slower pace or never sleeps! Take that road trip, take that leap of faith!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Fifi

Recipe: Poor Man's Lasagna

There is nothing "poor" about this lasagna! In fact, it is an easy, one-pot meal that serves a crowd in little time.

Years ago, when we lived in rural upstate NY, my mother-in-law told me about a recipe called Poor Man's Lasagna. It called for some ingredients that didn't quite sound so appetizing, so together we came up with the following dish. When I did make it during those cold days in update NY, we were four - but the two teenage boys ate enough for two more!

What you need:

A large Dutch oven or very large stock pot with lid plus a pot to cook the noodles
1lb ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons chili powder
16-oz can tomato sauce (have an extra 8oz can handy in case you want more "gravy" during the cooking)
1 bag (12oz?) wide egg noodles (We like the "wide curly" noodles!)
16 oz Mozzarella cheese grated
8oz Ricotta cheese (you'll use about 1/2 or 3/4)

Begin:

Medium heat: Lightly brown the ground beef in the olive oil, then add the chopped onions and cook.
Sprinkle the chili powder and blend well.
Add the 16 oz can of tomato sauce and stir, cover. Let simmer about 15-20 minutes. (If needed you can add a little more tomato sauce)
Put the water on for the noodles.
Grate the Mozzarella cheese (unless you cheated and bought already shredded!) Be sure to set aside about 1/3 of the shredded cheese to finish off the recipe.
When the water is boiling, add a little salt with the noodles. (They cook quickly)
When the noodles are done (don't over cook them!), drain and place into the simmering meat sauce.
Toss very well.
Add handfuls of mozzarella cheese and large dollops of ricotta cheese to the noodle/meat mix and swirl around to blend. Turn off the heat but keep the pot on the stove. Add the remaining mozzarella cheese on top and cover to let the cheese melt.

Set your table, put a potholder on the table and bring out the quickest lasagna you've ever made! Top off each serving with grated Parmesan cheese. Good heavens, I'm not even hungry and my mouth is watering for this old-time favorite!

Enjoy!

Fifi

Travel: See the USA

Last week I presented some options for travel in Europe....this week some ideas for staying a little closer to home, but reaching beyond familiar surroundings!

Make good use of the travel websites such as Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com etc etc etc.... Look for package deals that include air & hotel, or even air, hotel and car. I've gotten some really good deals in the past. Remember, too, check your credit card for points or credits you can use towards travel.

Where to go? Here are some ideas:

Florida: Florida Keys! Tourist Info: http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?nid=328 There is so much to see - yet life in the Keys is unrushed, laid back and where celebrating the sunset every evening is a very big event...small things, big impact.

New York: Not just the city (http://iloveny.com/)! While "the city" does offer lots of stimulation, hundreds of options to keep you entertained, amused, fed and toured about (open deck buses, water taxis, tours on foot or by bike). The cheapest, with the most impact is the Staten Island Ferry - it's free and the view of lower Manhattan from the back of the ferry can't be beat! Theatre: https://www.telecharge.com/home.aspx Museums: http://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html Sightseeing: http://www.nyc.com/guided_tours/

New York (Upstate): (http://iloveny.com/) There are mountains (the Catskills & Adirondacks), an ocean, countless rivers and streams for fishing and boating, working farms to visit (some are historical working museums), Saratoga Springs for horse racing, spas and more (http://www.saratoga.com/). How about Niagara Falls (http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/). New York is a large and diverse state - a little something for everyone!

Colorado: Denver and Estes Park...Take flight to the mile-high city of Denver! Driving is easy on wide open highways, exhilarating on mountain roads, and peaceful through charming old towns. Estes Park (http://www.visitestespark.com/) is about 1.5 hours from Denver's airport. Fantastic, charming, and majestically beautiful. Estes Park is home to the Stanley Hotel (remember the movie "The Shining"?) and many other hotels and mountain cabins to rent. Denver is a busy city - busy in a good way! Lots of sunshine bouncing off modern skyscrapers, trendy shops, luxury boutiques, and Lo-Do is the hip cool part of town! Like any great city, there is much to do and many more choices for dining and lodging. For more info: (http://www.denver.org/).

Chicago: The "Windy City" is the midwest's answer to high-energy city living! It's big, it's vertical, it's fashionable, it's cultured, it's hip, it's a very cool city! Chicago has a vibe all its own. It has a reputation for great chefs, a thriving theatre community and the arts have found a solid home in Chicago. Beyond the city limits is whole 'nother world to discover and enjoy. After a busy visit to the city, a relaxing tour to the surrounding area may be a perfect blend of vacationing options! (http://www.discoverillinois.org/)

National Parks: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm What better way to discover our grand country than to visit the National Parks? This link will guide you through parks throughout the USA, those that offer lodging and a glimpse into some of the most amazing parklands anywhere! Pitch a tent or rent a cabin in one of the national parks, canoe/kayak the whitewaters...your options could be endless, if you just let yourself imagine all the fun you can have!

Rent an RV http://www.cruiseamerica.com/ and cruise America! What a great way to travel and take "your house" with you! Renting an RV is both transportation and accomodation. Equipped with all you need to have a comfortable time "camping" anywhere. Campsites can be found in the mountains, seaside, in the middle of nowhere or near a big town.

The USA is huge country, the land mass is enormous; we have 2 oceans, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes and streams, big cities, large town and quaint villages. There are far too many for me to describe; I selected just a handful....

I hope I've inspired you to make a journey beyond the comfort of home...and even if there are no immediate plans for a trip, just clicking on some of the links will feel like you've escaped if only in your mind's eye! Take flight, escape and enjoy!

Fifi 1/30/14

Travel: Time to Talk Summer Vacation in Europe

During the winter my mind usually starts to think about our summer travels in Europe. Where? Budget? Travel Companions? Car, plane or train?

This summer we are thinking of several short trips from our home base in Antibes, France. There is a trip to Barcelona, another to Amsterdam, possibly Dublin and Berlin, a return to Dusseldorf, the French wine area of Beaune and hopefully, a visit to Madrid. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, I like to dream big and then sort out pricing and length of travel before narrowing down the list. So get your pencil and paper ready to take some notes:

PASSPORT: Before you make any plans check your passport to make sure it is valid and hasn't expired. If you don't have one, apply for one on line(http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/apply.html).

AIRFARE: Most expensive is getting to Europe. If you don't have a home base, you have the good fortune to fly into any of the large cities in Europe - just shop for low fares. (Hint: Airlines publish low fares/sales on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and travel on those days are usually cheaper, too!) Here are some suggestions; travel dates are all the same (Jun 15-28, 2014), and roundtrip non-stop* coach fares are approximate per person (fares subject to change and availability):

ENGLAND: NYC - London on Virgin Atlantic Airlines (www.virgin-atlantic.com) about $1500 per person round trip

ITALY: NYC - Rome on Alitalia (www.alitalia.com) about $1610 NYC - Milan on Emirates Airlines (emirates.com/us) $930 per person round trip (sounds like a great deal!!)

IRELAND: NYC - Dublin on Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) about $980 per person round trip

GERMANY: NYC - Dusseldorf on Air Berlin about $1020 per person round trip

FRANCE: NYC - Paris with almost any major carrier about $1500 per person round trip

SPAIN: NYC - Madrid on Iberia Airlines (www.Iberia.com) about $1260 per person round trip NYC - Barcelona on Iberia Airlines $1400 per person round trip

PORTUGAL: NYC - Lisbon on TAP Portual (www.flytap.com) about $1200 per person round trip

NETHERLANDS (Holland): NYC - Amsterdam (www.delta.com) about $1470 per person

*Non-stop flights: you travel from your departure city to your arrival city without any stops
Direct flights: your flight makes a stop somewhere before arriving to your destination
Connection: you have to change planes. Most likely if travelling from a smaller airport in the US or if you are travelling to a smaller airport in the country of travel (Murcia, Spain for instance would be NYC - Madrid - Murcia)

Don't forget to search travel websites for deals on packages that include air and hotel (expedia.com, travelocity.com, kayak.com, cheapoair.com etc). These have always been a great resource for me.

Also, check your credit card company - they usually have a points program you can use towards airfares or credits towards fares. Every little bit helps!

Once you are in Europe, travelling around is inexpensive, yes - inexpensive! EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) is a low cost carrier with great service to and from many European cities and some smaller cities you may not have thought to consider! Get off the beaten path! Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) is another carrier based in Dublin.

HOTELS: Give Best Western Hotels (www.bestwestern.com) a close look. Most of the hotels in Europe under the Best Western name are lovely boutique hotels that are charming and beautifully managed properties. We have had great success finding such wonderful hotels during our travels (in France: Best Western in Ducey and Honfleur; in Italy: Several choices in Florence, Venice and Montecatini). Another one of our favorite hotel chains is Hilton Hotels (www.hilton.com); we especially enjoy the Hilton in Dusseldorf and loved the Old Town Prague Hilton. Consider, too, Sofitel Hotels (www.sofitel.com). This French hotel chain does is all so well with locations in the States as well throughout Europe. When in Munich it is our top pick for location! the next hotel chain we will try is Eurostars Hotels; their properties throughout Europe are well priced in situated in great locations in and near cities/towns. (www.EurostarsHotels.co.uk) Also check the blog under HOTELS-DINING-HELPFUL HINTS for places where we've stayed and/or dined!

APARTMENT RENTALS: Want to live like a local? Check out Vacation Rentals by Owner (www.vrbo). Rent apartments or villas by the week or more. Another site to consider for apartment/hotels (think: space and privacy but with hotel services www.citadines.com)

TRANSPORTATION in main cities is great. Trains, trolleys and buses network throughout the city getting its residents and tourists to and from all day long affordably. (Take the metro from Paris Airport to the city center, or from Rome's Airport to the city center; it's fast, easy and cheap. Just mind how much luggage you're taking!) Rent a car - get out and explore the countryside, the less travelled road. Europeans drive on the same side of the road as we do (except for England/Scotland/N.Ireland and Ireland). The roads are very well maintained, easy to get around and most rental cars companies offer the option of GPS. Two words of a advice: 1. do NOT get an upgrade to a large car (local streets are narrow, that's why locals drive small cars!) and 2. learn to drive a car with manual transmission - they cost less to rent. Automatics are more expensive to rent and are usally larger cars, cars that most Europeans don't drive - leaving us Americans as the "winners" of an "upgrade". Non merci! (Germany may be the exception: take the upgrade!)

LANGUAGE: Most people speak English in the cities and larger towns and villages. Why? Because the British are excellent travellers and have settled in almost anywhere and everywhere in Europe, because English is taught as a second language in schools, much international business is conducted in English, and lastly, young people worldwide seem to speak it so readibly and easily! And remember: a smile, a few basic greetings and always a "thank you" (merci, gracias, grazie, danke) will get you farther than you can imagine.

TOURISM LINKS:

England www.visitbritain.com
France http://int.rendezvousenfrance.com/
Spain http://www.smileyourinspain.com/Welcome%20Page.htm
Germany http://www.germany.travel/en/index.html
Portual http://www.visitportugal.com/en
Ireland http://www.ireland.com/en-us
Italy http://www.italia.it/en/home.html
Netherlands (Holland) http://www.holland.com/us/tourism.htm

Well, now that I've given you plenty of destinations, airfares and hotel websites, where are you going? ...Maybe, just maybe, I'll see you there!

Fifi 1/29/14

PS - Next week I'll have a few suggestions for travelling closer to home!

Recipe: Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken Breast

As the chicken bakes it will fill your kitchen with a delightful aroma!

What you need for 2 servings:

2 split chicken breasts (1/2 breast per person)
1 Tablespoon butter cut into 4 pieces
1-2 Tablespoons of olive oil
Zest of 1 Lemon
1 teaspoon peppercorns (or 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper if you don't have a coffee/spice grinder)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2+ teaspoon salt

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees, set rack in the middle. Lightly coat the bottom of your baking dish with olive oil.

Rinse well and pat dry the chicken breasts. For each piece of chicken: Create a pocket between the skin and the meat. Using your finger lift the skin off the breast gently and place one piece of the butter at the far end and a second piece midway.

Carefully dab the chicken breasts with the olive oil (you can use a paper towel). Place into your baking dish.

Now, zest the lemon. I have an old grater box that I use, but a zester is a great kitchen tool. Set aside.

Take the peppercorns and place into your coffee/spice grinder (I don't grind coffee in mine!) and grind into a coarse powder. Add in the lemon zest. Grind/pulse a few times to blend together. Place in a small bowl and add the onion powder and the salt. Stir well. If you are using ground black pepper, then just add all the ingredients together.

Sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of the seasoning mix onto each of the chicken breasts (top and sides as best you can) The remaining seasoning mix can be used to make a gravy once the chicken has finished baking! (Or if you are not making the gravy, just coat the chicken lots!)

Place chicken in oven and bake for 1 hour, or until juices run clear when pierced.

Remove cooked chicken from baking dish, set on plates and serve with side veggies! (We had brocoli and "mashed" caulifower to enjoy with the gravy!)

Optional Gravy: Spoon out some of the oil/fat from the baking dish and make a gravy adding in the remaining lemon-pepper-onion powder-salt mix. Place baking dish over heated stove top (cermaic cook top is OK, gas stoves be very careful!). Add 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream (or 1/2 and 1/2) with 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard (regular mustard does NOT work). Whisk very, very well over heat until it begins to bubble. Remove and pour into a small pitcher/gravy bowl.

Enjoy!

Fifi

Recipe: Veggie Frittata with Italian Sausage

This veggie frittata with Italian sausage is a simple but delicious one pan meal! My husband made this for the two of us and it was quick and easy.

What you need:

Oven proof frying pan (metal handles)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 lb Italian sausage (in casing or loose)
1 each: red pepper, green pepper, onion all cut into small pieces
Handful of mushrooms, cut into very thin slices
5 eggs
Shredded cheddar cheese (store bought pre-shredded is great)
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Remove the Italian sausage from of its casing (better if you can buy loose Italian sausage); we used a hot Italian sausage to really spice up the flavor. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil to the frying pan and spread about to coat. Brown the loose sausage over medium heat.

While the sausage is browning, cut up into small pieces a green pepper, a red pepper, a small onion, and a handful of mushrooms if you have them on hand. (We didn't this time around)

When the sausage is browned, add the veggies in and toss to blend well with the sausage and all the flavorings in the pan. As they cook up, get your eggs ready.

Scramble/whisk 5 eggs in a bowl and then pour over the sausage & veggies. Tilt the frying pan so the egg spreads evenly (or as best as can be). As the eggs start to cook up, get your shredded cheese ready.

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar (or jack cheese) over the egg/sausage/veggies and now place the frying pan into the oven (325 degrees) for about 5-10 minutes or until the cheese melts then move it under the broiler to brown and crisp up the cheese.

CAREFULLY (using non-skid pot holders/gloves) remove the frying pan and serve up. We cut the frittata into quarters: it is easier to serve a smaller piece and they fit a bit nicer on a plate! The other pieces will keep warm since the frying pan is oven-hot!

(Another option is to cover the skillet and place in oven; this will cause the frittata to "rise" and become puffy...looks elegant!)

Enjoy!

Recipe: Low Carb Cooking Ideas

I am into the second week of changing my menus; going back to a few old favorites and trying a few new ones. Some of the recipes are in the Dana Carpender Low Carb CookBook (so I cannot reprint the recipes); but I can tell you which ones I used this week!

Steak au Poive (steak in a bit of heavy cream and lots of cracked pepper)
Chicken Breast in a Lemon-Pepper Gravy (with a side of mashed cauliflower!)
Cajun Skillet Shrimp

From my kitchen, menu ideas include: sausage & peppers w/onions, chicken cutlets stuffed with prosciutto and gruyere cheese (search the VGL Cookbook under "chicken" for the recipe), burgers topped with blue cheese, chicken stir fry, curry chicken (also under the VGL cookbook) and beef burgundy - all served (or will be served) minus the bread, rice or pasta. Large portions (heavy on the veggies) are key to a great looking, nicely filling dinner. I'll keep sourcing out new recipes to make my kitchen life fun, interesting and tasty along the way!

The chicken stir fry was easy but have all the chicken cutlet and veggies cut first! In a large saute pan, add 2 Tablespoons oil, medium heat then add 1/2 Tablespoon coarse sea salt, 1/2 Tablespoon red pepper flakes. Add the cut-up cutlets and cook until no pink is evident. Add 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce. Toss well. Remove chicken, place in bowl and cover to keep warm. Add another little bit of oil to the pan and another 1/2 Tablespoon each of coarse sea salt and red pepper flakes. Add the cut up veggies (1 green pepper, 1 bunch scallions, 1 zucchini, 2 handfuls string beans, 8 oz mushrooms). Toss until veggies are cooked but not limp. Add 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce, mix well. Add the chicken back in (juices and all) and toss well, heat through and serve.

I will leave the recipe for the beef burgundy for the coming week, I'll post it with pictures. This is an easy-easy recipe and cooks for hours in the oven so there is no standing over a hot stove for hours. It'll warm the house and make it smell really good, too!

An update to the breaded pork chop recipe: since I am going "low carb", I subsituted almond flour for the bread crumbs. After dipping the 2 pork chops in the egg mix, I sprinkled each side with 1 teaspoon of Emeril's Essence (google the recipe: easy, tasty and makes enough to store in pantry) then "breaded" them with the almond flour and quickly golden fried them in 3 Tablespoons of oil before placing the frying pan in the oven to bake (325 degrees) for 30 minutes. Served up with green beans and sauteed zucchini with onions! The pork chops had a hot spicy flavor and were very juicy!

Have not missed the wine, for those inquiring minds, and I've kept to my 40 minute power-walking in the morning listening to club/dance/zumba music. My first day to "splurge" will be Valentine's Day - and there will be champagne!

Fifi

Travel: Trip to Arles, France & The Camargue

As I was cooking the other day, I went looking through the pantry for some of the goodies we brought back from France that may have been hidden from sight. I came across the small container of salt from the Camargue. It brought back a flood of memories of our trip to the Camargue. What is a/the Camargue? (I asked the same question!) Here is an excerpt from the Arles Tourism Board.

(http://www.arlestourisme.com/the-camargue.html)

The Camargue, a magic word, is a place where man lives alongside horses, bulls, birds, the sky and water. The magic of this region lies in the preservation of it natural spaces. It is a fragile sanctuary for fauna and flora, uncommon in Europe; protected by the Camargue regional park and natural reserve, it forms a unique landscape. Moreover, it is as a natural space of world interest that Arles is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Situated between the two arms of the Rhône (it is a delta with the Grand Rhône towards the south-east, and the Petit Rhône towards the south-west), the Camargue is a vast wetland of approximately 100,000 hectares, the largest in France and also one of the most secret. It is divided in three distinct zones: cultivation north of the delta, salt banks in the west and east and lagoons in the south....

The guidebook's section on Arles/Camargue sounded interesting...even more so when it suggested a 4X4 safari tour! Sign me up! The city of Arles also was of keen interest. So, I put on my "travel agent hat" and found an interesting hotel (a converted convent) within an easy walk into the old/historic part of Arles. We set out for the 2+ hour drive and we were so pleased when we saw the hotel; it was full of charm, history and elegance of a bygone era. We checked in and immediately booked lunch at the hotel and enjoyed a relaxing meal, expertly served on the terrace - and it was superb.

After a quick unpack (it was only a 3 nite stay), we ventured out to the old town. Some of the best preserved Roman ruins are in France, and the arena in Arles was testament to that fact. Then there was the "hospital" where VanGogh took refuge and painted - a reprint of his famous painting "Courtyard of the Hospital in Arles" is posted and it still looks the same. There are churches and museums, restaurants and bistros, cafes and bars; so many wonderful choices.

A stop into the Office of Tourism and we booked our "safari" ride to the Camargue. Sure enough, next morning, right behind our hotel, a rough looking 4x4 picks us up, along with a few other tourists and off we went. In less than 30 minutes we were in the Camargue. Pictures can best describe what a great experience we had - highly recommend it. And they speak a "different" kind of French here: Occitan. Sound familiar? The bath and body shop? Well, Occitan is a form of Catalan (Barcelona!) and it is the language of the people from the region of Languedoc. In fact, Languedoc is a variation of the words "language of the Occitan" (langue d'oc). There is a strong Spanish/Catalan/Basque influence here: bulls, bullrings, and bull fights; there were flamenco dresses being sold and many of the horse and bull ranches had Spanish (owners') names. I felt right at home!As I was cooking the other day, I went looking through the pantry for some of the goodies we brought back from France that may have been hidden from sight. I came across the small container of salt from the Camargue. It brought back a flood of memories of our trip to the Camargue. What is a/the Camargue? (I asked the same question!) Here is an excerpt from the Arles Tourism Board (http://www.arlestourisme.com/the-camargue.html)

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Tuesday, February 25, 2014