Homemade pizza

Pizza with parsley pesto, asparagus, red onion and goat cheese

Taking the time to make a homemade pizza vs. baking a frozen, pre-packaged pizza is well worth the effort in that it tastes much better, the ingredients are more fresh, and the person making it has complete control over what goes on it. Ingredients can be anything that's on hand, which is a refreshing change from the typical red sauce, sausage, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.

with zucchini, onion and feta

Although it is beneficial to make a homemade dough from scratch, it is not quite time efficient. There are a variety of great dough mixes on the market these days, and if you're in a crunch and can't find the time to whip up your own dough they can come in handy. If you do have enough time on hand though, and would like to make your own dough from scratch I highly recommend doing so!

with sweet sausage, bleu cheese, mushrooms and walnuts, garnished with fresh pea shoots and manchego cheese

Potato Gnocchi

Potato gnocchi is a thick Italian dumpling made most basically of mashed potatoes, eggs and flour. They are also called the "little knuckles" of pasta since they are usually pressed lightly with a fork after cutting from a log to form knuckle-like indentations into the dough.

Gnocchi are very versatile with a variety of sauces. Personally, I prefer a lighter sauce with gnocchi since they seem to be a heavier dish.


Following is the basic recipe for potato gnocchi. Suggested sauces include marinara, pesto or a browned butter sauce. Gnocchi is delicious with any type of sauce, but it's good to find a balance between the heaviness of the dumplings and the texture of the sauce.


Potato Gnocchi:


3 lbs russet potatoes
2 C. flour
1 large egg
pinch salt


1. Boil potatoes until soft. While still hot, carefully peel and pass through potato ricer or mash until no lumps are visible.


2. Place mashed potatoes onto a cutting board and create a well in the center. Place flour, egg and salt in the well and mix potatoes into the center until all ingredients are incorporated.

3. Knead the dough until somewhat dry, then roll into a log. Cut off small pieces, about 3/4 inch in size. Gently roll each "dumpling" along the tines of a fork so that it is slightly indented with the shape. Repeat with all of the dough.


4. Bring about 6 quarts of water to a boil (you may add a pinch of salt). When boiling, add the gnocchi and boil 4-6 minutes, or until all gnocchi begin to float. Drain and continue with your choice of serving method.




What I made for dinner using gnocchi:











Above: Gnocchi in browned butter with mushrooms, nutmeg and cinnamon with a garnish of candied bacon, accompanied by fresh red pear slices.

Flank Steak

Flank steak is an under appreciated cut of beef that comes from the abdominal region of the cow.

Large and fairly flat, flank steak can seem difficult to work with at times. If not prepared properly, it will turn out tough. The best method of preparing flank steak is marinating the steak first. I suggest scoring the meat by poking holes into it with a knife or fork before placing in the marinade.

Tonight I prepared flank steak in a basic white wine marinade and it turned out quite well. I created the marinade using ingredients I had on hand- wine, oil, shallots. Be creative and see what you come up with , but remember that an acidic component is necessary in the marinade in order for the meat to become tender.

Basic white wine marinade:

1/2 C. acidic white wine

1/4 C. olive oil

2 TB shallots, minced

2 TB garlic, minced

1 TB meat tenderizer

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

pinch of salt, few grinds of fresh black pepper

Combine all ingredients together in a bag or shallow dish. Combine well and add steak to marinate. Marinade for at least 1 hour.

Above: Marinated flank steak garnished with a shallot-parsley salsa, served with roasted garlic rosemary mashed potatoes & parmesan and shrimp stuffed baby portabellas