Tag: italian food

Homemade Gnocchi

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Pasta is a fall favorite, I mean we all start to crave carbs when the sun starts to go down sooner. My roommate and bestfriend decided that she wanted to make gnocchi so we went for it. Love Bakes Good Cakes provided us with a great guide on how to be pro’s. Be your own pasta granny and make homemade gnocchi with your best pals like I did!

Ingredients

  • 2 Medium Potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Eggs, Slightly Beaten
  • Pinch Salt

Let’s Get Cooking

After peeling and quartering the potatoes and place them in a pot of boiling water. Cook the potatoes for about 15 min, until they are able to slide off the fork. Drain the potatoes from the water and mash them.

Remove a cup of the mashed potatoes and place into a medium bowl. Add in the flour + egg + salt and mix until the dough forms a ball. Divide the ball into 4 equal parts and on a floured surface, roll into long snakes. Cut the snakes into 1/2 inch pieces.

To add the grooves, place a fork upside-down and roll the gnocchi off the tines.

In a large pot of salted boiling water, place the gnocchi in. Let cook for about 5 minutes and until they float to the top. Drain the gnocchi and serve with your favorite pasta sauce!

This recipe proves that though a food might seem scary but in reality it is very scary. Take on that challenge for foods or recipes that seem intimidating. Add loads of cheese and you’ll go to bed with a full belly and a big smile.

Always Hungry,

Hannah

Michaelangelo’s Winery

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This year has been different, we spend more time part, socially distanced. We try to do some of the same things still, eating out at restaurants but it is a little different. A few friends and I decided it was time to have a socially distanced lunch outside at Michaelangelo’s Winery in Richfield, Ohio.

OMG the food is outstanding, you feel like all of a sudden that you have been whisked away to Italy instead of being stuck in Ohio. The food is served family style so please bring a lot of people!

Here is what our table ordered and I would recommend it to everyone! Though we did not try the pizza’s I have heard amazing things about them.

  • The Arancini– OMG I mean fried rice balls with cheese, it’s not hard to mess up. I would highly recommend these! It is a crowd pleaser that everyone would love.
  • Calamari – This fried calamari comes with a lovely sauce that is drizzled across. Top it off with a fresh lemon squeeze, it’s *Chef kiss* perfecto
  • The Charcuterie Plate – Cheese, crackers, and a bit of dried meat. That’s really all I need to be happy so that’s all you should need too!
  • Short Rib Pappardelle – This pasta is amazing, the thick noodles are to die for, and they are house made! The pasta is topped with fresh peas that add this perfect snap in every bite. Along with bacon, parmesan, and of course melt in your mouth short ribs.

We tried a variety of wine as well that were all delicious. The wines seem to change based on the Season which I love, that way you are getting the best ingredients and flavors.

If you get the chance and want to spend a Saturday or Sunday enjoying great flavors and atmosphere, I would recommend stopping by Michaelangelo’s. They also have an amazing bakery section that I did not get to check out and am still regretting it.

Always Hungry,

Hannah

2 Minute Pasta Sauce

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Homemade pasta sauce sounds like a recipe that takes all day. Sometimes that’s the case, however there can be a quick fix! This 2 minute pasta sauce, inspired by Action Bronson’s recipe, has so much flavor and includes most of the ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Ingredients

  • Large can of San Marzano Tomatoes
  • 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • Basil Leaves
  • Parsley
  • Oregano
  • Olive Oil
  • salt + pepper

Let’s Get Cooking

Okay so based off the ingredients list I’m positive as a home cook you have these items just laying around in your pantry. Now I didn’t have fresh herbs so I used dried and it worked out just fine but OBVI use FRESH if you have it.

Start by pouring olive oil in a large saucepan and frying up the minced garlic. Let the garlic fry but be careful not to burn it!

Then add in basil + parsley + oregano and stir.

Add in your can of San Marzano and stir. Once all combined lower the heat and simmer for about 2 minutes. Once the flavors marry, remove from heat, add your salt + pepper to taste and wow look at that you just made your own pasta sauce! Pat yourself on the back you did great!

Serve with your fav pasta & get some breadsticks in there & enjoy!

Always Hungry,

Hannah

Spinach Risotto

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I LOVE Risotto, so creamy and cheesy, but it can take a lot of patience. So be patient and get your greens in with this risotto recipe from Simply Recipes!

Ingredients

  • 5 TBSP Butter, divided into 4 TBSP and 1 TBSP
  • 1 Cup Chopped Yellow Onion
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1/2 TSP Italian Seasoning, like basil and parsley
  • 2 Cups Risotto Rice, like arborio
  • 1/2 Cup White Wine
  • 5 Cups Chicken Stock
  • 3/4 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
  • 8 oz Baby Spinach, finely chopped
  • 1 TSP Lemon Zest
  • 1 TSP Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 TSP Black Pepper
  • 1/2 TSP Salt

Let’s Get Cooking

Add your stock to a saucepan and get it warmed up. While the stock is warming, prep your ingredients

Melt the 4 TBSP of butter into a wide saucepan on med-med high heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent. Once translucent, add in garlic + italian seasoning and cook for about a minute.

Add the risotto to the pan and coat with butter and onions. Let cook until the rice begins to get clear, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the white wine and stir into the rice, simmer until the wine is absorbed into the rice.

Add in the broth one ladle at a time, or about 1/2 cup. Gently stir after each ladle and do not add more until the liquid is absorbed. Continue until the risotto begins to get creamy and has a slight chew.

Once done, add in the butter + parmesan + spinach + lemon juice + lemon zest.

Serve immediately with a little more parmesan + salt + lots of black pepper.

Always Hungry,

Hannah

Cleveland’s Little Italy Go-Tos

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Every major city has their own version of Little Italy. The one I know best is Cleveland’s, a strip of Mayfield road dedicated to some of the best Italian restaurants in the area. I have not been to every restaurant on the strip (it is a goal of mine) but I am going to share with you a few of my favorites.

La Dolce Vita

This may be one of my favorite places on this list. The food has always been amazing. The tomato cream sauce is a meal I would die for, you can’t help but eat every bite. I highly recommend their appetizer trio as well, it gives you an amazing sample of their stuffed peppers, eggplant parm, and meatballs. There is nothing on this menu that tastes bad.

Trattoria on the Hill

Another one of my favorites would be this classic. The menu is long, the service is excellent and everything is amazing. I’ve had the Veal Scallopini and the Gnocci al Burro and good lord I could eat it non-stop. It’s food made with love and you can tell.

Mama Santa’s

Mama Santa’s is the first restaurant I went to in Little Italy and it will always have a place in my heart. They have an extensive menu, so everyone, even the pickiest eater, can find something that they like!

Corbo’s Bakery

If you go to Little Italy, after dinner you have to go to Corbo’s. My mother introduced me to this place and explained just how good this place is. They have all sorts of baked treats, which is exactly the thing you need after eating a massive plate of pasta.

So if you are in the Cleveland area go check out the Little Italy area, not only do they have excellent restaurants but cute shops as well [I highly recommend the thrift shop Moonstruck]. It’s a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Made with Love,

Hannah