Recipe: Spinach Pie

Growing up, spinach pie was absolutely one of my favorite things to eat. Yes, I admit it. I was a weird child. But what can I say? I just wanted to be like Popeye.
This recipe is a variation of the spinach pie my grandmother made. It's semi homemade (basically because I'm too lazy to make my own crust everytime I want to eat it).  I love how simple it is to make! Just be careful not to eat all of it at once!  Goodness know I have to be careful not to.

My Spinach Pie

1 premade pie crust
1000 grams frozen spinach
250 grams of ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Red Pepper flakes

Preheat the over to 350°.
In a large saucepan defrost the spinach over a very low heat with a little bit of salt.  Heat covered until most of the excess liquid has cooked off.  If necessary use a strainer to remove any other water.  Put aside to cool.
In a bowl, mix the ricotta, eggs, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes until well-blended.  When the spinach has cooled, add to the ricotta and stir well.
Place the pie crust into a pie pan and use a fork to make a few holes so the crust does not bubble.  Fill with the spinach mixture and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crust has lightly browned.
This can be served warm or cold.


There are several other variations I make of spinach pie.  Sometimes I'll add a layer of thinly sliced pancetta to the crust before pouring in the spinach mixture.  On other occassions I have added a layer of mashed potatoes and spinach.  When making a simple pie sometimes I will add in a spoonful of honey and a dash of nutmeg for a slightly different feel.
Grandma's spinach pie used no ricotta, but instead utilized more eggs.

The possibilities are endless, so play around until you find your favorite version!

-Raspberry Truffle

Recipe: La Parmigiana #3

So I've decided to try a healthier version of the classic Parmigiana.

2 small eggplant (or 1 large) sliced thinly
1 jar of tomato sauce (homemade or store bought is fine)
Parmesan cheese
salt
pepper
oregano

Preheat the oven to 350°.
Ladle a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of an oven proof dish.  Lay down the pieces of eggplant leaving as few gaps as possible. Sprinkle with pepper, salt, oregano and another layer of sauce. Cover with parmesan cheese. Repeat until you run out of eggplant. Cover the last layer liberally with sauce and cheese.
Bake for 35-45 minutes checking periodically that the cheese does not burn.
Serve warm.

This came out quite good and delicious, but since the eggplant was not fried in oil, there was a little less flavor. Next time I think I'll be adding some mozzarella and ricotta. Maybe even some prosciutto!  (So much for healthy ahaha).

-raspberry truffle

Recipe: Turkey sandwich with caramellized onion

 A turkey sandwich is probably one of the easiest dishes to make, but to make it with flair? That could be a challenge.  How does one transform a standard turkey sandwich into something fun and delicious.
I was in the mood for a turkey sandwich that would have been the envy of every lunch box and brown paper bag in high school! (Granted, my lunches were pretty envied anyway thanks to my mothers famous italian sandwiches of all of my friends)
I decided to take the simple turkey sandwich up a notch.



Best Turkey Sandwich
1 piece of frozen turkey breast (a thinly sliced cutlet is perfect)
2 tablespoon butter
1/4 of a onion diced
1 clove of garlic (if you would like a stronger taste of garlic, finely dice the clove)
2 slices of american cheese or mozzarella
1 tsp mayonnaise
salt and pepper
arugula
cherry tomatoes (sliced or quartered)

In a flat skillet saute the onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon of butter. As the onion begins to become transparent add the turkey and cover. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Turn when slightly golden on one side.
Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each piece of bread and cover with a slice of cheese. When you flip the turkey, check on the onion, if it has started to brown remove it from the pan so it does not burn and place the mixture onto the slices of bread. (If you have not finely diced your garlic, you can discard the clove at this point). Add the other tablespoon of butter to the pan and then place the bread on top.Let the cheese melt as the turkey finishes cooking. When the turkey has browned remove and cut into slices. Place the turkey on the bread with lettuce and tomato.
Serve with a side salad and balsamic vinegar.

 

~Raspberry Truffle

Craving: Donuts

Red Velvet Donut

Lavender Donut with White Chocolate Glaze

So I haven't actually thought about Donuts in ages. But my loverly friend Samantha just sent me these beautiful images of donuts and I WANT!!  I've never seen donuts such as these. Red Velvet donuts?  Her aunt Kathleen Hernandez is a pastry chef and makes these gorgeous goodies.  The second image, is a lavander donut! Who's ever heard of such a thing? And it just randomly showed up in a google search (sooo unfortunately I have no idea where it's from) but it LOOKS spectacular!!!!
To be completely honest, I would even settle for a plain old Dunkin Donuts Double chocolate donut right about now!  One of the only things Italy seems to lack: Donuts.

<3
~Raspberry Truffle

Ode to Pancakes...

Soo I live in Florence, Italy... There is an abundance of fresh amazing food available to me at all times and yet sometimes I really find myself missing certain "American" foods. Foods that don't exist here, or if they do exist here... well, believe me... It's just not the same...

Like PANCAKES! I miss plain pancakes with fresh syrup and whipped cream.... Chocolate chip pancakes, blueberry, strawberry... Yeah. That would be fantastic right now.
Mind you there are specialty stores that carry pancake mix (overpriced) and there is one restaurant (sadly, only one The Diner) that serves pancakes... But in the end they still don't taste quite the same... There's somthing missing.
Mind you, I might just be missing the amazing company of my Jersey girls but honestly, I think the pancakes just aren't as good here (the same way I don't think mozzarella is as good in Jersey as it is in Florence lol).

Baked Omelette AMAZINGNESS

I mean, I guess it's not just pancakes I miss. It's good, amazing breakfast foods in general.  Italians aren't big on big filling breakfast and brunches. They do the expresso and a pastry thing. Which, mind you... I LOVE! But still on a Sunday morning I wake up at around 11 wanting Brunch.
Eggs, pancakes, bacon. You know, the standards!
I was already having cravings when my besties back in Jersey met up with my mother for brunch. Kindly Sherna took pictures of the food... I am jealous... I WANT BRUNCH...

Eggs Benedict

I want crispy bacon, and poached runny-ish eggs...
I want pancakes like woah. Yeah....
So I think this coming weekend I may attempt to make myself an American-ish brunch. I'll make a western omelette.. and hopefully I'll be able to get a hold of some yummy bacon (pancetta is delicious but most certainly not the same lol).

My mom and the amazing crispy bacon...

Oh cravings...

~Raspberry Truffle

Frozen Pizza Take 1

While living here in Florence I generally only eat pizza in restaurants, made by real Italians, preferably real Neapolitans. Hey, if it's a realistic option, why not? If and when I ever make it to the states I am going to be seriously spoiled!
But tonight, my new roommates (4 Italian girls from all over Italy) convinced me to do frozen pizza. Let me tell you, after the amazing Neapolitan pizza from Gusta Pizza the night before, frozen pizza did not sound overtly appealing.
But I let them talk me into it, and began to come up with the perfect scheme to make my ordinary frozen pizza margherita more interesting. I would not be having plain, boring, frozen pizza from a box. Granted, it's still not the same as freshly made pizza... but it's something :)

Spicy Cheese pizza
What you need:
1 frozen pizza (your favorite brand)
Parmesan cheese
Red pepper flakes to taste
Olive Oil
1/4 of an onion diced
1 clove of garlic diced

Bake your cheese pizza in the oven according to the box instructions.
In a skillet caramelize the onions and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Add the red pepper flakes for some kick.
When the pizza is done, cover with parmesan cheese and then drizzle the spicy onion mixture on top while still hot, which should melt the parmesan.
Eat subito!!


Simple, but definitely added some punch to my frozen pizza.
I really do love being creative with my food. I can think of a lot of variations and things to add to frozen pizza to make it fresher and more delicious, and a lot less like it came out of a box.

~Raspberry Truffle