"GK Skinny Pasta Spaghetti Pie" with "Coconut Flour Crust"

I love trying new things, especially taking a recipe that might be a little on the decadent side or that would send you into carb overload and making it healthier..

One of the things I love and almost rarely ever ate over the past several years was pasta..

Getting older isn't easy, and needing to change up your eating habits can be difficult but luckily for a lot of us there are a few companies who have heard our cry for a healthy pasta alternative that doesn't involve zucchini..

This particular brand is "GK Skinny Pasta"

Gabriella's Kitchen has been making pasta alternatives, gluten free and teff pastas for a while now, but my favorites by far are the high protein low carb pastas they've created..

An that's where this comes in..

This recipe was one I made years ago but it's so filling, and so carb and fat heavy, that I just couldn't bring myself to make it again..

Now taking my new discovery of skinny pasta, and a pie crust I've been experimenting with, I went about making a healthy version of an incredibly scrumptious dinner dish..

Using part skim, low fat, low carb ingredients with a minimum of oil and turkey sausage—I've gone about creating a meal that is anything but bad for you no matter how gluttonous you might feel enjoying it..

 

Full of tons of protein, vegetables and fiber—you'll definitely feel satiated after a piece of this..

So give it a try yourself, and give "GK Skinny Pasta" a try to—I know that you'll find them both "Definitely Delish"

 

"Baked Spaghetti Pie" with GK SkinnyPasta and "Coconut Flour Crust"

Ingredients:
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 zucchini, large dice
1 yellow Squash, large dice
Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 pound mild Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
1/4 cup red wine
3 cups tomato sauce (plus 2 more cups for serving on the side) 
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2/3 pound GK SkinnyPasta, Spaghetti
1 pound part skim mozzarella, diced
1/2 to 2/3 cup Parmesan, Asiago & Romano cheese, shredded
1/2 cup or more part skim ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon Fresh chopped parsley
Coconut Flour Pie Crust (see recipe below)

Directions:
1. Heat  2 tablespoons cup of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and toss to coat in the oil..
2. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Saute the veggies until it is lightly golden and tender, about 10 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium. Add the garlic and saute until it is tender, about 2 minutes longer..
3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the vegetable mixture to a large bowl..
4. Add the sausage and wine to the same frying pan. Cook over medium-high heat until the wine evaporates and the sausage is brown, breaking the sausage into smaller pieces, about 8 minutes..
5. Add the sausage, parsley, tomato sauce, and crushed red pepper to the veggie mixture, and toss to combine..
6. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the GK Skinny Pasta and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly..
Drain. Toss the spaghetti with the mixture. Cool completely. Add the mozzarella and shredded cheeses and toss to combine..
7. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Follow the "Coconut Flour Pie Crust" directions and transfer to a 9 or 10 inch spring-form pan (I used a double recipe and 10 inch spring-form)
8. Spoon the mixture into the prepared bottom crust till full adding spoonfuls of part skim ricotta cheese here and there (more or less to preference)
9. Roll out a 10 inch circle of coconut flour pie crust on parchment paper, brush the exposed edges of the pie crust in the spring-form pan with egg wash and transfer the circle of dough on top sealing it by pressing the edges..
10. Lightly brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle a pinch or two of coarse salt on top—then cut small slots for the inside to vent..
11. Place in middle rack of the oven. Bake until the pastry is golden brown on top, about 30 minutes..
12. Use foil around the edges if they begin to darken to quickly..
13. When done let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan sides and serve with some reserved tomato sauce on the side..

Notes:
1. You can pre-bake the bottom shell of pie crust till just beginning to lightly golden, to avoid the chance of it remaining to soggy, before filling. Just be careful not to overcook..
2. You can also switch up the vegetables if you wish, I added a small amount of eggplant to mine. You can use all yellow or all green squash, all eggplant-it's personal preference really..

"Low Carb High Protein Coconut Flour Pie Crust"

Ingredients:
2 eggs plus 2 egg whites
2-3 teaspoons peanut or canola oil
1 teaspoon butter extract
1/4 tsp fine Himalayan pink salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coconut flour (Bob's Red Mill or preferred brand)
1/4 cup Vital Wheat Gluten (24g protein per serving)
1/2 cup light butter, softened & added in spoonfuls (or cubes)

Options:
1 tsp vanilla extract (only for dessert pies)
3 teaspoons Truvia (for dessert pies)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Whisk the eggs, oil & butter (vanilla extract & Truvia added here for a dessert pie recipe) into a stand mixer..
3. In another bowl whisk the remaining ingredients together until combined..
4. Pour the dry and wet mixture into a mixer and combine on low speed..
5. Add the cubed light butter. Process until it looks like crumbles..
6. Squeeze the crumbles together with your hands until you form a ball of dough..
7. Roll out the needed dough between two pieces of parchment paper and flip over into pie plate or spring-form pan (will want to break, just use your hands to fill and form the dough inside)
8. Using a fork randomly make holes into the bottom of the crust using the tines..
9. Loosely ring the top edges of your dough with aluminum foil if you're going to do additional baking after filling..
10. Pre-Bake the crust 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly golden..
11. Once cooled out of the oven, add your filling. Or if you're doing additional baking, fill and add your additional layer of pie crust on top before baking again..

Notes:
1. For Gluten Free version you can try switching out the Vital Wheat gluten for unflavored brown rice protein..

2. You can also increase the sweetness of the crust by adding additional Truvia (or your preferred sugar substitute), Vanilla extract or other flavors depending on what you plan to fill the crust with. (Sweet or Savory works great with this crust)

"Linguine and Clam Sauce" with "Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pepperoni"

 

It's been a very busy couple of months here at "Definitely Delish"

Not only has it been fourteen hour work days at my regular job, the travel company business, seeing my beautiful goddaughter as much as possible and birthdays..

I've also been working in the little off time I have on creating a surprise for my sweetheart at home—an outdoor spa oasis with hot tub, hanging lights, lanterns and statues..

This took quite a bit of my little free time I had left, but the finished results looks great and I'm happy with it..

 

That's not to say I haven't on occasion been cooking but it's mostly just been dishes I've done a whole lot of times before or have already blogged about, so it wouldn't do to repeat..

Now I've decided to get to you a new, long overdue recipe—an that is this delish dish..

A yummy, flavorful helping of "Linguine in White Clam Sauce" but with a kick—a extra dose of taste has been added with the addition of pepperoni and sun-dried tomatoes to the mix..

So sit back, enjoy and try it for yourself—because I think you'll find it is oh so "Definitely Delish"


"Kicked Up Linguine" with "White Clam Sauce" 

Ingredients:
1 pound linguine (I used GK-Skinny Pasta)
1/2 cup Olive Oil plus 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon Butter
6 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
3/4 cup dry White Wine
2-3 tablespoons dry Sherry
18 Littleneck or Chowder Clams
1/4 cup Clam Juice
1/4 cup of Chicken Bone Broth
Sea Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper
1 tablespoon fresh Thyme
1/4 to 1/2 a cup Sun-dried Tomatoes in Oil (depending on personal taste)
1 small Zuchinni, matchstick cut with mandolin (or use big side of cheese grater for larger matchstick pieces)
2 ounces (or less) of sliced Pepperoni, cut into quarter wedges
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian, flat leafed Parsley (plus extra for garnish)

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta, following the package instructions, until al dente..
2. Meanwhile, warm 1/2 cup of the olive oil, and tablespoon of butter, in a high-sided saucepan (big enough for your clams to rest in a single layer) set over  medium-high heat..
3. Add the garlic and cook until softened, about 2 minutes, until golden (Be careful not to burn)
4. Add the wine and sherry allowing it to cook away slightly, about 1 minute.. 
5. Add the clams, clam juice and chicken bone broth—an then season with sea salt and black pepper.. 

6. Add fresh thyme leaves and half the parsley—then cover pot and cook until the clams open. About 5 minutes..
7. Add drained sun-dried tomatoes (more or less depending on personal taste), pepperoni and zuchinni. Reduce heat to medium and stir to combine..
8. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining parsley..
9. Drain the pasta (reserving a 1/2 cup of cooking liquid) and toss in a serving bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil—adding reserved cooking liquid if needed..
10. Distribute the pasta evenly among six pasta bowls. Top each with equal portions of the sauce, and serve immediately garnished with parsley..

Notes:
1. You can also toss the sauce with the pasta before distributing it to your pasta bowls..
2. Goes well with a nice light white wine, a Sauvignon Blanc or Chateu St. Michelle Reisling is nice..
3. Serve with Sesame Semolina Italian bread with butter..
4. You can also remove some of the clams from their shells, lightly chopping them and tossing with the sauce before serving..

"Gluten-Free Cauliflower Crust Pizza"

 I'm always seeing all of these wonderful healthy crust pizzas, that people share, all of the time..

Makes me so hungry for something I generally don't eat anymore, but do so definitely love..

So taking a little inspiration from those who have posted before me, I decided to go all in and create a couple of "healthy" pizzas of my very own..

This first one is made up of a deliciously flavorful crust of Roasted Cauliflower, Coconut flour, Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses, and some spices..

It was actually much easier to do then expected and using parchment paper to help move it on and off the Pizza stone, during cooking, made all the difference in the world..

So, literally, after 10 minutes of baking it was time to take it out and slide my other crust into the oven and decide what I should top this one with..

I made sure to have more than a few options available for me, and my Baby, and then left it up to her to decide..

 

After looking over everything, she went with the fresh mozzarella and basil..

So slathering the top with pizza sauce, placing some medallions of mozz' and scattering a couple of pinches of fresh cut basil—it was time to go back on the stone in the oven to finish cooking..

A handful of minutes later it was done and all ready to be devoured, added just a smidgen of shaved Parmesan for good measure and began cutting into this one to give it a try..

Yum, it was so good and the crust was so tasty—it even held together just enough to be picked up just like a regular slice of pizza..

So very good and so very healthy with all of those natural ingredients with the gluten free, low carb crust..

So going to make this again because it was so—"Definitely Delish"

 

 

"Gluten-Free Cauliflower Crust Pizza"

Ingredients:
1 small to medium sized head of roasted cauliflower - should yield 2 to 3 cups once processed
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freeze-dried basil (crush it even more between your fingers)
1/2 teaspoon freeze-dried oregano (crush it even more between you fingers)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh Garlic
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 cup 2% mozzarella cheese
1 egg
2-3 tablespoons coconut flour
Toppings:
Pizza sauce-homemade or store bought
Cheese fresh or pre shredded mozzarella
Toppings, whatever you enjoy.....

Directions:
1. Place a pizza stone in the oven, or baking sheet if you don't have a pizza stone. Preheat oven to 450 degrees..
2. On a cutting board, place a large piece of parchment paper and spray it with nonstick cooking oil..
3. Wash and throughly dry a small head of cauliflower..
4. Cut off the florets, you don't need much stem. Place in baking dish and drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle a touch of salt..
5. Place in oven and roast for 20-30 minutes. Remove, and when cool enough to touch, place into food processor..
6. Pulse in your food processor for about 30 seconds, until you get powdery snow like cauliflower. You should have about 2 cups of cauliflower..
7. Scoop out cauliflower and place into a dish towel or cheesecloth and squeeze. You want to squeeze out as much water as possible. This will ensure you get a nice chewy pizza like crust instead of a crumbly mess.. 
8. Dump cauliflower into a bowl. Now add 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freeze-dried basil (crush up the leaves even more between your fingers before adding), 1/2 teaspoon freeze-dried oregano (crush up the leaves even more between your fingers before adding), 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt), minced fresh garlic and a dash of red pepper if you want..
9. I also added 2-3 tablespoons of coconut flour at this time. Now add your egg and mix away. Hands tend to work best, I'll wear those throw away gloves sometimes so as to be able too have clean hands again when needed..

10. Once mixed together, use your hands to form the dough into a crust on your oiled parchment paper. Pat it down throughly, you want it nice and tightly formed together. Don't make it too thick or thin either. (I used the outer ring of a spring-form pan to ensure a nice circular crust..
11. Using a cutting board slide the parchment paper onto your hot pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 8 - 11 minutes, until it starts to turn golden brown. Remove from oven... (Just eye the crust the last few minutes to ensure you don't under or over cook it)
12. Add however much sauce, cheese, and toppings you want. I'm not gonna give you measurements for this. You should know how you like your pizza - this is your personal taste that matters..
13. Slide parchment with topped pizza back in the hot oven and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly golden....
14. Test your patience and allow it to cool for a minute or two. Probably closer to two. Then using a pizza cutter and a spatula serve up your delicious gluten-free cauliflower crust pizza!

Notes:
1. It makes a big difference oiling the parchment paper before forming the crust on it and using a pizza stone in the oven..
2. You'll want to have the oven pre-heated well ahead to allow the stone to be heated completely..
3. An average size head of cauliflower is fine, you don't want to have much more then 2 cups of processed cauliflower after roasting..
4. Can use un-roasted cauliflower as well— just rinse, remove florets, process into snow and microwave for 4 minutes on a plate before squeezing liquid out with cheese cloth..

"Greek Bifteki Meatball Gyro-A Healthy Mediterranean Meal"

"Greek Bifteki Meatball Gyro"

I have this enduring love of Mediterranean cuisine; truly I do, whether it's "Egyptian Lentil Soup" or "Italian Pasta with Garlic and Oil"

It seems to me no matter how much I love meat and potatoes, owing to my Austrian-Irish heritage, I just can't get enough of that delicious and healthy Mediterranean diet...
Be it Humus or Kebab, Branzino or Paella—there are just so many healthy, flavorful and delicious choices to choose from...      

"Departing Corfu at Sunset"

 

Today I decided on a fusion of favorites and flavors from across the Aegean and Mediterranean; what I ended up creating was a Greek Bifteki, shaped like an Italian meatball and filled with an incredible mix of cheeses, spices and herbs from all across Turkey, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria and Italy...

"A healthy Mediterranean meal"

 

 

Topped with fresh cucumber, tomato, red onion and the "Tzatziki" yogurt sauce inside of a griddle warmed Pita bread—it was truly just a perfectly wonderful blending of tastes and flavors reminding me of my lovely travels across the seas surrounding the beautiful shores of Italy, Greece and Turkey...

 

 

 

This is one healthy dish to serve for lunch or dinner and is sure to become a family favorite in your own home—so why not give it a try; I think you will find that it is, oh so
"Definitely Delish"

 

 

 

"The Mediterranean Diet"

"Bifteki Style Meatball Gyro" with "Tzatziki"

Ingredients:
Bifteki:
8 oz. ground Pork
8 oz. ground grass-fed lean Beef
4 oz. ground Lamb
4 tablespoons Red Onion, minced
2 teaspoons Shallot, minced
2 cloves Garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon Thyme, fresh chopped
2 tablespoons Italian Parsley, fresh chopped
1 teaspoon dried Greek Oregano (I used some I bought in Corfu at a roadside stand)
1/2 teaspoon Turkish Cumin
1/2 teaspoon Hungarian Paprika (Szeged brand)
2 teaspoons Mediterranean Sea Salt, fine
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, fresh ground
1 tablespoon Kalamata Olive Oil (I used a bottle I bought in Olympia Greece)
1 tablespoon Italian Red Wine Vinegar
2/3 cup Panko style plain Breadcrumbs
1 large Egg
3-4 oz. Feta Cheese, grated (I used Bulgarian Feta for the smoother, less salty & tart taste)
2 1/2 small vine ripe Tomatoes, minced after seeds and insides removed (mine were Hothouse variety, just smaller than a golf ball in size)

"Greek Meatball Gyro"

Tzatziki:
2 (7 oz.) containers fat-free Greek Yogurt
1 Cucumber, seedless
1/4 cup low-fat Sour Cream
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
1 tablespoon Dill, fresh minced
1 1/2 teaspoons Garlic, finely minced
2 teaspoons Mediterranean Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly ground

 

"Oia at Sunset"

Topping:
3-4 Kirby Cucumbers, diced
4-6 small vine ripe Tomatoes, seeded & diced
1 Red Onion, sliced or chopped
Sea Salt & Black Pepper
1/2 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
2 tablespoons Italian Parsley, fresh chopped

Other:
Fresh Made or Quality Store Brand Pita Bread

"Corfu and Cats"

Directions:
Bifteki:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit; then in a large bowl add all of your minced and chopped ingredients along with your spices, meat, cheese, egg and breadcrumbs...
2. Mix well by hand. (I wear plastic gloves for this and when forming the meatballs)
3. Take out a baking tray with a rim and begin forming small meatballs, around 1 to 2 inches in size, placing them in the baking tray—then repeat with the remaining meat mixture until all of its used...
4. You'll end up with 40-60 meatballs depending on size. Now place the tray and bake them at 350 degrees for 35 minutes...
5. Once they are done cooking they can be stored in a container in the fridge for 3 or 4 days; when ready to use, heat a pan on the stove on medium high heat and brown the outside of the meatballs till warmed through and ready to eat...

"Flavor Filled and Delicious

Tzatziki:
1. Place the yogurt in a medium bowl…
2. Grate the cucumber on a grater and squeeze the grated cucumber with your hand, or using cheesecloth, to remove some of the liquid….l
3. Add it to the yogurt along with the sour cream, lemon juice, vinegar, dill, garlic, salt and pepper and stir to combine…
4. Refrigerate until ready to use…

"Oh Olympia, thou art ruined"

 

Toppings:
1. Dice the cucumbers and place them in a small container or Ziploc bag with a dash of sea salt and pepper with the red wine vinegar—then toss to combine and refrigerate until ready to use...
2. Remove seeds and inside of tomatoes, then dice and store in a small container or Ziploc bag till needed—repeat with the red onion and parsley...

Gyro:
1. Warm a skillet or griddle pan on the stove at medium heat and lightly toast/warm your pita bread on both sides...
2. Put 2 tablespoons of Tzatziki sauce on the "Gyro" with 4-6 "Bifteki" meatballs, some of the cucumbers, tomatoes and parsley—then enjoy....

"White on White on Blue"-Santorini by R.Fisher

"Pasta e Fagioli-An Amazing Italian Tradition"

"Pasta e Fagioli"

 "Pasta e Fagioli" is a typical Italian dish, which has its origins in the countryside tradition, and of which there are an endless supply of regional variations...

Indeed there is no actual "official" recipe for Italian pasta and beans, but there's practically a recipe for almost every area...

Maybe, in the end, it's the most "national" dish of Italy; present in all regions, from the Alps to the Mediterranean...

"Venice Canals by Gondola"

 

This is just my version, created over time and taking influences and ideas from a variety of sources and regions—in no way is this the definitive version...

Even so, though my "Pasta e Fagioli" recipe has a few personal touches outside of what you might consider the norm (the addition of arugula) - I still love it and any well made pasta and beans soup recipe...

"Italian Pasta & Bean Soup"

I hope that you'll give it a try—you may just find you enjoy it as much as me and my family does; because it is, oh so "Definitely Delish"


"Pasta e Fagioli"

Ingredients:
1 (32 oz.) can of Crushed Tomatoes
1 small can of Tomato sauce (14 oz.)
1 Sweet Vidalia Onion, chopped
9 cloves Garlic, sliced thin
1 can (14 oz.) of Cannellini Beans
1 can (14 oz.) of Butter Beans
1 can (14 oz.) of Dark Red Kidney
1 can (14 oz.) of Chick Peas
10 oz. of thick cut lean Prosciutto, diced
1 pound Ditalini pasta
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
2 cups low sodium Chicken Broth
1-2 cups of Arugula
Sea Salt & Pepper to taste
Fresh chopped Parsley
Fresh Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

"Pot of Pasta e Fagioli cooking"

Directions:
1. Sauté onion, garlic and prosciutto in the olive oil for 4-5 minutes on medium heat, till onion begins to soften and prosciutto begins to brown...
2. Add crushed tomatoes and sauce and cover, reducing heat to a simmer...
3. Meanwhile rinse off canned beans in a colander, then add to the pot—simmering for 20 minutes...
4. While the soup simmers; bring a separate pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta till al dente, follow the box directions...
5. Reserve 1 cup of pasta liquid and drain; then add pasta & reserved cooking liquid to the beans and sauce mixture, stirring on low heat...
6. Add salt, pepper, parsley and arugula to the pot; adjusting the salt or pepper to personal tastes, also add 2-3 tablespoons grated cheese at this time and mix well...
7. Let stand on low heat for 5-10 minutes to meld flavors; if it's too thick you may add some Chicken broth, a little at a time, to reach your desired consistency...
8. Serve while hot with crusty Italian bread and butter...

"Bean Soup just as good the next day"

Notes:
1. I like to mix and match beans, sometimes using Roman or pink, small or large white etc—use what you enjoy best and be creative...
2. When I make Pasta e Fagioli; I prefer it nice & thick, then watery like a soup—an usually serve it as my main meal with hot crusty buttered bread and more grated cheese on the side...
3. Greens are optional, I'll occasionally add Arugula or fresh chopped Escarole for color and flavor—you could also mix the two, or add some chard or kale even but be careful it doesn't change the flavor to much...

"Portofino At Dawn"

"Minestrone Soup-An Old Italian Favorite"

"Minestrone Soup"

Minestrone soup has a really rich history. It is known in Italy as "cucina povera" or literally poor mans soup, a peasant soup. It shows up in cook books as far back as 30 AD...

However, at its beginnings, the ingredients were pooled from ingredients for other dishes, often side dishes or "contorni" plus whatever was left over from meals...

"Flowers before a Monastery" 

 

Eventually over time, as the Roman Empire spread, more ingredients became available throughout Italy—though it wasn't till the 1600's that tomatoes first began appearing in Minestrone soups all over the the Italian countryside...

Then, at some point in time, it suddenly became a dish made for its own sake and not using the leavings of other dishes or the remainders of vegetables soon to spoil...

"Hearty Italian Soup"

Now every region of Italy has there own version of this wonderful winter soup. (Actually a wonderful anytime soup)

I should warn you though; this recipe is not a 30-Minute Meal, a One Pot Wonder, a Five Ingredient Dinner, a Set-it-and-Forget-it Dish or any of the other cute little titles you can think of dished up daily in foodie mags and, um, blogs kind of like this one...

"Looking out on the Mediterranean" 

 

This minestrone, is not cute. It is a tad bit messy and just a little demanding...

It involves planning as well as some mincing, chopping, shredding, rinsing and blending. Oh, And time. A nice bit of time. The kind of time you once had on a Sunday afternoon before you got too busy either running your kids all over creation or just trying to recover from a weeks worth of work...

"Cooking up the soup base"

"Cooking up the soup base"

 

Trust me though, in the end, you'll be left with one amazingly wonderfully deliciously layered soup just chock full of Italian flavor, Italian history and oh so "Definitely Delish"


"Minestrone Soup"

Ingredients:
2 Carrots, diced
2 Celery ribs, chopped
1 medium Vidalia Onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
1 can Crushed Tomatoes (14.5 oz.)
1 can dice Stewed Tomatoes (14.5 oz.)
1 can Roman beans, rinsed & drained (15 oz.)
1 can Garbanzo beans or Chickpeas, rinsed & drained (15 oz.) 
1 can Beef Broth (14.5 oz.)
2 cans Low Sodium-Fat Free Chicken Broth (14.5 oz. each can)
1 cup of Vegetable Stock (8 oz.)
3 cups of Savoy Cabbage, chopped/shredded (or more if desired-see Notes for additional options)
4 Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes, diced (see Notes)
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 Bay Leaf
2 tablespoons Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish) 
1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
2 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
Parmesan Cheese Rind (Optional Ingredient, see Notes)
3-4 oz. diced Pancetta (Optional-see Notes)
Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste
1-2 cups dry Pasta (see Notes)

"Pasta mixed into the Minestrone"

Directions:
1. Heat a large stock pot on medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil—then add Pancetta to pot. (if using this option-see Notes) Cook for two minutes...
2. Add Garlic and Red Pepper flakes then cook for one minute, lower temperature to medium low if needed to avoid over cooking...
3. Now add the Onion, Celery and Carrots to the pot and continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes—until vegetables soften slightly...
4. At this time add the dried herbs and bay leaf (I prefer freeze dried Herbs, but regular dried herbs are good as well)
5. Now add the Potato and cabbage (see Notes for what I prefer and used in this dish); stir and cook for 2-3 minutes, till cabbage just starts to soften...
6. Add the Tomato Paste to the pot, mix well and cook for 1 minute before adding the crushed and diced Tomatoes. Now add all of the Broths (Beef, Chicken & Veggie) and Parmesan Cheese Rind (If Using), cover and simmer after stirring...
7. Meanwhile rinse and drain the Beans you will be using (see Notes for options), now take 1 cup of mixed beans and purée it in a food processor (you can also mash them in a bowl if needed)—now add Beans and puréed beans to the pot and stir, cover and continue simmering for 15-20 minutes...
8. At this time you can either cook the Pasta in the soup or separately (see Notes) if desired; if you decide to cook it in the soup, raise the temperature to medium and add your Pasta—cook till al dente, about 6-8 minutes depending on pasta size and type...
9. Stir in 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, then season with Sea Salt & Pepper to taste...

"Minestrone-so filling and delicious"

Notes:
1. Option to start this soup is either 3-4 oz. of finely diced pancetta or crumbled cooked sweet Italian sausage. If you decide not to use meat, skip step 1 and immediately add garlic and red pepper then continue with the recipe...
2. For my greens I used a mix of both Savoy Cabbage and Green Swiss Chard, for the texture, taste and color of each...
3. I chose to mix Roman beans and Garbanzo beans, mixing two versions of this dish (one being Minestrone Di San Giuseppe, and a version from the Roma region of Italy), you could of course use any variation you desire for this and you would not be wrong (some even come with peas, green beans and Lentils)
4. I always use Parmesan cheese that I grate myself, which eventually leaves me with the rind (the end that has the cheese-makers marks on it), I add this to the soup for the wonderful depth of flavor it can add, but this is entirely optional for you...
5. Pasta choices—for this I used a mix of medium size pasta shells and Fusco Fiori pasta (which has a wonderful shape and texture), you of course can add any types you prefer but smaller with a nice shape (to hold onto the soup) is best I feel...
6. Not everyone likes their pasta cooked inside the soup (can get soft on re-heating); if cooking separately, add salt and a handful of semolina flour to a pot of water and cook till al dente (see your pastas package instructions). The flour will give the pasta that nice starchy flavor you get in good restaurants (they use the same pot of pasta water repeatedly without changing it, adding all that extra pasta starch taste/texture to the water over time)
7. One optional seasoning ingredient is the addition of a sprig of fresh Rosemary when you add the broth, I love the flavor it adds but not everyone enjoys it...
8. A nice hot loaf of sesame semolina is perfect with this, just love dunking it in this soup—delish....

"Venezia, Italia"

"Italian Wedding Soup To Cure What Ails You"

"Italian Wedding Soup"

A bit of folklore says that what has come to be known to us as "Italian Wedding Soup" began as a dish traditionally served to the bride and groom at wedding reception to give the couple the extra strength to see them through the wedding night...

Unfortunately that origin, like many old folktales, is nothing but invention...

"Piazza San Marco Venezia"

 

Italian wedding soup gained its name not from the occasion that might bring it to the table but rather from the wonderful harmony enjoyed by its ingredients...

See, to say two things go well together in Italian, one can say "si sposano bene" (they're well married) -- or, more to the south, that they're maritati, i.e. married...

 

So you can see how a dish called in parts of Italy "Minestra Maritata" or "Married Soup" could over time become "Wedding Soup" to us here in America—plus who doesn't love a good story to go along with their meal.

I know I do; and even though meats and green vegetables are quite different, they truly go well together, leaving us with a wonderfully married mix of ingredients whether you use spinach and meatballs, sausage and broccoli rabe or some other combination.

"Italian Soup with little Meatballs"

 

"Italian Wedding Soup"

Ingredients:
For the meatballs:
1/2 small vidalia onion, chopped finely
1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup of panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan
1 lb. of ground beef, pork & veal mixed 

For soup:
12 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 oz. fresh Baby Spinach, chopped
1/2 cup of white wine (optional) 
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
2 ribs of celery, sliced and chopped
1 small Vidalia onion, coarsely chopped
8 oz. of "Acini de Pepe" or other tiny pasta
2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh chopped Italian parsley

Directions:
For the Meatballs:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit; then stir the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl to blend...
2. Then add the cheese, beef, pork and veal; mix well, then shape the meat mixture into small meatballs, and place them onto a baking sheet. (I prefer the meatballs to be on the smaller size, but you can make them any size you'd like)
3. Place the meatballs in the oven for approximately 30-35 minutes, till cooked thru and just slightly browned (alternatively you can cook them in the soup, but baking is my personal preference-see notes)

"Perfect for when you're under the weather"

For the Soup:
1. In the meantime, for the soup, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot...
2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté until softened, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally...
3. Add the wine and chicken broth and bring to a boil...
4. Add the pasta to the simmering broth and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender...
5. Then add the meatballs to the soup and simmer for 1 minute...
6. Taste and season with Sea salt and fresh ground pepper if necessary. At this time stir in the fresh chopped spinach, and parsley, then cook for 2 minutes until the spinach is just wilted...
7. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle each serving with extra grated Parmesan if desired...

"The Grand Canal, Venice Italy"

Notes:
1. If cooking the meatballs in the soup instead of the oven, add them at step 3 and simmer for 12 minutes, then add pasta at step 4 and cook for another 8 minutes...
2. I use about 8 oz. of pasta, but we like a lot of pasta in our soup—so use less if you'd prefer it to be broth'ier...
3. If you decide to use frozen spinach, add it between steps 2 and 3 so that it thaws and cooks adequately...
4. For a "gluten free" version use gluten free panko style breadcrumbs...
5. If you can't eat beef or don't like using beef, pork or veal-you can substitute ground turkey if desired (there's some good hormone free & free range brands out there) 
6. I use Sauvignon Blanc wine but you can use a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay as well... 
7. Serve with fresh grated Parmesan on the side and crusty Italian bread hot from the oven with butter...

"Veal Bolognese Balls with Pasta & Garlic in Oil"

"Veal Bolognese Meatballs"

I love coming home, or getting up on a weekend and throwing a huge pot of sauce on to simmer the whole day. Especially when it's my "Sunday Gravy" or "Bolognese Sauce" recipes; which are just full of a ton of yummy, delicious flavors & meats...

Time, though, is not always on my side. So not to long back I worked out a way of cutting the time down on my personal "Bolognese Sauce" recipe from 6 or 7 hours of slow cooking, simmering, goodness to a more manageable 3 hours or less - which has been nothing short of incredible if you ask me...

Now after years of doing certain things a certain way; my "Bolognese" perfected, my meatball recipe for my "Sunday Gravy" set - I decided it was high time to try to play around with everything and make something new out of thin air...

"Baked Meatballs & Pasta"

 

So taking up some of my very best, tried and true recipes; I then force-ably smashed them together, and from the scattered remnants I started picking through the fragments of tasty puzzle pieces left hither & thither across the length & breadth of my kitchen island...

 

From these bits and pieces of culinary invention I began to cobble together a new, imaginative, culinary creation for me and the family to enjoy - and that's where this delicious dish first sparked to life...

"Venice, bella Venezia"

So fitting some of the tastes and ingredients of my "Bolognese" with my recipe for "Meatballs" and throwing that in with a slightly altered version of my "Capellini Aglio e Olio" I ended up with this extremely tasty dinner treat; which, for want of a better name, I am calling for now "Veal Bolognese Balls with Pasta & Garlic in Oil" or "Vitello Bolognesi Sfere con Capellini & Aglio e Olio"

I know, I know; I definitely need to figure a better name down the road for this tasty pasta dish but for now it'll do, because regardless of what it's called - it is, oh so "Definitely Delish"

 

"Veal Meatballs & Pasta"

  "Veal Bolognese Style Meatballs with Pasta & Garlic in Oil"
  (Vitello Bolognesi Sfere con Capellini & Aglio e Olio)

Ingredients:
For Meatballs:
1 pound ground Veal
4 ounces lean Pancetta (or Prosciutto), thick cut & diced
1/2 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan, Asiago & Romano cheese, grated & mixed
1/4 White Wine
1/4 Red Wine
1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
2 cloves fresh Garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup Fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
2 Eggs, room temperature
1/2 sweet Vidalia Onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon each of Sea Salt and Black Pepper

"The Grand Canal in Venice"

For Pasta:
1 lb dried Capellini pasta
1/2 cup Olive Oil
4 tablespoons Butter
9 large garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup fresh parsley, minced
3/4 cup white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
1 teaspoon fresh Basil, minced
1 teaspoon fresh Oregano, minced
1/4 teaspoon Paprika
1/2 cup Parmesan, Romano & Asiago cheeses, freshly grated & mixed together
1 teaspoon Pink (or Sea) Salt
1/2 teaspoon Ground black pepper
1 lemon, juiced 

Directions:
For Meatballs:
1. Place ground Veal (Beef or Beef substitute if desired) in a bowl and then add both the red and white wine; mix them together, then allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes...
2. Meanwhile grate your cheese, chop your parsley and mince your onion and garlic in preparation...
3. At this time heat a small frying pan over medium to medium high heat and cook your pancetta (or proscioutto) till it just begins to brown, 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat. (Do not overcook, it will cook more in oven)
4. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (see Notes for options); then add all of your meatball ingredients to the bowl containing your meat, and mix extremely well using your hands...
5. Take out a cookie sheet or baking tray with a lip and begin rolling your meatballs; I try not to pack them overly tightly, and stick to medium and small sizes so that you make a good amount of meatballs from the bowl of mix...
6. Place each meatball onto the baking tray, and once you've used up all of the meat, place them into the oven to bake for 30 minutes or cooked through. (Do not overcook to avoid drying them out) While they bake, prepare your pasta...

"Baked Meatballs with Pasta and Garlic"

For Pasta:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the pasta, cooking until al dente, about 3 minutes (for Capellini); reserve 3 cups of cooking liquid from the pot on the side, then run the pasta itself under cool water to stop the cooking process....
2. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat...
3. Add garlic and stir frequently until the garlic is nice and golden...
4. Then add red pepper flakes, salt and pepper...
5. Next add 4 tablespoons of butter and melt, stirring...
6. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes more, then add in the 3/4 cup of white wine and cook for an additional minute or two before adding the pinch of basil and dash of paprika...
7. Add the Al dente cooked Pasta directly to the pan. Toss until it is thoroughly coated with the garlic oil, add reserved cooking liquid (1/2 cup at a time) as needed to thin the butter/wine/garlic/oil sauce on the pasta...
8. Add several pinches of parsley and a couple of tablespoons of fresh grated Parmesan, Romano & Asiago cheeses along with the juice from 1 lemon and stir...
9. Now add the baked Veal Meatballs to the pot, mix in and cook - stirring to meld flavors for a couple minutes more.... 
10. Remove pan from heat; add the remaining parsley, grated cheeses and then toss well. Check for flavor and adjust the salt & pepper if necessary. (If needed add additional reserved cooking liquid) 
11. Garnish with more Parsley and Parmesan if desired—then serve and enjoy....

"Saint Mark's Square, Venice"

Notes:
1. Serve with a nice white wine; such as a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Also, hot crusty Italian bread with plenty of softened butter as well as extra grated cheese is a must in our home when serving this up...
2. Alternatively you can cook the Meatballs in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until cooked through...
3. If you are against veal, or dislike beef or pork you can also try this with ground turkey or chicken - though the taste will be different depending on the meat or meat mix you use...