Potatoes, Onions, and Hot Dogs

One of my favorite food blogs is What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine. About a week ago there was a post that looked like a meal I had when I was little.  I reminded me of my grandmother's house on Morse Street in Hamden. I had a meal like this either at my Grandparent's apartment or at my Aunt Marie's apartment, she lived upstairs from my Grandparents. When I saw the blog post I knew I had to make this for dinner. Tonight we had Potatoes, Onions, and Hot Dogs. This is true comfort food. Simple ingredients but the flavors were perfect together. So simple and so delicious.

Chicken Piccata and Potato Stacks

A rather busy Saturday means a dinner that is easy to prepare. Chicken Piccata. Always easy and always delicious.

The Chicken Piccata was from Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network website. I love this recipe!

Ingredients
2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

The Potato Stacks were much easier than I thought. I used my Mandoline and popped this in the over in no time. I found the recipe for these at Jughandles Fat Farm blog. First time at that blog. Lots of good stuff to read there.

The vegetable was green beans. Blanched, a little olive oil and salt and pepper. 

Pork, Potatoes, and Vinegar Peppers

 

Guess where this recipe came from... Cooking with Chef Silvio. I know I am in a cookbook rut but this is such a good book! So Pork, Potatoes, and Vinegar Peppers or Maiale Pate e Pupacchie was fantastic. No leftovers. I think that sums up the meal.

I cut up a pork tenderloin into cubes. Cut up 1/2 lb of potatoes into wedges. Heated some olive oil and added the pork, the potatoes and some pickled peppers. Sauteed until the pork and the potatoes were cooked, about 35 minutes, stirring constantly. Seasoned with salt and pepper. Yum!

We had a nice wine with dinner. Lagone Aia Vecchia which was very nice and very cheap. Like $6.99 a bottle. The cherry finish was amazing.

I had found this recipe on The Italian Dish blog a while ago and finally tried it. Next time I need to wait to slice the bread. But other than that why wouldn't anyone make this recipe. A loaf of bread for 40 cents! Come on that is a good deal.

Is that a cat's tail I see in that photo?

 

Yes that is Archie being held by me. I am wearing my New Orleans Saints sweatshirt... sigh, maybe next year...