Pasta e Lenticchie (Pasta and Lentils)

So the story goes that it is good luck to eat lentils on New Years Day. I figure why not, it certainly can't hurt! I did a quick Google search and found Pasta e Lenticchie on the Splendid Table site. I was going to make homemade pasta but I did a lot of cooking today - sauce, meatballs, chicken cacciatore, shepherd pie... so when I looked at the recipe and it said writer's mother would use up bits of extra pasta she had I was very excited. I had at least 3 opened packages of pasta. Linguine, shells and elbows. Loved this recipe.
Happy New Year everyone!

Beef Osso Bucco

Happy New Year!

What a delicious end to 2011. Beef Osso Bucco. Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans.

And an amazing wine.

We had some visitors this morning at the feeders.

And I got to see my niece Makena today at my Dad's house. He was trying to convince her that Jerri the Giraffe should stay at his house. She was not buying it!

Happy New Year!

Cinghiale in Umido

Tonight we had dinner at my sister's house. All I can say is wow. It was so good. We started the some Bruschetta Con Pomodorini (Toasted bread with carmelized tomatoes and ricotta). Did not get a photo.

The main course was Cinghiale in Umido with pappardelle pasta from Vino Italiano The Regional Wines of Italy.

There was a vegetarian dish for my nephew and his wife, but I had to try it. Farrotto Con Porcini E Pecorino ( Risotto style farro with porcini and percorino) from Rustic Italian.

And as usual a wonderful bottle of wine.

 And of course Chistmas Cookies!
If I do a Top 10 Meals of the year this is on that list!

Vegetable Frittatta Wraps

For Christmas dinner I made Vegetable Bundles. Carrots and Zucchini tied together with Scallions. There were leftovers. There was also some cheese from the Antipasto tray and a little leftover sauteed spinach from the Polenta and Vegetable Stacks. So in my effort to have no food be wasted we had a frittatta with all the above mentioned leftovers. I picked up some whole wheat wraps and dinner was served. This was one of the most tasty frittattas I have made. And I think I know why... no meat!

Wordless Wednesday.

 

Well just a couple of words... World's Best Soup!

Deviled Bones

Yes once again we had my favorite post Christmas dinner.  Deviled Bones.
Tomorrow night and the following night we will not be eating meat... I just can't.

 

Today would have been my parent's 68th wedding anniversary. I had done a web site for them on their 60th wedding anniversary.  A couple of the images are missing(???), but it's fun to look at the old photos.

French Dip Sandwiches

Yes we have some leftover Roast Beef. I found a recipe for the Au Jus at Food.com.

We had the leftover roasted potatoes too. They were better the second night!

The Christmas Feasts

Feast Number 1 is Christmas Eve Dinner at my sister's house. This is my favorite meal of the year. Once again my sister, Lenore, and her husband, Ralph, did an outstanding job.

Feast number 2 is Christmas Day Dinner at our house.

At 12:15 this morning I was setting the table thinking, "I don't know if I am going to pull all this off!"
The roast was taking longer than anticipated and I was getting nervous. But of course everything worked out perfectly. Ah the magic of Christmas!

Biggest hits of the day... my sister's soup and the Cheddar Olives, sorry forgot to take photos of all the dishes. But fortunately my sister came to the rescue by grabbed the camera and started snapping away.

 Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas to All!

Yes we did have dinner this week but no time to post. Just taking a few days off to enjoy the Christmas season. I hope you all have a Merry and Happy Christmas.
                              

Weekend Wrap Up

It's time for a review of what we had for dinner this week.

Tuesday - Italian Wedding Soup

Food Styling by Chris

Wednesday - Baked Escarole and Beans

Thursday - Boeuf Daube

I made this back in November and had enough for a meal for the freezer, thank goodness!

Friday - Bacon and Cheese Omelets

Did you ever have one of those days were the work day just does not seem to end. Well at 7:15pm  Chris made dinner. What did we have in the fridge... not much. I meant to take something out of the freezer but I did not. He made the most delicious Bacon and Cheese Omelets.


Saturday - Fettuccine with Peppers and Sand

A twist on a recipe I made quite often from the Frugal Gourmet. Dinner does not get simpler than this.

 

We also had some Seafood Polpettes, they are test run for next week. As I was taking this photo I thought I should put these on a white plate. But that would involve putting another dish in the sink!