What a simple lasagna dish with an amazing taste! Dress it up or down. It’s up to you. This one is vegetarian and so deliciously simple. Make your own sauce or use the best jar sauce you can find. Needn’t feel guilty about jar sauce … even chefs use it! This is one of those 30 minute meals too. We loved it!
We’re passionate about our Portuguese Festa Sopas! This typically once a year Festa is celebrated throughout the San Joaquin Valley (and many other locations). BUT we love to make Portuguese Sopas at home throughout the whole year. The recipe varies a bit from place to place but the basic ingredients remain the same. When I posted our family’s recipe some years ago passions ran high. Others’ remembered differing recipes. I can assure you the Willitts’ (Perry-Freitas) recipe is authentic. This hearty dish has a unique flavor and is not always successfully duplicated at home. Dan (my brother), who put the recipe together for my post, helped with the cooking for these Portuguese Festas in Visalia for a number of years. It’s one thing helping to put food together for hundreds, and then another converting to a small dish accurately just by taste testing. He has completed many taste tests in creating this dish. I’ve tested this latest recipe. It’s exactly as I remember!
This simple recipe makes up beautifully. I’ve plated two Marsala Sauce Dinners to reveal the diversity of this recipe. Change two ingredients and it becomes Chicken Marsala. This recipe is one to put to memory.
Working 14 hour days as a single parent leaves little time for cooking. Creating a repertoire especially of versatile recipes like this one makes perfect sense. Don’t get me wrong, we had plenty of fast food in those days. Just ask my youngest ones. I wanted to cook but after hours of treating patients I just didn’t have the energy. Luckily we all survived but I would say not without some earmarks. Isn’t that what gives us character! Truly looking to help those parents out there that find themselves in my old shoes.
We all know now that wine doesn’t burn off during cooking at least not all of it. The shorter cooking times can guarantee you’re going to be consuming some alcohol. If you are concerned there are some things you can do with this recipe. A substitute for Marsala is very difficult to accomplish. You might try adding a little white grape juice and lemon juice or vinegar. Adding fruit such as grapes or figs sounds delicious. In a pinch the Marsala can be eliminated and broth substituted.
I hope you’ll enjoy this delicious recipe over and over.
Soups are my favorite! Yep, no matter the weather. But this foggy day has brought out one of best! Complete nutrition in one bowl. Delicious? You bet! Rustic crusty bread adds to the simple recipe. Use your favorite greens! Add a few shavings of Parmesan and voila!
When you can’t wait 8 hours for the traditional Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast and you want all the fixings to caramelize the oven is your best bet. My family loves my Pot Roast and this brings the old recipe to extraordinary.
When a Rizzo birthday happens at my home Braciole is always the main dish. It’s his favorite! This year I wanted to try something a little different. Just a change up in the stuffing … like a bread stuffing. My use of flank steak is a favorite but other meats work too, such as round steak, pork, veal. You still can’t beat flank steak for its flavor and tenderness in this recipe.
If you’d like to try my Braciole Recipe 1 click here.
This simple main dish can become your breakfast omelet too. Use your favorite greens, kale here but spinach for a milder flavor. Any of the greens will do. This is one of those quick recipes that will have your family eating in 20-30 minutes. Can easily become a soup by adding a vegetable broth. Very versatile.
My favorite way to prepare chicken thighs. Chicken breasts can be substituted as well as cut up whole chicken pieces. But with skinless and boneless thighs the chicken is exceedingly moist, and skinless provides a healthier option. Layer this over pasta and it’s a complete meal. If short on time this can be cooked up in 30 minutes especially when using chicken breasts alone. If you are interested in a hearty meal with a veggie base this is the meal for you!
Sometimes I just crave steak! I have a long history here. Grandma Rose was a caterer and in the 60’s steak was the most requested catered dinner. Boy, could she cook a pan seared steak! There were times when it just seemed too much. Steak again! Today, of course we know more about nutrition, and steak has lost some popularity. But it still has a rich place. If you are one that just steers away from beef, chicken can be added to this salad in a pinch. If you’re busy and want a great nutritious meal ready when you get home this is the meal for you.
There are certain vegetables that keep well after they’re prepared and there lies the secret. Prepare the foods on your weekend to use for the work week. Your meats can be cooked then refrigerated and used within 3 days or can be frozen into small serving sizes … ready to pull from the freezer to use.
If you haven’t the hours needed to cook one of these three Baked Beans Recipes 1. Portuguese Baked White Beans 2. Grandma Rose’s Baked Beans 3. Portuguese Pork and Beans you do have the time for this 30 Minute Recipe.
Try this 30 Minute Recipe. Your family will love it!