for hope, peace, and love....

It is Spring....no more Cardone....for this I am sad....

I was up in Paramus the other day, and what did I see.....artichokes.....woohoo woohoo......

Got to love that Fairway, the artichokes were on the small size, but pretty heavy and they were  5 for $4.00 so not too shabby.....

We did not over indulge.....no breadcrumbs just garlic, salt, pepper,  and olive oil.  Andrew trimmed, cut, and cleaned the artichokes while I pealed the garlic.  I got to stand by to watch his wizardry with this most fabulous thistle.

not much waste

can't forget to peel the stem and add it to the basket

putting the garlic in the petals

adding quality olive oil

water to steam them

I would really like to know what made someone decide to eat these things, while I am so very glad that they did, I do say....what?????put the petal between your teeth and drag it...I mean...shaking my head in wonder...I love, love, love to eat artichokes....they are wonderful.

When they were finished, Andrew put them in a bowl and rubbed some butter across the tops so that it pooled inside the petal, and I swear you could hear the angels sing....they were heaven, it was the first time we put butter on them....yeah, can't eat them anymore now....

got a thistle.....

I gave you...

Cesar was right about me, he understood me without ever knowing me, I am sorry to say.  Never again, not ever.

I have been a busy girl,  house is very quiet except for the music.  He has been very indulgent, and has not complained, not even once.  I have changed the station so he does not have to hear when he is home.  I thank and love him for that.

I have been busy cooking, and I would like to say, spring cleaning....but I will get to that.

So here is a little of what I am doing.....

The butcher put chicken thighs on sale earlier this week, and I was asked to make Chicken Caccitore, so I did....

I strayed from my usual recipe by adding capers.  I let it sit overnight so that all the flavors would meld.  Oh, yeah, I did not make macaroni, comments were made the moment we all sat down.  I did serve it with a loaf of fresh crusty Italian bread.  It was divine.

With my next meal, I went in the total opposite direction, I made breaded pork cutlets with cabbage and noodles....

 I haven't made that in years.  I took some over to Donna to get her Polish approval.

Next came, a cake, I saw it and had to make it.  Although I made the cake from a box, I did make the Cream Cheese frosting....

It was moist and delicious....

I went to the green grocer and purchased way too much Broccoli Rabe, so I decided to go a little different.  Broccoli Rabe & Sausage Risotto.  I used equal amounts of hot and sweet Italian sausage, they were cooked outside on the grill as we were gardening......oh, yeah, it was good....

I used Superfino Aborio this time, I have to do side by side to see if there is any difference, next time.

Thank you Charles for a hard learned lesson.  Never, never again....