parmesan cheese

Thanksgiving

Stuffing So Good It Should Be Made All Year Long

Last year on Thanksgiving, my older brother, while shoveling stuffing down his throat asked, "How come we only have stuffing once a year?

Last year on Thanksgiving, my older brother, while shoveling stuffing down his throat asked, "How come we only have stuffing once a year? It's so good!" I have to agree with him, stuffing is one of the main reasons I look forward to turkey day. Although I change up the recipe I use, there's one ingredient (besides bread) my stuffing must have: Italian sausage. As the plump sausage renders fat, it imparts an incomparable depth of flavor and porky goodness to the bread and vegetables. This recipe combines the fragrant juicy pork with soft butternut squash, leafy kale, oozing parmesan cheese, and melt-in-your mouth focaccia. The elements may not be traditional, but the resulting stuffing is comforting, addictive, and most-importantly, delicious. To serve this stuffing to your family, get the recipe and read more

Tips

Simple Tip: Use Parmesan Rinds to Flavor Soups

Good-quality cheese is expensive and if I'm going to purchase a wedge of imported Italian Parmesan cheese, I like to use the entire chunk — including the rind.

Good-quality cheese is expensive and if I'm going to purchase a wedge of imported Italian Parmesan cheese, I like to use the entire chunk — including the rind. Luckily, I learned a long time ago that the rinds can be used to season soups and stews. Once you've grated all the cheese off, wrap the rind tightly in plastic wrap and throw in the freezer. The next time you make minestrone, chicken noodle soup, or any other Italian-style, stock-based soup or light stew, simply toss the rind in. It will melt and seep a nutty, cheesy goodness into the soup. How easy is that?!

Do you reserve and reuse cheese rinds? Tell us how below!

recipes

The Basics: Pesto

When basil is in season, I can't make enough pesto.

When basil is in season, I can't make enough pesto. The classic Italian sauce native to Genoa tastes delicious on everything from pasta to pizza to grilled fish. It's excellent stirred into salads or slathered on sandwich bread. Although store-made pesto is widely available, it's easy to make. Pesto is simply an uncooked paste consisting of fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. It can be made with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor. Once you have mastered the basic recipe, you can get creative with other herb, nut, and cheese combinations. To learn the basic technique, read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Gnocchi With Sausage and Spinach

While I always have fresh pasta on hand to use in quick weeknight recipes, I rarely employ gnocchi in the same way.


While I always have fresh pasta on hand to use in quick weeknight recipes, I rarely employ gnocchi in the same way. However, this recipe is going to change that!

Wilted spinach, sauteed onions, and Italian sausage come together to make a sauce that is flavorful and filling. A generous helping of Parmesan cheese adds a rich, creaminess to the final dish.

For the recipe, read more

secret ingredient

Secret Ingredient: Parmesan's Out and Arugula's In

You guys really went to town with the parmesan cheese challenge.

Easy Tofu ParmesanYou guys really went to town with the parmesan cheese challenge. The Secret Ingredient group is full of delicious sounding treats that I am going to have to try. However, this Easy Tofu Parmesan from mandiesoh sounds like a nice simple vegetarian meal. Also, anything covered in that much cheese has to be delicious! Way to go mandiesoh, thanks for sending in the recipe.


This week's secret ingredient is arugula. This leafy green is a great way to add greens to your meal and was once actually considered an aphrodisiac. So submit your best arugula recipes to the Secret Ingredient group. I'll put my favorite recipe up next week!

secret ingredient

Reminder: Secret Ingredient - Parmesan Cheese

Don't forget to submit your best Parmesan cheese recipe to the Secret Ingredient Group!

Don't forget to submit your best Parmesan cheese recipe to the Secret Ingredient Group!

I'm surprised, I went to check it out, and lo and behold, there isn't a single entry yet! Ladies and gentlemen, I thought you all loved cheese! Don't make me have to choose one of my own recipes. All you have to do is join the group, click on "post content to the group," choose blog, add your recipe and hit submit!

So go on and put your best Parmesan cheese recipe into the Secret Ingredient Group.

Chocolate

Secret Ingredient: Fantastic Chocolate and a Parmesan Cheese Challenge

Hey guys, thanks for all of your yummy chocolate finds.

Hey guys, thanks for all of your yummy chocolate finds. As always, I was crazy torn between the finds. I really love these cute chocolate mice (perfect for kids), but in the end, crispet1's Beef Tenderloin in Chocolate Sauce looked way too tasty. I can just imagine all the juices from the beef blending together with the richness of the chocolate. I love hints of chocolate in my savory dishes, it's so delicious! Thanks for all the recipes everyone, there were definitely quite a few on the list to try!

This week's secret ingredient is Parmesan Cheese.
I'm positive that you guys will be able to come up with some magnificent creations, so don't let me down! Post your best parmesan cheese recipe in the Secret Ingredient group by Thursday. I'll pick the most delicious sounding recipe and share it here next week! Happy cooking and go wild, I can't wait to see your great ideas!