Sunday, April 26, 2020
Trish Giordano: Frittata
Trish Giordano: Frittata: We have all had quiche for brunch, lunch and hors d'oeuvres..... then the craze was frittatas, (a crustless quiche), made in a sheet pa...
Retired caterer with passion for family, food and friends. Love sharing joy of foods. Spent five years after retiring in New York City caring for two small granddaughters and having a ball! Now back in Harrisburg, PA.
Frittata
We have all had quiche for brunch, lunch and hors d'oeuvres..... then the craze was frittatas, (a crustless quiche), made in a sheet pan, muffin pan, served for brunch, snack, dinner........then they both seemed to go by the wayside......
and now there seems to be the resurgence of both!
I recently hosted a breakfast for a family gathering and thought about a quiche but then decided
on a frittata.......a dish I have always loved and prepared many, many times (me being the low carb gal).....
I had on hand fresh spinach and a lovely jar of artichoke hearts (not marinated)......so I went
on line and started looking at various recipes which included these ingredients....
What I came up with was .....absolutely delicious!!! (even the B O B said so!)....
this was soooooo easy......
Method and Ingredients:
heat oven to 425*
drizzle 2 rounds of olive oil into 10 inch skillet
and add 1 knob of butter
then add
1/2 onion, finely diced and saute for 2 minutes,
then add
2 garlic cloves, minced
and saute 1 minute.
Next add 4 cups fresh baby spinach, (stems removed PLEASE!), and stir til spinach leaves are
well coated with butter/olive oil mixure (spinach will start to wilt)
Have 12 eggs well beaten plus 1 cup heavy cream incorporated into eggs with 1 t. kosher salt, 1 t. freshly ground coarse black pepper, 1/4 t. cayenne pepper and pour over spinach mixture......
Sprinkle 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, 1 cup grated muenster cheese, 1/4 c. parmesan cheese
over the egg mixture....
then place this wonderful mixture into the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes.
It will puff up beautifully and become lightly browned.......
then, when you open the oven and remove it, it will deflate in front of you......but fear not,
it will be delicious!!!!
and now there seems to be the resurgence of both!
I recently hosted a breakfast for a family gathering and thought about a quiche but then decided
on a frittata.......a dish I have always loved and prepared many, many times (me being the low carb gal).....
I had on hand fresh spinach and a lovely jar of artichoke hearts (not marinated)......so I went
on line and started looking at various recipes which included these ingredients....
What I came up with was .....absolutely delicious!!! (even the B O B said so!)....
this was soooooo easy......
Method and Ingredients:
heat oven to 425*
drizzle 2 rounds of olive oil into 10 inch skillet
and add 1 knob of butter
then add
1/2 onion, finely diced and saute for 2 minutes,
then add
2 garlic cloves, minced
and saute 1 minute.
Next add 4 cups fresh baby spinach, (stems removed PLEASE!), and stir til spinach leaves are
well coated with butter/olive oil mixure (spinach will start to wilt)
Have 12 eggs well beaten plus 1 cup heavy cream incorporated into eggs with 1 t. kosher salt, 1 t. freshly ground coarse black pepper, 1/4 t. cayenne pepper and pour over spinach mixture......
Sprinkle 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, 1 cup grated muenster cheese, 1/4 c. parmesan cheese
over the egg mixture....
then place this wonderful mixture into the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes.
It will puff up beautifully and become lightly browned.......
then, when you open the oven and remove it, it will deflate in front of you......but fear not,
it will be delicious!!!!
Retired caterer with passion for family, food and friends. Love sharing joy of foods. Spent five years after retiring in New York City caring for two small granddaughters and having a ball! Now back in Harrisburg, PA.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Quarantine Cooking Videos
With the Pandemic 2020, many people are now spending more time in their kitchens. Those who love to cook but never had much time are enjoying themselves thoroughly and there are those who never paid much attention to cooking who are now discovering a new joy.
We have all been posting our menus and food porn photos on social media and, I for one, have been having a great time doing so!
Many terrific sites, such as New York Times Cooking, and Simply Recipes, have now geared their weekly menus to “pantry” cooking, “meatless” meals, etc.
The celebrity chefs who have cooking shows can no longer go to the studios so they, like many other television hosts, are filming from their homes. Some celebrity chefs who do not have television shows have begun filming videos as well.
And then there are the non-celebrity cooking shows!
I must admit, I have had great fun checking some of these out!
Many are very, very good!
There are wonderful cooks out there who have great ideas, do everything properly in the kitchen
and produce fabulous foods!
And then.......there are the wanna-be’s!
These videos can be so funny, unintentionally!
The cooks have good intentions but their final results and the way they accomplish those results can be downright hysterical.
Take the one gal, Antonella, who has a happy, friendly, engaging way about her. She is Italian and the only Italian woman I ever heard of who uses cream of mushroom soup as her special ingredient!
She also does not use fresh basil, fresh garlic or fresh onions in her sauce! (How many Italian Nonnas are turning over!)
While researching these culinary videos, I happened upon the Mary Berry videos (Classic, Everyday and Country Home Secrets - which includes Highclere Castle, otherwise known as Downton Abbey). Mary Berry is the Martha Stewart of England. I must confess, I had not been aware of her until the Great British Baking Shows were televised here in America. It has been interesting and informative to learn how “the British do it”.
And, a friend recently posted a video I had discovered many years ago and just love.....Great Depression Cooking with Clara. I just adored these videos and have had such fun watching them again. I had been searching for a wonderful cuccidati (Sicilian fig cookie) recipe when I happened upon the videos which were made by her family. Her cuccidati turned out to be the very, very best! Clara was 93 years old and the most basic cook.
While foods were baking or resting she would tell stories of growing up in the Depression. She
had no fancy Williams Sonoma gadgets or equipment (even shelled her own almonds!). She would roll her cookies out on her oilcloth table covering, no fancy marble or Boos wood blocks!
Unfortunately, Clara has died. I was so thrilled, however, to see that her videos are still available on
Youtube.com.
If you are a cook or just enjoy watching cooking shows, do visit Clara for a wonderful experience!
We have all been posting our menus and food porn photos on social media and, I for one, have been having a great time doing so!
Many terrific sites, such as New York Times Cooking, and Simply Recipes, have now geared their weekly menus to “pantry” cooking, “meatless” meals, etc.
The celebrity chefs who have cooking shows can no longer go to the studios so they, like many other television hosts, are filming from their homes. Some celebrity chefs who do not have television shows have begun filming videos as well.
And then there are the non-celebrity cooking shows!
I must admit, I have had great fun checking some of these out!
Many are very, very good!
There are wonderful cooks out there who have great ideas, do everything properly in the kitchen
and produce fabulous foods!
And then.......there are the wanna-be’s!
These videos can be so funny, unintentionally!
The cooks have good intentions but their final results and the way they accomplish those results can be downright hysterical.
Take the one gal, Antonella, who has a happy, friendly, engaging way about her. She is Italian and the only Italian woman I ever heard of who uses cream of mushroom soup as her special ingredient!
She also does not use fresh basil, fresh garlic or fresh onions in her sauce! (How many Italian Nonnas are turning over!)
While researching these culinary videos, I happened upon the Mary Berry videos (Classic, Everyday and Country Home Secrets - which includes Highclere Castle, otherwise known as Downton Abbey). Mary Berry is the Martha Stewart of England. I must confess, I had not been aware of her until the Great British Baking Shows were televised here in America. It has been interesting and informative to learn how “the British do it”.
And, a friend recently posted a video I had discovered many years ago and just love.....Great Depression Cooking with Clara. I just adored these videos and have had such fun watching them again. I had been searching for a wonderful cuccidati (Sicilian fig cookie) recipe when I happened upon the videos which were made by her family. Her cuccidati turned out to be the very, very best! Clara was 93 years old and the most basic cook.
While foods were baking or resting she would tell stories of growing up in the Depression. She
had no fancy Williams Sonoma gadgets or equipment (even shelled her own almonds!). She would roll her cookies out on her oilcloth table covering, no fancy marble or Boos wood blocks!
Unfortunately, Clara has died. I was so thrilled, however, to see that her videos are still available on
Youtube.com.
If you are a cook or just enjoy watching cooking shows, do visit Clara for a wonderful experience!
Clara’s Cuccidati
Retired caterer with passion for family, food and friends. Love sharing joy of foods. Spent five years after retiring in New York City caring for two small granddaughters and having a ball! Now back in Harrisburg, PA.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Trish Giordano: Pandemic, 2020 - Part 2
Trish Giordano: Pandemic, 2020 - Part 2: We have now been isolated for over two weeks. No dashing here and there...no hugs with friends, hell, no BEING with friends or loved ones!...
Retired caterer with passion for family, food and friends. Love sharing joy of foods. Spent five years after retiring in New York City caring for two small granddaughters and having a ball! Now back in Harrisburg, PA.
Pandemic, 2020 - Part 2
We have now been isolated for over two weeks.
No dashing here and there...no hugs with friends, hell, no BEING with friends or loved ones!
Those of us who are most susceptible are steering clear of everyone and not venturing out of our homes!
The routine has been to watch every screen available to learn how the coronavirus is incapacitating each and every city....each and every continent! The death tolls keep mounting....it truly seems like a sci-fi futuristic movie!
Except, it is not. This is our world today.
The human nature, however, is truly amazing!
Our youngest daughter, who contracted the virus, is on the mend and we are so very thankful, we are delirious!
Our middle daughter had a birthday on Friday and we utilized the wonderful thing called Zoom and were able to see everyone (except our two grandsons, who could not “attend”) and had a family birthday “celebration” digitally! While we were all “together”, Katie opened her windows in Brooklyn at 7:00 p.m. and we could see/hear everyone clapping in their support and appreciation for all the health workers who are working so amazingly through such difficulties.
Today I “attended” Mass through Facebook!!!!
I fervently hope that when this is all behind us, we do not forget!
It seems humans adapt quite well to adversity......but I hope and pray we do not ever again take for granted our wonderful “freedoms”....hugging family and friends, dashing to the store on a whim,
TOILET PAPER!!!!
It looks like we will have another few weeks of isolation.....weeks I hope will now be productive for me instead of being glued to the television news......I must admit I have been a slug....I would love to be out there helping... but my health will just not permit that.
In the meantime, I am going to support where I can and have great faith and hope for our future!
No dashing here and there...no hugs with friends, hell, no BEING with friends or loved ones!
Those of us who are most susceptible are steering clear of everyone and not venturing out of our homes!
The routine has been to watch every screen available to learn how the coronavirus is incapacitating each and every city....each and every continent! The death tolls keep mounting....it truly seems like a sci-fi futuristic movie!
Except, it is not. This is our world today.
The human nature, however, is truly amazing!
Our youngest daughter, who contracted the virus, is on the mend and we are so very thankful, we are delirious!
Our middle daughter had a birthday on Friday and we utilized the wonderful thing called Zoom and were able to see everyone (except our two grandsons, who could not “attend”) and had a family birthday “celebration” digitally! While we were all “together”, Katie opened her windows in Brooklyn at 7:00 p.m. and we could see/hear everyone clapping in their support and appreciation for all the health workers who are working so amazingly through such difficulties.
Today I “attended” Mass through Facebook!!!!
I fervently hope that when this is all behind us, we do not forget!
It seems humans adapt quite well to adversity......but I hope and pray we do not ever again take for granted our wonderful “freedoms”....hugging family and friends, dashing to the store on a whim,
TOILET PAPER!!!!
It looks like we will have another few weeks of isolation.....weeks I hope will now be productive for me instead of being glued to the television news......I must admit I have been a slug....I would love to be out there helping... but my health will just not permit that.
In the meantime, I am going to support where I can and have great faith and hope for our future!
Retired caterer with passion for family, food and friends. Love sharing joy of foods. Spent five years after retiring in New York City caring for two small granddaughters and having a ball! Now back in Harrisburg, PA.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Trish Giordano: Pandemic of 2020
Trish Giordano: Pandemic of 2020: I will never take anything for granted ever again! I would like to make some bread while we are self isolating.....there is no flour in th...
Retired caterer with passion for family, food and friends. Love sharing joy of foods. Spent five years after retiring in New York City caring for two small granddaughters and having a ball! Now back in Harrisburg, PA.
Pandemic of 2020
I will never take anything for granted ever again!
I would like to make some bread while we are self isolating.....there is no flour in the stores.
Forget about toilet paper, chlorox wipes and hand sanitizer! They may become a distant memory!
I have never been one to freeze meats......I just like using them fresh.....so I shop every three
or four days. Well, that is certainly not working for me now!
Unfortunately, my lungs are badly scarred from the 2018 flu and I have other health issues which
put me at high risk so it is not a good idea for me to be out and about as in normal times.
Thankfully, my daughter and son in law appreciate this and are ever willing to get whatever we
need.....but I do hate to ask! (Thank you Tina and Gary!)
Our youngest daughter is in Brooklyn on her fourth day of quarantine. Fortunately, her fever is
gone and the heaviness in her chest is not as bad and she is starting to feel a bit better. The fact
that she is so far away and facing this alone just breaks my heart. I would be there in a shot if I
could.
The Army is going into New York City...….it is in lockdown......their grocery store shelves are
totally bare.....this is like out of a sci-fi movie!!!!
But, it is real, very real.
Our churches are now closed. The dentist is open only for emergencies. I had to cancel my
appointment with my rheumatologist who would have given me cortisone shots in my thumb and
shoulder...…..now of course, I can hardly do anything with my left hand and when I move my
right shoulder, pain shoots everywhere! Our state of Pennslvania was one of the early states to
close down all non-essential businesses and encourage all to STAY HOME!
I attempted to place a delivery order with the big food store and the screen goes grey.....they are so overwhelmed they cannot even name a time slot for delivery or pick up!
A friend of my daughters from years ago messaged me saying she knew I had a bad bout with the
flu before and if she could help us in any way, please call her! (Thank you Megan!!)
A neighbor called to say she was heading to the store and did we need anything (Thank you Ann!)
A friend just called to check in on us. He is older than us and going to the store early Monday.
He wanted to offer to pick up whatever we might need! (Thank you William!)
My brother-in-law also just called and offered the same kindness! (Thank you Nick!)
This pandemic may be very scary and life threatening, but it also is showing how wonderful
people can be!
At seventy-one I certainly never thought this would be happening in my life time......who knows
today who will be surviving a few months from now......so very scary.....but I do vow that I will
never take anything for granted.....not conveniences, not loved ones, not simple things like
dashing to a store and getting whatever you want, ……..we have lived such marvelous lives
with so many luxuries......that we have taken for granted. Perhaps this will result in a wake up
call to love our planet, love our people and savor all as precious!!!
I would like to make some bread while we are self isolating.....there is no flour in the stores.
Forget about toilet paper, chlorox wipes and hand sanitizer! They may become a distant memory!
I have never been one to freeze meats......I just like using them fresh.....so I shop every three
or four days. Well, that is certainly not working for me now!
Unfortunately, my lungs are badly scarred from the 2018 flu and I have other health issues which
put me at high risk so it is not a good idea for me to be out and about as in normal times.
Thankfully, my daughter and son in law appreciate this and are ever willing to get whatever we
need.....but I do hate to ask! (Thank you Tina and Gary!)
Our youngest daughter is in Brooklyn on her fourth day of quarantine. Fortunately, her fever is
gone and the heaviness in her chest is not as bad and she is starting to feel a bit better. The fact
that she is so far away and facing this alone just breaks my heart. I would be there in a shot if I
could.
The Army is going into New York City...….it is in lockdown......their grocery store shelves are
totally bare.....this is like out of a sci-fi movie!!!!
But, it is real, very real.
Our churches are now closed. The dentist is open only for emergencies. I had to cancel my
appointment with my rheumatologist who would have given me cortisone shots in my thumb and
shoulder...…..now of course, I can hardly do anything with my left hand and when I move my
right shoulder, pain shoots everywhere! Our state of Pennslvania was one of the early states to
close down all non-essential businesses and encourage all to STAY HOME!
I attempted to place a delivery order with the big food store and the screen goes grey.....they are so overwhelmed they cannot even name a time slot for delivery or pick up!
A friend of my daughters from years ago messaged me saying she knew I had a bad bout with the
flu before and if she could help us in any way, please call her! (Thank you Megan!!)
A neighbor called to say she was heading to the store and did we need anything (Thank you Ann!)
A friend just called to check in on us. He is older than us and going to the store early Monday.
He wanted to offer to pick up whatever we might need! (Thank you William!)
My brother-in-law also just called and offered the same kindness! (Thank you Nick!)
This pandemic may be very scary and life threatening, but it also is showing how wonderful
people can be!
At seventy-one I certainly never thought this would be happening in my life time......who knows
today who will be surviving a few months from now......so very scary.....but I do vow that I will
never take anything for granted.....not conveniences, not loved ones, not simple things like
dashing to a store and getting whatever you want, ……..we have lived such marvelous lives
with so many luxuries......that we have taken for granted. Perhaps this will result in a wake up
call to love our planet, love our people and savor all as precious!!!
Retired caterer with passion for family, food and friends. Love sharing joy of foods. Spent five years after retiring in New York City caring for two small granddaughters and having a ball! Now back in Harrisburg, PA.
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