Mangia Vita

Author: Andrea DeCaro

  • Ground Beef

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    In the past 10 years or so, I have begun doing our own ground beef for several reasons: Equipment This will require some special equipment, so that can be prohibitive. My preferred meat grinding machine is to use the Kitchen Aid with the stainless steel meat grinder attachment. We used the plastic one for years…

  • Cooked Shredded Beef Prep

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in ,

    Similar to how I prepare pork (method here: https://mangiavita.com/2023/08/17/pork-prep/ ), I like having ready-to-go meat in my freezer at any given time. Sometimes the meat is raw, but it is faster to make a lot of meals if the meat is already cooked and just needs to be reheated. I buy large packs of beef…

  • Pork Prep

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in ,

    I like having ready-to-go meat in my freezer at any given time. Sometimes the meat is raw, but it is faster to make a lot of meals if the meat is already cooked and just needs to be reheated. I buy large packs of pork meat from Costco, typically boneless spareribs are the easiest to…

  • Ham

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This is less a recipe and more the way I work with a cooked ham. Holiday hams are great but I often find they are way more than my family can eat in one sitting. Additionally, hams can go on great sales during the non-holiday season and I love to take advantage of a good…

  • French Toast

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    Mix the eggs and milk together well in a measuring cup and strain through a small strainer into a shallow bowl, then mix in the vanilla and cinnamon. I do this to remove the stickier bits of the egg that can glob onto the bread. Heat a griddle pan on medium/low and melt about a…

  • Pico De Gallo

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This is my mom’s favorite salsa. Dice all of the ingredients, making sure to cut the jalapenos and scallions very small. Mix well, taste for seasoning and spice. Adjust if necessary.

  • Salsa

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This is my favorite salsa recipe. Put all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend well. Taste for spice and seasoning and adjust if necessary.

  • Tuna Salad

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This is a classic Tuna Salad for sandwiches. Mix well and serve on toasted bread.

  • Cole Slaw

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This a traditional creamy cole slaw. Perfect accompaniment for pulled pork, fried chicken, or barbeque. Clean and shred veggies and put into a large container with a lid. Add the white vinegar and sugar to a small jar and shake to dissolve the sugar. Taste the mixture to make sure the sweet/acid balance is to…

  • Caesar Salad

    by

    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This is my cheater Caesar Salad recipe. It does not use raw eggs, but mayo instead. Dressing Clean, wash and spin dry the greens and add to a large bowl. In a small jar, add the dressing ingredients and shake to blend well. The dressing can be made ahead of time. Add the croutons, cheese…