Mangia Vita

Author: Andrea DeCaro

  • Beets and Goat Cheese Salad

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    Combine the lettuce, apples, and pecans in a large salad bowl. Dress with the olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper. Dish out portions and add goat cheese crumbles, then beets on top of each portion. Enjoy! Note: You can mix all ingredients together, but everything will turn pink and it’s a little funny looking, but…

  • Chili Sauce

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    This is a smokey sauce that is good on tacos, burritos, nachos and more. Add all ingredients to a small non-stick skillet on a low flame. Stir and cook the ingredients together until the flavors meld and the shallot has softened.

  • Prime Rib and Black Bean Tacos

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    We love Taco Tuesday at our house, so we are documenting our weekly taco recipes. For this recipe, you need to have some left over prime rib, roasted to a rosey medium. Link: Add the lightly drained black beans and liquid to a non-stick pan with the seasonings and butter. Cook until the liquid thickens…

  • Cheesy Ham & Potato Chowder

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    Add the olive oil, onion and carrot to the pot and sauté until they begin to soften. Then add the potatoes and flour and stir to coat the vegetables in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes. Next add the ham broth and mix well to incorporate. Add the milk and allow to…

  • Olive Tapenade

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    A lovely addition to a charcuterie board, or sandwich topping, this tapenade is very simple to make at home. Place all the ingredients in a small food processor and pulse until finely chopped and well combined. Serve with bread, or crackers. Enjoy!

  • Chicago Style Pizza

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    Since the start of the pandemic, we make pizza every Sunday night! We will be sharing our weekly pizza’s with you. Oil a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Stretch the dough into an even layer. Add your mozzarella right on top of the dough. Then spread the Bolognese sauce over the cheese layer and finally…

  • Homemade Corn Tortillas

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    We have started making our own corn tortillas. While it takes a little practice to become proficient (notes below), it is a fun and tasty way to upgrade your tacos. Mix the ingredients well until there are no dry spots left. If your masa harina is more a more coarse grind (like corn meal), you…

  • Cilantro Slaw and Dressing

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    This recipe makes a great topping for tacos or can be a tasty side dish. Dressing Add 1/4 cup of cilantro, scallions, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and sour cream to a small food processor. Process until fully combined, season with salt and pepper to taste. (You can optionally add 1/2 of a fresh diced…

  • Ham Tacos

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    We love Taco Tuesday at our house, so we are documenting our weekly taco recipes. This recipe was our answer to all of the leftover ham the holidays seem to bring. If you don’t have any ham, you can pick up a ham steak and prepare it the same way. Cut the ham into small…

  • Pasta Bolognese

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    Andrea DeCaro
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    While this is not a traditional Bolognese sauce, I find it a tasty and quick tomato-based meat sauce for a delicious weeknight dinner. Remove the sausage from casing and cook in the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet, breaking up with a spatula. Add chopped garlic and onion until softened. Once the meat is…