Mangia Vita

Tag: Freeze it

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies

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    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This is my process for making chocolate chip cookies. I don’t believe in two bowls, that’s just silly. I make a full batch of dough and freeze the portioned dough for fresh cookies whenever I want, because I am very picky about the freshness of chocolate chip cookies. Add softened salted butter to the mixing…

  • Split Pea Soup

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    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    First, carefully go through the dried split peas looking for any stones or debris. Then rinse the split peas and add to your pot with the water and the ham bone. Next add in all of the vegetables and bay leaves. Let the mixture cook over a medium flame and stirring occasionally for about an…

  • Cheesy Ham & Potato Chowder

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    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    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…

  • Homemade Corn Tortillas

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    Andrea DeCaro
    in ,

    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…

  • Pasta Fazul

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    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    While there are a lot of versions of Pasta Fazul, I prefer this simple version. It is quick to put together and very satisfying. Dice the bacon and add to a pot to cook and render out the fat. When the bacon is crisp, remove and set aside to garnish each serving. Add the smashed…

  • Ground Beef

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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…

  • Red Sauce

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    Andrea DeCaro
    in

    This is our family’s Sunday Sauce, Red Sauce, or just Sauce (if you are in the know). All of the women in my family do it slightly differently, but the basic ingredients and method are pretty much the same. Tomato sauce, tomato paste, seasonings, pork meat, onion and garlic. This sauce is a project (take…