Donkee House

Easy Peasy Pasta with Pancetta

I love to eat and I love to cook.  But there are times when you’re too tired, too worn out, too much in a hurry…too everything.  That’s when the husband and I order in or go out (honestly, we order in or go out half the time during the week and try to cook more on the weekends when we’re less pooped).

However, sometimes my palette and appetite crave something simple and humble, something warm and inviting…second and third servings here I come!  We keep a variety of staples around the apartment, some of which are pasta (a mix between regular pasta and brown rice pasta) and spinach for the husband’s salads.  I also like to have on hand a pound or so of pancetta, I love that stuff and can have it everyday!

With just three ingredients, some salt, pepper, spices and about 15 minutes – I can whip up some yummy brown rice pasta with pancetta and spinach:

1. Start the water for the pasta
2. Meanwhile, cube or cut up the pancetta into bits or bite-sized pieces
3. Some chopped onions and parsley if you’re so inclined…I’m usually very much inclined
4. Dump the pasta in the water when it’s ready
5. No olive oil needed because the pancetta is already fatty, brown those lovely bits of pure ecstasy in a big pan – onions first if you’re using onions
6. Salt, pepper and spice as you like
7. Pasta should be nice and al dente by the time the pancetta is a bit brown and a bit crispy – drain the pasta
8. Add the spinach to the pancetta
9. Add the pasta to the pancetta and spinach in the big pan
10. Stir everything around, making sure the pasta gets acquainted with all that pancetta goodness in the pan
11. Serve in a bowl and EAT!

Really, this is so quick a meal and you can make a big bunch and have leftovers.  You can use a variety of substitutes:

Try broccoli rabe, chard, even cabbage.  Try sausage cut up into cubes or slices, regular bacon (maybe leftover from breakfast), beef cubed up (cooks quickly) or any leftovers can go in the pan, really.  Add in some sun dried tomatoes if you have a bit lying around.

Now I’m hungry…matter of fact, we’re heading out to food shop for tomorrow in a bit.  Happy eats!

Chorizo and Rice

This was a quick and easy chorizo and rice dinner I made a few nights ago.  Even though I like to cook, sometimes, I just don’t feel like a big production.  This can be done from start to finish including prep time in about 30 to 40 minutes depending on what kind of rice used.  I used brown rice, so total time invested was approximately 40 minutes.  Less time overall if you already have leftover rice!

Ingredients:

Rice – brown or white – I used two cups dry brown rice.  Cook as directed.

Chorizo – 6 links diced or bite size pieces.

Peas, carrots and corn- 1 bag frozen – microwaved for 3 minutes.

Garlic

Herbs and spices to taste – I put in basil (I use it in everything) and oregano.  Spanish chorizo with a bit of Italian seasoning.

Directions:

- Prepare your choice of rice.  You can use stock (chicken, vegetable, etc.) instead of water for added flavor.

- Pan fry diced chorizo with garlic and seasonings until a bit crispy around the edges in a big pan.  No oil needed because some of the fat from the chorizo will melt down.

- Add in the cooked rice and peas, carrots and corn.  Stir it all up and let the rice soak in all that chorizo goodness!

Sit down, relax and enjoy!

Struffoli

Every year during the holidays without fail, I crave struffoli.  I mean CRAVE as in MUST HAVE AT LEAST 5 POUNDS!  The stickier, the better.  It’s funny because I grew up hating it with a passion, but one year, it just clicked and I couldn’t get enough.  I’m not brave enough to make it on my own.  Should I go back to Veniero’s this year once again?

Anyone know of another good place for struffoli?

I’m Dying, But with Good Soup in My Belly!

I made this yummy chicken/leftover turkey, vegetable and rice soup two days after Thanksgiving.  Timing COULD NOT have been more perfect because I feel like I’m dying – I have a fever, my skin all over is at its height of sensitivity, but worse than all that, I have this SORE THROAT that feels like someone put an eight pound bowling ball in my throat and it’s just…there, making my life miserable with a capital M.  I can’t swallow…ok, I can, but I can’t swallow without it hurting like a MOTHERF*CKER.  Waaahhhh, waaaahhhh, wahhhhhh!  I know, I know, I’m a complete 2 year old whenever I get sick.

I’ve called out sick for two days – I’m eating chicken soup all day.  I’m taking that mushroom whatchamacallit – Mycoferon.  It’s 25-35% alcohol and it’s foul tasting.  Every 1-2 hours…oh, here we go again…time for the mushrooms….YUCK!

What am I doing while I slouch on the couch and feel sorry for myself?  I’m on my third episode of NYC Prep.  This is the most indulgent bunch of egotistical and manipulative brats ever assembled.  I hate it, but I’m not strong enough to reach for the remote – ugh….

A Taste of Indian Sweets

A few weeks ago, I signed the husband and myself up for a walking Jackson Heights Garden City tour compliments of Open House New York.  I have always been curious about Jackson Heights and while searching for our first apartment purchase more than three years ago, the neighborhood was a serious contender before we finally decided on Forest Hills.

Knowing that Jackson Heights is home to a huge amount of English style gardens, I practically jumped at the chance to walk through them on a beautiful sunny afternoon.  Also, Jackson Heights being a hop, skip and a jump away from Forest Hills via the subway was also a wonderful incentive to go.

Alas, luck was not with us that day.  That was the fateful Sunday where most of the NYC trains were going haywire or not running at all.  What should have been a mere 12 minute subway ride turned out to be 45 minutes instead.  We arrived at the meeting spot late and the group had left without us.  That’s ok – I wouldn’t have wanted to wait half an hour neither.

So we embarked on our own walking tour of the neighborhood.  Although we didn’t have access to the gardens – we don’t even know where they are located – we took a nice and sedate stroll up and down 37th and 35th Avenues, mainly.  We had a fabulous and cheap buffet lunch at Mehfil – courtesy of a quick search on Yelp.  We discovered a wonderful discount fabric store where the employees (or owners?) were so agreeably helpful.  They were busy too – the store was PACKED.

Lastly, on our way back to the subway, we happened across Maharaja Sweets and Snacks.  We popped in – this placed was packed too – and ordered a box of mixed goodies.  We came home with a few sweets, not knowing what they were, but happily enticed by the silver and the colors.

Some of them were called chums – milky and moist.  When bitten into, there is an explosion of juices in your mouth, down your chin and fingers.  We loved that none of the sweets were TOO sweet so that the other flavors and ingredients came through, not just sugar.  My favorite was the brown ball at the upper left corner – that one was a bit more savory than the others.  Yum…

The Pickle People

The street fair today on Austin Street in Forest Hills is probably one of the last, if not the last, of the season.  We took a leisurely walk amongst the throngs of people with their kids, their dogs, in their wheelchairs or canes.  It was quite the perfect day for a street fair – the weather was gorgeous – not insanely hot and humid and not cold.

We got ourselves a couple of cannolis that were mouthwateringly fresh.  My husband inhaled his in oh, maybe less than a minute.  We also got two little pies (a key lime and a pumpkin) from a different vendor.

The best part, though, was The Pickle People.  The line was somewhat insane – like the Lobster Roll folks over at the Brooklyn Flea.  But I wanted my pickles!  We got a quart of full sours (they are a must), then a bit of cajun and my favorite so far…the horseradish.  If you want to clear out your sinuses, please take a bite and wait a bit.  They were not kidding when they say these horseradish pickles are potent.  That kick is awesomely delicious.  Yummy, yummy to my tummy…

Citrus Dessert Bowls

I think this is pretty genius in its simplicity.  Cut grapefruit or orange in half, eat it, save the peel, freeze, then use as dessert bowl later.  Since my palette does not have much tolerance for the sweet stuff, this can actually help if I should want some ice cream or sherbet now and then.  The slight bitterness of the rind and bits of juice from the peel will cut the sugar from the ice cream, giving it a bit of kick!

From Real Simple

Million to One Apple

This is a real apple – a result of a random genetic mutation.  Experts say it’s a million to one chance that you’ll ever find an apple with as perfect a green and red demarcation as this.  What do you do with this?  Do you eat it?  Do you preserve it?  I’m stumped…

Via Mental Floss.

Irish Cottage

Irish Cottage in Forest Hills has become one of our favorite restaurants.  The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable and the people are friendly and warm.  The restaurant serves up wonderful and affordable comfort foods.  The decor is a bit kitschy and quirky, but I love their Christmas displays.  My favorites are the steak tidbits (pictured above), shepherd’s pie and the fried chicken basket.  My husband’s go-to is the fish and chips.

I love that they serve up some real sauteed vegetables too…not the stringy, overly steamed chewy mess you sometimes come across.  If you’re not hungry just yet, join the locals – chill out at the bar and watch some game(s).

Sausage and Mushroom Brown Rice Risotto

Risottos are one of my favorite foods in the whole world.  They are brimming with flavor, easy to prepare, and there can be thousands upon thousands of variations custom made to your palette’s desire.  The first two times I tried my hand at it, they were utter and complete disasters.  What should have taken 20-22 minutes at the stove became 2 hours plus of stirring and tasting, stirring and tasting until I was starved and wasn’t sure what I was tasting anymore.  Lessons learned.  Now I turn to my tried and true favorite risotto whenever I want an easy and comforting one pot meal…

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