How to make Frittata with Zucchini and Potatoes

A simple frittata can really get you all set for a great light lunch or dinner! Or breakfast... I guess...!

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I enjoyed making it and eating my grandma's Frittata!

 Valentina and Mimmi'
Real Italian Kitchen

How to make the perfect french fries at home - Real Italian Kitchen

Have you ever tried to make french fries at home from real potatoes?
For the longest time they came out just soggy and sad.

BUT FROM NOW ON THEY WON'T ANYMORE!

I've come to save the day, and dinner..!

Ingredients: 

2 large potatoes
3 spoons of sugar
Your choice of Sunflower seeds, Coconut or Peanut oil for frying (stay away from corn, olive oil and canola)
Water

Utensils: 

- Cutting board and a knife
- Large, deep, frying pan or sauce pan or pot (I always prefer non stick)
- A bowl

Step By Step:

1. The secret is to remember that you want to make french fries a couple of hours before lunch or dinner time.

2. Peel the potatoes, wash them, cut them in long even strips. Start with even slices and then proceed to turning them into strips.

3. Prepare a bowl of room temperature water, stir the sugar in. Place the potatoes in the bowl and let them soak for up to 2 hours before frying.

4. Heat the oil in the pan. It's important that the oil is at its maximum temperature, but don't burn it! Keep an eye on it: when it just starts smoking throw the potatoes in. This is what it will look like!

5. Fry till golden.
Keep in mind that when the potatoes are frying they will look lighter in color then what they actually are. I don't know why, but that happens. So don't wait for them to be brown in the oil, cause that means they're burned.

6. Set them on a paper towel and dry the oil off.

7. Enjoy!






Valentina
RealItalianKitchen

Simple Fast Side: Baked potatoes with Peppers and Endive

I tried this new combination of baked vegetables and really enjoyed it. I used it to accompany a very simple grilled chicken breast but I often eat it also as a main course, maybe accompanied by a good slice of cheese. Mmm. You know how much I love cheese! 

Ingredients for two people:
1 large potato or 2 small ones
1 red pepper
2 Belgian Endives

Utensils: 
Cutting board, knife
Mandolina
Baking pan
Parchment Paper

1. Set the oven to 400F or 200C. Cover the baking pan with the parchment paper.
2. Peal the potatoes and slice them with the Mandolina. Don't cut your fingers. I always do... Place them on the baking pan, so that potatoes are not overlapping.
3. Slice the peppers length wise, throw them on top of the potatoes, randomly.
4. Get rid of the outer leaves of the endive and slice them horizontally. Throw them on top of the potatoes, randomly.
5. Drizzle with olive oil and salt.
6. Bake for 10/20 minutes (it depends on the kind of oven you have) or until the potatoes turn golden.

Enjoy!
Valentina
RealItalianKitchen

Vellutata di Porri e Patate - Leak and Potato Cream

Leaks are a winter vegetable here in Pennsylvania and this is one of the things I like to cook with them.

I porri sono una delle verdure tipiche della Pennsylvania in inverno, questa e' una delle ricette che amo preparare

It's a very delicate soup that has the consistency of a cream because of the potatoes, but also both a sweet and tangy flavor given by the white part and green part of the leaks. 

E' una vellutata molto delicata che ha la consistenza di una crema grazie alle patate, pur mantenendo il sapore dolce e allo stesso tempo leggermente agro della parte bianca e verde del porro. 

Ingredients for 2 people / Ingredienti per due persone:

2/3 leaks /porri

1 large potato / patate 

water or broth / acqua o brodo

extra virgin olive oil / olio extra vergine d'oliva

salt / sale

pepper /pepe

Utensils / Utensili :

One large pot / una pentola

knife and a cutting board / coltello e tagliere

1. Cut the leaks down the middle, remove the toughest green part on the top and around the root but save the light green heart you'll find between the leaves. 

Tagliate i porri nel mezzo, rimuovete la parte piu' dura verde ma salvate il cuoricino verde chiaro che trovate all'interno delle foglie. 

2. Rinse them thoroughly and cut in circles

Sciacquate bene e tagliate a rondelle. 

3. Soften the leaks in the pan with a bit of oil, salt and a splash of water (so it doesn't stick or burn)

Mondate i porri nella padella con un po' d'olio, sale e un pochino di acqua

4. Once the leaks are soft, add the potatoes (pealed and cut in squares), top with water or broth, cover with a lid and let it cook until the potatoes are fully done. 

Quando i porri sono morbidi aggiungete le patate (pelate e tagliate a cubetti), coprite con acqua o brodo, coprite e lasciate cuocere finche' le patate risulteranno cotte. 

5. Hit everything with the food processor until is nice and creamy. 

Passate le verdure nel mini miper o passatutto finche' otterrete una bella crema. 

6. Serve with pepper if you like, or a spoon full of Philadelphia cream cheese....mmmm... Yummy!!!! 

Servite con una sgranata di pepe o un cucchiaio di formaggio cremoso Philadelphia.....mmmm... che buono!!!!

Enjoy! 

Valentina

RealItalianKitchen