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Just a Pinch

Monday, July 22, 2019

Turn Leftover Salt Potatoes into Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

What are salt potatoes?   You can see that recipe here: Salt Potato Recipe

Make an extra large batch of Salt Potatoes enough to have some leftover Potatoes.  General rule of thumb to make 2-3 salt potatoes per person if you are serving them as a side.  If you are making for just snacking 4-6 per person. 

On the first night I serve them as Salt Potatoes as a side to bbq ribs, steak or fish.   Then on the next day I sometimes make Parmesan Smashed Potatoes because the salt potatoes are a perfect size for smashed potatoes.


What  you will need to make Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Leftover Salt or reg boiled potatoes with the skins on
Olive oil to coat the potatoes
Parmesan Cheese
Pepper (they are already salty)
Fresh Herbs for garnish


To make smashed potatoes you need enough to have 2-3 person when serving as a side dish.   I place a generous amount of olive oil on the pan.   Roll the potato around in the oil and then take my potato masher and gently press it on the potato until it bursts.  Don't actually mash the potato.   Then I slide it over into a place on the pan and doe the rest.   When they are all oiled and smashed I sprinkle with pepper (they are already salty) and Parmesan.




 Place tray in oven and bake for 30-45 minutes until golden brown and crispy like in the photo below.





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Thursday, July 18, 2019

What are Utica Greens Made Of?

Utica Greens is a Spicy Escarole dish made locally in the area of Utica, NY.   It contains, Escarole, Hot Cherry Peppers and some of their juice, Prosciutto, Hot pepper flakes, Chicken broth, bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. 

It takes quite a bit of Escarole to make a dish of greens, because just like spinach and collards, you start out with a big pot full and end up with 1/3 or less of the pot full.   Yes, they cook down considerably. 

Utica Greens


Once you add all of the other goodies they are worth all  the trouble it is to make them.   Should you live near Utica, it is just as easy to call and place and order at one of the many places that makes them.   All have their own little twist on their recipe.   You can view my recipe here.

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Utica Greens Penne with Cream Sauce

Yes there is such a thing.  I just whipped up a batch with a small amount of leftover Utica Greens  (I know who has leftover greens), Pasta, heavy cream and chopped hot cherry pepper mix.

Everyone in my family loves Utica Greens.  It has become a standard dish in many area restaurants and at many functions in and around our area.   They are often sold as appetizers and come with crusty bread for sharing with others at the table (yes they are for sharing). 

I ordered an extra order to go this week so that I could try them on a pizza and to make this dish.   Both turned out exceptionally well and I can't wait to try them again with my family.


Utica Greens Penne with Cream Sauce

If you haven't tried Utica Greens you really should.  They are a combination of escarole, onions, pancetta, chicken stock, hot cherry peppers and their juice, bread crumbs and parmesan.    We prefer ours a little spicy.   You can make them as hot or not as you like. Of course you can omit the peppers when cooking it and allow people to add their own at the table.

When you add the greens to the heavy cream, the bread crumbs and cheese  mix with the heavy cream and make an exceptionally  delicious sauce.

I have not put together a Utica greens recipe, but there are many on the world wide web for you to google and choose from.


Give it a try and let me know what you think.

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Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Utica Greens w/Ricotta & Hot Capicola Ham

Still playing around with homemade Pizza.  Think I found my new all time favorite.

Utica Greens w/Ricotta and Hot Capicola Ham 

Utica Greens are a local dish made with Escarole, meat, Hot Cherry Peppers, Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.   When I list meat as an ingredient it is because different places use different meats.  Some use prosciutto, some use pepperoni, others use ham ect.   You get the gest.   

I have been a big fan of Utica Greens and often order them for my meal rather than an appetizer.  Sometimes, I place an order to go so that I can use them in a recipe the next day.  My experimentation with greens has let me to placing Utica Greens, a meat, and mozzarella inside a pizza dough and making a Utica Greens Roll (like a sausage roll).   Sometimes, I use them to stuff a chicken breast before baking it.  Or I top a baked chicken cutlet with greens and mozzarella and melt it in the oven.  

Today it led me to a nice crispy Utica Greens Pizza.  It was awesome if I do say so myself.  I will definitely be making this again, again and again.  I really liked how the Hot Capicola got crispy on the top of the pizza and the spice from the greens and Hot Capicola was a nice heat.   

It is just my husband and I at home, so I tend to just get an extra order for takeout.  If  you do not live near Utica and want to make this you can google a recipe for Utica Greens. There are recipes all over the world wide web.   

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Cheesecake Large and Mini

Our family has always liked cheesecakes whether they are large, small, ice box or baked.  They can be plain or topped with a variety of goodies.   You can change up the type of crust you make from graham cracker, chocolate cookie, pretzel, cereal or vanilla wafer.    You can also change up the flavor of the cheese filling.  The choices are endless.  You can mix and match to whatever your family prefers.

Last weekend we attended a graduation party and I made mini cheesecakes to take with me. 

Topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries



Topped with animal crackers, fruity pebbles, and mini chocolate chips



Plain, Large M&Ms and Mini Oreo cookies

As you can see with all the different toppings there was quite a selection to choose from.  I have used this recipe for a number of years and it has always turned out good.  Give it a try you won't be disappointed.


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Had a graduation party to go to and I don't like to go empty handed.  So these mini cheese cakes got topped with homemade Strawberry Rhubarf jam and half of a fresh strawberry.  

 


These mini cheesecakes got topped with crumbled up baklava. 










Friday, July 12, 2019

Blonde Pizza With Lots of Toppings

Playing with a variety of toppings for a blonde pizza.   I have never been a huge fan of cheese but if you put enough toppings on the pizza it doesn't seem to be so bad.   Crazy I know, who doesn't like cheese. Well it isn't that I don't like it, it just that certain cheeses disagree with my system.  Either way, I can eat Ricotta and it doesn't mess with system. 

With that said, I have been trying to find ways to curb that pizza craving.   Here is my latest attmpt.... 



Best thing about Pizza is you can switch it up to your personal liking.   Add and take away what works and doesn't work for you.   

I think it turned out great.  It was very satisfying and curbed that Pizza craving. Here's the recipe if you would like to give it a try.   

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From the bottom of my heart..............