Sweet and Spicy Nuts

These are so freaking good... and I warn you... addictive! 

I like them spicy, but you can play with the spices to fit your taste. 

What you need:

1lb of nuts (I like pecans, they are the best in this recipe, but you can use what you want. The photo is a mix of pecans, almonds and hazelnuts)

1 egg white

1 1/2 tsp of sea salt

3/4 cup of sugar in the raw (or honey if you want more paleo-ish)

2 tsp of cayenne pepper

1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon

6 Tbsp of melted and cooled butter

1. Preheat your oven to 325F

2. Beat egg whites and salt until they are foamy

3. Add sugar, cayenne & cinnamon

4. Fold in pecans and butter

5. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

6. Bake for 40 minutes, turning every 10 minutes

7. Remove from oven, toss and separate and let them cool until they are crunchy. 

Serve and Enjoy!!!! 

Amoretto Tiramisu

This is the absolute best version of Tiramisu I have ever had!!! I tasted something similar at a restaurant in Piancavallo and decided I had to make one myself! 

What you need:

6 egg yolks (for a lighter flavor, use 4, but I love this to have a rich flavor, so I use 6)

4 Tbsp of sugar in the raw

Amoretti Cookies

Marscapone cream (room temp)

Cold panna (whipping cream)

Amoretto for drizzling or drinking ;)

1/2 cup of cooled espresso coffee

1. Beat your egg yolks and sugar together. You want this to become light and smooth. I probably do it about 3 minutes, but it really varies. 

2. Add the marscapone to the mix and mix it up. 

(If your marscapone is too cold it may appear lumpy. I have found taking out the marscapone an hour before or using fresh is the best bet.)

3. In a separate bowl, beat your panna until it comes to a peak and then fold it into your egg yolk and marscapone mixture. 

4. Go ahead and line your pan or container or whatever your making your dish in (you can even do single servings if your having a dinner party) with the amoretti cookies. Drizzle a couple of spoonfuls of espresso and then drizzle a little amoretto too. (You don't want them to be completely soaked like you would with traditional tiramisu. This really will absorb the moisture of your cream mix.)

5. Spoon the cream mix and then do another layer of cookies with the drizzlings. 

6. Top with crunched up amoretti cookies and chill. 

Serve and Enjoy!!!! 

Easy Flax Meal Waffles

Flax Waffle

What you need:

1/4 cup Flaxmeal

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon 

1 tsp coconut oil

1 egg

1 Tbsp maple syrup

Punch of chocolate chips or blueberries 

Mix all this together. Heat up waffle iron and cook! It's delicious! My kids ate it today & didn't even know it was flax seeds! 

You can play with the spices and additions all you want. The base recipe is just so easy & surprisingly good! My friend Michelle introduced me to a similar version of this recipe but suggested that I put this in a coffee mug and microwave for 1 minute, if you need a quick, healthy muffin... And trust me, it's good!!!

Tzatziki Sauce

What you need:

2 finely diced cucumbers (squeeze out water with paper towel)

Tsp garlic paste (2 garlic cloves puree'd with 1Tbsp of olive oil)

12 oz of fat free Greek yogurt

2 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp sea salt

Mix it all together, chill it for a bit and enjoy!!!
This is good as a dip, in which case you could use sour cream to thicken it up a bit. Or its good on a sandwich, a salad, a gyro, by the spoonful... however you like to eat it! 

Burro & Salvia

The best finish to a rich pumpkin gnocchi or pumpkin ravioli is a simple combo of butter, melted in a sauce pan, add a few peperoncino flakes. Then add your fresh sage and pan fry it in the butter! 

This is the best compliment to that pumpkin flavor!!!

Italian Auto Grill

A culinary experience you just can't miss!!!

If you're ever in Italy and traveling by car... Don't eat before you leave!!! Stop at the auto grills and try their amazing brioche, paninis and coffee! My suggestion is the Icaro or the Gran Duca.

There is always little groceries there too, it's a great place to get last minute gifts or find regional goodies! But truly, whatever you get will be amazing! 

Here are a few we just saw and I felt inspired to share! 

Heart-Warming Pasta

At least this is what I'm calling it! Seriously, the best fall pasta, ever!!!

What you need:
500g of pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 sweet onion - diced
1 portion of cubed pancetta affumicato
(if you don't have that. Cut up 6 oz of thick sliced smoked bacon)
2 medium potatoes diced into small cubes
Punch of sea salt

1. Put a pot of water to boil, adding a punch of salt.
2. Put olive oil and red pepper flakes in a pan and turn heat to medium.
3. When oil is hot, add diced onion and blond.
4. Add pancetta to the onion and oil, stir continually until the pancetta is cooked fully. Then turn off heat and set it to the side.
5. Add pasta and potato to the now boiling water and cook it to the time indicated for the type of pasta. When I make this I like to use all the half open pastas I have. Some penne, farfalla, fusili, whatever you have!
6. Drain pasta and potato. Return oil, onion and pancetta to a medium flame, add pasta and potato. Mix it all together, turning good to coat the pasta in potato and oil. You want the potato to fall apart and coat everything.
7. Serve with oil and grated Parmesan (I like spicy oil) and ENJOY!!!
(Serves 4)