Epicurean Narrative

A gluten-free journey

Angelina

Chicken and Andouille Sausage Paella

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Here is one of my favorite paella recipes that I love making in my Staub Paella pan. This Chicken and Andouille Sausage Paella recipe has evolved since the first time I made it.  I am excited to share one of my favorite paella recipes that I love to cook for my friends and family.

Paella

I do have to mention, this paella pan. This Staub Paella Pan is one of the best paella pan’s I have ever cooked with. I am not just saying that because I happen to love Staub products. I have cooked with many different types of paella pans and I have burnt the middle of every pan that I have ever used. The great thing about this Staub Paella pan is that it is made out of enameled cast-iron and is built to endure high heat. I have an electric oven so that could be the reason why I have burnt all my other aluminum paella pans. But after switching to this pan 6 years ago, I have seen a dramatic difference in my paella dishes. Huge!

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Rosemary Garlic Lamb

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I made this delicious Rosemary Garlic Lamb dish for my hubby and son last night for dinner and they absolutely loved it. Scott came downstairs and I was eager to show him the food journey we were about to embark on (as usual). He was really amazed with the presentation that he encouraged me to take a photo of the dish. It almost didn’t make it on my blog, so thanks to his gentle nudge to snap some photos of this dish, I am able to present one of my favorite lamb dishes, Rosemary and Garlic Lamb.

Rosemary and garlic has this amazing aromatic scent that gives such depth to the taste of lamb. I made a simple rosemary, garlic, olive oil rub and roasted the lamb in my Le Creuset Dutch oven. I served this with a parsnip & yam puree. Bon appetite!


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Rosemary and Garlic Lamb Recipe
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Serves: 4
 
Roasted Rosemary & Garlic Lamb Recipe
Ingredients
  • 1 lbs.of lamb steaks (4 or 5 pieces)
  • 3 whole sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • 3 tbsp. of olive oil
  • 5 cloves of garlic, diced
  • Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt
  • pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 for 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, de-stem and then dice one rosemary sprig very finely, or chop in a food processor.
  3. In a bowl, add olive oil, diced garlic, and diced rosemary.
  4. Rub the garlic steaks with the garlic rosemary rub.
  5. Place lamb steaks in a dutch oven
  6. Sprinkle with Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt and pepper
  7. Cut the second rosemary spring in thirds and place over steaks.
  8. Roast lamb steaks in oven for 20-minutes or until done.
  9. Take the steaks out and garnish the finished dish with a small sprigs of rosemary and serve with your favorite side dish.

 

Mini Frittatas in a Cocotte

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I love frittatas. Especially mini frittatas. They are super easy to make and just look so darn cute, especially in a mini cocotte.

First, a backstory: my husband has been making me breakfast just about every morning since I met him. I know, I know, I am very lucky, and I am super grateful. Well, when he’s on a business trip and I have to make breakfast on my own, I usually make frittatas. It’s easy. I mix up my ingredients and pop it in the oven….

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Matzah Ball Soup

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I L-O-V-E Matzah Ball Soup. I was first introduced to this dish when my husband (when he was a boyfriend) treated me to Jerry’s Deli in Los Angeles, CA. It was when we first started dating and little did I know that he and Matzah Ball soup would both rock my world.

I decided to take on the challenge by learning how to make this dish, and naively thought it would be super easy.  It took me many botched recipes to get the Matzah Balls right. But with a lot of practice and helpful hints from my husband’s lovely sisters and his beautiful mother, I finally got this dish right! Now I make this soup about once a month for my husband and my sweet adorable son. The last time I made this was for Channukah and they loved it! And as always they ate seconds!

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Split Pea Soup for Good Luck in the New Year

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I love split pea soup. It is our family tradition to eat Split Pea Soup on New Years Day. We believe it brings good luck for the New Year so I make sure our family is filled with this delicious soup on New Years Day. And! I have to mention my sister, Tanya’s birthday is on the 1st of January so it is already is a special day for many reasons!

Split Pea Soup

Split Pea Soup

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Split Pea Soup for Good Luck in the New Year
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Serves: 6
 
This traditional New Year Good Luck dish is one of my favorite to make and eat! I eat Split Pea Soup at least once a month. I truly love it!
Ingredients
  • 10 cups of water
  • 2 cups of split peas, washed
  • 3 celery ribs, diced
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • ¼ tsp. of dried thyme
  • 2tbsp. olive oil.
  • 1 bay leaf
  • salt
  • black pepper
Instructions
  1. In a skillet, heat oil and saute onions until translucent.
  2. In a large pot, add water, split peas, celery, carrots, onions, garlic, bay leaf, and thyme and bring to a boil for 20 minutes and then reduce and simmer for 1 hour, slightly uncovered until peas are tender.
  3. I usually don't add salt and pepper to the entire pot, since I prefer low sodium dishes.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.Garnish with your favorite toppings!

Split Pea Soup

Quiche with Gruyere and Bacon

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I love quiche. It is a simple and elegant meal that you can serve for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. I learned how to make this particular delicious quiche in Geneva, Switzerland in 2010 when I was with my husband on our engagement celebration. It’s pretty easy to make. This is one of my favorite dishes to make for brunch.Quiche and Gruyere and Bacon

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Yogurt & Honey with Raspberries

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Have you ever had freshly picked raspberries? My husband, son, and I went on a day-trip to our first family raspberry picking adventure and we were able to have endless amount of freshly picked raspberries right of the raspberry bushes. There is this adorable little stand, Santa Barbara Blueberry Farm, in Santa Ynez Valley, right off of HWY 101 in between Buellton and Santa Barbara, where you pick your own berries. Blueberry season had just ended and we went in the middle of raspberry season which is from mid August to the end of September.

My son, Skyler loved the experience. Big open field with raspberries for days!  It was a dream to watch him run as fast as he could and pick any raspberry he wanted. It was pure freedom for his little spirit.

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We picked a whole pail of raspberries in about 1 hour.

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After my recent raspberry picking adventure with my family, I wanted to make something super simple and healthy for breakfast. Inspired by raspberry picking, I made yogurt, honey, with fresh organic raspberries. We LOVED it!

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Yogurt & Honey with Raspberries
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Serves: 4
 
Treat yourself to a simple yogurt, honey, and raspberries.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Yogurt
  • 2 TBSP's of Honey
  • 1 cup of Raspberries
Instructions
  1. Rinse Raspberries and pat dry.
  2. In a bowl, mix yogurt and honey. I used a food processor to make it silky smooth.
  3. Spoon yogurt into serving bowls and top with a generous amount of raspberries.

 

Chiles en Nogada

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Chiles en Nogada

Traveling does something amazing to you. When you see a place for the first time, meet new people, taste new flavors, and learn a language, there is something beautiful inside that awakens through this experience that comes with travel. There is a real sense of euphoria that stirs within.

The first time I tasted Chiles en Nogada was September 2002 in Tepotzlan, Morelos, Mexico and it was a taste sensation. I had been on a 3 month personal journey through Mexico and I was studying abroad at a language school, Experiencia in Cuernavaca, Mexico for about 6 weeks.

During my language journey,  I traveled to a nearby town, Tepoztlan, with my friends from Experiencia. We went on a morning hike to Tepozteco, an archaeological site where there is a small temple, called Tepotzclatle, named after the Aztec god of the alcoholic beverage pulque. After the 2 hour hike to the pyramid we went to a beautiful bohemian style restaurant and ordered a special dish, Chiles en Nogada….

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Santa Ynez Inn

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Scott (my amazing husband) and I went on a 2 day getaway at the end of August to Santa Ynez, just 45 minutes North of Santa Barbara. Santa Ynez is a quaint and charming town nestled in the heart of Santa Barbara Wine Country. Our mini vacation started when we checked into the lovely Victorian style, Santa Ynez Inn. We stayed in the Deluxe room on the second floor. Upon entering I fell in love with everything about the room. Our room came with a fireplace, King size bed, patio, jetted whirlpool tub, and double sinks in the bathroom. Every touch to the newly remodeled Inn was elegant and beautiful. I decided at that moment that we were not going to leave this inn during our stay. Maybe to get dinner, but that would be it!

Santa Ynez Inn

Santa Ynez Inn Dining Area
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