Penne with Italian Chicken Sausage and Fennel [RECIPE]

Serve this recipe if you want to impress your guests. It is fairly simple to make, stretches to feed a crowd, and will have your friends and family raving for days. From the moment I put this recipe together for the first time, I knew it was going to be a keeper. The fragrant aroma alone is enough to make mouths water. And that first bite… heaven! Serve it up with crusty Italian bread, seasoned olive oil (I like to blend Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to make a simple dipping sauce), a large tossed salad and your favorite bottle of wine and you have a meal fit for a fine Italian restaurant or a house full of really hungry friends. My guests love this one so much I’ve had to add it to my repertoire, and my guess is you will too. Enjoy! Continue reading “Penne with Italian Chicken Sausage and Fennel [RECIPE]”

Jathan FinkDecember 11, 2016December 11, 20163 Comments

Food

Turkey Meatloaf [RECIPE]

I love meatloaf, but have never really liked turkey meatloaf until this recipe. Other recipes simply tasted like turkey, and for those of us who have a hankering for beef, I typically don’t see the point. But this recipe is a different story! Packed with rich, delicious flavor, no one would guess it isn’t made from beef. It makes a ton, and you can definitely cut the recipe in half, but you might regret you did. This is one recipe you’re going to want leftovers of because they taste even better the next day put on bread with a smidge of mayo and a sprinkling of fresh cracked black pepper. Mmm, so good! Continue reading

Jathan FinkDecember 5, 2016December 5, 20161 Comment

Books, Videos

Lucinda Scala Quinn Teaches Us How She Cooks for Her ‘Mad Hungry Family’ [REVIEW]

We are firm believers in the old adage that food is love. It is one of the reasons that we are such huge fans of Lucinda Scala Quinn. She’s been preaching about the importance of cooking for your family for years now. As a mom, she realizes this is not always an easy feat, but after raising three sons, she knows that it is possible, and that is why her Mad Hungry trilogy of cookbooks should be a staple in every family’s kitchen. Each volume is not only packed full of recipes that will satisfy growing teens, but they are also filled with cooking principles which make the family meal the bedrock we can all build upon. The third book chronicling her culinary journey, Mad Hungry Family, is the capstone on this epic quest to bring families together. Continue reading “Lucinda Scala Quinn Teaches Us How She Cooks for Her ‘Mad Hungry Family’ [REVIEW]”

Jathan FinkDecember 2, 2016December 2, 20161 Comment

Food

Turkey Bolognese [RECIPE]

In Italy, a true ragù alla bolognese sauce is made with beef or pork, but this recipe appeals to me because it is lower in fat (for those who need to avoid these meats for health or dietary reasons) and if you still have leftover turkey in the fridge, this is a nice way to help you utilize it. In any case, you’ll need one pound of turkey, whether you shred it yourself, buy it ground, or use Italian turkey sausage like I typically do. By definition, bolognese is a thick sauce packed with healthy veggies and served with tagliatelle pasta, however a pound of fettuccine or even spaghetti works here just as well. Continue reading “Turkey Bolognese [RECIPE]”

Jathan FinkNovember 30, 2016November 30, 20161 Comment

Food

Lucinda Scala Quinn’s Mad Hungry Shepherd’s Pie [RECIPE]

In his autobiography, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards tells of cooking two things at home: bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes), and shepherd’s pie. Here, I have co-opted his idea of doubling up on the onions by adding a bonus layer of chopped, raw onions between the cooked onion–meat mixture and the potatoes. Save on dishes by sautéing the meat mixture in the same oven-safe, deep skillet you will bake the pie in. Alternatively, sauté the meat in a skillet and assemble the pie in a separate casserole dish. Continue reading “Lucinda Scala Quinn’s Mad Hungry Shepherd’s Pie [RECIPE]”