Pasta with Winter Greens and Cured Meat

Pasta tossed with wilted greens and cured meat is an incredible combination!  Adding some garlic, pepper and other flavors compliment the greens.   This dish used rapini (broccoli rabe) for the greens, but could be substituted for other winter greens such as kale, chard, collard greens, etc.  Turkey pastrami was used for the cured meat but bacon, ham or pancetta could also be used.
Serves about 3
Ingredients:
1/2 lb pasta of your choice (small penne in this case)
1 bunch greens (rapini, kale, chard, collard greens, etc.)
3 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 onion, finely chopped
1/2 pepper of your choice (bell, Anaheim, etc.), finely chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 lb cured meat, diced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup water or broth (approx)
1/4 tsp salt (more or less depending on type of meat using)
grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)


Trim the greens to remove most of the stems.  Steam or boil until soft, the time will depend on the type of green in use, but probably for 3-5 min.  Remove from heat and rinse with cold water immediately.  Chop into 1/4 inch slices and set aside.  Cook pasta about 1 min less than the package directions (the pasta will cook more with the sauce after boiling). Make the sauce, heat olive oil over medium heat  and saute onion and pepper for about 4 min, then add garlic for another 1 min. Add red pepper flakes for about 30 seconds then add the cured meat and stir well for about 2 min.  Add the tomato paste and about 1/2 cup water (or broth or pasta water), stir and simmer to distribute.  Add the steamed and cut greens (adding more water if necessary), cover and simmer about 3 min.  Add cooked pasta to the mix and toss well, cover and cook about 3 min.  Uncover and toss more, serve hot and topped with fresh shredded cheese.  Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Cookies

These are delicious fall cookies that are moist, yet light and fluffy!  A light orange glaze on top adds a sweet and slightly citrus flavor.
Makes about 2 -2.5 dozen cookies
Ingredients for cookies:
1-1/4 cup flour
1-1/4 tsp baking soda
1-1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup cooked and pureed sweet potato
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp orange juice

For icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp orange juice
1/4 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves by either sifting together and/or mixing well.  In a separate bowl, mix together the other ingredients with a mixer.  After the wet ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add the dry ingredients and gently stir well to evenly disperse.  Spoon teaspoon size drops onto cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Bake 12-15 min until golden brown.  While cookies are baking, whisk together the icing and set aside. Remove cookies from oven and cool slightly, then transfer to a cool surface or cooling rack.  Drizzle icing on top while warm and allow cookies to cool completely. Enjoy!

Fruit Crisp

I used to make apple crisp a lot as a teenager and it was always a hit!  This is a modified recipe with nuts, less butter and a marinade for the fruit. I like to use a mix of fruits for more flavor, such as the sweet and tangy mix of apples with plums.  Basically any fruit works well for this recipe, even dried fruit. Usually I use cinnamon and cloves to season this dessert, but feel free to experiment with other sweet spices such as nutmeg and allspice (in 1/4 tsp increments).
Fills a 8x8 or 9x9 pan.
Ingredients for Fruit Mix:
4 cups of chopped fruit (in this case I used 2 types of apples and raisins)
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup sugar (more or less depending on sweetness of fruit being used)
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp each cinnamon and cloves, or other sweet spices as you wish

Ingredients for Crisp Topping
3/4 cup oats
1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped nuts of your choice (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc.)
1/4 tsp each cinnamon and cloves, or other sweet spices as you wish
3 Tbsp melted butter
3 Tbsp veggie oil

Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare fruit as needed (peel, chop, etc.) and mix well with the other fruit mix ingredients, set aside.  In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients for the crisp topping.  Add the butter and oil and mix thoroughly, using your hands towards the end to get a good crumbly mixture.  Toss fruit mix again and add to a greased 8x8 or 9x9 pan, top evenly with crisp topping.  Bake for about 45 min until crisp is golden brown and fruit mix is bubbly.  Serve warm or cool with vanilla ice cream.  Enjoy!