Cooking for my Hubby and Sister-In-Love

So tonight i decided to be a good wife and sister and make shrimp with whole wheat linguine and broccoli. On Wednesdays my sister-in-law sister-in-love, Heather, comes over and does her homework while i work and cook dinner.  And because her and my husband love shrimp i decided i would treat them.  By the way did i tell you that i don't eat Shrimp, actually this might blow your mind, but i don't eat any seafood,  I have to tell you for someone that doesn't eat seafood, i kick ass at making this.  And i know this sounds weird but i actually eat this dish, i just avoid the shrimp.  If you put enough garlic on something it doesn't taste so bad.

Whole Wheat Linguine with Shrimp and Broccoli

• Whole Wheat Linguine
•  Shrimp
•  Broccoli
•  2 bouillon cubes
•  Lemon
•  Parsley
•  Garlic
•  Red pepper flakes
•  Olive Oil
•  Salt and pepper

So start by bringing a big pot of water to boil for your pasta.  Then clean and remove the tails of your shrimp then dry your shrimp. Bring another deep saute pan on medium heat and add your shrimp with a good amount of olive oil.  Cook your shrimp until it turns pink (don't overcook your shrimp) at least that's what the people who eat shrimp tell me. At this point your water should be ready for your pasta and your broccoli. Salt your water before adding your pasta, very important!  Then add your 8 cloves of garlic to the pan. Take a big cup of the hot boiling water from the pasta and add 2 bouillon cubes to it and let it dissolve.  When your garlic is brown and your shrimp is pink add the cup of bouillon to the pan with a pinch of red pepper flakes.  The drain your pasta but reserve some of the pasta water and add the pasta and broccoli to the shrimp and garlic. Combine all of the pasta with the shrimp and garlic, if it's too thick and some pasta water.  If it's not thick enough add a teaspoon of butter.  Chop some parsley and garnish on top with some lemon.

By the way my sister-in-love Heather said that this was her second favorite dish that i ever made her :)

I don't know if any of you know about this new website called Pinterest. It is definitely one of my favorite things, and when you check it out you will see why.  Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste.


Ciao

MY Italian Meatball and Braciole Recipe

I can honestly say i have mastered the art of a perfect meatball. I put a lot of love into everything i cook, but i LOVE meatballs and have gotten the recipe down perfectly. Tonight i made a pot of sauce with meatballs and Braciole.  I made mine with Barilla whole wheat linguine, just to make it a little healthier. Let's be honest though, there really isn't anything healthy about a good Italian meal, but who cares sometimes you need some comfort food.  I hope you enjoy my recipe!

Niki's Meatballs

• 1 1/2 pounds of ground sirloin
• 2 handfuls of breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 2 handfuls of grated cheese
• 2 cloves of garlic
• a lot of fresh parsley
• splash of milk
• salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix until combined.  Get a pan medium hot with oil.  Make the meatballs into golf size balls and put them on the hot oil.  Now this part is important, don't move them until they are brown.  When they get brown on one side take a fork and very gently turn them over to get brown on the other side. Keep doing that until there are browned on all sides.  Have a pot of sauce ready and transfer the meat right to the sauce and simmer for 2 hours.

Braciole 

• package of thin sliced London broil
• 3 cloves of  garlic
• fresh parsley
• grated cheese
• round toothpicks
• salt and pepper

Lay out your meat on a cutting board season with salt and pepper.  In the center of the meat, put your garlic and fresh parley and cheese.  Roll your meat up and put 2 round toothpick in the meat to hold it together.  Get your pan hot with oil and brown your meat for a couple minutes on each side.  Throw in your pot of gravy and simmer for 2 hours.

I am gonna let you in on a little secret.  I have been married for almost 7 years.  But i still haven't cooked a meal yet for my husband's family.  I've grown up with Italian food my whole life, and my husband's family is Scandinavian. So they don't make homemade meatballs or know what a good pot of sauce tastes like.  So 3 weeks from now i am going to cook them an authentic Italian meal served the way i always had it, on the table.  I am very excited about this.

For you Italians, if you can help me come up with an antipasto dish to serve with it, i would appreciate your help.