Picadillo

A little known Mexican dish that is oh so yummy. This is the recipe my paternal grandma taught me. I've found other versions in cookbooks but they have way more ingredients that don't make sense to me (Cooking sherry? Really?). But this is so simple and delicious you don't need any of that mumbo jumbo.

Ragu Sauce

When we Americans think of pasta, usually spaghetti with a red sauce comes to mind.  Maybe a fettuccine alfredo. And that's it.  Friends say that after having lived in Italy I've become a "pasta snob," but when I've tasted so many amazing sauces and combinations, how can I not be?!  Since coming back, I find American Italian pasta dishes to be bland sauce on top of mushy pasta.  In Italy, all sauces are made fresh and delicious... nothing is canned or pre-made.  

When I was living in Italy, my Italian teacher has a friend of hers who was a chef teach us some real Italian recipes.  I'm still looking for the gnocchi recipe in my email somewhere, but here's the ragu.  

Kale & Spinach Smoothie

At the young age of 56, my mom started a health food kick. More so than she was already on. She came to visit last week, and brought a bag of spinach with her.  When I asked her what it was for, she said her morning spinach smoothie, which just sounds awful.  Don't get me wrong, but pureed spinach does not sound enjoyable.  But between all the weight she's been losing, and my boyfriend trying to lose weight too, I thought I'd give this a try.  That and the fact that my rabbit eats more veggies than I do.