Fettuccine with Seared Tomatoes, Spinach, Pancetta and Bocconcini

Whenever I’m seeking dinnertime inspiration, I almost always start with my Pinterest boards, full of beautiful pictures of tempting recipes I’ve vowed to recreate myself. One such recipe, Fettuccine with Seared Tomatoes, Spinach and Burrata. I adooore the fresh, creamy cheese, so mostly any burrata recipe is guaranteed Pinspiration.

So that’s how Saturday’s dinner began but then I made the dish my own, adding fresh basil and pancetta for flavor. Plus as luck would have it, the grocery store did not sell burrata so instead I ended up with local bocconcini which I guess is kind of the same – not quite as divine – but delicious none the less.

Fettuccine with Seared Tomatoes, Spinach, Pancetta and Bocconcini

• 10 oz Ohio City Pasta Fettuccine
• Cooking spray
• 20 large cherry tomatoes, halved
• 7 oz pancetta, diced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach
• handful fresh basil, chopped
• 4-5 bocconcini balls, room temperature, halved
• Salt and pepper

Cook pasta according to package instructions.

Heat a large skillet on medium high heat and lightly coat with cooking spray. Place tomatoes, cut side down onto skillet and cook for 2 minutes, until quietly sizzling. Remove from pan and set aside.

Add pancetta to the pan and cook for a few minutes until lightly browned. Remove from skillet and set aside, leaving rendered fat in pan.

Turn heat to low. Add garlic and red pepper to the fat, cook for 2 minutes. Then add diced tomatoes and simmer mixture for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add spinach, basil, tomatoes, pancetta, and cooked pasta into the pan; toss well until spinach and basil wilt slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste, keeping in mind pancetta is salty. Divide pasta mixture onto plates. Top with bocconcini and serve.

Serves 4-5

xo Beth

Wednesday Weekend Recap

It’s Wednesday and we’re recapping the weekend. Things have been busy! But I think a Wednesday weekend recap will do, especially for one as scrumptious as this.

Friday was spent with my sweet old high school friends at Cornerstone Brewing Company in Berea Square. Looking so adorable still dressed up for Christmas! Although their food doesn’t really light my fire, their Seven IPA is as delicious as they come and I can’t say no to that.

Saturday was so (rainy but) warm! A perfect winter day for a trip to the Westside Market. We bought ingredients for that evening’s dinner, healthier “fried” chicken and minty Greek salad. Plus a delightful loaf of fresh bread from my favorite, Mediterra Bakehouse. It was a lighter yet yummy supper, perfect for a January I’m-so-sick-of-resolutions-already dinner.

Post-dinner we crossed the first item off my 2014 CL Bucket List and attended the late show at Hilarities. Yannis Pappas was the headliner and as with all of the night’s comedians – just. too. funny. And only $18 a ticket! Why don’t we do that more often.

Sunday’s breakfast was rather decadent, another product of our WSM shopping trip. Sausage gravy and homemade biscuits. Dare I say better than Lucky’s? Perhaps not but certainly closer to home and impressively delicious for our first try!

Followed by way too much television time but who can resist all those gorgeous (and not so gorgeous) Red Carpet fashions? Not I. And so there’s last weekend. Likely, I’ll see you again after the next :).

xo Beth

Tis the Season, Part II

And then it was Christmas. It always comes too fast! By Christmas Eve all non-family visitors were back to their own homes, so it was a Phillips family affair. We did what we always do on Christmas Eve, dinner at House of Hunan in Medina Square (so beautiful at the holidays), a drive around Christmas lights and a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation screening with dessert back at home. Very predictable and very fun.

Christmas morning was lost in a sea of presents (and they were lovely), so breakfast came around noon – Nigella Lawson’s Christmas Morning Muffins with fruit salad and honeyed yogurt. And coffee, always lots of coffee. The ideal special but not *too* rich holiday morning meal.

And in the evening, shrimp cocktail and Prosecco, with floating cranberries for a festive little twist.

Followed by Christmas dinner – and yes I ate it all :). Turkey, my dad’s incredible once-a-year stuffing, roast potatoes, peas and carrots, Bumped Up Brussel Sprouts and cranberry sauce. As we went duck l’orange and gingerbread stuffing at Thanksgiving, Christmas was more traditional and that was perfect.

And finally, my mum’s Chocolate Truffle Torte with lots of fresh cream. It is so luxurious, it is heaven.

Lots of food, lots of wine, lots of family, lots of friends, lots of presents, lots of laughter, lots of love. A very Merry Christmas indeed.

xo Beth

Tis the Season, Part I

So much food, so much booze. I am stuffed!

Ah but it’s just so fun while it lasts (and the fun is not quite over yet). Above and below, a delicious little weeknight dinner that only comes together due to random December days off work. Fillet minion, scalloped potato gratin, mushrooms in sherry sauce. And a sip of Cleveland Whiskey’s Christmas Bourbon, all spicy and warm. Weeknight dinner perfection.

Last weekend was particularly fun as my brother came in from Chicago, my sister in from DC, and I already live here :). It was a blast.

Friday dinner was enjoyed at home, mushroom-stuffed pork tenderloin, vegetable cous cous and crusty French bread. Lots of board games, lots of cheese and wine, lots of fun ensued.

Saturday my family went out shopping at the Westside Market and to the Rock Hall, while I stayed behind trying to recover from the cough that never ends. Luckily I was well enough to attend my high school friends’ annual Christmas party and a family dinner at our favorite spot, Spice, in the evening :). Shared bites of Polenta Chickpea Fries, Flatbread, Mushroom Beignets and Ohio Cheeses, followed by OXTAIL BUTTERNUT GNOCCHI – squash, greens, ricotta & pan reduction. Like soft, tasty pillows of heaven.

On Sunday, my siblings and I ventured downtown for a family photo shoot, a surprise Christmas gift to our parents. Despite the rain it was a warm day, perfect for frolicking all over downtown Cleveland and snapping lots of photographs together.

Followed by a traditional English Sunday Lunch – roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and veggies. And then a cheese board….a whole lot of Wii games…and then some homemade sausage rolls and local ice cream. Hello delicious food coma.

And we haven’t even talked Christmas yet! More on that feast next time we meet. Someone get me to the gym.

xo Beth

Glow at Cleveland Botanical Garden

December is flying by, much too fast for my taste. Between work and life, holiday preparations, visitors and visiting – there’s so much to enjoy and what seems like so little time to enjoy it! But as always, I’ve been determined to participate in a few extracurricular Christmas activities before they’re gone for another year.

Like Glow at Cleveland Botanical Garden. I love the garden and try to visit often – especially in the winter. A walk through the warm, outdoorsy interior feels like a nice little vacation from way too much indoor time. I’ve been to fun events such as Cocktails in the Garden and Orchids After Dark but never Glow. So I was happy for the experience this December.

A fun little browse in their lovely gift shop, followed by a long stroll through all sorts of beautifully decorated gingerbread houses and Christmas trees. And finally, a little walk through the greenhouses to see their beautiful poinsettias. So festive, so sparkly :).

My favorite, a Victorian Gingerbread. How absolutely lovely is that?

A delightful dinner followed, at Washington Place Bistro’s 2 for $40 Wednesday. Or in our case, 3 for $60 :). It is one impressive special! A shared appetizer and bottle of wine, plus one entree each. I enjoyed my pours of wine with a bowl of Cauliflower Bisque and then Shrimp and Grits. A stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal, perfect for this month of indulgence.

Amidst all the holiday hustle and bustle, the evening was a perfect reminder to occasionally stop and smell the roses (poinsettias), just because. How happy the holidays can be.

xo Beth

December Decadence

 

In case you hadn’t noticed by today’s 25 degree thermometer reading, Cleveland’s not-so-friendly winter is officially upon us. Which before Christmas, is just fine in my book. Extra cold weather makes warm homes cozier, fire places brighter and bottomless glasses of red wine seem necessary for survival. Days are best spent hibernating – cooking and eating delicious food. Which is exactly what we did this weekend!

On Friday, a late night steak dinner – fillet decked out with a to die for mushroom sherry sauce, which this mushroom aficionado could not. stop. eating. Plus spicy-sweet roast sweet potatoes to really warm our insides. We realized after sitting down to eat that our plates were most definitely missing anything green. But never mind, it was Friday and I think that means vegetables are out and wine is most definitely in :).

 

Saturday we enjoyed a fun day out in Ohio City and at the Westside Market, all dressed up and looking lovely for Christmas. We gathered ingredients for that evening’s dinner: Rachael Ray’s Umami Chicken Stew, had a little lunch at Great Lakes (and a Christmas Ale?) and did some present shopping at the Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe. I loved it! Local gifts are the best gifts, I say.

Later, dinner was delicious – overflowing with all kinds of unique umami flavors. Leftovers are plentiful.

And finally, a lush Sunday night dinner of Short Ribs and Homemade Dumplings. The short ribs were fall-off-the-fork tender and the dumplings chewy gooey perfection. I could eat a million.

Then we *tried* to make Christmas cookies and I almost made myself cry. Lessons learned include: ‘Quit while you’re ahead’ and ‘Good cooks are not always good bakers’. Oh well – just a little something to keep that foodie ego in check :).

A lovely start to a month of December decadence to come.

xo Beth   

Moroccan Meatballs with Eggs: Rachael Ray Ticket Giveaway

How gorgeous is that.

One of many gorgeous recipes to be found in Rachael Ray’s new cookbook, Week in a Day. The book contains more than two hundred recipes that help you prepare five nights’ worth of meals in a single day. A good idea, right? And while flipping through, I could hardly choose which to sample for this post. I see a lot of recipes from this lovely book in our future dinner plans.

Anyway, the recipe was wonderful but I’m sure you don’t care as much about what I ate last night as what you can do in a couple of weeks. Rachael is coming to Cleveland!

Joseph-Beth Booksellers & The Rocky River Public Library present
New York Times Bestselling Author
RACHAEL RAY
And her new cookbook, Week in a Day

Saturday, December 14, 7:00 PM

(Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Rocky River High School Auditorium
20951 Detroit Road, Rocky River, Ohio 44116

And I have two tickets and two books to give away to a lucky reader. Three ways to enter:

1. Leave me a comment with your favorite easy weekday dinner.

2. Follow Craveable Cleveland on Twitter and comment letting me know

3. Follow Craveable Cleveland on Instagram and comment letting me know

If you’re already following, you can say so. Leave a separate comment for each entry. Winner will be announced December 6th. Best of luck!

xo Beth

Thank you to Atria Books for the information/invitations. Opinions are of course, all my own.

Pumpkin Pie Pregame

Almost more fun than Thanksgiving day itself, the days that fall just before and after. Skipping out of work early, greeting out of town family and friends as they arrive back home, sharing good meals and lots of laughter over special occasion bottles of wine.

Like Wednesday night’s bottle of Kokomo Pinot Noir, purchased during our May vacation to Sonoma. It was my favorite Pinot of the trip, so I brought a bottle home for my dad on Father’s day. Just as delicious as I could recall! A Pinot that paired nicely with our main, a Lamb Tagine.

And finally, a Thanksgiving Eve pumpkin pie pregame – because there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing (right?). We actually cheated here, although I’m very glad we did. As no one would volunteer to be the maker of this year’s pie, Mr. Heinen’s himself (or maybe one of his baker elves) made this one for us to enjoy at home. And it really was pumpkin pie perfection! We may never go the homemade route again. Which I think is okay because you can’t do it all, all the time now can you?

And in case that’s not enough, a ritual post-dinner voyage to The Brew Kettle for a few delicious craft brews and lots of catching up.

Oh the holidays… I love it all.

xo Beth

Fat Cats

I have a new restauranty love that I’ve just got to share. Well, new to me and potentially some of you – Fat Cats has actually been around for years. 

Although when left in charge of the restaurant selection I’m always tempted to default to what I know and love, this Friday we were feeling adventurous. And so after a little research I chose Fat Cats, named by Bon Apetit magazine one of the best neighborhood restaurants in the country. Can’t argue that!

And now, I can see why. Casual cozy atmosphere with a gorgeous view of downtown, friendly service and scrumptious food. All in all our party of four enjoyed:

Appetizers: Butternut Squash Hummus and Charcuterie

(my) Entree: Shrimp with Red Curry – carrot, shiitake, zucchini, butternut squash ravioli, lime

Desserts: Morning Dew Apple Pie with cheddar crust and Lemon Crème Brulee

And a lovely bottle of Malbec to match.

Unique little twists on fairly common dishes – my favorite kind of menu. And the right amount of food, so we could taste lots without leaving stuffed. So now Fat Cats has quickly become one of my new choice restaurants in town. Let’s meet for dinner soon :).  

xo Beth

The Things I Love

Well, well, here come the holidays. Unlike some people, I don’t mind a little Christmas before Thanksgiving. Christmastime is beautiful and magical and happy and I see no problem with pulling a little of that inspiration into life prior to indulging in a Thanksgiving feast.

The holidays are lovely because, among other reasons, they’re a wonderful reminder to slow down and enjoy the things you love and often forget about. Like Indian Food? Oh yes. 

I just adore Indian food, such flavor! And it reminds me of our family in England because we all know how much those crazy Brits love their Indian takeaway. So I was very happy to give Cafe Tandoor a try the other night. Rich Butter Chicken, spicy Tandoori Lamb Masala, fluffy Saffron Rice and pillow soft naan. Indian food heaven.

And breakfast! Like a really solid, leisurely long breakfast with friends who make you laugh.

I’d heard Horseshoe Casino’s breakfast buffet was quite the fancy feast and the rumors are true indeed. We’re only talking weekday breakfast here and it was an epic spread. Fresh and warm too, which we’ve got to expect from any good meal.  Plus $3 mimosas! Who says no to that. Bring your stretchy pants, plan for a nap – casino brunch is not the fanciest of brunches, but it sure is fun :). 

And finally, a really good beer. I love craft beer although often ignore it since I also happen to love good wine and cocktails too (help). But happily Streat Burger leaves you with no choice, as beer is their only alcohol offering. But with a 99 Bottles of Beer menu, that’s quite alright! If you like (real) ginger ale then this Spiced Orange Ginger Beer by Crabbie’s has to be one of the best things I’ve tasted of late. What a refreshingly spicy brew!

Just an eclectic mix of a few of The Things I Love (and often forget). Happy *almost* Holidays dear reader.

xo Beth