PANCETTA

Bacon of the gods.

I read that some where in greek mythology...

This pan full is on it's way to being fried to a medium crisp, then I'm adding two cups of frozen peas and sauteing for about two minutes.

Take it off the hear and throw in a third of a cup of Parmesan and fresh ground black pepper.

It's supposed to be a side dish for four but seriously, I'm just going to eat the whole thing.

Eye-rolling good.

Pancetta

Napoleon Dynamite: Well, what is there to eat?

Grandma: Knock it off Napoleon, just make yourself a dang quesadilla!

Epic movie and that line still cracks me up! Plus we use it in our house ad nauseum...

Keeping with the pancetta theme:

Chop four or five slices of fresh sliced Boar's Head Pancetta into small pieces, saute over medium-high heat until it's slightly crispy.

Heat a flour tortilla in a non-stick pan on medium high heat

when the tortilla becomes almost too hot to touch (yes keep touching it, wash your hands for crying out loud Napoleon) flip it over in the pan

Now spread a lot of Boar's Head Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese(shredded), chopped scallion and diced red pepper and the heap of pancetta. Sprinkle on a bit more cheese (more is never enough) and fold that bad boy in half.

Flip it again to melt the gooey awesome cheese all the way through and serve in slices.

Try it with black bean & corn salsa on top, live big & have sour cream too.

Pancetta Quiche: Egg Pie: Whatever, it's ALL Good!!

Remember the cliche "real men don't eat quiche" ??

That was before the dawn of the metro-sexual man. Well, my guy still won't eat quiche but he will eat "Egg-Pie".

And most everyone will eat anything with bacon in it.

This "quiche" travels well and is actually better if it's not steaming hot. Great dinner or brunch!

Note: There is something really special about fresh flaky pie crust. However, if you're thinking about an egg pie for dinner I'll bet you don't have time to make pie crust. No worries, most people don't, that's why there are so many good choices for crusts in the supermarket.

*Bake your pie crust for 4 minutes at 400 and then take it out of the oven

*Saute 6 oz of diced Boar's Head Pancetta and about a half cup of diced sweet onion together until the onion is translucent and the Pancetta slightly crisp.

*While this is on the heat, beat 5 large eggs until their frothy and blended, now add 1/2 cup whole milk and a 1/2 cup heavy cream. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

*Spread the pancetta & onions over the crust, sprinkle with a half cup of Boar's Head Swiss Cheese (shredded) and now pour the egg mixture over the whole thing.

*Bake for 25 minutes and then add thin slices of tomato all over the top.

*Bake for another 15 minutes, let stand on the counter for at least 8 minutes before serving.

Mmmmmmmm.................................................

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff, looks complicated and delicious. Really it's a cinch!

Brown one large onion, sliced, in a bit of olive oil and butter.in high sided saute pan on medium high heat.

When the onions get translucent add a cup of sliced crimini mushrooms, soften.

Now add in a teaspoon of flour and a bit more butter (just a pat), cook for 2 minutes.

Pour yourself a big glass of Cabernet. Add about a 1/4 cup to the pan to deglaze.

Now add 8 oz of beef broth, stir and bring the heat down a few notches to medium.

Boil the water for egg noodles, go for the extra wide (the smaller ones are made for soups).

Add in a pound of Boar's Head Londonport Roast beef. Have the deli slice you 2 quarter inch slices, then cube it up at home.

Give everything a quick stir, add another 8oz of beef broth, bring the heat down to low for 2 minutes.

After you've drained the noodles, add 2 big dollops of sour cream to the beef, be generous!

Serve with a bit of chopped parsley on top and another glass of that Cabernet.

Mmmmmm.......

Kopi Luwak Coffee...gift?

"Tis the season for gift baskets full of jams, jellies, cookies, teas and coffee.

I'm a huge fan of the caffeinated cup of java. After cup #2 in the morning I'm at the height of my powers. When a guest shows up at my house with a bag of beans, ground or otherwise, I'm really psyched. (Hint: my favorite is Dunkns' Regular, no fancy flavors, certainly not decaf, just the pure basic regular)

Recently the Kopi Luwak coffee of Indonesia has been a hot topic among coffee connoisseurs. The kind of people who like to compare bean from different mountain ranges and make their own "blends". While I have my favorite I'm open to new flavors for sure. But this one kind of disgusted me.

Turns out this coffee is ground from beans sifted out of the poop of the very cute and apparently rather picky, Asian Palm Civet. These adorable little creatures love to eat "only the ripest" red coffee cherries, among other things, including other small animals and insects. While the Civet loves the red coffee cherries, the red coffee cherries don't like the Civet, and these poor little guys pass those beans out of their system like they just ate a triple meal deal from Taco Bell. It's not pretty. But then it gets even more gross. People "harvest" the poop to get the undigested seeds out of the hot Civet mess. (ugh...I think I just threw up a little in my mouth).

.And then make coffee

Indonesian animal poop coffee....called Kopi Luwak.

These beans sell for up to $600 a pound.

I have found a bargain for you, $160 per pound.

You're welcome

Putin's Tiger Gets a Meat Cake...Happy Birthday?

Russia's Prime Minister Vladamir Putin has a tiger named Mashenka. We have a tortoise named pickles, but hey this isn't a competition.



For New Year's Putin is giving his tiger a 10 kilo meat cake. Pickels is getting chopped broccolli (cue Dana Carvey here).



I think it might be fun to watch Putin deliver the meat cake and sing Happy Birthday to his kitty. Remember how great that turned out in Vegas for Roy in "03?

Deli Platters

Deli platters are awesome.

Deli platters are easy to assemble and if you buy some kale and cherry tomatoes for garnish, you look professional.

Get good stuff and ask your deli to slice it very thin. not shaved but very thin. Reason being, when you roll up the meats for a prettier presentation they will still be thin enough to put three or four on an sandwich without having to unroll them. Betchya didn't know that.

Couple of mandatory meat players on the platter are, honey ham, oven roasted turkey, roast beef and genoa salami. For cheese, white american, colby jack (because it's mild and interesting to look at) lacey swiss, provolone. A mini dish of mayo, another of sliced pickles and some spicy mustard and your golden. (You not the mustard).

This is not the time for head cheese. I know there are fans but head cheese on a deli platter will not appeal to the masses and will get your plate sent to the end of the buffet near the weird cookies. Don't do it.