Zuppa Toscana

Ingredients:

• 1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage
• 1 1/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 5 (13.75 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 6 potato, thinly sliced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 bunch fresh spinach, tough stems removed

Directions:

1. Cook the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes over medium-high heat until crumbly and browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain and stir in the onions and garlic. Cook about 5 minutes.
3. Pour the chicken broth into the Dutch oven with the bacon and onion mixture. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes and boil until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream, spinach and the cooked sausage. Let boil and serve.

Walnut Tarts

Ingredients:

• 1 packaged frozen store-bought tart shells
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325º. Place tart shells into tins. 
2. In a bowl, combine eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and walnuts. Mix until well blended. Pour mixture into each tart shell and fill each tart until it is half full.
3. Bake for 30 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and the filling is set.

Raisin Pound Cake

Ingredients:

 • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter

 • 3 cups sugar

 • 5 eggs

 • 3 cups all-purpose flour

 • 1 cup raisins

 • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

 • 1 cup milk

 • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Cream butter, milk, and sugar together in a mixer. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Turn mixer to low setting and add in flour, baking powder, raisins, and vanilla extract. Turn mixer to medium setting and mix for 5 minutes. Pour batter into a greased cake pan or bundt cake pan. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Test cake by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake, if it comes out clean then it's ready. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve.

Prosciutto & Ham Panini

Ingredients:

4 slices of fontina cheese

2 slices of ciabatta bread

Butter

Salt and pepper

5 fresh baby spinach leaves

4 slices of prosciutto

2 slices of ham

1 tomato, sliced

Directions:

1. Spread butter on bread slices. Place 2 slices of fontina cheese on top of each bread slice. Season with salt and pepper then add spinach, prosciutto, ham, and tomato. Add remaining slices of fontina cheese. Top with the second bread slice. Brush both sides of the sandwich with melted butter.
2. Heat a grill pan and grill the sandwich until the bread is golden brown and cheese melts which is about 4 minutes per side.

Candied Pecans

Ingredients:

1 pound pecans

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 sea salt

6 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Spread pecans over a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until pecans start to turn brown.
2. Stir sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, and milk together in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat for 8 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla immediately.
3. Combine pecans with the syrup mixture. Stir and coat very well. Spoon nuts onto a sheet of waxed paper and separate nuts with a fork. Store in an airtight container after pecans are completely cool.