Fennel Seeds

Image March 13, 2022 Tangie Holifield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

For the Sausage Ricotta Meatballs

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground black pepper ‘

1-pound ground Italian pork sausage

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

For the Basil Pomodoro Sauce

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 small yellow onion, finely diced

4 large cloves of garlic, peeled and thinly sliced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

One 28-ounce can Italian crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade

1 teaspoon sugar

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

To prepare the meatballs, preheat the oven to 400° F. Add the breadcrumbs to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, and pulse until finely ground. Place breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl. Add the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, fennel, oregano and pepper and stir to combine.

Add the sausage meat and gently stir again. Form meat into roughly 2-inch meatballs and place in a 10” cast iron skillet.

Bake in preheated oven until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove meatballs from the skillet and set aside on a plate. Let skillet cool for about 5 minutes and leave oven on.

For the sauce, return the skillet to medium heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Turn heat down to low and add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook just until garlic is fragrant and nutty but not browning, about 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes to the skillet and stir. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook until sauce is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add the basil and sugar, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the meatballs back to the skillet and stir to coat with the sauce. Top the meatballs with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and place the preheated oven. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 10 minutes.

Cook’s Notes:

Short Cuts

For a quick and easy way to make this dish, use frozen meatballs of your choice and cook according to the package directions. Set aside.

Add one 28-ounce jar of prepared marinara or spaghetti sauce to a 10″ cast iron skillet and heat over medium high heat. Stir in crushed red pepper flakes and fennel seeds. Reduce heat to medium low and bring the sauce to a simmer. Cook until sauce is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add the basil and sugar, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the meatballs to the skillet and stir to coat with the sauce. Top the meatballs with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and place in a 400 F preheated oven. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 10 minutes.

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Image July 5, 2020 Tangie Holifield

This Tuscan Chicken dish is made with the most delicious creamy tomato Parmesan sauce, chicken thighs, zucchini and tomatoes. Be sure to have some crusty bread on hand, because this sauce is to die for. When it comes to chicken thigh recipes, its hard to beat this one.

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 to 6 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
Kosher salt,to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 zucchini, sliced
1 summer squash, sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

For Garnish:
Fresh basil leaves
Tomato wedges

Directions:
In a skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chicken and season with salt, pepper,oregano,rosemary, thyme basil, marjoram, fennel seeds. Cook until the skin is golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the zucchini, summer squash and cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 5-10 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes begin to burst.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the cream and the milk. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until a creamy sauce forms. Continue to simmer until the sauce is slightly reduces, about 3 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, as needed. Remove the rosemary sprigs.

Return the chicken to the skillet to skillet and cook until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. To serve, garnish with a chiffonade of fresh basil and tomato wedges if desired.