Mango Mushroom Pizza

Our favorite pizzeria is a local chain called Pizz'a Chicago.  The pizzas are named after Chicago landmarks and notable personalities, and are made with a wide range of ingredients.  I'm sure there's an Obama-inspired pizza in the making.  I had so much fun recreating the Inaugural luncheon that maybe I should try my hand at it as well!

Our favorite pizza there is the Joliet Jake. It's a vegetarian pizza with shitake, portobello, button and cremini mushrooms with dried apricots. Instead of apricots, I substituted dried, cubed mango, papaya and pineapple that I had leftover from my holiday fruitcake baking. When I make this pizza at home, I typically substitute dried mango in for the apricots.  It's a common snack food in my house, and I think it tastes better than apricots. 

My father-in-law is allergic to mushrooms, so there was more for everyone else!  Just kidding.   I always make a separate olive and cheese pizza just for him.  I'll put that recipe up soon.

Pistachio Pesto Pasta

I bought some Sicilian pistachios that are to die for. We all almost finished the whole package, but I had about a half a cup remaining so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to make a Mediterranean-inspired pesto sauce. I love experimenting with new flavors. Pestos are so versatile. You can pick any nut, herb or dry fruit, oil and cheese; add salt and pepper and you're done. You can keep the extra pesto in an ice-cube tray in your freezer for up to 6 months or for 2 weeks in your refrigerator.

I always keep some pesto on hand for when I need to quickly throw a meal together. It brings so much flavor to pastas, sandwiches, all sort of dips, mashed potatoes, lasagna sauce, chicken. There are a plethora of  possibilities.

Garlic Cremini Mushroom Risotto

My hubby is feeling a little under the weather today. I wanted to give him some comfort food. Risotto is one of his favorite dishes; I make it very often when it's cold. It's very creamy, cozy and hearty. The basics of the risotto is always the same, typically you'll add 2 to 3 ingredients to the base to create your own signature risotto.