Pasta with Creamy Cheese Sauce - Pasta med krämig ostsås

PASTA WITH CREAMY CHEESE SAUCE

Pasta med krämig ostsås

Serves 4

8.8 oz macaroni, fresh or dried

1 tablespoon olive oil

8.8 oz streaky bacon

1 cup regular milk

8.8 oz mascarpone cheese

3½ oz grated Cheddar cheese

salt, pepper

2 fresh rosemary sprigs

Preheat oven to 392F.

Boil the macaroni until al dente and pour off the water. Mix the pasta with olive oil. Cut the bacon in pieces, fry until crisp and set aside.

Mix pasta, milk, mascarpone and half of the grated Cheddar in a saucepan. Flavor with salt and pepper and heat it all through. Finely chop the rosemary and add half of it to the sauce. Pour it all in an oven-proof pan and sprinkle with remaining cheese and rosemary. Bake in the middle of the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Basically macaroni and cheese I should imagine. So good.

Enjoy!

Bella

Red Lentil Lasagna - Lasagne med röda linser

RED LENTIL LASAGNA

Lasagne med röda linser

Serves 4 to 6

2 carrots

7 oz squash

1 onion

3 garlic cloves

3 tablespoons finely shredded basil

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons tomato paste

0.8 cup dried red lentils

2 cans crushed tomatoes, 

each approx 14 oz

1.2 cup water

1 vegetable bouillon cube

salt, black pepper

chili flakes (can be omitted)

10.6 oz lasagna plates, preferably fresh

1.6 cup creme fraiche

1.2 cup ripe, grated cheese

1 mozzarella ball, 4.4 oz

Decoration:

parsley

Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 437F.

Peel and finely chop the carrots. Trim and dice the squash. Peel and finely chop onion and garlic. Sauté carrots, squash, onion, garlic and basil until smooth and glossy without coloring in a spatious frying pan with oil. Add tomato paste and fry for about 1 minute. Add lentils, crushed tomatoes, water and bouillon cube and simmer for about 10 minutes. Flavor to taste with salt and pepper and some optional chili flakes.

Grease an oven-proof pan, approx 8 x 12 inches. Alternate lasagna plates, tomato sauce, creme fraiche and cheese in the pan. Finish with a layer of tomato sauce and top with grated mozzarella. Bake just below the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Decorate with parsley and Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Bella

"Poor Knights" with Cheese and Ham - Fattiga riddare med ost och skinka

"POOR KNIGHTS" WITH CHEESE AND HAM

Fattiga riddare med ost och skinka

Serves 2

2 eggs

1 to 2 tablespoons regular milk

4 slices sandwich bread

1.7 oz cream cheese

2 slices cheese

2 slices smoked ham

butter and a neutral-tasting oil

for frying

Lightly whisk eggs and milk in a bowl. Spread cream cheese on two of the slices of bread and put on cheese and ham. Cover with the other two bread slices and press together a little. Dip on both sides in the egg-milk mixture and transfer to a hot frying pan with oil and butter. Fry until nicely colored over low heat until the cheese is well melted.

You can also put Dijon mustard and sliced red onion in between for more taste (I prefer it that way).

Enjoy!

Bella

Chicken in the Oven with Parmesan Sauce - Ugnsstekt kyckling med parmesansås

CHICKEN IN THE OVEN WITH PARMESAN SAUCE

Ugnsstekt kyckling med parmesansås

This chicken is cooked in the oven with lots of vegetables and is served with a fantastic Parmesan sauce.

Serves 4

1.1 lb potatoes

2 red onions

3 bell peppers, different colors

1 oz salami in small slices

0.4 cup mixed olives

1 can artichoke hearts

3.3 lbs chicken drumsticks

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons dried rosemary

salt, pepper

arugula

Parmesan sauce:

0.8 cup creme fraiche

1 garlic clove, peeled and grated

0.4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

salt, black pepper

Preheat oven to 437F.

Scrub and slice the potatoes. Peel the onions and cut in wedges. Split, trim and cut the bell peppers in large pieces. Mix potatoes, onions, salami and olives and spread out in a baking paper-lined roasting pan.

Split the artichoke hearts  in the middle and put them in the pan. Distribute the drumsticks among the vegetables, drizzle with oil and flavor with rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook in the oven for about 40 minutes. Make sure the chicken is cooked through.

Sprinkle with arugula and serve with the sauce (see below).

Parmesan sauce:

Bring creme fraiche and garlic to a boil. Stir in the Parmesan and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Bella

Pasta Au Gratin with Cheese, Mushrooms and Spinach - Pastagratäng med ost, svamp och spenat

PASTA AU GRATIN WITH CHEESE,

MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

Pastagratäng med ost, svamp och spenat

3 kinds of cheese, mushrooms and fresh spinach makes this pasta gratin completely irresistible.

Serves 4

14 oz pasta of your choice, but 

preferably shells

14 oz mixed mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil

approx 7 oz fresh baby spinach

approx 8.8 oz camembert

or brie cheese

8.8 oz mascarpone cheese

salt, pepper

3½ oz pitted black olives (optional)

approx 2½ oz grated Parmesan cheese

For serving:

salad

Preheat oven to 392F.

Boil the pasta in lightly salted water until it's al dente. Trim and slice the mushrooms and fry it in olive oil until lightly colored. Stir in the spinach and soften it up. Dice the camembert or brie and stir this into the pan together with mascarpone and the optional olives. Flavor with some salt and pepper.

Drain the pasta and pour it back into the saucepan. Stir in the mushroom-cheese mixture in the pasta and pour it all in a greased, oven-proof pan. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Serve the gratin with a green salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Potatoes Au Gratin with Chèvre and Bell Peppers - Potatisgratäng med chèvre och paprika

POTATOES AU GRATIN WITH CHÈVRE

AND BELL PEPPERS

Potatisgratäng med chèvre and bell peppers

2 lbs 9 oz potatoes

2 grilled bell peppers, canned and shredded

½ leek, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 cups cream

0.4 cup regular milk

2 teaspoons salt

5.3 oz chèvre cheese

Preheat oven to 392F.

Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Alternate potatoes, bell peppers, leek and garlic in an oven-proof pan. Mix cream, milk and salt and pour this over the potatoes in the pan. Crumble the cheese on top or slice the cheese. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 50 minutes. If too dark, cover with aluminum foil towards the end of the cooking time.

Enjoy!

Bella

Coated Fillet of Plaice with Parmesan Sauce - Panerad spättafilé med parmesansås

COATED FILLET OF PLAICE WITH PARMESAN SAUCE

Panerad spättafilé med parmesansås

Serves 2

Plaice:

8.8 oz fillets of plaice

salt, black pepper

0.2 cup dried breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon butter

Parmesan sauce:

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon French mustard

½ garlic clove

some sugar

0.2 cup grated Parmesan cheese,

approx 0.8 oz

2 tablespoons low-fat creme fraiche

1 tablespoon chopped dill

finely grated zest from ½ lemon

For serving:

boiled potatoes

sugarsnaps

red onion

white balsamic vinegar (optional)

Sauce:

Mix egg yolk, lemon juice, mustard, finely grated garlic, sugar, Parmesan cheese and creme fraiche. Stir in dill and lemon zest and flavor with salt and pepper.

Mix the breadcrumbs with salt and pepper and coat the fish. Fry in butter.

Serve the fish with the Parmesan sauce, boiled potatoes, lightly boiled sugarsnaps and shredded red onion, preferably but not necessarily with some vinegar drizzled over them.

Enjoy!

Bella

Easy-Made Sausage Potato Pan - Lättlagad korvlåda med potatis

EASY-MADE SAUSAGE POTATO PAN

Lättlagad korvlåda med potatis

Serves 4

10.6 oz hot spicy sausages,

e.g. chorizo, kabanossen

7 oz boiled potatoes, 4 - 5

1 large tomato

1 onion

1 garlic clove

1 bell pepper

0.4 cup regular milk

5 eggs

0.8 cup strong, grated

cheese

salt, pepper

3 tablespoons oil for frying

½ teaspoon strong, smoked

paprika , e.g. pimentón de la vera

Decoration and serving:

fresh basil

green salad

Cut the sausages in 3/4 inch slices. Slice potatoes and tomatoes. Peel and finely slice onion and garlic, trim and roughly chop the bell pepper. Beat milk and eggs together, add cheese and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Fry the sausages until crisp and transfer to a greased, oven-proof pan. Fry potatoes and vegetables separately in the same pan and mix them with the sausages in the pan. Flavor with paprika, salt and pepper and blend well.

Pour the egg mixture over it all and bake in the middle of the oven at 392F for about 20 minutes until nicely colored. Decorate with fresh basil and serve with a green salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Chicken with Pepper Sauce and Filled Tomatoes - Kyckling med pepparsås och fyllda tomater

CHICKEN WITH PEPPER SAUCE AND

FILLED TOMATOES

Kyckling med pepparsås och fyllda tomater

Serves 4

1 lb 5 oz chicken thigh fillets

salt, black pepper

1 teaspoon butter

0.4 cup water

1 chicken bouillon cube

0.6 cup cream

2 tablespoon crushed peppercorns,

black, white, rosé and green

1 yellow bell pepper

3½ oz green beans

10 cherry tomatoes

some fresh thyme

1.7 oz arugula, "rocket"

Oven-baked tomatoes:

4 large tomatoes

½ tablespoon olive oil

½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar

salt, black pepper

0.8 cup arugula

3½ oz feta cheese

1 teaspoon honey

3½ oz streaky bacon, diced

Start with the tomatoes. Cut off the tip and scoop out the pulp. Pour on oil and balsamico and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven at 392F for 10 minutes. Chop the arugula and place in a bowl with feta and honey. Heat up a frying pan and brown the bacon for a few minutes. Mix in arugula and feta, spoon the mixture into the tomatoes and bake for another 10 minutes.

Cut the chicken in smaller pieces and flavor with salt and pepper. Heat up a frying pan with butter and brown the chicken on all sides. Pour on water, bouillon and cream and bring to a boil. Add peppercorns and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Cut the bell pepper in pieces and split the green beans. Put all the vegetables in the pot a minute or so before serving. Flavor with salt, pepper and decorate with fresh thyme.

Serve with the baked tomatoes and some arugula on the side.

Enjoy!

Bella

Garlic Gnocchi with Ham and Feta - Vitlöksstekt gnocchi med skinka och fetaost

GARLIC GNOCCHI WITH HAM AND FETA

Vitlöksstekt gnocchi med skinka och fetaost

Serves 4

1.1 lb fresh gnocchi pasta

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 crushed garlic cloves

14 oz diced tomatoes

7 oz smoked ham

2.6 oz crumbled feta cheese

1 tablespoon dried oregano

salt, black pepper

Fry the gnocchi with oil and garlic until golden. Mix tomatoes, ham, feta cheese and oregano. Stir the pasta into the tomato mix and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Bella

Cream Cheese-Filled Chicken Fillets - Färskostfyllda kycklingfiléer

CREAM CHEESE-FILLED CHICKEN FILLETS

Färskostfyllda kycklingfiléer

Serves 4

4 chicken fillets

8 sundried tomatoes in oil

5.3 oz cream cheese

½ bunch fresh basil

salt, black pepper

paprika

2 tablespoons butter

1 lb 12 oz new potatoes

4 tomatoes

2 red onions

2 tablespoons olive oil

Pesto butter:

5.3 oz room-tempered butter

3 tablespoons ready-made pesto

10 fresh basil leaves

Topping:

5.3 oz green beans

3½ oz feta cheese

½ bunch fresh basil

Preheat oven to 392F.

Trim the chicken fillets and make a pocket lengthwise in each. Drain the sundried tomatoes and cut them in pieces. Mix tomatoes, cream cheese and basil in a food processor and fill the chicken fillets with this. Secure with toothpicks. Flavor the chicken with salt and pepper and sprinkle with paprika. Heat up the butter in a frying pan and brown the chicken all around.

Scrub the potatoes and split if necessary. Split the tomatoes, peel and cut the onions in wedges. Place chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and onions in an oiled roasting pan and roast just below the middle of the oven for 40 to 45 minutes. 

Pesto butter:

Mix butter, pesto and basil.

Topping:

Trim the beans and boil in lightly salted water for about 2 minutes. Rinse in cold water. Sprinkle them over the roasting pan, crumble the feta cheese and basil over and serve with the pesto butter.

Enjoy!

Bella

Cottage Cheese Potato Cake - Potatiskaka med keso

COTTAGE CHEESE POTATO CAKE

Potatiskaka med keso

Serves 4

1.1 lb potatoes

2 teaspoons butter

0.6 cup regular milk

0.6 cup cream

0.8 cup cottage cheese

2 crushed garlic cloves

1 teaspoon salt

some white pepper

Preheat oven to 437F.

Peel and roughly grate the potatoes. Put them in a greased, oven-proof pan. Mix milk and cream with cottage cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour this mixture over the potatoes. Bake in the oven for about 50 minutes. Serve with crisp bacon, sausages or smoked mackerel.

Enjoy!

Bella

Chicken Stew with Blue Cheese - Kycklinggryta med ädelost

CHICKEN STEW WITH BLUE CHEESE

Kycklinggryta med ädelost

Serves 4

1 lb 5 oz chicken fillets

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

5 oz streaky bacon, sliced

1 leek

8.8 oz mushrooms

1.2 cup heavy Cream

0.8 cup regular milk

2 tablespoons concentrated

chicken fond

1 tablespoon soy sauce

5 oz blue cheese

pepper

3 tablespoons chopped parsley

For serving:

roast potatoes

tomatoes

Cut each chicken fillet in 3 pieces lengthwise. Brown in butter in a frying pan. Take it up and fry shredded bacon in the pan. Take it up and drain on paper towels. Rinse and slice the leek and quart the mushrooms. Sauté leek and mushrooms in the pan.

Place chicken, bacon and mushroom mix in a shallow, wide saucepan and add cream, milk, fond and soy sauce. Boil for 15 minutes. Crumble the blue cheese on the surface and flavor with pepper. Sprinkle with parsley. 

Enjoy!

Bella

Mozzarella-Filled Chicken with Parmesan Sauce - Mozzarellafylld kycklingfilé i parmesansås

MOZZARELLA-FILLED CHICKEN WITH

PARMESAN SAUCE

Mozzarellafylld kycklingfilé i parmesansås

Serves 4

2 grilled bell peppers in

liquid, approx 5.3 oz

8.8 oz mozzarella cheese

1 lb 5 oz chicken breast fillets,

small or 2 to 3 larger ones

salt, pepper

1 bunch fresh basil

Sauce:

1 tablespoon concentrated chicken fond

0.4 cup water

0.4 cup white wine

0.8 cup heavy cream

0.4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

some pepper and sugar

Gremolata:

0.4 cup finely chopped parsley

grated zest from 1 lemon

1 garlic clove

For serving:

potato wedges or Hasselback potatoes

sugarsnaps

Drain the bell peppers and cut them in shreds. Cut the mozzarella in thin strips as well. Split the chicken fillets lengthwise if they're large. Then make a cut lengthwise in each piece, so that you have a pocket. Sprinkle all around with salt and pepper.

Divide mozzarella, grilled bell peppers and basil leaves in the pockets. Secure with a toothpick so that they hold together while cooking. Transfer to an oven-proof pan.

Sauce:

Measure fond, water, wine and cream in a saucepan. Boil for a few minutes while beating. Remove from heat and stir in the grated cheese, so that it melts. 

Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook in the middle of the oven at 437F for 20 to 25 minutes. Make sure it's done.

Gremolata:

Mix parsley, lemon and garlic to a streusel.

For serving:

Sprinkle the gremolata over the chicken and serve with potatoes and pre-cooked sugarsnaps as suggested above.

Enjoy!

Bella

Fillet of Pork with Parmesan Potatoes - Fläskfilé med parmesanpanerad potatis

FILLET OF PORK WITH PARMESAN POTATOES

Fläskfilé med parmesanpanerad potatis

Serves 4

2½ lbs potatoes

oil of your choice

salt, pepper

2½ oz finely grated Parmesan cheese

½ bunch fresh thyme, chopped

(in Sweden we buy them growing

in small plastic pots)

1.1 lb fillet of pork, room-tempered

butter for frying

0.8 cup creme fraiche, flavor

of your choice

Scrub the potatoes (should be a variety with very thin, fine skin so that it doesn't need peeling). Boil for 12 to 18 minutes depending on size. Allow to cool slightly. Split them and put them in a paper-lined roasting pan, brush with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, cheese and thyme. Cook in the oven at 437F for about 20 minutes until nicely golden.

Prepare the meat while the potatoes are in the oven. Trim and flavor with salt and pepper. Brown all around in butter, then continue frying on low heat, covered if possible, until the inner temperature is 66 to 70 degrees. Wrap it up in baking paper and leave for a while before cutting it.

Serve the cheese potatoes with meat, a salad and a sauce that you like, cold or hot.

Enjoy!

Bella

Mozzarella Patties with Bacon Topping - Mozzarellabiffar med bacontopping

MOZZARELLA PATTIES WITH BACON TOPPING

Mozzarellabiffar med bacontopping

Serves 4

Ground meat patties:

1½ lbs ground beef

0.4 cup oats

1 tablespoon potato starch

0.3 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

some white pepper

1 egg

1 bunch fresh basil or parsley

4½ oz mozzarella cheese

3 tablespoons butter

Decoration:

5 oz streaky bacon

Sauce:

1.2 cups pan juices and water

2 tablespoons veal fond

0.4 cup cream

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon Chinese soy sauce

½ teaspoon salt

some white pepper

Mix oats, potato starch and water and leave to swell for 10 minutes. Mix with ground beef, salt, pepper and egg. Roughly chop basil and mozzarella and blend this into the meat. Shape into 8 patties and fry them in butter until nicely colored for about 10 minutes or until cooked through. Shred and fry the bacon and drain on a paper towel.

Mix all ingredients for the sauce in a saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Pour it over the patties and heat through, then top with bacon. 

Serve with boiled potatoes and a tomato salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Flavorful Pasta Dish - Kryddat pastafat

FLAVORFUL PASTA DISH
Kryddat pastafat

Could you ever get tired of pasta? Nope, thought so. This lovely pasta dish is sure to be one of the family's new favorites.

Serves 3 to 4

Approx 4½ oz pasta, with spinach if you like
water, salt
1 cup cream cheese
1 cup crème fraîche
1 teaspoon HP Sauce
some dried herbs, e.g. oregano,
tarragon, and basil
tabasco
salt, pepper
1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped bell pepper
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
paprika


Boil the pasta in lightly salted water until al dente. Drain.

Mix Cream cheese, crème fraîche, HP sauce, herbs, tabasco, salt and pepper. Crush the garlic into the mixture. Sauté onions and bell pepper in some fat and stir it into the cheese mixture. Add the pasta and blend well. Put it all in a greased, oven-proof serving bowl and flavor with paprika. Bake on the rack slightly below mid-oven at 350F for 30 to 40 minutes.

Enjoy!

Bella

Minute steaks with Blue Cheese Cream - Biff med ädelostgrädde

MINUTE STEAKS WITH BLUE CHEESE CREAM
Biff med ädelostgrädde

Serves 4

8 thin slices boneless beef, e.g. top side, in all approx 1 lb
1 leek
1 3/4 oz blue cheese
0.8 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt
some black pepper
1 teaspoon potato starch


Heat the oven to 440F.

Cut the meat in shreds. Rinse and shred the leek. Alternate leek and meat in a greased, oven-proof pan.

Mash the blue cheese and mix it with cream, salt and pepper in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir in the potato starch. Pour this over the meat and cook in the oven for about 25 minutes.

Serve with e.g. boiled rice and a mixed salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Poached Eggs with Cheese Sauce - Pocherade ägg med ostsås

POACHED EGGS WITH CHEESE SAUCE
Pocherade ägg med ostsås

Poached eggs are placed on a bed of fried spinach and covered with a lovely cheese sauce. Just before serving you bake it in the oven, so that it gets that scrumptious-looking color. Serve with boiled potatoes or carrots, or toast, or nothing at all … whatever fancies your palate.

Serves 4

4 large eggs
water
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pickling vinegar, 12% acidity

1 lb fresh leafy spinach
water
2 teaspoons salt per 4 cups water
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
½ teaspoon salt
some white pepper and nutmeg

Cheese sauce:
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 tablespoons flour
0.4 cup bouillon, preferably chicken or vegetable bouillon
approx 0.6 cup creamy milk
0.4 cup grated, ripe and strong cheese
1 teaspoon mustard, preferably Dijon

grated cheese for baking in the oven


Pre-cook the trimmed spinach in lightly salted water for a couple of minutes. Take it up, drain it and roughly chop it. 

Poached eggs:
Pour water into a shallow, wide saucepan, about 2 inches up along the walls. Add salt and vinegar and bring to a boil. Break the eggs in a wide cup, one by one. Gently pour one egg at a time in the water and bring the white together around the yolk with a spoon. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Take them up and put them in warm water so they keep warm.

Make the sauce. Make a thickening of fat and flour in a saucepan and dilute with bouillon and creamy milk to a smooth sauce. Boil for about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in cheese and mustard.

Quickly fry the spinach in some fat in a saucepan and flavor with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Put it in an oven-proof serving pan and put the eggs on top. Spread with the sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake at 440F or until nicely colored and heated through. Serve.

Enjoy!

Bella

Cheese-Coated Ground Meat Patties - Ostpanerade färsbiffar

CHEESE-COATED GROUND MEAT PATTIES
Ostpanerade färsbiffar

To coat the meat patties with cheese isn't something you do every day. They're crunchy and lovely in taste. Use grated parmesan or another strong, ripe cheese. 

Serves 4

1 lb ground meat, a mix of beef, veal and pork
2 tablespoons water or cream
salt, white pepper
1 egg
4 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons grated parmesan 
1 teaspoon basil
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
9 oz fresh mushrooms
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 garlic clove (optional)


Work the meat with water or cream plus ½ teaspoon salt and some white pepper until smooth. Shape to 8 even-sized patties.

Beat the egg. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, basil, ½ teaspoon salt and some pepper. Coat the patties first with egg and then in the breadcrumb mixture. Brown some fat in a frying pan and fry until golden on both sides. Put them on a plate and keep warm.

Trim and slice the mushrooms. Sauté them in some fat in a frying pan. Flavor with salt, pepper, parsley and optional garlic. Pour the mushrooms over the patties and serve right away with boiled leafy spinach or broccoli and bread.

Enjoy!

Bella