Orecchiette Wcaramelized Onions Sugar Peasricotta Cheese Recipes

BAKED RICOTTA ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and garlic in a large, 3-quart baking dish. Drizzle generously with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat everything. Make a well in the center of the dish and drop in the ricotta cheese. Drizzle the ricotta with remaining olive oil and give it a generous pinch more of pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Switch the oven to broil at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) and continue to cook until desired blistering and browning occurs, 2 to 4 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orecchiette in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Remove the baked ricotta dish from the oven and place onto a wire cooling rack.
• Add thyme leaves, then stir the ricotta to break it up. Stir in fresh basil, parsley, and lemon juice. Add the reserved pasta water to loosen things up if needed. Taste and adjust salt if desired. Add the orecchiette and stir until everything is coated. Serve.

CHICKEN LIVERS W/CARAMELIZED ONION AND MADEIRA

Steps:

• In a frying pan, heat 2 Tablespoons of the oil over moderate heat.
• Add the onions, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper and sugar.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are well browned, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the onions from the pan and put on a serving platter or individual plates and keep warm.
• In the same frying pan, heat the remaining 1 Tablespoon of oil over moderately high heat.
• Season the chicken livers with the remaining salt & pepper.
• Put the livers in the pan, in two batches if necessary, and cook for 2 minutes. Turn and cook until browned, about 2 minutes longer.
• The livers should still be pink inside.
• Remove the chicken livers from the pan and put them on top of the onions.
• Return the pan to the heat and add Madeira.
• Boil rapidly, scraping the bottom of the pan to dislodge any brown bits, for 1 minute.
• Pour the sauce over the livers and the onions.
• Top with egg (if using) and parsley.
• Variations: Use 1/2 cup of Sherry or 1/2 cup of Port instead of Madeira.