About This Blog

This is, as the title indicates, my kitchen notebook (the header is actually a scanned image of the cover of a notebook that I started using about 25 years ago and the background is a stained page from that book). I am not a professional recipe writer. If you try any recipe here, please keep that in mind, these recipes have not been tested by an independent tester. The "recipes" are often not even really recipes but rather a list of ingredients that I've noted after preparing a dish on the fly that I thought came out well. Perhaps I've also added some instructions, but I rarely keep accurate track of what I've done in terms of time or temperature, I've just noted to the best of my memory (feeble) what I did.

Please feel free to take some inspiration from here, but on the other hand, please give credit where it is due. I also welcome any constructive comments that you might have if you are inspired to try a recipe. Questions are welcome, but keep in mind that I may not remember specifics. The dishes do evolve over time...

Thank you and enjoy!

Broccoli Frittata - Two Ways




Broccoli Frittata

1 pound blanched or raw broccoli side shoots, or heading broccoli cut into florets
olive oil as needed
2.5 oz. sliced pancetta cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/4 cup (.5 oz) oven candied cherry tomatoes or chopped dried tomatoes
1/2 large sweet onion cut into slivers
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
8 large eggs
salt and fresh ground black pepper
4 oz. feta, coarsely crumbled
3 sprigs fresh basil, stems removed and leaves chopped

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Toss the blanched broccoli with some olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Roast for 15 to 17 minutes (I used convection) until the florets are starting to brown but are not dried out. If you are using raw broccoli it will take longer to roast and you should keep an eye on it and remove it from the oven when the florets are starting brown and then seal the hot pan with some foil so that broccoli stems will finish cooking in their own heat. The broccoli stems should still be crisp-tender. When cool enough to handle, chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces.

Cook the pancetta with a tablespoon of olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat until the pancetta softens and renders some of its fat. Add the onions and garlic to the skillet and continue cooking over medium-low heat until the onions are translucent. Drain the onion-pancetta mixture in a heat proof strainer over a bowl to catch the oil. Clean the skillet and return the captured oil to it and add another tablespoon of olive oil, place the skillet over medium-low heat and allow it to heat up while you assemble the egg mixture.

Beat the eggs in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste, remember that the pancetta and feta are a bit salty. Stir in the chopped broccoli, onion-pancetta mixture, feta, and basil. Pour the mixture into the heated skillet spreading the contents evenly in the pan and pressing any protruding bits into the egg mixture so that they don't burn in the oven. Cook until the eggs are set around the edges of the pan and are starting to sizzle just a bit. Put the whole pan into the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the frittata is cooked through and the top is starting to brown. I don't like to use convection with the frittata because it seems to brown the edges and top too much before the center is set.

Remove the frittata from the oven and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, this will help to release it more easily from the pan. Serve immediately or at room temperature or cold from the refrigerator.

Variation II

Follow the recipe as above but
- substitute smoked bacon for the pancetta
- use plain dried cherry tomatoes instead of oven candied tomatoes
- omit the garlic (if you choose)
- substitute a ball of buffalo mozzarella, cut into cubes, for the feta
- omit the fresh basil and use crumbled dried oregano instead

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