Rose Snapper with Seabeans, Lollipop Kale, Cranberry Beans, Pink Lemon Butter Sauce

I was out Christmas shooping in NYC and stopped by Mario Batali's Italian shopping Mecca, Eataly. They literally have everything Italian and amazing meat, produce and fish sections.  I saw this reddish pink fish and inquired what it was.  I forget excatly what he said but the fishmonger told me it was a variation of snapper.  I decided to go with it and add some other exotic ingredients to come up with a little something different.

Rosatto Snapper with Exotic Vegetables

1 fliet - Rosatto snapper (or any snapper)
1 handfu1 - seabeans or sea asparagus
10 pods - cranberry beans
3 heads - lollipop kale (a small head of baby kale)
1 - pink lemon
2 - tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon - fresh marjoram

Blanch the seabeans and kale for about 2 minutes in boiling water then ice bath.  In the same pot cook the shelled cranberry beans for 20 minutes.  Sear the snapper skin side down in a large saute pan until the skin is crispy.  Place the whole pan in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  For butter sauce just melt butter in a small pan, add a teaspoon of pink lemon juice and fresh marjoram and let cook for 3 to 4 minutes.  Spoon over the top.  Buon appetito!!

Jamon Iberico de Bellota & Aged Manchego on Baugette

This is the best ham and cheese one can make. Jamon Iberico de Bellota is the most expensive and tasty ham in the world.  Wild pigs that feed on acorns and roam the Spanish county side are cured for 36 month to create this intense and long lasting flavorful meat.  The classic Spanish Manchego cheese is aged for up to two years.  I bought a baguette from Balthazar bakery in NYC and gave it a light swipe of dijon mustard then added the ham and cheese.  Simple but incredible.

Bronzino on Watercress, Frisee, Golden Berries, Chestnuts and Kumato Tomato, Catuspear Vinaigrette

I finally got some free time and the urge to cook.  I went to the local market and found all these strange ingredients to put together but somehow it worked.  The balance of sweet and tart golden berries with earthy chestnuts, bitter greens and fresh tomatoes made for a great meal that takes only 30 minutes, costs $17 dollars and feeds 1-2 people.

Fall Salad
1/2 head Frisee
1/2 head watercress
8 golden berries, halved
8 Italian chestnuts, halved, cooked argo dolce style
1 Kumato tomato, cut into thirds
1/2 shallot, thin sliced

Cactus Pear Vinaigrette
1 catcus pear, peeled and strained for juice
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoons dijon mustard
1 tablspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
dash of salt, pepper and marjoram

Bronzino
This fish is easy to filet,  Run a sharp knife down the spine on one side of the dorsal fin.  Keep knife along the bone until filet comes off.  Remove the 5 or so small pin bones from the filet.  Season with salt and pepper. Saute on high in olive oil and butter skin side down until crispy and golden, then flip fish and turn off the heat.  Place the pan in a warm oven for 7 minutes.  Serve on top of salad.  Crushed up lentil snaps are the garnish.

I love cooking.. Buon apetito!

Atlantic Cod, Lobster Sauce, Oriental Yams, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Garlic Scapes and Jerusalem Artichoke Puree

Food, wine and great company is all I need to be happy.  In this case we had a lot of all three. Thanks Michal, Harout, Caitlin, Padraic, Tara, Dre and Kristin for making it all happen.  These recipes feed 8 people and cost about $100.  Total cooking and prep time is about 2 hours.

Cod with Lobster Sauce
8 filets of black cod, about 3 lbs
1 shallot, fine dice
1/4 stick butter
1/2 cup vegetable stock
4 oz creme fraiche
1 lb white shrimp, 25ct peeled deveined and halved long way

Preheat the oven to 400. Season cod with salt, pepper and olive oil then lay them flat on a greased, foil-lined baking tray.  Roast for about 15 minutes.  Remove with a spatula and place in a large serving tray.  Top with cream sauce.

In a medium sauce pan start the butter, shallots and garlic on medium heat and let cook until the onions are just turning brown.  Add flour and mix well, keep stiring for 10 minutes or until the flour begins to just get lightly brown.  Add the cream and the vegetable stock and mix well.  Let this cook for about 15 minutes or until reduced by half.  Now add the shrimp and let cook for 10 more minutes.  Serve over top of fish.

Jerusalem Articoke Puree
1/2 lb sunchokes, peeled and large diced
1/2 vidallia onion, rough chop
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cream fraiche (or cream cheese)
salt and pepper

Start sunchokes and shallot in a medium pot with cool water.  Bring to a boil and let cook 15 minutes more until the sunchokes are fork tender.  Remove from the heat and strain, reserving 4 teaspoons of the water. Puree in a blender with the reserved water, olive oil and cream fraiche, add salt and pepper to taste.

Yams, Chantrelles and Garlic Scapes

The yams and the mush rooms were cut in half an oven roasted at 400 degree.  The yams took about 40 minutes while the mushrooms only about 12 minutes.  The garlic scapes, which are the green tops of the garlic bulb, were blanched for 2 minutes and then sauteed in olive oil and butter for 2 minutes as well.


Organic Kale, Nectarine, Beet and Yellow Tomato Salad  

Pick thru the kale and remove all of the stems.  Cut roasted beets and nectarines in 8ths.  Halve yellow tomatoes and squeeze juice and seeds out over a fine strainer with a small bowl to catch the delicious tomato water.

Tomato Water Vinaigrette
2 oz tomato water
2 oz white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh marjoram
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
salt and pepper
4 oz extra virgin olive oil

Mix everything but the oil.  Then slowly add oil while whisking until mixture comes together.

What a great meal with some great people.  Till next time... Buon apetito!!

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

I made this at Casey and Toinette's house and I need to thank Toinette for doing all the prep and the recipe. These delicious beauties are a great supplement to any meal or can be eaten as a meal unto themselves. They take 50 minutes from start to finish, feeds 4-6 people and costs about $10.

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

2 Hot Italian sausages, uncased and chopped
1 Mild Italian sausage, uncased and chopped
1 package large baby bella mini portabello mushrooms, stemmed and scooped
1/2 cup mushroom stems, chopped
1 bunch scallions, peeled and chopped
1/4 white onion, diced
5 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 tablespoon crushed macadamia nuts (walnuts or pignoli or no nuts are options)
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/8 cup grated Parmesan cheese
5 oz creme fraiche
2 tablespoons of butter
1 handful fresh basil, chopped
4 tablespoon sherry wine vinegar

Start oven at 425.  Scoop mushrooms out with a teaspoon by holding the mushroom firmly cupped on all sides with your hand.  Once cleaned and scooped, start a large saute pan on medium heat, add olive oil and some butter.  Saute mushroom stems, onions, scallions, and garlic until softened, about 10 minutes.  Turn up heat to medium high add sausage to the pan.  Cook for about 5-7 minutes or until sausage is cooked. Remove from heat and fold in panko, nuts, creme fraische, basil and remaining butter plus salt and pepper.  Let stand 5 minutes.

Put mushroom caps in a large glass baking dish.  Sprinkle with sherry wine vinegar, salt and pepper.  Then scoop filing into the mushrooms.  Press it in and over stuff them a bit, top with a bit of bread crumbs and some extra virgin olive oil.  Place in oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden.  Remove and let stand 5 minutes. Buon apetito!

Herbed Chilean Sea Bass, Haricovert, Morels, Orange Pepper - Guava Sauce

Fish and vegetables is the ideal diet.  It truly doesn't get better and healthier then that.  This meal costs about $30 takes 30 minutes or less and feeds two.

Herbed Patagonian Toothfish
2 6-8oz pieces Toothfish
1 handfill parsley, chopped
1 handfill tarragon, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and white pepper

Preheat oven to 375.  Season fish with herbs, salt and white pepper. Sear on medium high heat in olive and butter on each side until golden.  Place the whole pan in oven for 5 minutes.

Orange - Guava Sauce
1 orange bell pepper, fine dice
1 shallot, fine dice
1/4 cup orangic guava mango juice
1 pat butter
Sautee pepper and onion in olive oil on medium low heat until very soft.  Add juice and let simmer 10 minutes.  Strain sauce and reduce until about 1/8 a cup.  Remove from heat and mix in the butter.

Crispy Morels
10 fresh morel mushrooms, halved
1 teaspoon olive oil
Coat morels in olive oil and roast for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Season with salt and pepper.

French Beans
Blanch beans for 1 minute.  Sautee with olive oil for five minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

Grilled Swordfish Steaks and Summer Vegetables

Summer is all about the grill.  This Sunday cook out included some fresh cut swordfish steaks that are about as good as it gets for fish on the grill.  Just be careful not to over cook them as it becomes very dry if not a perfect medium.  I also threw in a scallop salad appetizer to keep the seafood theme rolling.  This whole meal costs about $80 and feeds 6 people, total prep and cook time was about and hour and a half.

Swordfish and Grilled Vegetables
I simply coated the swordfish and vegetables in a mix of olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh herbs including marjoram, parsley and tarragon.  Grill all veg and fish on high heat.  Let fish rest on the top rack for 5 minutes.

Scallop Salad
20 u14 sea scallops
1 head frisee lettuce
1 bag baby watercress
1 pint yellow tomatoes
1 jicama root, in batons
1 shallot, thin sliced
white balsamic vinaigrette

Toss all ingredients together.  Season scallops with salt, pepper and olive oil and sear on high heat for 5 minutes on each side.

I also threw in a vegetarian dish of grilled vegetables and portabello mushrooms for Michal.

Thanks to Danette, Harout, Michal, Linder, and Michelle for the company. Buon appetito!!

BBQ Filet Mignon Burger with 10 Pepper Mix

How do you turn up the standard BBQ hotdogs and hamburgers.. Start by making lobster rolls on hotdog buns like the previous post.  Then, instead of hamburgers you make filet mignon burgers.  Thats right!  You cook a whole filet loin on the grill then slice thick cuts, top it with slow cooked peppers and provolone cheese, put it on a potato bun and then of course serve on paper plates.  Thanks to Harout and everyone else who joined, it was a great day. This takes 1.5 hours, costs $75 and feeds 20 people.

Slow Cooked 10 Pepper Mix
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 orange bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 cubanelle pepper, sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
1 Thai green chili, sliced
1 Anaheim red pepper, sliced
1 finger hot pepper, sliced
1 Pablano pepper, sliced
1 serano pepper, sliced
1 vidallia onion, sliced
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil

Put all peppers in a hot skillet with olive oil and butter on medium heat.  Cook for 5 minutes then turn the heat down to medium low and let simmer 30 minutes or more.  Season with salt and pepper and serve on anything.

Chateau Briand
This French term is used to describe the entire filet mignon loin cooked whole.  I trimmed the fat and silverskin off of the loin and sliced off the tip and end piece leaving one large piece of meat about 2 feet long.  I seasoned this meat with salt, pepper, fresh marjoram and olive oil.  I seared it on all sides on a hot grill until it good great color, about 20 minutes total, then left it on the top rack of the grill for an additional 10 minutes.  I let it rest 15 minutes then sliced into the most beautifully cooked filet mignon ever.

Toss it on a bun and top it with the pepper mix and Provolone cheese.  Buon apetito!!

Lobster and Crab Roll

I put a little twist on this classic summer sandwich.  We had to kick off the summer with a BBQ and this was a great appetite starter.  I made 16 rolls and had plenty of left overs, so you can make the recipe for half the amount.  This recipe feeds 8-12 costs $60 and takes about 1.5 hours.

1 - 4 lb lobster, steamed and meat removed
1 - 1lb jumbo lump crab, picked thru for shells
8 ramps, thin sliced (shallots are a good substitute)
1.5 sticks premium butter
6oz creme fraiche
1 teaspoon fresh marjoram
salt and white pepper
16 split top hot dog buns

Start a medium saucepan on medium low heat.  Cook ramps for 10 minutes in 1 tablespoon of butter until softened.  Add remaining butter and creme fraiche until melted together.  Add marjoram, slat and pepper and then fold in chopped up lobster meat and lump crab.  Let simmer 10 minutes stir very gently and then turn off the heat.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Spoon meat into toasted rolls and serve with a lemon wedge.  Buon apetito!

Breakfast Napolean

Good morning!! That's what this day turned into for sure.  I was going to make a pedestrian omelette when this idea came out of no where.  This cost about $8, takes 20 minutes and feeds one.

Breakfast Napolean

2 organic eggs, seperated
1/2 hass avocado
2 cups spinach, uncooked
1/4 white onion, small dice
1/2 red bell pepper, small dice
2 slices of maple glazed ham roast
2 slices aged Irish white cheddar
salt and pepper
1/2 stick butter

This whole dish was done using a single large ring mold that has been greased.  First cut the ham with the ring mold.  Then start two sautee pans on medium heat.  In one sautee onions and peppers with a little butter until soft.  In the other pan place the ring mold inside the pan and cook half of the egg whites.  Once the one side is firm turn the entire ring mold with a spatula to cook the other side.  Set aside.  Do this again for the rest of the egg whites, and then do it for the egg yolks.  Set aside.  Sautee the spinach with a little butter.  Now using the next size smaller ring mold, begin stacking the items to your liking.  If you do it right it will all stand up together perfectly.  This is one of the best breakfasts I have ever had.  Buon apetito!!

Escarole and White Bean Soup

This soul enriching soup is an Italian classic that I customized by using some lamb loin chops as the meat and bones as the flavoring for the stock.  This easy to make comfort food takes about 1.5 hours total time, feeds 8 and costs about $20.

Lamb, Escarole and Cannelloni Bean Soup

3 lamb loin chops

1 lb cannelloni beans

6 cups of water

1 quart organic vegetable stock

1 cup carrots, large rounds

1 white onion, large dice

1/2 red bell pepper, large dice

3 cloves garlic, rough chop

A few sprigs of marjoram and thyme

1 large head of organic Escarole, sliced into ribbons

1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

Soak the beans in warm water for and hour.  In a large pot cook the beans with the water and vegetable stock.  Bring the beans to a boil and then cover and simmer for 1 hour or until tender.

Remove the meat  from the bone of the lamb loin chops and dice, reserve the bones and large pieces of fat.  In a large skillet brown the bones and fat over medium heat until browned well.  Add fat pieces and bones to the beans.  Using the same large skillet, saute the carrots, onions, red peppers and garlic until lightly golden.  Add the vegetables to the beans and season with salt and pepper.  Let cook about 20 minutes to bring all of the flavors together.  Add the escarole to the soup and remove from the heat.  Let stand 10 minutes and then serve.  Top with inner escarole leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.  I also made some olive oil croutons to enjoy the soup even more.  Buon Apetito!

Orange Roughy, Coconut Rice, Eggplant, Hot Pepper Sauce, Fresh Basil

I haven't cooked that much recently but I think with the spring coming I am going to do a lot more dishes focusing on food I get from the farmers markets around the NY area.  This Asian inspired dish was an amazing late night dinner experience.  This dish takes 45 minutes, costs about $25 and feeds 2.

Orange Roughy
12 oz of fresh Orange Roughy, trimed to 4 3oz pieces
4 scallions, rough chop
4 large batons of ginger
handful fresh basil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season with salt and white pepper and saute in olive oil on medium heat until golden on each side. Remove from heat and place the remaining items into the pan and place the fish on top of the bed of arromatics. Place the whole pan in the oven for 10 minutes.

Coconut Rice
1 Can organic coconut milk
2 cups water
12 oz white jasmin rice
2 scallions, fine chopped
4 large ginger batons
1 tablespoon kosher salt

Combine coconut milk, water and rice into a medium pot and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Once it boils add the remaining ingredients and cover.  Turn heat to low and let cook 15 minutes.  Remove from heat leaving covered and open when ready to serve.  Remove ginger pieces before serving.

Hot Pepper Sauce
1 thai finger hot pepper, thin sliced
1 red serrano pepper, thin sliced
1 green serano pepper, thin sliced
2 yellow mini sweet peppers, thin sliced
4 scallions, thin sliced
1 piece ginger, thin sliced batons
1 shallot, thin sliced
2 teaspoons ponzu sauce
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/8 cup vegeatble stock
salt and cayenne pepper

Saute all vegetables in vegetable oil on medium high heat. Once cooked through add remaining ingredients and let cook 5 minutes.

Roasted Japanese Eggplant 
Slice eggplant into 1 inch rounds.  Saute in olive oil on medium heat until golden on each side.  Salt and place in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes

I blanched some fresh basil for 5 seconds and added it after plating the dish to bring in a crisp and fresh flavor.  Good food with great company, the perfect start to long night. Buon apetito!

Mozzarella Panino

Mozzarella Panino is an appetizer I saw in the super market and I thought I could do the same but on a larger scale using higher quality ingredients.  The result was a tasty starter but it was a little too large to eat in a single bite.  Future attempts will be made but I will roll them thinner and smaller.  This costs about $30 feeds 10 and takes about 30 minutes or less.

Mozzarella Panino

1 lb thin sliced Prosciutto di Parma

1 lb fresh mozzarella

1 container fresh basil

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 table spoons of Saba

Lay out proscuitto making sure there is some overlapping.  Slice mozzarella into a long thin strip by using a large kitchen knife and rolling the mozzarella along the knife. It takes a little practice but you will get the hang of it.  Add fresh basil and a little olive oil and roll the whole thing into a log.  Slice like bread across the roll and plate up for presentation.  Finish with a little Saba, an Italian condiment, or balsamic vinegar.  Buon Apetito!

Fried Egg Au Gratin

I dressed up some regular old fried eggs to make a more appealing breakfast.  This takes 10 minutes, costs $3 and feeds one.

Fried Egg with Manchego Cheese

2 organic eggs

1 organic leek, chopped

1 organic shallot, thin sliced

1 piece aged Manchego cheese, grated

1 tablespoon butter

In a medium sautee pan start butter with shallots and leeks.  Let cook for 5 minutes or until lightly golden.  Add two eggs to pan and let cook.  Place in broiler with a little cheese on top to cook tops of eggs.  Add more shaved cheese on top to finish. 

Great start to a great morning!  Buon Apetitio!!

Big Eye Tuna, White Asparagus, Vegetable Strings, Pomelo Beurre Blanc

Big Eye Tuna is a little more pink in color and more fishy in flavor then its more popular cousin Ahi Tuna.  Im trying to keep the carbs down so this dish fit the dietary and taste requirements I had for dinner this evening.  This dish takes 30 minutes, feeds 2 and costs about $35.

Paprika Dusted Big Eye Tuna
3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
1 tablespoon pink sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 dash cayenne pepper
2 6oz pieces sushi grade Big Eye Tuna

Pat Tuna dry with a moist paper towel.  Coat in spice mix.  Sear both sides in a medium high skillet for about 3 minutes on each side.  Let rest, slice and serve

Vegetable Strings
1 zucchini
1 squash
1 leeks
1 shallot

Julienne all the vegetables on a Japanese Mandolin.   Sautee on medium high heat in a skillet with a little butter and oil.

Butter Poached White Asparagus
Blanch asparagus for 4-5 minutes and plunge in ice bath.  In a smalll saucepan heat up half a stick of butter on medium low and add in asparagus.  Let poach for 15 minutes.

Pomelo Beurre Blanc
1 cup white vinegar
1 shallot, fine dice
1/2 pomelo, juiced
1/8 cup coconut water
3 tablespoon butter

In a small sauce pan start shallots and vinegar on medium heat.  Reduce until about 2 tablespoons of liquid remain.  Strain shallots from vinegar and set aside.  In same small sauce pan reduce pomelo and coconut water to half and then add reduced vinegar.  Put on low heat and slowly whisk in the butter piece by piece.

Pomelos are in season right now and the citrus flavor was a nice compliment to the rich and buttery tuna.  Buon apetito!!

Baby Kale, Heirloom Tomato, Spanish Clementine, Lamb Chops

Baby kale in a salad is great tasting and super healthy.  Add some baby lamb chops and a delicious vinaigrette and now you have a quick dinner that is good for you.  This takes 30 minutes, costs $25 and feeds two.

Baby Kale Salad
12 oz organic baby kale
2 heirloom tomatoes
1 Spanish clementine, peeled and sectioned
1/2 English cucumber, peeled and chopped

Spicy Vinaigrette
5 tablespoons white balsamic vinaegar
5 tablespoon rice white vinegar
1 tablespoon spicy pepper jelly
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon diced shallots
1/16 cup canola oil

Lamb Chops
3 baby Australian lamb chops, trimmed

Season with olive oil, salt, pepper, marjoram and oregano.  Pan sear and let rest.

Buon Apetito!

New Years Eve Dinner

Nothing kicks off a night of partying like a great meal with the friends.  This New Years Eve dinner was prepared at our ski house up in Hunter Mountain, NY so I didn't have all of my fancy cooking gear, but that never stopped me before.  Here goes Herb Crusted Pork Loin, Cod in a Shrimp Cream Sauce, TriColor Salad with Pears and Hazelnuts, Sweet Potato Roasted Pear Mash, Lemon Broccoli, Tomatoes and Mozzarella, Roasted Beets and an Apple Cider Gravy to bring it all together.  Thanks to Patti, Harout, Padraic, Julia, Jamie, Jackie, Bentley and Amanda for sharing this great night.  And this was only the beginning of an amazing evening!

Mustard and Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Roasted Winter Veggies
4 lbs Pork Loin
1/2 Jar Horesradish Mustard
3 oz Maple Syrup
1 bunch Fresh Marjoram
1 bunch fresh Rosemary
1 Bunch Fresh Thyme
2 red onions, rough chopped
1 white onion, rough chopped
1 head of garlic, peeled
1 bag of mixed mini sweet peppers

Preheat oven to 450.  Mix maple syrup and mustard in a bowl.  Coat the loin with the mixture and sprinkle with the fresh chopped herbs, salt and pepper.  Place veggies and more herbs in the bottom of a large roasting pan.  Place pork on roasting rack and insert into the roasting pan.  Place the whole thing in the oven and turn the heat down to 375.  Let roast for about 50 minutes or until it has an internal temperature of 140 degrees.  Let rest at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Apple Cider Gravy
4 cups apple cider
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup white wine
2 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg
1/2 cup clarified pan dripppings from the pork roast

Put all ingredients except pan drippings into a medium sauce pan and let cook for about 30 minutes on medium low.  Once about 2 cups of liquid is remaining, add pork drippings.  Finish with a tablespoon of butter and serve over the pork loin.

Baked Cod with Shrimp Cream Sauce
5 filet of black cod, about 2.5 lbs
2 shallots, fine dice
4 cloves garlic, fine dice
1/4 stick butter
4 tablespoons of flour
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 pint heavy cream
1 lb white shrimp, 25ct peeled deveined and halved long way

Preheat the oven to 400. Season cod with salt, pepper and olive oil then lay them flat on a greased, foil-lined baking tray.  Roast for about 15 minutes.  Remove with a spatula and place in a large serving tray.  Top with cream sauce.

In a medium sauce pan start the butter, shallots and garlic on medium heat and let cook until the onions are just turning brown.  Add flour and mix well, keep stiring for 10 minutes or until the flour begins to just get lightly brown.  Add the cream and the vegetable stock and mix well.  Let this cook for about 15 minutes or until reduced by half.  Now add the shrimp and let cook for 10 more minutes.  Serve over top of fish.

Sweet Potato and Roasted Pear Mash
4 medium sweet potatoes
1 barlet pear, halfed and destemmed
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons of butter
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1/2 tablespoon nutmeg

Wrap the potatoes with foil and roast in the oven at about 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until they are soft to the touch.  Roast the pear for about 20 minutes or until soft as well.  Peel the potatoes and the pear and whip it together with the other ingredients.  Make sure you mash everything together well and then whip it together with a whisk or large fork.

Tri-Color Salad with Pears and Hazelnut
1 head Raddicchio, sliced thin
1 large Belgian Endive, sliced thin
1 12oz container of baby arugula
3 oz hazelnuts, chopped and toasted
1/2 Bartlet pear, diced
White balsamic vinaigrette (1 part white balsamic, 1 part EVOO, 1 teaspoon mustard, salt&pepper)

I also tossed together a tomato and mozzarella salad, some fresh roasted beets, steamed broccoli and some sweet dinner rolls to round out the meal.

Thanks to everyone who helped.  2012 was a big year with many memorable events, however I think 2013 will be even better!

Buon Apetito!!!