Jan D'Atri

Jan D'Atri > red pepper flakes

red pepper flakes

The Cubano Sandwich

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He produced and directed The Jungle Book.

He directed Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Elf.

He co-starred in The Breakup and Couple’s Retreat.

But when actor Jon Favreau starred in the movie “Chef,” it gave America a new obsession. We fell in love with The Cubano. Did see the movie? It’s a foodie’s dream. Chef Carl Casper, played by Favreau, gets sideways with a food critic and loses his restaurant job. His loss is our gain, because he revs up a new sandwich food truck called El Jefe, and introduces America to the new darling of the sandwich world, The Cubano Sandwich.

Is that where the fad started? Or, was it just the Cubano’s time to get discovered by a larger food loving community.

The Cubano sandwich is so more than a fad. It has found a place in our hearts and on our plates. Why? Because it’s filled with all the things we love anyway; cheese, shredded or sliced pork, pickles, ham, bread and butter—and mustard! (You can find prepared pulled pork in most grocery stores, but if you want to make it from scratch, I’ve included a simple method.)

But what makes the Cubano so much better is that it’s grilled and toasty and cheese oozes out and the bread makes a great crusty-cracky sound when you slice into it and it’s just downright delicious! Yep. It’s time for a new “hero” and the Cubano sandwich is it!

Pesto and Prosciutto Zucchini Linguine

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Want to get more veggies into your diet, Italian style? Try this ultra-flavorful and super easy Pesto & Prosciutto Zucchini Linguine for dinner this week! If you don’t want to zoodle zucchini noodles, you can always make the dish with traditional pasta, but the zucchini version is lighter and adds many nutrients to your meal. There are lots of spiralizers on the market; some smaller varieties fit right into your kitchen drawer, while others are larger and have more blades available for different sizes of zoodles. Either way, you’ll be tossing some beautiful flavors together to make a simple meal in minutes. By the way, here’s something you may not know about zucchini. It’s actually a fruit, not a vegetable!

Tuscan Farro, Cannellini Bean and Kale Salad

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I love salads that can hold up for several days in the fridge. This Tuscan Farro Salad is so satisfyingly delicious and packed with nutrients that you don’t want to toss out any leftovers!

First the vinaigrette. So simple and yet perfect for penetrating the heartiness of both the kale and the farro. Second, you won’t find a healthier grain than farro. This ancient wonder is packed with protein, fiber and is rich in nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. And while there are two camps—those who love kale and those who don’t, the kale, if massaged properly and cut into thin strips make this salad sturdy and so healthful!

To do that, strip the kale from the stems and place in a bowl. Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and a squeeze of half a lemon ( this in addition to the vinaigrette ingredients) into the bowl with the kale, and with your hands, massage and squeeze the kale until if feels soft in your hands. Now you’re ready to add the rest of the wonderful ingredients like brandy soaked dried cherries, shallots and Castelvetrano olives. Grab some crusty bread and enjoy this end of summer salad!

Sicilian Pasta Alla Norma and Chicken Scarpariello

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Combine some penne pasta with a delicious red sauce made with eggplant, and you have a meatless pasta favorite for dinner tonight! Then, grab the skillet and create a dish with grilled peppers and onions, chicken and sausage and a burst of flavor with pickled chili peppers! Chicken Scarpariello is an Italian go to favorite!

Bracciole & Pasta All’Assassina

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Stuffed with cheese, rolled up and served with a delicious red sauce, Bracciole is the favorite beef tenderloin dish! And have you heard of Assassin’s Pasta? Also called, Burnt Pasta, this meal comes together in one skillet starting with raw pasta. Incredible!