Category: In the kitchen at Villa de Amore

This recipe was semi-inspired by the Chinese chicken salad from a few of my favorite restaurants . I fell in love with the dish in 9th grade—it made me feel grown up and sophisticated, and best of all, it was ridiculously tasty. 15 or so years later, I still find the salad delicious. It's sweet, savory, refreshing, and extremely crunchy. (I'm a huge sucker for iceberg lettuce.) The key ingredient in this salad is uncooked ramen noodles for that irresistible crunch. Ingredients for the salad: 3 cups finely chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce 2 cups shredded red cabbage 2 cups shredded chicken 1/2 cups jarred mandarin oranges, drained…Read More

These Cajun Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa are the easiest, most succulent shrimp tacos paired with a bright and flavorful homemade mango salsa. Ready in only 15 minutes – these tacos are fresh, simple and satisfying! Ingredients For Cajun Shrimp 1 pound large shrimp (shells removed)  1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoon cajun seasoning  (or to taste) juice from half a lemon For Mango Salsa 1 mango (peeled and chopped) 1 cup cherry tomatoes (chopped) juice from 1 lime 4 green onions (chopped) 1 jalapeno (seeded and chopped) ½ cup cilantro (chopped)  salt and pepper to taste Directions In a large skillet melt the butter on high heat.…Read More

Ingredients 1/4 c. Garlic aoli 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice 2 Tbsp. fresh chives, chopped 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard Kosher salt and black pepper 1 1/4 lb. lobster meat, cooked 8 split-top hot dog buns Lettuce leaves Directions Combine mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, fresh chives, Dijon mustard, and kosher salt and black pepper in a bowl. Add cooked lobster meat (cut into large pieces) and gently toss to coat. Butter sides of split-top hot dog buns and cook in a nonstick skillet until golden and crisp on each side. Line toasted rolls with lettuce leaves and fill with lobster salad.Read More

Watermelon salad is the essence of summer. The refreshing combination of sweet watermelon, cool cucumbers, and salty feta with a pop of fresh mint means this recipe is easy to make and great to enjoy with friends and family. INGREDIENTS 1 mini watermelon (approximately 4 cups), rind removed and cubed  2  cucumbers (approximately 1 cup), sliced , cubed 3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 1 tablespoon chopped mint 1 tablespoon chopped basil 1 lime, juiced Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste Olive oil to taste DIRECTIONS In a large serving bowl add the watermelon, cucumber, feta, basil and mint.…Read More

Grilled Chicken recipe with amazing citrus-garlic Chimichurri. Sauce works double-duty, as marinade and as pour-over sauce. Easy and bold flavor recipe for this summer Bbq’s . INGREDIENTS  4 cups water 1/4 cup kosher salt 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each) CHIMICHURRI SAUCE 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup packed fresh parsley sprigs 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon orange juice 1 garlic clove, diced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, whisk water, salt, honey…Read More

Onions are a versatile ingredient used in everything, from roasted meats and pasta to soups and stews. They’re even added to some cocktails! They can be sweet and mild, or savory and intense. There are dozens of types of onion out there and each onion variety has its own unique flavor profile, and purpose in the kitchen. Knowing which type of onion to use and when will give you the perfect flavor every time. Take a look at this guide to help you navigate onions with ease. Yellow Onions: Yellow onions are the most common type of onion used in cooking.…Read More