Baked Dills

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 jar sliced dill pickles, drained 
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
•  3 eggs, beaten

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400  
2. Remove moisture from pickles with paper towels
3. In large bowl mix dry ingredients 
4. Coat pickles in beaten egg
5. Scoop pickles out (discard remaining eggs) add pickles to breadcrumb mix, coat well
6. Place single layer of pickles on large non stick baking sheet, cook for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 5 minutes

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>> 

Palmiers

Two ingredients never tasted so good together. 

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

• Puff pastry sheets, defrosted
• 1/4 cup sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Roll out pastry sheet into rectangle, trim edges
2. Sprinkle surface with half the sugar, lay pastry on top, coat top with remaining sugar, using a rolling pin again to flatten and press the sugar into the pastry, flip, do the same
3. Roll shorter ends towards eachother to meet in the middle
4. Wrap in plastic wrap chill in fridge for 30 minutes 
5. Preheat oven 400
6. Slice 1/2" rounds, position 1'' apart on a lined cookie sheet (using parchment paper) 
7. Bake for 15 minutes until golden

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>> 

SPAGHETTI WITH BACON & PEPPERS

Those adorable little sweet & hot cherry peppers make an important appearance in this super simple pasta.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb spaghetti
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1/2 cup jarred hot & sweet cherry peppers, diced
• 1/3 cup cream
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup cooked bacon, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• freshly ground pepper
• Kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In deep skillet or wok, cook bacon for 15 mins, remove when crispy, keep 2 tablespoons fat in skillet
2. Using same skillet, add onion, soften for 4 minutes
3. Turn heat to low, add garlic cook for minute, add peppers, season with Kosher salt and fresh pepper
4. Cook pasta according to pack instructions, drain when 'al dente' (keep a cup of cooking water)
5. Add cream and parmesan to skillet, cook on medium/low for 3-4 minutes to thicken
6. Add pasta and 1/2 cup pasta water to skillet, mix in bacon and parsley, eat!

TIP: You could freeze remaining bacon fat and use for something else.

WATCH SAM COOK THIS >>> 

Squash Ravioli

What do you get when you pair a Chinese wrapper, a garden vegetable and Italian style cheese? You get this!

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pack frozen wonton wrappers, defrost 4 hours in advance
• 1 cup cooked squash puree (I found this in freezer section, but you can make fresh)
• 1 cup ricotta
• 2oz spinach
• 1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/8-1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil large pot water, add spinach cook 1 minute then scoop it out – keep water in pan
2. Remove water from spinach using sieve and back of a large spoon, dice finely
3. In large bowl mix ricotta, squash puree, spinach, cayenne, salt and pepper, parmesan – chill in fridge for 30 minutes
4. Lay out the wrappers, place generous teaspoon mixture in middle of each, fold in half, pinch edges to seal (push out the air bubbles)
5. Drop a batch of 8 raviolis, gently into boiling water, fish them out when float on the top – about 2 minutes
6. In medium skillet on low cook butter until nutty brow color, add ravioli to skillet, cook in butter on medium for 1 minute each side, serve!

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

Spaghetti Frittata

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with leftover spaghetti besides eating it as is, here’s your answer. And before you laugh…just know this is really good. Stupidly good in fact.

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs

• 1  1/2 cup cooked, leftover spaghetti

• 1/4 cup marinara sauce (or use my EVERYDAY TOMATO SAUCE recipe) 

• 2 tablespoons butter

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground pepper

• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Beat eggs, season with salt and pepper 

3. Melt butter on medium heat in non-stick medium sized skillet, add spaghetti and sauce, heat through, about 1 minute

4. Turn heat down to low, pour in the beaten eggs and stir well to make sure everything is evenly combined

5. Top with Parmesan and leave alone to the bottom set, like making an omelet - cook about 2 minutes

6. Put on the middle shelf of the oven and cook for 10 minutes or until fully set and firm

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>> 

Resto style Edamame

Here's how to prep edamame like at a Japanese resto, dead easy.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bag frozen edamame
• 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Nanami Togarashi seasoning (or you can sub this for pinch cayenne or paprika and then pinch chili pepper)

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil edamame, to pack cooking instructions, drain
2. Season with salt and Togarahi, mix and eat.

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

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YOU CAN FIND TOGARASHI SEASONING IN MOST ASIAN SUPERMARKETS

Edamame Cous Cous

Super fresh, light and delicious side dish. (Max spells it: Koos Koos.)

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Cous cous

• 1 cup cooked frozen edamame

• 1 cup frozen corn

• 1/2 red pepper, finely diced

• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

• 12 cherry tomatoes, quartered

• 6 green onions, top & tail removed, finely diced

• 1 1/2 limes, juiced

• 2 tablespoons EVOO

• 1 clove garlic, crushed

• Kosher salt

• fresh black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook Cous cous, according to pack instructions directions, takes about 5 minutes

2. Boil edamame and corn for 5 minutes, drain and rinse cold water to stop cooking

3. Whisk dressing: lime juice, EVOO, garlic, pinch salt, 2 grinds fresh black pepper

4. Mix everything in large bowl, season well with salt and pepper, eat!

Serve with grilled tuna steak or scallops... salmon... chicken breast... whatever you like.

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>> 

MAC N GOAT CHEESE

Who says you need cheddar to make mac & cheese – cuz we certainly don’t. In an attempt to use up some leftover crumbled goat cheese, we create a super delicious mac that hopefully you’ll love – cuz we certainly did.

Serves 4 

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb Macaroni
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup All purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup crumbly goat cheese, not the log type (keep few crumbles for topping)
• Good pinch Kosher salt
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper  
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper  
• 1/2 small bag spinach
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven 350
2. In medium pan on low/medium heat, melt butter (don't let it color), add flour, mix well to make a roux, continuously whisk in milk gradually
3. Add goat cheese to sauce, add black pepper and cayenne pepper
4. Boil large pot salted water, cook until "al dente", for the last minute add the spinach, stir, then drain
5. Stir cooked pasta and spinach to sauce, decant into 8x8 casserole dish or deep cast iron skillet like me
6. Top with bread crumbs and remaining goat cheese crumbles, cook for 35 minutes and eat!

TIP:  you could throw in a handful bacon pieces!

Chicken Piccata

This is full of flavor, and one of the most simple meals, worth a try.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• Chicken breast, flattened with rolling pin or buy boneless & skinless filets

• 1/2 cup plain flour

• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

• pinch ground cayenne pepper

• 3 tablespoon butter

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1/4 cup dry vermouth or white wine

• 1/2 lemon, juice

• 3 tablespoons capers

• 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped (keep some for garnish)

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix flour, salt, cayenne and pepper 

2. Dust the chicken in flour mix, on both sides

3. In large skillet, on medium heat 1 tablespoon butter and add oil, when butter is turning golden add chicken, cook 3 minutes each side, remove and cover with foil

4. In same skillet, deglaze the pan with vermouth, add lemon juice, capers, salt and pepper, 2 tablespoons butter, cook for 2 minutes, throw parsley at the end

5. Serve the chicken filet covered in sauce, garnish with chopped parsley

WA TCH SAM MAKE THIS>>>

Salami omelet

This was love at first sight!  

Serves 2-4

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs
• 25 thin salami slices (I used chili and fennel flavor)
• 3 tablespoons, finely diced salami
• 1 green pepper, finely diced
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small skillet on medium, brown diced salami and pepper, keep to one side
2. At same time, in another medium skillet, brown the remaining green pepper and sliced salami
3. Beat eggs, pour into the skillet with sliced salami and peppers, cook for 2 minutes on low/medium heat
4. Drop in the sour cream while still cooking and spread roughly over surface, cook until mostly set, then flip
5. Top with more sour cream and the diced salami and green peppers, fresh black pepper

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

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BAKED PENNE

Dear Hungry family, fear not, this recipe is super easy and made from basic pantry ingredients, so you can whip this up and have it on the table in under 30 minutes.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb penne pasta, cooked al dente
• 1- 28oz can San Marzano tomatoes, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 12oz can tuna in oil, drained
• pinch Kosher salt
• few grinds freshly ground pepper
• 5oz ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In large pot on medium heat, add tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, cook for 5-7 minutes
3. Mix ricotta and tuna into sauce, cook for 2 minutes, stir in cooked pasta
4. Add this to oven proof dish, sprinkle over parmesan, cook for 30 minutes

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

Chorizo & Potato Quesadilla

Serves 4 as appetizer

I had this dish for breakfast on a recent trip to the beautiful wine region, Valle de Guadlupe, Mexico... They were made by the most wonderful chef, Dona Estela in this amazing restaurant (see photos). This is my version of the recipe and it's super easy.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Pork Chorizo sausage pack (you can use soy chorizo, but don't use beef chorizo!)
• 8 appetizer size tortillas
• 1/2 large cooked sweet potato, skin removed, diced small
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 3 green onions, chopped, discard dark green parts
• 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup Pork rinds (Chicharrones), scrunched up in your hands

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat skillet on medium cook chorizo, until throughly for about 10 minutes or until 145° 
2. In separate skillet, heat oil and butter to warm and add color to sweet potato 2-3 minutes
3. Preheat a skillet on low/medium
4. In medium bowl, mix 1/2 cup cheese, potato, chorizo, green onion, pork rinds
5. Get layering: sprinkle cheese on 4 tortillas, add 3 tablespoons of the mix to each, then top with sprinkle cheese and tortilla, and cook for 2 minutes each side.

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WATCH SAM MAKE THIS

Pastrami reuben

Makes 1 sandwich

Sometimes less is more and in this case I mean in words. Just..make…it.

INGREDIENTS

My "Russian" Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons mayo
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha
• 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup (I used, Sir Kensington Ketchup... anything will do)
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon horseradish (to your taste)
• 2 grinds fresh black pepper
• pinch kosher salt

Sandwich:

• 4-6 deli pastrami slices
• Bag slaw mix
• 2 slices Swiss cheese slices
• 1 egg, over easy
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 slices Jewish rye bread

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the slaw. In separate bowl, mix all dressing ingredients
2. Heat the pastrami in skillet on high heat for one minute, flip, layer cheese on top, heat for 1 more minute
3. Cook egg
4. Butter one side of each rye slice, grill that side only
5. Start layering, generously... Bread, dressing, pastrami/Swiss cheese, slaw, egg, top with other slice!

WATCH SAM MAKE IT >>> 

Chicken Parmesan

Serves 4 

This classic is way easier than you think to make, try it this way and you can have it on the table for the fam in under 30 minutes. 

INGREDIENTS

• 4 chicken thighs, bone removed, flattened 
• 1/2 plain cup flour
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1  1/2 cup MY EVERYDAY TOMATO SAUCE (but any marinara will do, I used leftover homemade tomato soup in the video below)
• 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Bread the chicken (in this order) using 3 separate bowls for flour, beaten eggs, panko/parmesan 
3. Preheat oil in large deep skillet on medium, gently add breaded chicken cook for 3 minutes each side, remove excess oil place on paper towels
4. In 9'' oven proof dish, get layering… chicken, then sauce, then cheese, cook 15 minutes

WANT TO WATCH SAM MAKE IT?

Beef and snow peas

Serves 4

This reminds me of home (Vancouver)... Chinese food, yep! And, this dish is so amazing and so quick to knock together, the cooking time is just a few minutes.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 large Skirt Steak, leave the fat, cut bite sized pieces against the grain
• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced
• 1 cup snow peas, whole
• 2 tablespoons Chill Paste (I used Garlic Sambal)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (I used House Wife Soy)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons corn starch (to thicken)
• 4 Ready-cooked rice packs

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl mix the chili paste, soy, honey, sesame oil and corn starch
2. Make sure everything is prepped and ready
3. Heat carbon steel wok or large skillet to smoking hot, add 2 tablespoons oil, cook beef for 2 minutes then remove
4. Using same pan, add 2 tablespoons oil, throw in onion and snow peas, cook for 2 minutes maximum (keep it moving)
5. Add sauce and cooked beef, coat everything well, cook for one more minute
6. Heat rice in microwave
7. Eat!

Black Eyed Pea Salad

Serves 4

This culinarily ambiguous healthy salad…dip... side dish…or, as the south call it, "Cowboy Caviar" (which was highly recommended to me by my SIL, Danna) is so versatile, it's perfect for any potluck party.

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup green onion, sliced
• 2/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 15 oz can black eyed peas, drained
• 11 oz can White Shoepeg Corn (or reg corn), drained
• 2 avocados, diced
• 1/2 cup tomato, de-seeded, diced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix everything up in a big bowl, eat!

TIP: Make a bunch, keep it in the fridge, it'll be good for 4-5 days. I would serve this with a burger, steak or grilled Tuna. If you don't have BEPeas just use cannellini beans.

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS>>>

VEGETABLE CHILAQUILES

Serves 6

Stupidly good all veggie version of chilaquiles. But trust me – it’s so good even your carnivore friends will eat the hell out of it.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 red pepper, diced small
• 1 small leek (white & light green parts only) thinly sliced
• 1  15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 large or 2 small zucchini, diced medium
• 1  15 ounce can black beans, drained
• ½ teaspoon each garlic powder, cayenne, Kosher salt and cumin
• 1 cup green enchilada sauce
• 6 cups, or 6 big handfuls tortilla chips
• 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 6 eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and cook pepper, leek and corn until just beginning to soften
3. Add zucchini & black beans – mix well and cook about 2 minutes
4. Put ½ cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9 inch cast iron pan or an 8x8 Pyrex dish
5. Top with ½ the tortilla chips, half the veggie mixture and ½ of the cheese - repeat layering
6. Bake in oven until top is melty, bubbly and delicious
7. When ready, fry eggs and serve chiliquiles with an egg on top

TIP: this mix could be used for a veggie fajita, enchilada or veggie tacos.

WANNA SEE SAM MAKE THIS?

SAUSAGE AND SHRIMP JAMBALAYA

Serves 4-6

Remember in Seinfeld when Newman gets his hands on the jambalaya?

• 1 cup each diced celery, onion and green pepper

• 1 pound fully-cooked chorizo or andouille sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4” slices

• 2 large cloves garlic, crushed

• 1 cup white rice

• 1 tablespoon creole or Old Bay seasoning

• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth

• 3 Roma tomatoes, diced

• 1 pound raw, peeled & de-veined shrimp

• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a large skillet (that has a lid) on medium high, add about a tablespoon of oil and when hot put in celery, onion and green pepper - cook until softened and just until they get some color, about 5 minutes

2. Add sausage and cook 5 minutes or until it starts to brown

3. Add garlic and when fragrant, add creole or old bay and stir well to mix through

4. Add rice, stirring really well and let toast a couple minutes, then add broth, tomatoes and mix well

5. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, cover and cook 15 minutes

6. Add shrimp, stir well and cover again - and in about 5 minutes the shrimp should be perfect or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is soft

7. Add parsley and serve!

Baked Sausage & Cheese balls

Makes 24 puffs

A simple trio of ingredients that result in awesomeness! This is a recipe donated by David a longtime viewer of the show, we gave it a go and we loved it.

INGREDIENTS

• 8oz Cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup Bisquick mix
• 1 cup uncooked sausage meat (room temperature)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Put all ingredients in mixer and mix until well blended
3. Roll into roughly 24 one inch balls and place on un-greased baking sheet cook for 30 minutes

STUFFED BABY PEPPERS

Serves 3-4

This recipe has only a handful of simple ingredients, which makes them a super easy appetizer – perfect to whip up for a party at the last minute. 

INGREDIENTS

• about 12 baby bell peppers, red, yellow...whatever ya got
• 1 lb pork chorizo
• 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat broiler to high
2. Cook chorizo in a skillet until cooked through, about 7 minutes
3. Make a T incision in each pepper (don't worry about any little seeds inside)
4. Stuff peppers with some of the cooked chorizo, then broil for 5 minutes cut side down, flip and broil for another 4 minutes
5. Remove peppers, carefully stuff with some cheese then broil again cut side up until melty, about 2 minutes

TIP: You could easily have them done through the point of being stuffed with cheese - then stop. And then when you're ready for them - throw them back in the over for the last couple minutes. #hereforyou