Recipes Aaron likes to cook

I love cooking, especially for other people. The majority of my cooking is done without recipe. Likewise, a lot of the things I cook daily aren’t here—roasted root veggies, various stir-fries, various egg dishes, various roasted, broiled, or grilled meats—because I don’t really have recipes per se, just ways that I make things, and I tend to use whatever ingredients I have on hand or what looks good at the market. If you want me to show you how to make my family’s food or other day to day stuff, and you know me personally, reach out and I’ll show you how to make them.

Most of the recipes listed here are either found on the web and slightly tweaked, or the result of some experimentation. If it is based on another person’s recipe online, I’ll link to it in the recipe.

Recipe Search

Family Italian Recipes

My maternal family’s southern Italian food (from Monacilioni, Molise, Italy). This is an attempt to preserve these recipes for my children, and subsequent generations.

• CasciatelliTraditional Molisano dessert for Easter. A pastry stuffed with sweet ricotta filling.
• CavatelliHearty little curled fresh pasta typical to much of southern Italy.
• DicottaTraditional home remedy tea from Monacilioni
• Simple Tomato Sauce, Monacilioni StyleSimple and quick tomato sauce, the way my nonna taught me.
• StruffoliTraditional Neapolitan dish, typically served during Christmas season

Recipes for Instant Pot

The following recipes are good use of an Instant Pot or similar multi-function electric pressure cooker. Great for a weeknight if you plan correctly.

• Instant Pot Irish Beef StewSavory, rich, and satisfying stew for a modern pressure cooker.
• Overnight OatmealCreamy and satisfying slow-cooker oatmeal. Easy breakfast.
• Pressure Cooker Chili Con CarneBasic pressure-cooker chili. Bean or no bean - your choice!

Sous Vide Recipes

The following recipes are idiot-proof, and make use of an immersion circulator, and ideally a vacuum sealer.

• Chashu Pork BellyThe king of all ramen toppings!
• Chicken Breast “Chashu”A tasty, healthy, and idiot-proof way to prepare chicken breast.

Healthy Recipes

I count calories, and have lost a tremendous amount of weight, and kept it off. These are my staples for meals I eat by myself. They are also quite tasty.

• Ajitama EggsTasty salty/sweet marinated eggs. Good by themselves, or sliced in half and served as a ramen topping.
• Baked Salmon with Maple Dijon GlazeEasy, quick, healthy, Friday-friendly dinner.
• Chicken Breast “Chashu”A tasty, healthy, and idiot-proof way to prepare chicken breast.
• Hummus

Sourdough Recipes

I’ve taken up to making sourdough bread. First, because my daughter likes it, and we didn’t go through the gigantic loaves we got at the store quick enough before they spoiled. Then, because it’s delicious and fun.

• Basic No-Knead SourdoughQuality rustic sourdough. Very few bakeries make a better loaf.
• Lean Sourdough Dinner RollsDelicious and easy dinner rolls, with no fat mixed in to the dough.
• Leftover Oatmeal BreadReally delicious use for leftover prepared oatmeal. Honestly, better than the oatmeal.
• Sourdough Cinnamon RollsYeasty and soft cinnamon rolls.
• Sourdough English MuffinsBetter than store bought, in both texture and flavor.
• Sourdough Hawaiian RollsDelicious and soft and sweet rolls.

Soups, Stews, and Casseroles

Hearty, delicious, warm dishes that are great for the colder months.

• Baked Mac & CheeseClassic baked Mac & Cheese
• Bean Ham Bone SoupSimple and hearty soup. Great way of making a second meal out of spiral-sliced ham.
• CassouletFrench meaty bean casserole. Warming, filling, and satisfying.
• Chicken PaprikashHungarian braised chicken in a creamy paprika sauce.
• Instant Pot Irish Beef StewSavory, rich, and satisfying stew for a modern pressure cooker.
• Pressure Cooker Chili Con CarneBasic pressure-cooker chili. Bean or no bean - your choice!

Breakfast

I actually don’t frequently eat breakfast, but these recipes are great crowd pleasers.

• Apple PancakeDelicious cross between an apple pie and a Dutch baby pancake.
• Buttermilk PancakesBasic buttermilk pancake recipe
• Dutch Baby PancakeA slightly sweet, eggy popover that's fantastic with fruit for brunch.
• Overnight OatmealCreamy and satisfying slow-cooker oatmeal. Easy breakfast.

Desserts

I don’t make a whole lot of desserts or sweets. Up until my late 40’s, I didn’t really bake at all. But here’s some stuff that’s absolutely worth making.

• Apple PancakeDelicious cross between an apple pie and a Dutch baby pancake.
• CasciatelliTraditional Molisano dessert for Easter. A pastry stuffed with sweet ricotta filling.
• Cranberry BreadSweat cranberry quick-bread that my mother made every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Cream Cheese FrostingMy daughter's recipe for Cream Cheese Frosting.
• Perfect BrowniesDelicate, melt-in-your-mouth brownies. Not fugdey, but perfect.
• Sourdough Cinnamon RollsYeasty and soft cinnamon rolls.
• StruffoliTraditional Neapolitan dish, typically served during Christmas season

Easter

• CasciatelliTraditional Molisano dessert for Easter. A pastry stuffed with sweet ricotta filling.

Thanksgiving

• Cranberry BreadSweat cranberry quick-bread that my mother made every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Christmas

• Cranberry BreadSweat cranberry quick-bread that my mother made every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• StruffoliTraditional Neapolitan dish, typically served during Christmas season

Cocktails

• Apple “Sangria”A sweet, appley, fall cocktail
• Espresso MartiniA refreshing coffee cocktail, using cold brew and vodka.
• MojitoMy personal takes on a classic mojito.
• Rusty NailPerfected version of the quintissential old-man drink.
• SangriaRed sangria typical of what you'd find at a Spanish/Portuguese/Brazillain restaurtant in New Jersey.

Miscellaneous Recipes

This is a list of recipes I haven’t categorized yet, or don’t make sense in any catagory I have.

• Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Blue Cheese
• Bulgogi Marinade
• Quick Weeknight Dinner Ideas
• Spätzle

Veggie side dish recipes:

• Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

Recipes to try

This is a list of things I’ve not tried, but want to:

• Pork Meatball Bahn Mi
• Tandoori Chicken and Naan
• Spinach and Cheese Strata - recommended by Linda
• Hunter’s Chicken
• Crawfish Pie - from my dad
• Rice cooker rice with eggs, veggies, and Chinese sausage
• Easy Pressure Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
• Thai Fish Sauce Wings
• Chicago Deep Dish
• Thit Kho
• Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread)