Chef Ellie Espo's Recipes

GETTING READY 1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. MAKING 2. For making crepes - In a mixing bowl, combine egg, flour, salt, pepper, nutmeg and olive oil, and mix thoroughly. 3. Gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups of the milk to make a smooth batter. 4. Set aside... - 119.465

MAKING 1. On a baking tray place the beets, rub olive oil and sprinkle pepper powder over it. 2. Pop it into the oven and roast until tender enough at 400 degrees. 3. For making pomegranate reduction - in a saucepan, simmer pomegranate juice with sugar. 4.For... - 119.465

A classic and delicious pie which has an old-timey charm. The sweet fresh strawberries taste like cotton candy and the tart pink rhubarb is the perfect almost citrusy-sour contrast coupled with a hint of cardamom, everything encased in a buttery pastry. An... - 105.912

This sweet pie is a hallmark of an Italian Easter Sunday feast. Known as Pastiera in Italy, this dessert seen around Easter time, has many names but simply put, it is a sweet ricotta-based pie with citron and grain. This recipe is a classic Italian... - 135.684

Thanksgiving is an all-American holiday but you can add some great Italian-style recipes to your Thanksgiving dinner such as this farfalle pasta dish that has the colors and flavors of the season and makes a great side dish for your holiday roast. The little... - 134.374

Hot Artichoke Dip is an amazing dip for the sliced French bread, crackers or breadsticks. The creamy Hot Artichoke Dip is flavoured with the artichoke hearts, shallots, aged asiago, perorino romano cheese, pesto, parsely, mayo, sour cream and lemon zest. Try... - 129.794

MAKING: 1) In a saute pan, caramelize the onions until golden inn olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. 2) Add the shallots,garlic and leeks. Saute it all together and add to the stock pot. 3) Then in the same saute pan add your fennel and apples. Cook for 5... - 131.749

Not a traditionalist when it comes to holiday dinners? Here is a Pork Tenderloin recipe that is fit to be on your holiday dinner table. One of the better and pricey cuts of meat, the tenderloin is guaranteed to satisfy even the most dedicated carnivore and is... - 139.854

If you are bored of pumpkin pie and are looking for a non-traditional dessert for your thanksgiving dinner here is one that celebrates the wonderful seasonal produce, is healthy, and special enough to put on the holiday table. Your house will smell like fall... - 135.656

If you are not a traditionalist and are you looking for a main course idea for the holiday season then this lamb chop recipe is indeed an excellent choice! This is not only an easy recipe, but also lamb chops are one of the more affordable lamb cuts which... - 137.585

Who said restaurant style dishes were complicated and intimidating? This is one of the dishes that is you can create in your kitchen and is a definite crowd pleaser. It is a simple and elegant recipe that should be pulled out when you have company. The wild... - 140.322

A superb sweet, white, textured fish, sea bass is a popular feature of restaurant menus. This Chilean sea bass recipe is makes a perfect summer main course! It is so simple yet elegant and fancy with a burst of Mediterranean flavors. Watch Chef Ellie Espo... - 137.07

How many times have you turned down the idea of preparing a gourmet meal at home and chosen to dine at a fancy restaurant instead? It isn’t difficult to create a restaurant style dish in your own kitchen. Watch this recipe video of crispy Pork Escalope... - 140.239

Bell peppers are pretty, colorful and they have hollow insides, giving the impression of empty pretty heads. No wonder we are tempted to fill them up. Almost every cuisine has several stuffed bell pepper recipes but this Italian version is an all time... - 120.671

After eating all the heavy, fancy gourmet food in the holiday season, your body literally screams for rest! What you need is some delicious lentil soup bursting with flavors of sweet butternut squash, earthy mushrooms and chockfull of veggies. This is a very... - 129.83

A terrine makes such impressive appetizer and this one is surely destined to a part of your Italian table for a summer Sunday brunch with family and friends. This gorgeous cold terrine made of layers of roasted eggplant, mozzarella cheese, roasted peppers and... - 134.439

These ginger strips are spicy, ginger and molasses-y, flavors that make these cookies resemble ginger bread. They are simple to make and are perfect for the holiday season though these cookies are timeless. They are so scrumptious and irresistible that you... - 129.581

It just isn't a fall holiday without a sinful sweet potato casserole. Forget recipes that just season mashed sweet potatoes with sugar and spice before baking. This recipe is unlike any other sweet potato casserole you have ever had. Fresh sweet potatoes are... - 143.057

Bread pudding is like a pallet! You can through in anything you want into it. This recipe stays with the Thanksgiving theme. Chef Ellie makes a bread pudding adding roasted yam puree to the custard, getting a gorgeous orange color and using sweet, rich... - 141.821

These are fried pockets of sinful goodness. This calzone-like Italian snack is simply a pocket of pizza dough filled with lots of cheese and salami and deep-fried. A nice non-mess alternative to pizza slices, that makes a great hand held snack for kid's and... - 129.856

This pasta dish screams “Autumn” and is a great way of using the leaves of the Brussels sprouts. This pasta tossed with brussel sprouts and mushrooms is wonderfully flavored with crispy bits of salty pancetta and Parmigiano Reggiano. It makes a comforting... - 132.335

Since the leaves are beginning to fall and the cold wintry nights are beginning to creep in, you are thinking of soup to warm your cold feet and satisfy your growling tummy that seems to be constantly screaming for food! Here is a hearty and nutritious soup... - 136.844

This has to be the easiest “gourmet” method for serving fresh flounder fillets. Chef Ellie Espo makes a delicious versatile lemon sauce using three simple ingredients; lemon juice, wine and stock. This is an ideal recipe for French food lovers and... - 130.171

Mussels are a delicious, yet inexpensive seafood meal. Watch Chef Ellie Espo show you how to make poached mussels with salty pancetta in a beautiful garlic flavored wine sauce, the perfect marriage of flavors! When served with a hunk of crusty bread to dunk... - 136.113

This is a tasty and hearty vegetarian pasta dish that even meat eaters will love. Diced eggplant turns tender and meaty when sautéed with onions and garlic in a fresh San Marzano tomato sauce. Toss in some boiled penne and top with generous amounts of... - 131.35

This garden salad masquerading as a cold soup is the quintessential summer recipe when you have an overabundance of tomatoes ripening in the garden and have a few pounds of them some sitting in your fridge as well. The seasonings and garnish of this gazpacho... - 127.875

Summer Corn Salad is an essence of summer. Sweet fresh corn and light flavors is a welcome alternative to corn on the cob. The vinegar dressing in the raw corn salad brings out the sweetness in the corn without overpowering it and the red onion, peppers and... - 127.566

This simple and beautiful scallop dish using fresh seafood scallops over a red-pepper pesto, a blend of roasted red pepper, almonds, basil and oregano. This perfect summer seafood dish will transport you to a Mediterranean beach with sun, sand and surf. It... - 125.233

Summer is a time for fresh, light and refreshing dishes like this one! Pappardelle with wine poached lobster medallions flavored with the cayenne pepper, parsley, thyme and bay leaves tossed with sweet Jersey corn and teardrop tomatoes looks like summer on a... - 128.488

The best way to get your family to eat zucchini is by baking a batch of these healthy and delicious lemony zucchini muffins. These are fast and easy to make and are wonderful for breakfast, an afternoon teatime snack or even a sweet ending to your day! These... - 119.509

The holiday season is here and it’s the time for the roasts to be put out on the table! This recipe is a nice twist on the classic Roasted chicken A’la Orange. This roasted chicken thighs recipe will really get “under your skin!” The secret to this... - 139.341

Many of us find baking tarts an intimidating task because lining the mold can be messy and requires skill and technique. Chef Ellie Espo shows us an rustic, Italian tart called crostata which needs no tart pan and is really simple and straightforward to make.... - 131.582

There are some ingredient combinations that create magic, like tomato, ricotta and basil. This savory, quiche like tart makes the perfect summer brunch or a light lunch entrée and it a great way to use the abundance or summer garden tomatoes. Wonderfully... - 140.481

If you love baking your own homemade bread you must try this recipe. Chef Ellie Espo shares her Italian aunt’s secret recipe for Dill Bread that is baked in a casserole. Well it’s not entirely a secret recipe and comes from behind a packet of yeast! This... - 138.426

This is a gorgeous, delicious and easy salad which takes little time and makes a great meatless appetizer or main course for your holiday dinners. It uses roasted beets, goat’s cheese stacked on a bed of greens with crispy pancetta drizzled with a balsamic... - 139.518

This recipe for Pancetta-Wrapped Chicken is straightforward yet wonderfully full of flavor. For those whose mouths water at the smell of bacon, try this delicious recipe. Roasted chicken breast wrapped in pancetta and served with a warm orange wine sauce.... - 132.397

If you are looking for a dessert recipe for your Easter Dinner, this is it! Fresh, colorful, light and beautiful, this tart represents spring! A classic French dessert, this elegant fruit tart has a shell of tender biscuit-like pastry filled with a thick... - 134.862

This delicious vegetable and cheese dish is destined to sit atop a beautifully set table and passed around in the midst of fabulous conversation, perfect for "Family Time" celebration. Fresh eggplant rolled with a melted cheesy filling and topped with a deep,... - 132.768

Creamy spaghetti carbonara is definitely a family favorite and even the fussiest eaters can’t resist it. There are so many versions of this classic creamy pasta dish but this one by Chef Ellie Espo is unlike the heavy cream based ones. It is a “Absolutely... - 138.339

If you love baking your own homemade bread you must try this recipe. The delicious smell bread infused with caraway seeds and bejeweled with currants and plump golden raisins baking in your kitchen makes it almost impossible to wait for it to come out of the... - 135.312

Most of us are scared of making risotto cause it requires a lot of precision and technique. Chef Ellie Espo shows us a delicious, low-maintenance alternative to traditional risotto. This is quick and easy risotto-style casserole made with orzo pasta. The rice... - 130.962

Nonna’s Stuffed Sun Dried Tomatoes is a wonderful dish with the sundried tomatoes stuffed with the Pecorino Romano Cheese, marinara sauce, breadcrumbs, pesto and olive oil. Nonna is Italian for Grandmother, so this is a traditional dish for us to relish and... - 118.553

Spinach Cannelloni is an amazing Italian main dish with the spinach and cheese stuffed in tubular pasta or cannelloni covered with oodles of cheeses as ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano. Well made cannelloni cannot be achieved without some... - 46.2451

Puree of Asparagus Soup with Lump Crabmeat is an amazing dish with a scrumptious taste. The beautiful pale green soup is all the more fragrant because I use the asparagus trimmings for the broth. This Puree of Asparagus Soup is vibrant and light, full of... - 133.251

Who doesn't like a hearty soup during the cold winter evenings or on a rainy day? There are several winter soup recipes but this rich Italian-style bean, sausage and fennel soup loaded with veggies is one hearty and soul warming one that must be in your... - 132.172

Chocolate mousse is a great dessert for entertaining because it looks pretty, everyone gets their own serving, and you need to make it at least several hours ahead of time. A chocolate mousse is a form of dessert typically made from eggs, cream, sugar, and... - 40.2077

Forget about those jars of sweet onion dip that are available on supermarket shelves. This recipe is the quintessential sweet onion dip. It is outrageous and the perfect match for salty crispy potato chips and crackers! This dip is what you should be making... - 135.364

Enjoy the flavors of Italian surf and turf with this delicious quick and easy shrimp pasta dish. This is a quick recipe that looks like you were in the kitchen for hours which results in lots of garlicky shrimp tossed with some linguine, white wine, and... - 138.531

Pasta dishes make such simple and quick meals especially during busy weeknights. The best thing about pasta is that they make all inclusive one pot meals that easily please the kids. Here is a delicious sweet-spicy pasta dish with Italian sausage, cannellini... - 125.019

Penne Vodka is Penne with a creamy, tomato and Vodka Sauce, is very quick and easy to prepare. Wonderfully flavoured with prosciutto, red pepper, fresh basil leaves and grated cheese. Try out this amazing Penne Vodka and enjoy!! - 124.123

Chicken Piccata is an America main dish with sliced and sauteed chicken served in a sauce prepared with the lemon, butter, capers, parsley and white wine. Try out this amazing Chicken Piccata with a scrumptious taste and enjoy with your family and friends!! - 125.593

Chicken Marsala is a wonderful Italian dish prepared with the chicken cutlets, mushrooms, and Marsala wine. The chicken cutlets are dredged in the seasoned flour and briefly sauteed. The Marsala sauce is then poured over the warm chicken and served... - 123.891

Pecan Snow Balls are wonderful round, white little snowball cookies that are a tempting and delightful treat on the Christmas dessert table. Pecan Snow Balls is a perfect Christmas cookie because is simple, easy and loved by all. Enjoy!! - 121.499

Soup in summer? Why not? This creamy cold roasted bell pepper soup is perfect for summer. Watch Chef Ellie Espo demonstrate this easy to make and delicious pepper soup made with home-roasted fresh red bell peppers and potatoes. This is the perfect summer... - 136.908

It is Christmas season and you are going to be entertaining! Here is a really easy but fancy recipe using gourmet ingredients and is perfect for the holiday season of wining, dining and enjoying with family and friends! This Piedmontese warm olive oil and... - 101.192

Add a special touch to your holiday menu with this creamy butternut squash pie. See this step wise video where the chef demonstrates the recipe so that you can easily prepare the same in your kitchen. Impress your family and friends with this awesome pie,... - 119.185

Serve your favorite crackers, crispbreads, pretzels, apples or pears with this super delicious and appetizing cheddar cheese beer spread. Watch this interesting video and impress your guests with this unique delicacy that would leave them finger licking.... - 108.945