Eggs are a critical leavening agent for cream puffs, making the batter rise and expand. Piercing the cooked puffs allows steam to escape so the texture is almost hollow. A stand mixer is crucial; the batter is too thick to beat with a hand mixer. Freeze completely cooled cream puffs for up to one month. Cream puffs are also good with savory fillings, such as chicken or shrimp salad.
Sweet and hot Italian sausages are cooked in a slow cooker with red and green bell peppers and sweet onions. Serve over pasta, and you have an easy weeknight meal.
Breaded tofu a la parmigiana. You'll just about swear this is eggplant or veal! One of my husband's favorites, and he doesn't even suspect! Serve with a simple crisp green salad, angel hair pasta and garlic bread.
Italian-inspired rice balls made with lean ground beef are rolled in crumbs and baked, not fried. They are flavored with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and served with prepared pasta sauce.
This recipe introduced to me by an Italian woman combines thin strips of chicken breast in a lemon butter sauce with bacon, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and capers; served over bowtie pasta.
