In December, you might remember, we took the family to Disney World. We had a magical time at the parks and visiting with our friends. It was just as fun as you might imagine and we had a ball. One of the nicest surprises of the trip was how much the food at Disney had improved since we’d last been there. Granted, it had been quite a few years since we’d been to Disney. In fact, Jonathan and I had never been to Disney since we got married 13 years ago. However, the food was as much an adventure as the rides and character meet-ups. One of the best meals we had at Disney was at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant in Downtown Disney. I ordered the Pumpkin Ravioli with Browned Butter Sauce.

Y’all.

Not only was it one of the best meals at Disney, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had IN MY LIFE. It is the perfect combination of flavors: homemade ravioli filled with pureed pumpkin and mascarpone cheese, topped with a browned butter sauce, brown sugar, toasted pecans, fresh arugula, and shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese. It was creamy with a hint of sweetness and set off perfectly with the earthiness of the toasted pecans and the peppery arugula. I knew I would have to try to replicate it when I got back home.

My version is definitely the knock-off version (I’m sure Wolfgang would not approve), but it is a really delicious substitute if you aren’t headed to Disney World anytime soon. Plus, my version is simpler and works well for busy families. Here’s what you’ll need:

1 package butternut squash ravioli (See, I told you mine was a shortcut.)
1 stick butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 head of arugula
1 package parmigiano reggiano
1 small package of pecans

In a pan, bring about six cups of water to a boil. Drop in ravioli and boil until al dente.

Drain in a colander. Set aside.

In a skillet, melt the stick of butter. Allow it to keep cooking until it begins to turn a golden brown color. Whisk in the brown sugar and set aside.

In a 400 degree oven, toast the pecans on a cookie sheet for about 3 minutes. Don’t skip the toasting step, as it brings out the wonderful flavor of the pecans. However, pecans burn very quickly, so don’t let them go longer than about 3-5 minutes.

Once the ravioli, pecans, and butter are done, you are ready to plate your dish. Place a few ravioli on the dish and top with a smidge of shaved parmigiano reggiano. Spoon browned butter mixture over the top.

If you are unfamiliar with parmigiano reggiano, this is what you’re looking for:

It is a hard cheese that is beautiful when shaved over the top of Italian dishes.

Next, place a handful of the arugula leaves over the top. Arugula is in the lettuce family, but it is tougher than romaine or green leaf lettuce and it has a distinct peppery flavor.

Top with the toasted pecans and more shaved parmigiano reggiano.

Enjoy! To see other delicious recipes, visit our Recipe Index.

What’s your favorite Disney meal?

We’ve been on a sandwich kick around here lately. I’m not usually all that fond of sandwiches, but in the past few weeks I have made several that were out of this world. This Cube Steak Sandwich is one of them. Jonathan has declared that this sandwich is one of his all-time favorites. That’s high praise ’cause the man knows his sandwiches.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A package of cube steak
A package of brown gravy mix (Or make your own if you’re so inclined)
A small onion
A package of sliced mushrooms
Salt
Pepper
Garlic powder
Hoagie rolls
Sliced provolone or pepper jack cheese

Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Place the cube steak in it in a single layer.

Chop the onions and mushrooms. Layer over the meat.

Cook the gravy over medium heat in a saucepan according to package directions. When thick, pour over meat and veggies.

Cover tightly with foil. Bake on 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. Veggies will be tender and meat will be cooked through. Place meat on hoagie rolls. Pile on the onions and mushrooms. Top with slices of cheese. Enjoy!

To try some of our other delicious sandwich recipes, check out our Recipe Index.

Linking up with Savvy Southern Style.

I am always on the hunt for easy casseroles that I can make ahead, freeze, and pull out on a busy night. This delicious Italian Penne Casserole fits the bill perfectly! I can make it ahead (or better yet make TWO), stick it in the freezer, pull it out on a busy weeknight and serve it with a quick salad and bread. Our whole family enjoys this dish, so I’m sharing it on the blog today with you all in hopes that your family will enjoy it, too. Here’s what you will need:

1 box penne pasta, cooked
16 oz container ricotta cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground beef, cooked
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 pkg pepperoni
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup white cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray a 9 x 11 baking dish with cooking spray. Cook penne pasta according to directions on box. Drain well and set aside. Brown ground beef in skillet. Drain and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, and Italian seasoning. Mix well. Add pasta and mix until all pasta is coated with creamy mixture. Spoon mixture into baking dish. Cover with a layer of pepperoni. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, spaghetti sauce, and tomatoes. Mix well and spread over pepperoni layer. Top with cheese. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour, or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

For more recipes like this one, visit our Recipe Index.

One of the things I love best about exploring the food scene in south Alabama is being able to do it with my parents. My dad grew up in Mobile County, and he and my mom have lived in Orange Beach for over ten years. If there is good food to be found anywhere in Mobile or Baldwin Counties, my parents will know about it. So while most of our beach-going friends are eating at the “usual” seafood hot spots along the beach road, you can usually find us driving to Bay Minette or Foley to meet CC and/or Pop at a fabulous place that may may be lesser known to the tourists, but is well-know and well-loved by the locals. Don’t get me wrong, if loving Lulu’s or the Shrimp Basket is wrong, I don’t wanna be right. We are SURE to have a shrimp po-boy or a Cheeseburger in Paradise almost every time we make the trip south. But as much as we love to explore local culture, especially of the culinary variety, it’s fun to have our family tour guides who know good find food when they find it.

While the small town of Foley is best known to beach-goers for the Tanger Outlets, if one drives a little north of there to highway 98 and takes a left turn, there awaits a delightful lunch spot known as The Gift Horse. And since it found a place on the 2012 edition of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die,” we had a fabulous excuse to stop in.

(Forgive that janky photo. It was an afterthought.)

(I just used the word “janky” in a blog post. Showing my own roots: Houston County, Alabama, born and raised.)

The Gift Horse’s building has a colorful past, which only enhances the charm and character of the dining experience. It’s a historic structure built in 1912 that has housed the Foley Progressive Club, the local American Legion Post, the USO, the Foley Skating Rink, and various hardware merchants. In 1984 it became home to The Gift Horse. Y’all, the inside of the building is not only beautiful with its beaded pine plank walls and ceiling and huge brass chandeliers, but oh, if those walls could speak, you just get the feeling they would have so many stories to tell.

Although The Gift Horse offers catering and other dining-related services, I believe its calling card is the lunch buffet. Now, before you conjure up a notion of a Golden Corral or Ryan’s Steak House, let me assure you that The Gift HOrse is nothing of the sort. Each dish is homemade and of the highest quality. It’s real food, prepared by a real southern cook who knows their stuff. Let’s start with the salad bar:

Not only is there a fabulous selections of items for green salad, there is also a beautiful display of fresh fruit and prepared salads including green goddess salad and my personal favorite, the pasta salad. I don’t know what kind of dressing they use, but it’s like a sweet and sour combo that could easily become addictive. Y’all, you could just eat from the salad bar and feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth and had a delicious meal.

However. There’s this.

In case you can’t see it all, allow me to spell it out for you. There are cheese grits, broccoli and rice casserole, macaroni and cheese, fried fish, praline sweet potatoes, southern-style green beans, beef tips and rice, fried chicken, real mashed potatoes, and crawfish bisque (OMG!!! To. Die. For.). However, the dish that garnered The Gift HOrse a spot on the list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” is their apple cheese casserole. I don’t know what they put in this stuff (well, other that APPLES and, you know, CHEESE), but it’s the perfect combination of sweet, tart, perfectly cooked apples with the ooey deep richness of cheddar. And the crust. Oh my, the crust.

I ate it. And then I died. And then I ate more.

Can we all take a moment in honor of the apple cheese casserole?

(silence)

And just in case your sweet tooth isn’t satisfied, there is an assortment of treats that are sweet indeed. Pecan sandies, bread pudding, lemon squares, and shortbread thumbprint cookies with jam.

Y’all.

It’s like eating everyone of your grandmother’s best dishes all in one meal.

Do yourself a favor. Drive a little off the “beaten path” of beach road. Or stop there on your way home. Do whatever you have to do to enjoy The Gift Horse. It will add richness and texture to your next beach trip. And you’ll want to stop there every time you go south. I promise.