As the summer season strolls along, and restaurant choices seem either slim or expensive, many of you are likely looking for more options to dine at home.
Chef Rocco DiSpirito has several suggestions on how to elevate an ordinary night in into a restaurant quality meal. From navigating the grocery store for the best possible ingredients, to building a menu of options that are sure to please.
Here are some of Chef Rocco's tips and tricks for delicious dinners.
From Salad to SidesEach meal should include complimentary salads and side dishes to round out the dining experience.
For starters, Chef Rocco suggests that you make a fresh salad with a homemade vinaigrette, by using ingredients like garlic in a tube, canned pimentos and jarred peppers.
Frozen spinach also works great to make creamed spinach, and I always love buying the frozen peas .
Bring the Restaurant HomeAnother one of Chef Rocco's supermarket secrets is Bertolli’s line of frozen skillet dinners. They literally have a menu of options (23 to be exact) ranging from Mediterranean Style Dishes to their latest Chianti Braised Beef selection.
Don’t Forget Dessert Chef Rocco says you should always have a dessert, and since it’s summer make it simple. All you have to do is add some fruit and whipped cream to a simple store-bought angel food cake.
If you’d like to check out more recipes to help bring the restaurant home, check out Chef Rocco's most recent book, "
Rocco Gets Real, Cook at Home Every Day".
