Gourmet Food Gifts Our Custom Italian Gift Basket

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A Couple Cooks Gourmet Food Gifts: Our Custom Italian Gift Basket
This Italian gift basket called Mediterranean Sunset is based on a meal we ate in Italy! Gourmet food gifts are the perfect gifts for foodies.

This custom Italian gift basket was created in partnership with DeLallo. All opinions are our own.
Guess what? We’ve got an exciting brand new gourmet food gift: a custom A Couple Cooks Italian gift basket! And it’s based on a real meal that Alex and I ate in Italy this summer. Our favorite Italian foods brand, DeLallo, asked us if we’d like to curate an Italian gift basket for you. We’ve traveled to Italy several times and many of our recipes are Italian style recipes. So, we could not be more excited to curate this gift basket based on our latest trip to Italy! Keep reading for the story behind the basket and how to get one: it’s the perfect gift for foodies!

The story behind this Italian gift basket This is an Italian gift basket with a story. On the Italian coast this summer, Alex and I enjoyed a simple homemade dinner with family, while watching the sun set over the Mediterranean on the terrace of our rented villa (sounds impossibly quaint, and it was!). And the menu was so simple: pasta with great pesto, a few antipasti, fresh veggies and delicious cheeses–and of course: great company.
Years before, Alex and I had honeymooned in Rome and on the Amalfi Coast, before we knew anything about food. But those charred artisan pizzas, that creamy Cacio e Pepe pasta that we slurped in the shade of the Pantheon: it inspired us. We were young and didn’t have much money, but that didn’t matter. Italian everyday food was totally accessible and so good. Italy showed us the power of delicious, well prepared, thoughtful food. In many ways, that trip was the foundation of who we became as A Couple Cooks.
Here it is: Our Italian gift basket!

So! Fast forward 11 years and we were in Italy again but this time, with our family. Alex had dreamed for years of bringing his mom to Italy, and now here we were! With our toddler Larson, his brother and his wife, and our niece and nephew, we spent a few days in a salmon pink villa hugging the rocky shore of the Mediterranean (in Tellaro Italy — here’s everything about our trip!). The meals we ate in restaurants were incredible, but one of our favorite memories is a meal we cooked with ingredients from the market and enjoyed on our terrace.
What struck us was how delightfully simple eating in Italy can be! Here are some photos of that meal: pesto pasta with the most incredible Italian basil pesto, some fresh veggies and cheese, some cured meats, and some grapes. We set the table of the terrace during golden hour and sat around drinking wine as the sun sank low in the sky. You know those moments when you feel a little twinge of, “I think I’ll remember this forever?” This was one of them.

Here we are! That very meal in Tellaro!

Here’s our meal on the terrace in Italy! Somehow foods from the market came together into this, even with 3 kids as part of the process!
What’s in this gourmet food gift basket? This gourmet food gift basket recreates that Italian meal at home! All the products are from DeLallo. Of any companies in America, DeLallo truly has the best Italian food Alex and I have had in our country. Their basil pesto? Truly amazing, reminiscent of that flavorful pesto we had in Liguria. Their pasta? The best of its kind. Their whole wheat pasta tastes delightfully chewy, compared to some of the cardboard tasting whole wheat pastas we’ve had. Their grilled artichokes? Charred and delightful. Honestly, Alex and I do not say things like this lightly. After being in Italy, it spoils you (in the best kind of way!). These products are that good.
For this Mediterranean Sunset Italian gift basket, Alex and I picked out items that will help you recreate our Italian meal! Add a simple green salad, sliced vegetables, and crusty bread–and it’s a meal! Here’s what’s in the basket:
Biodynamic Whole Wheat Fusilli Pasta Traditional Basil Pesto Olive and Artichoke Bruschetta Grilled Artichoke Halves Pitted Castelvetrano Olives Parmesan Cheese Wedge (eat it sliced!) Sliced Prosciutto Sliced Genoa Salami Natural Pistachios Order the Italian gift box! Click here to order the gift box! We hope you enjoy this basket as much as we do: it’s perfect for holiday gifts for foodies or enjoying with family.


A Couple Cooks - Recipes for Healthy & Whole Living
A Sweet Pea Chef Healthier Crock Pot Mashed PotatoesEver wondered how to make crock pot mashed potatoes?  It couldn’t be easier to make these delicious healthy mashed potatoes using your slow cooker!

First off, I’m gonna come clean and share I love mashed potatoes.  So I *may* be a teeny weeny bit biased when I say I think these crock pot mashed potatoes are amazing.
But… these mashed potatoes are amazing 😉
Why are slow cooker mashed potatoes amazing?  Let’s go over the goodness here:
Learning how to make mashed potatoes in a crock pot is super easy. Oh, who am I kidding, there’s not much learning involved.
The mashed potatoes are made in a crock pot, making them almost entirely hands-off and easy to do on the side.
The crock pot potatoes require just a few easy ingredients, but the mashed potatoes have a great flavor.
They use a combination of creamy Yukon potatoes, parmesan cheese, and Greek yogurt to make the perfect texture.
The crock pot mashed potatoes recipe can easily be halved, doubled, tripled etc. for whatever the occasion.
You don’t even have to peel the potatoes, making them easier to make!
They are mashed potatoes – ‘nuf said.
I think I should experiment with more crockpot potato recipes but, until I do, let’s just enjoy the goodness and deliciousness of these healthy mashed potatoes.

ARE MASHED POTATOES HEALTHY? In case you’re worried about whether mashed potatoes fall under the “clean eating” label, good news: the answer is yes. If prepared appropriately.
Wait… are mashed potatoes healthy? For real?
Since these mashed potatoes are made with whole ingredients and don’t have a ton of excess fat, cream, or cheese, they’re a great option. Substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream to reduce fat is a great way to make healthy mashed potatoes. You still get the creamy texture though.
You could even spread a little organic, grass-fed unsalted butter over the top for a special yummy treat and they’d still be clean — just make sure to enjoy them in moderation.
Learn more on clean eating here, if you’re interested!

HOW TO MAKE MASHED POTATOES IN A CROCK POT Making slow cooker mashed potatoes is so easy. I’m, telling you. No more boiling, no more peeling, no more stirring in the pot while the potatoes are boiling required. Nothing.
To make crock pot mashed potatoes:
Cut the potatoes into quarters. (Do you have to peel potatoes? Nope, you don’t have to but you totally can if you want.) Add them in a slow cooker followed by unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choice), low sodium chicken broth, sea salt, ground black pepper, and garlic cloves. Toss to combine. Cover the crock pot and cook for 3-4 hours on high or for 6-8 hours on low. When the potatoes are tender, mash them to your desired consistency. Do it directly in the slow cooker with a potato masher or remove them from the slow cooker if you want to mash them in a blender then transfer them back to the slow cooker. Add the Greek yogurt and grated parmesan and season to taste. Place the lid back on the crock pot and heat through for another 15-20 minutes. So flipping easy!
HOW TO MASH POTATOES A note on how to mash potatoes.  I’ve found a lot of people who complain they aren’t able to get their potatoes smooth so they avoid making mashed potatoes in general.
If that’s the case, I highly recommend getting yourself a potato masher to help you out. This is the one I use and it works beautifully, though they do come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  I also use it my masher to make applesauce or mash sweet potatoes as well.
How to mash potatoes without a masher:
Use a kitchen blender or a food processor to make them smooth and creamy. I like my mashed potatoes a little lumpy so if you are like me, you can mash potatoes by hand with a fork if you don’t have a potato masher.
POTATOES WITH OR WITHOUT SKIN? Just so I make sure to mention it for those of you who are still bothered I said you don’t have to peel the potatoes, you can certainly peel the potatoes if you’d prefer them that way.
Me?  Not so much.
Believe it or not, the time the potatoes are in the slow cooker makes the skin barely even noticeable.  Then — once it’s all mashed up nicely — the texture is smooth and creamy.
Plus: keeping the skin on not only cuts down on prep time, but it also keeps valuable nutrients (vitamins/minerals/fiber) in the food and not thrown away in the trash.  In fact, I rarely peel any of the veggies I cook.  I just wash them really well and then use ’em, peel and all.
That all being said, if you really prefer them without the peel, that’s entirely fine as well.
How to peel potatoes:
You can use a vegetable peeler; Or you can use a paring knife. Remove the skin before you add the potatoes to the crock pot.

GREEK YOGURT VS SOUR CREAM I don’t hate sour cream so I don’t want this Greek yogurt vs sour cream battle to get too intense. However, Greek yogurt is definitely a better, healthier option compared to sour cream. Take a look at the facts if you don’t believe me:
Both Greek yogurt and sour cream have a creamy texture and the taste is similar; Also, both are great sources of protein, vitamin B12, and calcium. But sour cream has fewer nutrients than Greek yogurt. And more fat. One cup of Greek yogurt = 133 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 8 grams of carbs while 1 cup of sour cream = 300 calories, 23 grams of fat, and 7 grams of carbs. And extra bonus for Greek yogurt – it contains probiotics that are good for your digestive system. The battle was clearly won by Greek yogurt. Sorry, sour cream.

HOW TO REHEAT MASHED POTATOES There are a few options for reheating your mashed potatoes once they’ve been stored in the fridge or freezer. If frozen, thaw the potatoes in the refrigerator one day before reheating.  Once thawed, you can easily reheat mashed potatoes with one of the following methods:
Stovetop: Reheat the mashed potatoes in a large pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Oven: Reheat the potatoes, thawed or straight from the freezer, in a covered dish at 350°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are completely heated through. Slow cooker: Reheating mashed potatoes with the slow cooker works best when they have been thawed in the refrigerator. Add the potatoes to the slow cooker and heat on low for 2 to 3 hours. Microwave: Add the potatoes to a covered dish and heat them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once heated through, stir well. 3 MORE HEALTHY MASHED POTATO RECIPES I admit that I may love mashed potatoes more than most people. Maybe even more than I should. But nothing compares to the delicate, soft, and rich texture of this delicious side. And I have 3 more healthy mashed potato recipes for you. Spoiler alert – not all of them use Yukon potatoes.
CAULIFLOWER MASHED POTATOES If you are looking for a low carb mashed potatoes recipe, you should try making Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes.

Mashed cauliflower is really yummy and it replaces mashed potatoes nicely. Clearly, the taste is not exactly the same, nor is the flavor but both mashed potatoes and mashed cauliflower are tasty. Get the recipe.
PARMESAN MASHED POTATOES Not a fan of cauliflower mash but you want another healthy mashed potatoes recipe? Try my Parmesan Mashed Potatoes.

These Parmesan Mashed Potatoes are creamy, rich, and have amazing flavors. Get the recipe.
MASHED SWEET POTATOES Mashed Sweet Potatoes – ah, the sweet, amazing, and delicious Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Don’t you love them?

I totally do and I also love how easy it is to make them. And you only need 3 ingredients – sweet potatoes, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Super, right? Get the recipe.
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Healthier Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes

Ever wondered about how to make mashed potatoes in a crock pot?  It couldn’t be easier to make these delicious parmesan mashed potatoes using your slow cooker!
4 medium yukon potatoes, (skin-on) 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk ((or milk of choice)) 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth 3 cloves garlic, (smashed) 1/3 cup full fat plain greek yogurt 1/4 parmesan cheese, (grated) 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp pepper garnish: sliced fresh chives or green onions, (if desired) Cut the potatoes into quarters and then add them, along with unsweetened almond milk, low sodium chicken broth, sea salt, ground black pepper, and a few whole garlic cloves into a slow cooker. Toss to combine. Now, cover the crock pot and cook for about 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. When the potatoes are very tender, mash them directly in the slow cooker to your desired consistency using a potato masher. Next, add the plain greek yogurt and grated parmesan, and season to taste. Place the lid back on the crock pot and heat through for another 15-20 minutes before serving. Garnish with sliced chives, if desired. If you find the consistency to be too thin, you can add a little more greek yogurt and stir in. If you find the consistency to be too thick, you can loosen with additional almond milk or chicken broth and then re-season with salt and pepper, as necessary.
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
The post Healthier Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes appeared first on A Sweet Pea Chef.
Cookie and Kate Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries & Pecans
These roasted Brussels sprouts are so good, I have to stop myself from devouring the whole platter. They’re irresistible! While the recipe is simple enough to make on a weeknight, I hope they’ll also make an appearance at your Thanksgiving feast.
This festive side dish recipe features roasted Brussels sprouts, plump dried cranberries, toasted pecans and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I like to add some Parmesan cheese or a few little pats of butter for added richness. Have mercy.

This recipe is famous in my boyfriend’s family. I haven’t had their version yet, but he got the recipe from his sister and I tinkered with it from there. The original recipe has pancetta in it, which I don’t eat, so I adjusted the ingredients and method and came up with this one.
Part of the reason why I haven’t mentioned this great presence in my life is because the word “boyfriend” makes me cringe. What’s the grown-up alternative? Another reason is that I decided to stay quiet about my dating life after some heartbreak a few years ago. However, I met this man for spring rolls and beer one year ago today, and that seems worth mentioning.
Continue to the recipe...
The post Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries & Pecans appeared first on Cookie and Kate.

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