Winter is Here - Comfort Food Made Easy........

Are you looking for something different to serve your family this Winter rather than traditional pasta such as spaghetti and ravioli?  Have you tried gnocchi?  Gnocchi is an excellent alternative as it is adaptable to a fresh, light sauce in Summer and a richer, heavier sauce in Winter.

Gnocchi are often referred to as a potato dumpling.  Our gnocchi is made from fresh, real potatoes.  We create our gnocchi using the finest ingredients and they are snap frozen after being created to prevent spoilage (we add no preservatives in our pasta & sauce products).  To cook gnocchi, you just add the frozen gnocchi to a pot of vigoursly boiling water.  Once the gnocchi rise to the surface, you cook them for a further 2 minutes then drain.  The gnocchi can then be served with a sauce. 

At CJ's Pasta we recommend another step in the cooking of gnocchi that we believe creates an unbelievable, delicious dish.  After you have drained the gnocchi really well and there is no excess water present, you heat a little olive oil in a non stick frypan.  Once the frypan has reached optimal heat (needs to be super hot) you panfry the drained gnocchi.  The exterior coating of the gnocchi will caramelise.  Season the gnocchi with salt & pepper if you wish whilst it is cooking.  Once the gnocchi has reached a golden crisp colour, it is ready to be removed from the frypan.  The gnocchi is then ready to be served with a sauce of your choice.  You may even choose not to use a sauce, but serve the gnocchi as the starch component of your meal with meat & vegetables or in a warm salad.

Gnocchi will adapt itself to different sauces, both of a meat or vegetarian nature.  You may even just like to serve the gnocchi topped with burnt butter & sage (heat butter in a frypan with fresh sage leaves and cook until the butter begins to foam).

CJ's Pasta has a number of gnocchi varieties.  On our retail menu we currently have Potato, Caramelised Onion & Roasted Garlic and Dried Tomato Pesto Gnocchi.  We may also have a number of other gnocchi varieties in stock that we create for our wholesale clients - just ask.

So what are you waiting for?  Get warm this Winter with a plate of gnocchi - yummy comfort food that the whole family will enjoy.

Italian Food

If you didn't know, Brisbane is celebrating Italian Week during the week of 26 May - 2 June.  We are so fortunate to live in a city that has a diverse range of culinary choices on offer.  Italian food is one of life's greatest pleasures - its flavours and simplicity are fantastic.  Not only do the Italians love their food and wine, but they also have a passion for how it is created.  Meal time is an important ritual - the process of gathering together and eating is enjoyed and treasured.

Unfortunately, a lot of us are time poor in our kitchens.  Whether it be due to our career, family or both - there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to fit everything in.  Let CJ's Pasta assist you by providing delicious and nutrious meals to you and your family.  CJ's Pasta is the perfect choice when thinking what to cook, whether it be for tonight's meal or for your next social gathering.  Our products are also a fantastic choice to have on standby in the freezer for those nights that you need a quick, easy meal to prepare.  You can be reassured that we have infused our passion for good food into each of our creations - so all you need to do is enjoy the meal and treasure the experience.

Bon Apetito!

Yummy Tummys in the Valley/New Farm Precinct

For all the yummy tummys in the Valley/New Farm precinct that need to be fuelled on the go - don't forget that we have a daily selection of prepared pasta meals that we can heat for you and have ready in 5 minutes.  Your tummy will thank you............