Comedian J-L Cauvin chats with Ryan and Val, Alessi shares delicious pizza and pasta recipes
CHICAGO -- Friday on Windy City Weekend, comedian J-L Cauvin joins Ryan and Val for host chat. J-L went viral for his impersonation of President Donald Trump at the start of COVID-19 in 2020. Cauvin is in town to perform at the Comedy Plex in Oak Park.
For tickets, visit www.comedyplex.com.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
In the kitchen with Alessi
October is Italian American Heritage Month and Chef Mario Manfredini is back in the kitchen with a delicious Pasta Al Forno Con Melanzane (baked pasta with eggplant) recipe! Chef Mario stopped by the Jewel-Osco (www.atjewelosco.com) in Schaumburg to pick up the Alessi products for his dish!
Pasta al Forno con Melanzane
Ingredients:
- 1 medium size eggplant with skin on, cubed
- 2 small shallots, minced
- 16 oz Alessi organic rigatoni
- 8 oz of grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 8 oz of fresh mozzarella, cubed
- 28 oz Alessi San Marzano plum tomatoes
- Alessi garlic puree
- Alessi sea salt and pepper
- Alessi extra virgin olive oil
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions:
Wash and cube eggplant, fry in vegetable oil until browned. Set aside on paper towels and salt.
In saucepan over medium heat add three tablespoons of evoo, sauté the shallots - once they become translucent add one tablespoon of garlic puree until fragrant, add tomatoes and simmer 20 minutes adding fresh basil, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste.
In a separate pot bring plenty of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook half-way through stirring occasionally - approximately seven minutes.
In a bowl combine sauce, eggplant pasta and half the cheeses. You can also re-season and add more fresh basil.
Layer mixture in a casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
In a pre-heated oven bake uncovered for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.
Once removed from oven, let dish rest for five minutes.
Garnish with additional fresh basil, parmesan, and sauce if you'd like.
Flat bread pizza appetizer
Ingredients:
- 2 naan flatbreads
- Fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Fresh basil
- Alessi pesto
- Alessi garlic puree
- Alessi balsamic reduction
- Alessi chunky marinara
- Alessi sea salt and pepper
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Place naan bread on cookie sheets, brush with garlic puree, cover with pasta sauce.
Place sliced cheese evenly over bread.
Add dollops of pesto.
Place in middle rack of oven and bake eight to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Once done, let bread sit a couple of minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and drizzle with balsamic reduction.
If you wish to add more ingredients, try Alessi sundried tomatoes or even use the eggplant sauce from the prior dish.
Neighborhood Walk
In Val's latest edition of Neighborhood Walk, she takes a tour of the oldest Puerto Rican neighborhood in Chicago, Humboldt Park.
The historic neighborhood was once home to Eastern European immigrants, but in the 1950s, it became a stronghold for Chicago's Puerto Rican community.
Eduardo Arocho guided Val on her tour of Humboldt Park. Arocho is an entrepreneur and poet, best known as the owner of the Paseo Boricua Tour Co. The company sponsors walking tours through the Humboldt Park community.
Spend or Save?
Film critic Richard Roeper reviews new movies and TV shows hitting theaters and streaming platforms this weekend.
"We Live in Time" - SPEND
Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star in this romantic drama that follows a couple's relationship over a decade of time.
"Woman of the House" - SPEND
Anna Kendrick directs and stars in this Netflix movie about a serial killer who appeared on "The Dating Game" in the 1970s.
"Allswell in New York" - SPEND
Liza Colon-Zayes from "The Bear" stars in this family drama about three Nuyorican sisters navigate through life's challenges.
