Gigi's Cuisine

Roasted garden cherry tomatoes and zucchini with broiled ricotta and freshly grated Parmesan.
Topped with plenty of olive oil and fresh basil from my herb garden. ❤️

This dish was so delicious, bursting with flavor and absolutely perfection spread atop freshly toasted crostini.

And the leftovers went over pasta the next night ✨

If you have a garden that is overflowing with tomatoes and zucchini this is a delicious and simple recipe that you have to give a try!

DM me for recipe 😊

Whipped Goat cheese ball coated in caramelized toasted pecans and topped with a blueberry merlot reduction sauce with whipped cinnamon honey.

When your husband texts you from work and says “remember that blueberry goat cheese ball we had forever ago at that one chop house… that sounds good”

You surprise him with date night in and recreate just that! 😋

Except this felt extra rewarding from all the hard work I put in to picking these delicious blueberries from my in-laws property.

This appetizer was seriously over the top good!
Made with some of the best blueberries around ❤️

Grandma Pats split pea soup ✨

Growing up we would take trips every summer to spend time at my grandparents farmhouse in WI

My grandma was always cooking up a storm for everyone in the kitchen… always thinking of everyone and the next meal that needed to be prepared.

As a child I would say “ewww peas” lol
But when my grandmothers split pea soup was served I always went dashing back for more!!!

The flavors of this soup are just incredible!!!

From the ham hock that simmers with all of the aromatic vegetables, to the spices and fresh dill this soup is one of my absolute favorites!

Can’t wait to pull it out around Christmas on a chilly winter day accompanied by some freshly baked bread 😋

Thought of you all day when I made your soup this week Grandma Pat…
Love you and miss you more than words! 💕

Where are my shortbread fans at?!?

I don’t know about you but I’m a absolute sucker for a good shortbread cookie 😋

Upon special request I was given this shortbread recipe and asked to make these for a special birthday gift.

This shortbread turned out so delicious and did not disappoint!!!

This shortbread is full of buttery goodness, lemon and orange zest with hints of vanilla and almond.
They are gluten free and refined sugar free as well.

Without a doubt these shortbread cookies are making it to my Christmas baking list! ❤️

Five course dinner✨

Just before thanksgiving I was blessed with the job opportunity to cater a five course dinner to dear friends of our family.

Each course on this menu felt like the star of the show!

This menu was full of delicious seasonal ingredients and just felt perfect for this special night.

Menu-

Appetizer - toasted crostini topped with whipped goat cheese, roasted butternut squash, roasted apples, crispy bacon and balsamic reduction.

Soup - Roasted carrot, ginger, and cumin bisque.

Salad - mixed greens topped with fresh pear, dried cherries, candied pecans, red onion, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

Entree - smoked beef tenderloin topped with Gorgonzola cream sauce accompanied by roasted garlic whipped potatoes and seasonal roasted root vegetables.

Dessert - Grandma Pat’s world famous carrot cake drizzled with fresh caramel sauce and walnuts.

Are you drooling yet? 😉
This menu was truly on fire! 🔥

Such a special night to remember 🤍

Back in October I got the chance to help cater another one of STUNNING parties! 😍

It was Harvest/ thanksgiving themed this time🍁🤍

Between the her gorgeous vision, decor and the seasonal menu that was chosen this party was just AMAZING!!!

Always such a blessing working with 🥰

✨Gigi’s Cuisine update✨

For those of you that may not know already…

I’ve had a little something extra baking in my oven over here 😉

We are so excited to share the news of our sweet new babe coming this March! ❤️

I know I’ve been pretty quiet these days as the beginning of this pregnancy was and still is hard 😅

That being said I feel incredibly blessed with this new little life that the lord has gifted to us.

I haven’t stopped catering or working amongst growing this peanut *not so much a peanut anymore lol
and Gigi’s Cuisine is so touched by all of your support.

With every ache, pain, new vericose vein etc… in this pregnancy I am reminded of the beauty of my ultimate work/ purpose.

Being a good mama and raising my babes is my whole world!
I’m just so blessed to get to cook and prepare delicious food for you all along the way ☺️

I’m so excited to share with you guys the delicious food that has been prepared in my kitchen over the last few months.

Thankful for you all!

Gina 🤍

Mango sorbet made with fresh pineapple mint served with balsamic reduction and fresh whipped maple goat cream.

This whole combination is absolutely out of this world good!!! 🔥

What started off as me making fresh mango sorbet pops from fresh mangoes for the kids…
Turned quickly into the best summer treat for Mama ever! 😉

My sister buys fresh raw goats milk from one of the most amazing goat milk farms around and she surprised me and brought some fresh goat cream over yesterday.

I knew between the Mango sorbet, the fresh goat cream and my growing pineapple mint something magical was about to come together.

The combination y’all was purely magic!!! 😍

I will most definitely be driving to get my hands on more of this fresh goat cream as well as be keeping my freezer stocked with this mango, pineapple mint sorbet this summer.

Roasted garlic, ginger, and carrot bisque!

This soup is so simple, creamy and delicious!
I love how fresh it tastes and that it’s dairy free, with such a nice velvety texture.

I serve mine with crème fresh, gluten free bread crumbs and chopped scallions.

Such a gorgeous and delicious soup!

Rustic Lemon and Orange square Tarts!

I made these rustic tarts for a
“build your own tart bar” a couple of weekends ago and they were AMAZING!!!

Gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free… these tarts were absolutely delicious!

So fresh and citrusy with just the right tart to sweet ratio.
The crust was buttery and so flavorful!

There was a assortment of gorgeous fresh berries, fresh whipped cream and homemade raspberry sauce to accompany these rustic tarts.
Absolutely amazing!

Logging this party theme idea away for the future ;)

Gigi’s Charcuterie platter!

If you have a special event coming up…
A girls weekend maybe, out of town guests coming in, a work gathering, Birthday party or even a bachelorette shower…

Whatever the occasion Gigi’s Charcuterie platters are beautiful, delicious and totally customizable.

Charcuterie platters of all kinds created in Gigi’s kitchen 🤍

Classic German chocolate cake made with pure dark chocolate and espresso shots.

My Mother grew up making this for us on special occasions like our birthdays and to this day it’s one of my absolute favorites!

Moist decadent chocolate cake layered with that sweet coconut, toasted pecans and buttery caramel frosting. 😘

So delicious!!!

Decadent dairy free salted, dark chocolate tart.

I love making tarts and this one did not disappoint!
So rich and velvety smooth, made with dark chocolate and sprinkled with course sea salt…

I piped along the edge with a espresso balsamic and chocolate frosting…
So delicious!!!

This little beauty is perfect for any occasion!

Lemon bars for the most precious wildflower themed One year old birthday party! 🤍

I was asked to help by making these delicious lemon bars…
And they did not disappoint!

These lemon bars are gluten free and refined sugar free…

Just the right tart to sweet ratio with a buttery shortbread crust,
Sprinkled with salted dried coconut instead of powdered sugar.

These delicious lemon bars would accompany Easter brunch in the most bright and beautiful way!

Last weekend I made my Grandmas Pat’s famous carrot cake.

I was asked to make a cake that would be auctioned off at a special event my mother-law puts on every year.

When thinking of which cake to make this one immediately came to mind…

Everyone that has been blessed to know my grandma and have gotten the chance to eat her carrot cake knows that it’s truly the BEST carrot cake there is!

I made this carrot cake back in the day to impress some clients of the company I worked for.
These clients from Spain hounded me for this recipe as long as I worked there.

My sweet grandma was so touched that I wouldn’t give it to them lol and that her carrot cake impressed a group of important Spaniards.

This cake is something special indeed and I’m so happy I got the chance to make it for such a beautiful event!

I hope I did you proud with this one grandma and that you are smiling down with St. Joseph up there 🤍🤍🤍

Among the things that I keep prepped and stocked in my pantry is homemade granola!

I grew up on homemade granola and it was my absolute favorite!

Every time my mom would make it and put it in the oven the smell would flood my senses and I would linger in the kitchen until she took it out of the oven.

My girls absolutely love it!!!

I know it’s so convenient to buy already made granola, but if you are like my family that have specific food/nut allergies it can be so pricey by the time you have found one that is okay to eat.

This granola is made with gluten free oats, shredded coconut, pecans, walnuts, pure maple syrup and lots of cinnamon…
Pure, simple, and clean ingredients!

This granola makes a absolutely delicious granola bowl as well as a ice cream topper and is a great addition to any Sunday brunch.

My sisters favorite ice cream…

Today I made homemade ice cream for my sisters birthday that is in a few days 🤍

I call it Coffee Oreo bliss!!! 😉

My Grandpa Abbott was famous for his homemade vanilla ice cream that we would eat at his resort every summer.

This is his recipe with some added shots of espresso and plenty of Oreo cookie goodness throughout.

This version is made with maple syrup and is gluten free. I also have made this ice cream dairy free as well.

Both ways it’s absolutely delicious!

Now I’m really wanting summer, hot days, and all the good excuses to eat ice cream everyday lol

Repurposed cake, Cake pops! 😂🥰

I hade some leftover German chocolate cake that I wrapped tightly and froze…

I took it out a couple nights ago with the idea that I could turn the cake into Valentine’s treats for the girls to hand out.

I mixed up the leftover cake with some melted dark chocolate and some cream cheese… Voila!

Dipped them in white chocolate that we tinted with natural food dye for some Valentine’s pretty 😉 and drizzled with dark chocolate.

So delicious!!!

Chic pea savory crepes topped with, roasted garlic cream cheese sauce, roasted chicken, sautéed Julienne vegetables, crumbled crispy bacon, fresh avocado, and pickled red onion

Fresh Beef bolognese sauce with zucchini pasta and freshly grated Parmesan.

I know what you are thinking…
And you would be correct there is absolutely no replacement for fresh pasta, I am a pasta lover all the way! 😉

That is why this dish is altogether just different… in the best way!

This homemade beef bolognese sauce made with canned tomatoes from our garden is absolutely delicious!

Such a simple yet gorgeous dish full of flavor.

🔥 This cake!!! 🔥

But I happen to adore the combination of chocolate and coconut 😉

I made a birthday cake over the weekend…

I was inspired by my mothers old German chocolate cake recipe.

I tweaked mine a little and it couldn’t have turned out better!
Incredibly moist and decadent 🤍

This is a traditional German chocolate cake made with strong coffee and olive oil, also gluten free and refined sugar free.
Wrapped in a maple buttercream/cream cheese frosting & topped with toasted maple coconut.

Homemade creamy ranch dressing!

This ranch dressing is a staple in our household. Whenever I make it I make enough to keep in the fridge for the week… if it lasts that long 😉

This ranch dressing is also dairy free!

The lemon and dill in this ranch are so refreshing and the nutritional yeast adds a creamy cheesiness that makes this dressing so delicious!

The kids love using this dressing to dip their veggies in… it’s literally so good on EVERYTHING! lol

DM me if you are interested in this recipe 😊

This past weekend I was blessed with the opportunity to wine and dine some close friends of mine and their family.

The whole evening was magical in every way!!!

Menu-

Appetizer -
crostini topped with whipped roasted garlic goat cheese, black mission fig and wine jam, Capicola, and balsamic reduction.

Salad -
Authentic Cesar salad with homemade croutons, fresh shaved Parmesan, and anchovies.

Entrée -
Smoked beef tenderloin topped with bearnaise sauce, accompanied by manchego risotto, roasted and caramelized root vegetable medley, pickled red onions and balsamic reduction.

Dessert -
lemon / orange ricotta cake topped with a blueberry wine reduction sauce and a whipped citrus marscapone cheese.

One of my most favorite types of Italian bread…

Focaccia!!! 😋

I learned how to make this in Italy and made this so much in the restaurants back home.

Ever since facing some annoying food allergies *because like how can you even be Italian and have a gluten intolerance?? Lol
I have been slowly but surely over the years trying to master different recipes that are a absolute “can’t live without” in our home.

This recipe is SO good!!!

We are so excited to eat it tonight along with my Grandma Pat’s split pea soup that I made and put in the freezer for a rainy day such as today.

Happy New Year!!!

If you are new here Welcome!
Or if you have supported Gigi’s Cuisine in any way this past year…
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 🤍🤍🤍

I’m so looking forward to this new year and all that the lord has in store for us…

from helping and nurturing my growing babies to…
New home reno projects and
Catering jobs I already have in the books for 2023.

We are so blessed and just praise the lord every day for this beautiful life he has given us.

Love to you All from Gigi’s Cuisine / The Maslanka’s 😘