What I'm cooking

2012-01-22T11:48:00.000-08:00

Chicken Pot Pie

Finally a recipe my whole family loved!!!

Ingredients

1 recipe pastry for a (10 inch) double crust pie
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 small onion, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped (I used celery salt instead)
2 carrots, diced
3 tablespoons dried parsley (didn't have any so left it out)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
2 cubes chicken bouillon (I used chicken base)
2 cups water
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2+ cups cubed cooked chicken
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk (I added a little extra milk)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll out bottom pie crust, press into a 10 inch pie pan, and set aside.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the onion, celery, carrots, parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the bouillon and water. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in the potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm.
In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in the turkey and flour. Add the milk, and heat through. Stir the turkey mixture into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened. Cool slightly, then pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Roll out the top crust, and place on top of filling. Flute edges, and make 4 slits in the top crust to let out steam.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

2011-10-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Rosemary Skillet Chicken

I have made this multiple times now and it is a big hit every time!!!

3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
Kosher salt
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 1/2 tablespoons leaves
2 cloves garlic, smashed
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4-6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (6 to 8 ounces each)
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved

Preheat the oven to 450. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from pan; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet, place chicken over mushrooms and potatoes and drizzle with any marinade remaining in the bowl and the juice of the remaining lemon.
Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

2011-10-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

These are A.MA.ZING!!!

I will be making these again very soon...mainly because they will be gone way to fast!!!

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Chip Pretzel Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. of salt
1/4 tsp. of baking soda
1/2 cup of butter at room temperature
1/2 cup of tightly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup of granulated sugar
1 egg (beaten)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup broken up pretzel pieces
Preztel Salt or Sea Salt

Directions:

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a larger bowl, beat the butter and sugars together on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). On low speed, slowly add the beaten egg and vanilla extract. Beat to combine, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the flour mixture and beat just until there are no more streaks of flour. Stir in the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and preztels. Cover and refrigerate for an hour.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop out well rounded tablespoonfuls of the dough and sprinkle with pretzel salt. Leave about 2 inches between each ball. Bake for 10 minutes. If you prefer crispier cookies increase the baking time by 1-2 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing.

2011-09-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

I made these wings for Labor Day...oh.my.word!!

I actually finished mine off in the oven because I had so many to do. So, once I grilled them, I transfered them to a cookie sheet and brushed on the glaze and placed them in a 400 degree oven while I grilled the next batch. They were a HUGE hit!!!

Honey Chipotle Wings

Ingredients

3 pounds chicken wings (18 wings), cut up
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the glaze:
3 chipotles in adobo
1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Ingredients

1. Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. Place the wings in a large bowl and sprinkle with the baking powder, chili powder, and salt and toss to evenly coat. Arrange the wings in a single layer on wire rack placed over a baking sheet. Refrigerate uncovered for at least 8 hours.
2. Place all the ingredients for the glaze in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and set aside.
3. Light a chimney 3/4 full of charcoal. When charcoal is fully lit and covered in gray ash, pour coals out and arrange them on one side of the charcoal grate, keeping the other side empty. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Place the wings skin side up over the cool side of the grill, cover, and cook until skins are crisp and are starting to brown, about 30-40 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking brush the glaze all over the wings. Brush the wings with the glaze again and move to the hot side of the grill until the just begin to char, about 1 to 3 minutes. Remove the wings to a plate, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve.

2011-09-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

This was SO GOOD!!!

Slow-Cooker Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, , cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 medium yellow onion, diced small
3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced small
14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes (diced tomatoes would work as well)
1/4 - 1/3 c hot pepper sauce, or more to taste (I used 1/4 c and it was not too hot)
3 T Worcestershire sauce
2 T yellow mustard
1 T unsulfured molasses
8 hamburger buns

Directions:

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add chicken thighs, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring once, until meat is golden brown, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a slow cooker, leaving as much oil behind as possible. Repeat with chicken breasts.
To skillet, add onion, garlic and bell pepper and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until onion is translucent, 6 minutes. Add ¼ cup water and cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to slow cooker.
To slow cooker, add crushed tomatoes, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and molasses. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on high until chicken is very tender, 4 hours. Shred chicken and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve on buns.

2011-09-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

Spanish Chicken with Chorizo and Potatoes

I halved this recipe

3 tablespoons regular olive oil
12 chicken thighs (bone in, with skin)
750 grams chorizo sausages, whole if baby ones, or cut into 4-cm chunks if regular-sized
1 kilogram baby potatoes, half the larger ones
2 red onions, peeled and roughly chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
grated zest of one orange
salt to taste

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the oil in the bottom of 2 shallow roasting tins, about 1 1/2 tablespoons in each. Rub the skin of the chicken in the oil, season with salt accordingly, then turn them skin-side up, 6 pieces in each tin. Divide the chorizo sausages and the new potatoes between the 2 tins.

Sprinkle the onion and the oregano over, then grate the orange zest over the arranged contents of the 2 tins. Cook for 30 minutes, then swap the top tray with the bottom tray in the oven and baste the contents with the orange-colored juices. Continue cooking for about 30 minutes or till chicken is done.

2011-08-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

Baked Brie with Pepper Jelly

this was DELICIOUS!!!

1 8-oz. wheel of baby Brie

1/2 package puff pastry, thawed for about 40 minutes at room temperatures

About 2-4 tablespoons pepper jelly

1 egg white mixed with about 2 teaspoons cold water

Preheat oven to 400.

Gently unfold the puff pastry sheet, mending any broken spots. Cut the brie in half lengthwise and place one half, rind down, on the pastry. Spread with jelly and then place the other half of the brie, rind up, on the cheese. If necessary, trim the excess pastry and then fold it over the cheese, sealing the edges. If desired, decorate the brie with decorative shapes cut from the excess dough and brush it with the egg white/water mixture.

Place the bundle, seam-down, on a lightly greased baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Serve with crackers, bread, and fresh fruit (like strawberries, apples, pears, and grapes) if desired. This is perfect as an easy, elegant holiday appetizer.

2011-08-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

I just made this last night and it is my new favorite pasta salad. Very light and yummy, perfect for these hot summer days!!! Enjoy!

Ingredients

12 ounces, weight Farfalle (bowtie) Pasta
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 whole Lemons (more To Taste)
Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
2 whole Zucchini, Cut Into Small Wedges Or Diced
10 ounces, weight Grape Tomatoes, Halved Lengthwise
1/3 cup Minced Fresh Parsley
6 ounces, weight Crumbled Feta Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Cook pasta until done. Drain and rinse in cold water until completely cool. Add olive oil and lemon juice, then add salt and pepper to taste (do not under salt). Toss to combine. Add zucchini, tomatoes, parsley, and feta, and toss to combine. Add more of what you think it needs; I like to go heavy on the feta! Squeeze in a little more lemon juice/drizzle more olive oil if it needs more moisture.

Cover in plastic wrap for at least a couple of hours. Pasta is best when chilled for a few hours before serving.

2011-05-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Caramelized onions and prosciutto pizza

Curtesy of the Pioneer Woman

Oh.My.Word

This was the BEST pizza I have every made!!!

seriously.

The sweetness of the caramelized onions and the saltiness of the prosciutto were amazing!

Ingredients

1 whole Pizza Crust (Pioneer woman's recipe is great and easy)
Olive Oil, For Drizzling
1 whole Large Red Onion, Halved And Thinly Sliced
¼ cups Brown Sugar
Kosher Salt To Taste
Parmesan Cheese, Grated
10 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Thinly Sliced
8 slices Prosciutto (more To Taste)

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Add onions and brown sugar and toss/stir for several minutes, or until onions are brown and cooked. Set aside.
Roll out pizza dough to a rectangular shape. Drizzle on olive oil, sprinkle on a little salt, followed by a little Parmesan.
Lay slices of mozzarella evenly over the top of the crust. Arrange caramelized onions over the top of the mozzarella. Randomly lay slices of prosciutto over the onions.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the lower half of the oven, or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and cut into squares. Serve immediately.

2011-04-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Hungarian Hot Sausage and Lentil Soup

This soup was AMAZING!!!

I will most definitely be making it again! sorry no picture!

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 1/2 pounds bulk hot Italian sausage
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 portobello mushrooms, gills scraped out, chopped
1 cup pre-shredded carrots, available in sacks in produce department of the market
1 cup lentils
1 large starchy potato, peeled and chopped
Salt and pepper
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
2 teaspoons smoked paprika (or substitute a mix of 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika and 2 pinches cayenne pepper)
3 sprigs fresh rosemary, in tact on stems
1 (14-ounce) can fire roasted chopped tomatoes, such as Muir Glenn or, regular diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken stock
4 cups kale or chard, a small bunch, veins removed and chopped
Crusty pumpernickel bread, to pass at table
Butter, for bread

Directions

Heat a medium soup pot over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, then add sausage to pot and brown and crumble it, then add garlic, onions and mushrooms. Cook a few minutes, then add carrots, lentils, potato, salt and pepper, bay leaf, paprika or substitute mixture and rosemary (leaves will fall from stems as stoup cooks). Add tomatoes and broth and cover pot then raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Uncover pot and place heat back a bit but keep stoup at a good rolling boil. Cook 15 minutes until lentils and potatoes are tender. Wilt in greens in small bunches, remove rosemary stems and turn off heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Serve in shallow bowls with bread and butter to mop up stoup. Reheat leftovers thinning it with broth or water.

2011-04-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Italian Wedding Soup

This has been one of my husbands favorite soups that I have made so far on his fast. Very simple, yet tasty! I just made the meatballs a bit too big!

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

3/4 pound ground chicken
1/2 pound chicken sausage, casings removed
2/3 cup fresh white bread crumbs
2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
3 tablespoons milk
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the soup:

2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 cup minced yellow onion
1 cup diced carrots (3 carrots), cut into 1/4 inch pieces
3/4 cup diced celery (2 stalks), cut into 1/4 inch pieces
10 cups homemade chicken stock
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup small pasta such as tubetini or stars
1/4 cup minced fresh dill
12 ounces baby spinach, washed and trimmed

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the meatballs, place the ground chicken, sausage, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, Pecorino, Parmesan, milk, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl and combine gently with a fork. With a teaspoon, drop 1 to 1 1/4-inch meatballs onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. (You should have about 40 meatballs. They don't have to be perfectly round.) Bake for 30 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned. Set aside.

In the meantime, for the soup, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and saute until softened, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken stock and wine and bring to a boil. Add the pasta to the simmering broth and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender. Add the fresh dill and then the meatballs to the soup and simmer for 1 minute. Taste for salt and pepper. Stir in the fresh spinach and cook for 1 minute, until the spinach is just wilted. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle each serving with extra grated Parmesan.

2011-04-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Cup-of-Garden Soup

This is DEElish!!!

And is chock full of great vegetables.

We loved it!!!

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 strips of smoked bacon, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 medium red onion, peeled, halved and finely chopped
2 carrots, washed and finely chopped
2 sticks of celery, finely chopped
1 zucchini, finely chopped
1 small leek, washed and finely chopped
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 bay leaf
2 14.5-oz cans chopped plum tomatoes
1 large potato, scrubbed and diced
1 cup Romanesco cauliflower or cauliflower florets
1 15.5-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 cups (one 1-qt. container) reduced-sodium vegetable broth, preferably organic
Large handful curly kale, stalks removed, chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup mixed small pasta shapes or broken spaghetti
Small bunch of fresh basil (optional)
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
5 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the bacon and fry it gently until it starts to turn golden. Add the chopped garlic, onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, leek, oregano, and bay leaf. Cook slowly for about 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the vegetables have softened.
2. Add the cans of tomatoes, the chopped potato, cauliflower, drained chickpeas, and vegetable broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and cooked through (check by sticking one with a small knife).
3. Add 2 cups of water to the pan and return to boil. Once boiling, add kale and pasta and cook for 10 minutes more, or until the pasta is tender. If soup is too thick, thin it out with a little more broth or water.
4. If using the basil, tear the larger leaves into the soup and reserve the baby leaves for garnish. Season with a little pinch of salt and black pepper. Taste to check the flavors. Remove bay leaf and discard. Divide soup between serving bowls and sprinkle with the reserved basil leaves. Serve the Parmesan in a small bowl alongside to sprinkle over servings. Makes 8 servings.

2011-04-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

Seafood Stew

I can not tell you how good this was!!! And the picture does not do it justice. It is an absolutely beautiful dish fit for a dinner party....which is where I served it. It is a little pricey (the fish can be expensive) but it is well worth it!!!

Ingredients

3 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 small)
2 cups large-diced small white potatoes
2 cups chopped fennel (1 large bulb)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups good white wine
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, chopped
1 quart Seafood Stock
1 tablespoon chopped garlic (3 cloves)
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined (reserve the shells for the stock)
1 pound each halibut and bass fillets, cut in large chunks
24 mussels, cleaned
3 tablespoons Pernod - I used a cheaper Anise liquor and it was great
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Toasted baguette slices, buttered and rubbed with garlic

Directions

Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or stockpot, add the onions, potatoes, fennel, salt, and pepper, and saute over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until the onions begin to brown. Add the wine and scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add the tomatoes with their juices, stock, garlic, and saffron to the pot, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Add the shrimp, fish, and mussels, bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit covered for another 5 minutes. The fish and shrimp should be cooked and the mussels opened. Discard any mussels that don't open. Stir in the Pernod, orange zest, and salt, to taste. Serve ladled over 1 or 2 slices of toasted baguette

2011-04-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

Marinated Cheese

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

1 (2 oz) jar diced pimiento, draned

3 T choppped fresh parsley

3 T minced green onions

3 closves garlic, minced

1 t sugar

3/4 t dried whole basil

1/2 t slat

1/2 t freshly ground pepper

1 (8 oz) block sharp cheddar cheese, chilled

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, chilled

combine first 10 ingredients in a jar; cover tightly and shake vigorously. set marinade mixture aside. cut block of cheddar cheese in half lengthwise. cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices; set aside. repeat with the cream cheese. arrange cheese slices alternately in a shallow baking dish, standing slices on edge. pour marinade over cheese slices. cover and marinate in refrigerator at least 8 hours. transfer cheese slices to a serving platter in the same alternating fashion, reserving marinade. spoon marinade over cheese slices. serve with crackers

2011-04-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

Tortilla Soup

This is one of the best I have ever made!!

16 ounce can tomatoes

1 medium onion, cut up

2 clove garlic

4 tablespoons snipped cilantro (I double this naturally)

1/2 teaspoon sugar

8 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 lbs chicken breast cut up (shredded is best) I used leftover pork..it was amazing!

2 or 3 chipotle peppers and little adobo sauce (or less if you don't like spicy) I actually used powdered chipotle.

shredded Monterey jack cheese or white mexican queso

avocados cut up

Tortilla chips

Sour cream

Instructions: In blender combine undrained tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, and sugar. Cover and blend till nearly smooth. Put mixture into a large pot with chicken broth, chicken and chipotle peppers. Bring to boiling; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Put crunched tortilla chips in a bowl with cheese, avocados, and sour cream (omit if desired) . Ladle soup over; serve immediately. Makes 8 or 10 servings.

2011-01-21T18:02:00.000-08:00

Sopapilla cheesecake

2(8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1+ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Soften the cream cheese. Mix the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and set aside. Unroll one of the crescent rolls and place on bottom of 9x13 pan. spread the cream cheese mixture over the crescent rolls. place the other can of crescent rolls over top of cream cheese. Mix the melted butter, sugar and cinnamon (I like extra cinnamon) and pour over the top. Bake at 350 for 20 - 30 minutes.

enjoy!!!

2010-09-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

This is one of my family's favorites.
I got it from Proud Italian Cook.
You'll want to serve good bread with it for dipping. The sauce is amazing!!!

Country-Style Rigatoni

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of Olive Oil

4 or 5 Cloves of Coarsely Choped Garlic

1/2 of a Thinly Sliced White Onion

1/2 to 3/4 lb. of Italian Sausage with Fennel, casings removed (I used Jimmy Dean sausage with sage)

8 large Basil Leaves, chopped (optional)

One can of Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed (I use navy beans)

2 cups of Chicken Stock

3tbl of Butter

1 cup of grated Romano Cheese

3 slices of Prosciutto rolled up and thinly sliced (optional)

12 ounces of Dried Rigatoni

10 Broccoli Spears, 3" long

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan, add the onions and garlic.

2. Add sausage, basil and parsley, cook till sausage is nice and brown. Raise heat, add stock and butter, bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes till sauce thickens a little. Stir in half of the grated cheese and cook for about 3 more minutes till sauce thickens. Add beans, sliced prosciutto, season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, cook your pasta in salted boiling water for only 4 minutes. Add broccoli and cook another 3-4 more minutes. Pasta will be nicely al dente. It will cook more in the sauce so don't worry!

4. Drain pasta and broccoli, add to sauce, now add more cheese!

2010-09-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

Blueberry Buckle

This is the best blueberry cake EVER!!

1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups fresh blueberries
TOPPING:
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup cold butter

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Fold in the blueberries. Pour into greased 9-in. square baking pan.
For topping, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over blueberry mixture. Bake at 375 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

2010-09-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe that I learned to make while in Italy. It is a family favorite and so delicious!!!

Pasta con Broccoli

serve 4

Ingredients: 1 large cup of broccoli per person

4 anchovy fillets or anchovy paste

2 cloves of garlic

hot chily peppers or red pepper flakes

1 cup of parmesan cheese

salt and extra virgin olive oil

short pasta like penne, ziti, fusilli...

Paste with the blade of the knife the anchovies (in case you don't like anchovies, don't use them...) and melt them in 5Tbs extra virgin olive oil into a frying pan (low heat). Add the pressed garlic and the chily, then when garlic is light pink, the olives.

In the boiling water for the pasta add salt and cook the broccoli florets for 3-4 min. Remove broccoli with a ladle, and put into the frying pan with a ladle of water from the pasta. cook pasta in the water and finish to cream the broccoli. Drain the pasta, put in the frying pan, add parmesan and sautè. Buon appetito

Finish to cream the broccoli mean that the broccoli need to cook and "melt": we want a creamy sauce, so cook them down until soft, adding a little water when needed (this pasta, as you remember is not dry, but a little soupy)

2010-09-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Chicken Marsala

4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
All-purpose flour, for dredging
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them; pound with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Put some flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly.

Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. When the oil is nice and hot, dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Slip the cutlets into the pan and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden, turning once – do this in batches if the pieces don't fit comfortably in the pan. Remove the chicken to a large platter in a single layer to keep warm.

Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat. Now, add the mushrooms and saute until they are nicely browned and their moisture has evaporated, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the Marsala in the pan and boil down for a few seconds to cook out the alcohol. Add the chicken stock and simmer for a minute to reduce the sauce slightly. Stir in the butter and return the chicken to the pan; simmer gently for 1 minute to heat the chicken through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

2010-08-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

Beef, Cheddar and Potato Pie

This is truly awesome!!!
and a favorite of the men in my life!!

1 lbs ground beef
2 carrots, cut into cubes
1/2 onion, cut into cubes
2 stalks celery, cut into cubes
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
1 lrg baking potato, peeled and cut into cubes
1/2 cup beer
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
salt ad pepper
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed but cold
1 large egg yoke, beaten with 1 T water

Preheat the oven to 375. In a skillet, combine the beef, carrots, onion, celery, garlic and potato and cook, breaking up the meat, over med-high heat until the beef is cooked through and some liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Lower the heat to medium, add the beer and cook for 10 minutes Add the cheese, salt and pepper. let cool.

on a floured surface, roll 1 puff pastry sheet into a 12 inch round. Place in a 10 inch skillet or deep pie dish. roll the remaining puff pastry sheet into an 11 inch round. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat mixture to the pie dish. Lightly brush the edge of the crust with some of the egg wash, then place the second sheet on top Press the edges to seal.

Place the pie on a baking sheet Brush the top with more of the egg wash and cut an "X" into the center of the pastry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 45 minutes, tenting with foil if the crust darkens too quickly. Transfer to a rack to cool for 15 minutes.

enjoy!!!

2010-07-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Crock Pot Carne Asada

I love Carne Asada, but I didn't want to grill it (as I normally do). So I search the internet for a crock pot recipe and found this one. It is a keeper!!! Very easy and so good! Especially good with the homemade tortillas I brought home from Tucson!

2 1/2 pounds lean stew meat (I used beef shoulder roast)
2 Tbsp chili powder (I used 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1/2 Tbsp ancho chili powder, and 1/2 Tbsp cayenne pepper)
1 Tsp ground cumin
1 Tsp salt
2 Tsp minced garlic
Juice of 1 fresh lime
12 oz dark beer or beef broth (I used beef broth)
2 fresh jalapeño peppers, chopped
1 small onion, cut into eights
1 Tsp dry oregano

In a ziplock bag combine the chili powder, cumin, salt, minced garlic, and lime juice until blended. Put meat in ziplock bag and marinate in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, put the meat in the crock pot, along with the beer/beef broth, onion, jalapeño peppers, and the oregano. Cover and cook on low setting for 6 to 8 hours, or on high setting for 4 to 6 hours. Shread meat with two forks and serve with your favorite garnishes in flour tortillas.

2010-07-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

Blueberry Crumb Cake

I found this recipe on Pioneer woman's website and since I have all those wonderful blueberries I brought home from Indiana, I decided to try it!!! It is GREAT!

½ sticks Butter
1 Tablespoon (additional) Butter
¾ cups Sugar
½ teaspoons Cinnamon
1 whole Egg
½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 cups All-purpose Flour
2-¼ teaspoons Baking Powder
½ teaspoons Salt
¾ cups Whole Milk
2 cups Fresh Blueberries
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FOR THE TOPPING:
¾ sticks Butter
½ cups Sugar
½ cups Flour
¼ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder, and a salt. Stir and set aside.

Cream 1/2 stick plus 1 tablespoon butter with cinnamon and sugar. Add egg and mix until combined. Add vanilla and mix. Add flour mixture and milk alternately until totally incorporated. Do not over beat. Stir in blueberries until evenly distributed.

Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Pour in batter.

In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients and cut together using two knives or a pastry cutter. Sprinkle over the top of the cake.

Bake cake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve with softened butter.

2010-07-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Crab Louie

2 cups crab meat
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups chopped tomatoes
juice of 2 lemons
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup chili sauce
2 T. chopped parsley
1 small onion, chopped finely
1 T minced parsley

2-3 hard boiled eggs, quartered
cucumber slices
boston lettuce
artichoke hearts

Mix crab meat, tomatoes, celery, parsley and lemon juice together. Mix in a separate bowl mayonnaise, chili sauce, onion and bit of parsley together and chill. Arrange the crab mixture on a bed of lettuce, pour mayonnaise mixture over tome and garnish with eggs, cucumber and artichokes!!!

2010-07-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is the BEST ice cream.

I got the recipe from the Pioneer Woman's website.
You do have to have time to prepare it because it involves cooking the custard! But it is soooo worth it!

Delicious Blackberry Ice Cream

2 pints fresh blackberries
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 cup sugar

5 large egg yolks

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Add blackberries to a medium saucepan with 1/4 cup sugar and lemon juice. Cook over low heat, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes. Drain using a fine mesh strainer, pressing berries to extract as much juice/puree as possible. Set aside.

Heat half-and-half and 1 cup sugar in a separate saucepan over low heat. Turn off heat when mixture is totally heated.

Add heavy cream to a separate bowl.

Beat egg yolks by hand or with an electric mixer until yolks are pale yellow and slightly thick.

Temper the egg yolks by slowly drizzling in 1 1/2 cups of hot half-and-half mixture, whisking constantly. After that, pour the egg yolk/half-and-half mixture into the pan containing the rest of the half-and-half mixture. Cook over low to medium-low heat (depending on how hot your stove gets) until quite thick, stirring constantly. Drain custard using a fine mesh strainer, then pour into the bowl with the cream. Stir to combine.

Add blackberry juice/puree to the cream/custard mixture and stir. Chill mixture completely, then freeze in an ice cream maker until thick. Place container in freezer to harden for an additional two hours.

2010-07-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Raspberry Mojito

Many of you asked for this drink recipe after seeing it on my Project 365 post. It is a very light and refreshing summer drink!

Raspberry Mojito
Makes 1 serving

8 fresh mint leaves
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
2 ounces white rum
2-3 ounces seltzer
4-6 fresh raspberries

- Place mint leaves, lime juice and sugar in a highball glass (something tall and narrow is perfect). Using the straight end of a wooden spoon, gently press on leaves to release flavor (“muddle” is the official term).

- Fill glass with ice cubes. Pour in rum. Top off with seltzer. Drop in raspberries, and sip!