Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Pasta e Fagiole



Mmm, a warm bowl of Pasta e fagiole is fast and hearty and Oh so delicious! Serve with some warm, crusty bread and a salad and you're all set :)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 diced onion
1/3 cup diced Prosciutto or you can use Italian sausage, removed from it’s casing and crumbled
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 15-ounce cans Great Northern or Cannellini beans with their liquid
4 cups chicken broth
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 cups canned plum tomatoes, well drained and chopped
1 pound Ditalini or other small macaroni, cooked
1/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (Optional)

Directions:
1. Combine oil, onion, prosciutto(Or Sausage, that’s what I use most often), and garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and begin to turn golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
2. Stir in beans and their liquid, add broth and salt & pepper and bring to a boil. Add tomatoes and return to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes
3. Stir in cooked pasta and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve hot, sprinkled with Pecorino Romano cheese, if desired.


Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Monday, March 30, 2009

It was good.. but something was wrong...

Last night for dinner I made Cumin lime marinated chicken thighs and smashed potatoes.. it was excellent, but something was wrong. I had taken the skin off the chicken thighs and de-boned them, now generally there is nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that I roasted the chicken leaving it looking, well.. naked. I should have tossed them on the George Foreman grill and then they would have looked good and tasted good...

See what I mean...



Now, it doesn't look bad, per say.. it just looks kinda, well.. naked.. it would have looked so much nicer with some grill marks on it.

It was so simple to throw it all together, juice 1 lime and pour it into a Ziplock bag with 1 tsp. cumin, 1 tbs. oil and a bit of salt and pepper. Add the chicken (whatever parts you want) to the bag and let it marinate for at least 2 hours. Then either do as I did and roast at 425° for 25 minutes or toss them on a grill.

The recipe for the potatoes can be found here They're amazingly easy, seasoned perfectly and crispy on the bottom.. Mmmmm!!!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

2 ingredients + Fruit.. are you kidding me this is so easy!

This is another one of those less than 5 ingredients, I can't believe how easy this is kinda recipes.

I have a Killer sweet tooth today, but chores got the best of me today since yesterday we went to the movies in the afternoon and then the rest of the day seemed to run away from me. I patiently waited for The Kid to get up this morning {or afternoon as the case may be here, lol} because I needed his help to carry the laundry to the laundrymat and before I knew it, it was 3:30 and I was just walking through the door with 2 bags of laundry that needed to be put away. Dinner got prepped (cumin lime marinated chicken and smashed potatoes.. tomorrow's post) By the time dinner was ready and we'd eaten it was already 7:30 and I was in no mood to start baking up cookies or even turning on the oven again as it was already broiling in here... so I opened up the kitchen cabinets hoping for a can of fruit cocktail or something.. but there in the shadows in the back of the cabinet, there it was... half a jar of Marshmallow Fluff and I knew there was cream cheese in the fridge, I just got it the other day... *Woo HOO!!!* So..... there was strawberries in the fridge , graham crackers in the cabinet and I had 2 bananas... dessert!! Sounds odd? Read on............

you take half a jar of Fluff and zap it in the microwave for 10 seconds, stir and pour into a bowl, add half a block of cream cheese and stir until it's smooth and combined. Set aside and prepare your fruit, slice the bananas, strawberries and break the graham crackers into pieces (or really, use whatever you'd like, this is what I had on hand tonight though) and with fondue forks or just regular forks you just dunk and eat.. Ahh.. Absolute yumminess :)

Friday, March 27, 2009

Chocolate World Expo 2009‏

Had I been given more than 2 days notice I would have planned to go... damn!


Please join Prestige Chocolates at this year's
Chocolate World Expo!

WEST NYACK, NEW YORK – With more than 50 vendors featuring a wide assortment of gourmet chocolates and other delights, Chocolate World Expo 2009 is expected to be among the largest retail-level chocolate shows in the United States. This event, which will take place on Sunday, March 29th, at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY, 11am-7pm, will also offer an outstanding selection of baked goods, specialty foods, ice cream, cheeses, wine and beer. As an extra special bonus to the first 4,000 attendees, Chocolate World Expo sponsor Viva ® Paper Towels will be providing free ice cream sundaes!

For additional information please visit www.ChocolateWorldExpo.com
Sunday, March 29th, 11am-7pm
Palisades Center Mall • 4th Floor
Chocolates • Baked Goods • Specialty Foods • Cheeses • Ice Cream • Wine • Beer
Live Performances by Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Better Days, Wide Variety, Speed Limit 50, Girsa, and Shea
Adults: $10 • Children 5-11: $5 • Children Under 5 Free
Proceeds will benefit Camp Venture’s programs for children & adults with developmental disabilities.
www.ChocolateWorldExpo.com

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Wanna win Again?


Alright Ladies, this one is strictly for y'all!

I reviewed the Smooth Away hair removal 'system' a few weeks ago and now... I have one to give away!!

All you have to so is post a comment in this post and on April 3rd I'll pick one lucky winner the winner is smilie Pictures, Images and Photos

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Cheap and Easy.. 3 ingredient dinner

Yesterday was one of those days.. Besides the fact that the weekend flew bye and my office was chaotic with 7 lines ringing almost continuously all day I knew I was going home to an empty refrigerator with no idea as to what I was going to make for dinner.

As I sat on the bus contemplating if I should stop at the supermarket on my way home or find an alternative it dawned on me.. There was an onion in the fridge and that became the foundation of my dinner... yea, it sounds weird, but keep reading... I just had to stop at the deli and get Swiss and I was ready, woo hoo!

Years back I rented from a little German lady who gave me this recipe one of those nights when I was in college, working and raising a toddler. It’s fast, easy and the best part above even that.. It’s Delicious!

(She made this recipe using Spaetzle, but I just use regular pasta when I’m in a pinch) Tyler Florence’s recipe for Spaetzle, I dont’ use chives though)

1 batch Spaetzle or ½ box Ditalini (cooked)
1 medium onion, diced
½ lb. Swiss cheese, diced

Cook pasta according to box directions (or Spaetzle according to recipe) Drain and set aside.

In the same pot that you used to cook the pasta heat 1 Tbs. oil and add onion, Cook until lightly browned. Turn off the heat and add the pasta, stir to coat the pasta and then add the Swiss cheese. Stir to combine and melt the cheese. Cover for 2 minutes and serve with a salad.

Viola! Dinner :)

Friday, March 20, 2009

OMG Easter is almost here!

It just dawned on me that Easter is 3 weeks away and I haven’t even started planning the Easter basket for The Kid. I don’t put a lot of candy in his basket, he’s not a big candy eater. I put some candy in there, but I like to do unique things, last year it was a few traditional Easter candies like Jelly beans, Peeps, cadbury eggs, reeses and m&m’s.. But I also hid a whole bunch of Astronaut Ice cream in there that I got off ThinkGeek (man, I love that store!) And a game for the Wii.

I’m stumped this year though! Come on Moms and Dads I need some Great Easter Basket ideas.. I always love to *WOW* The Kid on Easter morning.





Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Makin' Whoopie.. Pies, that is, lol

I haven't made whoopie pies in a long time.. and the only recipe I have is for chocolate and I've been so good not to have any chocolate since I gave it up for Lent so finding a really good whoopie pie recipe that is not chocolate was like a gift dropped right into my lap (or, as the case may be, my inbox) This came to me via the Delish Newsletter, which is one of the many foodie related newsletters that make their way to my inbox on a daily basis.

Mmmmm.. cream filled lemon whoopie pies


Whoopie Pies

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup(s) cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon(s) baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon(s) baking soda
  • 6 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup(s) sugar
  • 2 tablespoon(s) sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup(s) milk
  • 1 lemon, zested and squeezed for 1/4 cup juice
  • 1 cup(s) cold heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoon(s) crystallized ginger, chopped

Directions

  • 1. Make the cakes: Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together and set aside. Beat the butter and 1 cup sugar in medium bowl using a mixer set on medium-high until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix the vanilla and milk together and add to batter in thirds, alternating with the flour mixture, until combined. Stir in the lemon juice and zest. Pour 1/3 cup of batter into each section of a nonstick muffin-top pan and bake until the cakes test clean with a toothpick and are golden around the edges -- about 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Release from the pan and cool completely.
  • 2. Make the cream filling: Beat the heavy cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar together to firm peaks. Stir in the crystallized ginger. Invert half of the cakes and place about 1/4 cup of cream on each. Spread to about 1/2 inch from the cake edge and top with the remaining halves. Serve immediately or keep

Friday, March 13, 2009

How do you cook your corned beef & Cabbage for St. Patrick’s day?

I do the Corned beef in the crock pot with potatoes and then I cook the cabbage separately, usually I season and sautee it. Soggy cabbage is so yucky!

So.. How do you do it?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The color seems off....

I have a little time to myself in the office right now, everyone’s at lunch and it’s pretty quiet (which is good because I had a hell of a night last night and this morning was insane here!) So being I passed on lunch today because my stomach is quite knotted and I decided to take advantage of the solace here and browse through FoodGawker and TasteSpotting.

Searching through the pages of both I saw the same photo and caption for Blue Tacos, and it made me remember a few years back when Heinz was making colored Ketchup. I remember it in green, red, blue pink and purple (Ewwwwwwww!) I bought the Green one on request by The Kid and he took one look at it on his hamburger and on the plate with his french fries, looked at me and told me he wasn’t hungry anymore.. He must have been about 4 or 5 at the time.. So funny.. It sat in the fridge for months until I finally tossed the whole damn bottle.

I have a thing against eating food that isn’t the color that it’s supposed to be.. Blue soda, ice cream that’s just a little too green or a neon color that just does not naturally occur.

UGH! Pictures, Images and Photos

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Wanna Win some CHOCOLATE????

A few weeks ago I got a survey in my email from Cowgirl Chocolates so I filled out my survey and then went about my day.. well, just the other day in the mail I got a small package from the Lovely Marilyn at Cowgirl chocolates as a thank you for filling out the survey.
Photobucket
And now.. I am going to share these lovely, delicious chocolates with one lucky reader. You don't have to do anything special.. just drop me a comment and make sure that I'm able to reach you via email through your comment.Photobucket Ends Sunday 3/15.

Cowgirl chocolates are chocolate with a kick, they're smooth and delicious and if I could I would eat 'em all myself.. BUT.. I'm allergic. It wasn't until I had my first taste of cowgirl chocolates that I discovered it, but I have a cayenne pepper allergy and that is one of the key ingredients that give the chocolates their kick.

Well... my loss is your gain. If you haven't tried Cowgirl chocolates here's your chance, and if you're already a fan, here's a chance to score some for free Photobucket

Monday, March 2, 2009

Gramma's Pitzele (sweetened fried pizza dough)

Today we were totally snowed in for the first time in years. We were notified of today's imminent school closing last night via a mass phone call from the principal of The Kid's school, which was followed by a very boisterous Woo Hoo! The Kid slept in while I got up at my regular time watching the news and figuring if I was going to make it to work or not (decidedly not when the buses were running around 45 minutes late).

I decided today would be a good day to make pizza dough. Then I decided that I would make some Pitzele to quell this monster sweet tooth that I've been having since giving up Chocolate for Lent.

My grandma used to make Pitzele for us when we were kids after dinner on Saturday. It's essentially pizza dough that is flattened in little rounds, fried and sprinkled with sugar while hot.

The dough is very basic and this recipe is good for 2 pizzas or 1 large pizza and breadsticks or whatever else you want to make with it.

Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

2 1/4 teaspoons fast rising yeast
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups warm water

3 1/2 cups flour


Directions:
  1. In large bowl, dissolve yeast and brown sugar in the water.
  2. Let sit for 10 minutes.
  3. Stir the salt, oil and italian seasoning into the yeast mixture.
  4. Mix in 2 1/2 cups of the flour.
  5. Turn dough out onto a clean, dry surface and knead in more flour until the dough is no longer sticky.
  6. Place the dough into a well oiled bowl, and cover with a cloth.
  7. Let the dough double in size.
  8. Should take about 1/2 hour if in warm spot.
  9. Punch down and let rest a minute.
  10. Roll out, and prepare your favorite pizza.
  11. I use a pizza stone sprinkled with a bit of corn meal.
  12. Once I have the dough shaped I bake it plain for about 5-10 minutes, then pull out of oven and add toppings, just seems to work better every time.
  13. Bake in preheated oven 425 degrees until the cheese and crust are golden brown, about 20 minutes.
To make Pitzele you tear off 1Tbs of dough and flatten it with your hand on a cutting board or piece of parchment paper and add it to a pan of hot oil (not too much oil though, you don't want deep fried) after a minute or so carefully flip and brown the other side and then place on a plate of sugar and serve... Mmmm!!!



Sunday, March 1, 2009

Mmm Chicken & Dumplings

One of my very favorite comfort foods is Chicken & Dumplings. Today we're in for a whopper of a snowstorm that went from an estimated 3-5" on Friday up to 6-10" last night and then just a little while ago when flipping through the channels saw that it's gone up to 8-14" I've had enough of winter already.Photobucket

Anyway, on to the Chicken & DumplingsPhotobucket

I don't like to just toss chicken in a pot with water and very rarely do I use bouillon, so what I do is I take the skin off all the chicken, toss it into a Zipper bag and season it really well with salt, pepper, sage and paprika then I roast it in a 425°f oven for 25 minutes


I then put the chicken into my trusty stock pot and cover it with 2 quarts of water, 1 small onion, sliced, 2 cloves garlic, smashed and then let it go for about an hour. After the hour is up I add in a big bag of frozen mixed vegetables, check the seasoning and adjust it to my liking and then it's time for the dumplings.

I will confess here, I don't go all out rolling dough for dumplings.. I make Bisquick dumplings. There is nothing like the little fluffy clouds of dumplings that you get from Bisquick, that's how my grandma made 'em and that's how I do it too. (Pancakes too, but that's another day) Bisquick dumplings are so easy! 2 1/4 cups Bisquick and 2/3 cup milk, mix in a bowl until doughy and add to hot liquid. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, cover and cook another 10 and you're good to go!

Yummy!!!