Food

I hope everyone will have a wonderful Valentine's Day. Make this chocolate delight for someone special.

Ingredients:
3 sticks plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces best-quality bittersweet chocolate
6 eggs
1 3/4 cups superfine sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white chocolate chips or morsels
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or morsels
Approximately 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar, for garnish

Special equipment: Baking tin (approximately 11 1/4 inches by 9 inches by 2 inches), sides and base lined with baking parchment.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt the butter and dark chocolate together in a large heavy based pan over a low heat.

In a bowl, beat the eggs together with the superfine sugar and vanilla extract.

Allow the chocolate mixture to cool a little, then add the egg and sugar mixture and beat well. Fold in the flour and salt. Then stir in the white chocolate chips and the semisweet chocolate chips. Beat to combine then scrape and pour the brownie mixture into the prepared tin.

Bake for about 25 minutes. You can see when the brownies are ready because the top dries to a slightly paler brown speckle, while the middle remains dark, dense and gooey. Even with such a big batch you do need to keep checking on it: the difference between gooey brownies and dry ones is only a few minutes. Remember, too, that they will continue to cook as they cool.

To serve, cut into squares while still warm and pile up on a large plate, sprinkling with confectioners' sugar. [Full Story »] 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1.5 tsp. chili powder
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 4 oz. can chopped green chilies
3 cups cooked egg noodles
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
Shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Cook meet and onion, drain grease. Stir in tomato sauce and spices. Cook for 20 minutes. Combine cottage cheese, chili and yogurt. Set aside. Spoon cooked noodles in casserole dish (sprayed with Pam). Spoon cottage cheese mix on noodles and top with meat mixture. Cover and bake 20 minutes at 350 degreese. Remove and add cheese. [Full Story »] 

This is a wonderful recipe for macaroni and cheese. I, however, have not made it with the topping. Please let me know if you use the topping and if you like it.


Ingredients:
1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
3 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 large egg
12 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tsp. kosher salt
fresh black pepper

Topping:
3 tbsp. butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a seperate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about 5 minutes. Make sure it is free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf and paprika. Simmer for 10 minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mis and pour into a 2 quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
[Full Story »] 

Ingredients:
Vegetable Oil
1 tbsp. kosher salt plus 1.5 tsp.
3/4 pound linguine
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
2.5 tbsp. olive oil
1.5 tbsp. minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 lb. large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/3 cup chopped parlsey leaves
1/2 lemon, zest grated
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/8 tsp. hot red pepper flakes

Directions:
Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling water, add 1 tbsp. of salt and linguine. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until noodles are done.
Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily. Add the shrimp, 1.5 tsp. of salt and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.
When the pasta is done, drain and put back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce and toss well. Enjoy! [Full Story »] 

This recipe should help warm your chilled bones.

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
8 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

Topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix all meatloaf ingredients well and place in a baking dish. Shape into a loaf.

Topping:
Mix ingredients for topping and spread on loaf. Bake for 1 hour.
[Full Story »] 

Ingredients:
3/4 pound, 4 to 5 cups, baby spinach, packed
2 (15-ounce) cans artichoke hearts packed in water, drained and sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 to 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
A handful shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions:
Combine spinach and artichokes. Place garlic, lemon zest and juice in small dish and add vinegar. Let it stand 5 minutes then whisk in extra-virgin olive oil. Pour oil and vinegar dressing over salad and toss to combine. Season the salad with salt and pepper, to your taste. Top the salad with cheese then serve.

[Full Story »] 

Here is a dish to go with the Traditional New Year's dinner.


Ingredients:

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large ham hock
1 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
1 pound black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and rinsed
1 quart chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves
Salt
black pepper
cayenne pepper
3 tbsp. finely chopped green onion
3 cups steamed white rice

Directions
Heat oil in a large soup pot, add the ham hock and sear on all sides for 4 minutes. Add the onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, cook for 4 minutes. Add the black-eyed peas, stock, bay leaves, thyme, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the peas are creamy and tender, stir occasionally. If the liquid evaporates, add more water or stock. Adjust seasonings, and garnish with green onions. Serve over rice.

[Full Story »] 

This recipe is from a very dear person that insisted this be posted for Christmas. I hope you will enjoy this recipe. I have not had it though.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Ingredients:

3 mixing bowls
1/2 pint whipping cream
6 eggs
6 tbsp. sugar
bourbon
nutmeg

Directions:
Mix whipping cream in one bowl. Separate the yolks and egg whites and put each into separate bowls. Whisk yolks, add sugar and whisk again. Add 4-6 ounces of bourbon to yolks and whisk. Bourbon cooks the yolks. Clean the whisk and whisk egg whites until they are stiff. Slowly whisk in yolks. Fold in whipping cream and mix for about a minute. Sprinkle with nutmeg.


[Full Story »] 

This recipe is a Christmas tradition. My great-grandmother Stanton would send a batch from Michigan every Christmas with our presents. I have acquired the recipe and now I make it every Christmas. I made this last Wednesday and of course it was raining. So, it stuck to the pan. I would advise doing it on a sunny day. I hope you will enjoy my favorite Christmas tradition.

Ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1.5 cups finely chopped walnuts (or pecans)
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 candy thermometer

Directions:
Combine sugar, salt, water and butter; heat to boiling (light-crack stage (285 )). After it is at light-crack stage, take off of stove and pour onto well greased cookie sheet. Cool in fridge. Melt chocolate on stove. Once the candy has cooled, pour half of the chocolate mixture on top of candy. Sprinkle with 1/2 of walnuts. Cool again. Turn and spread remaining chocolate and walnuts. Cool once again. Break into pieces and enjoy!
[Full Story »] 

Here is another rib recipe that will make your mouth water.

Ingredients:

2 sides pork spareribs (about 6 pounds), separated
1 (28 oz.) can chunky tomato sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Place the spareribs in the bottom of a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
Pour the mixture over the spareribs. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. [Full Story »] 

This dish is absolutely wonderful. My cousin-in-law made this for Thanksgiving this year and it was a hit. This is perfect for a dessert because it is not as sugary. I love the tartness of it. I hope you will enjoy it too!


3 cups sliced green apples
2 cups cranberries (I use 1 bag of cran raisins)
1.5 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped nuts
1 stick of butter, melted

Place in 9x13 casserole dish.
Mix 1 1/2 cups oatmeal, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1 cup chopped nuts, and 1 stick of butter, melted.
Pour mixture (crumble) over apples and cranberries.
Bakes at 350 for 40 minutes. [Full Story »] 

This is a green bean recipe that can replace the traditional green bean casserole.


Ingredients:

2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Blanch green beans in a large stock pot of well salted boiling water until bright green in color and tender crisp, roughly 2 minutes. Drain and shock in a bowl of ice water to stop from cooking.
Heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and the butter. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beans and continue to saute until coated in the butter and heated through, about 5 minutes. Add lemon zest and season with salt and pepper.

[Full Story »]