Tonight for dinner we had tomato vodka sauce with cheese tortellini, Abby's Chicken Rollantini, Easy Focaccia, and steamed zucchini/summer squash.
Everything was pretty good, I overdid the garlic a bit on the chicken, and even though there's only about 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes in the sauce it has some kick. Will see how the tortellini is leftover tomorrow ;)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
yummy blueberry crumb bars
It's Michigan blueberry season, so last weekend we picked up 2 pints at the little farmer stand downtown. I am not a huge raw blueberry fan, but like to cook with them so I searched for something I could make (other than the usual muffins) that my husband could take to his day long meetings in a hotel conference room this week.
I found this blueberry crumb bar recipe on allrecipes, then edited it to my own baking preferences :) so here is my version, italics where I changed ingredients.
Blueberry crumb bars
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening (I used butter flavored Crisco)
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons cornstarch
grated lemon peel
DIRECTIONS (changed with my ingredients)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together sugars, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and cinnamon. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the shortening, vanilla, and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.
In another bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Gently mix in the blueberries and sprinkle in some lemon peel (I used probably about 1 tsp). Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
I found this blueberry crumb bar recipe on allrecipes, then edited it to my own baking preferences :) so here is my version, italics where I changed ingredients.
Blueberry crumb bars
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening (I used butter flavored Crisco)
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons cornstarch
grated lemon peel
DIRECTIONS (changed with my ingredients)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together sugars, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and cinnamon. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the shortening, vanilla, and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.
In another bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Gently mix in the blueberries and sprinkle in some lemon peel (I used probably about 1 tsp). Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
giant peanut butter cup cookies
Making these for the party...
They smell really evil ;)Hersheys Giant Peanut Butter Cup cookies
They smell really evil ;)Hersheys Giant Peanut Butter Cup cookies
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Key Lime Pie
Realized I don't have my Mom's favorite key lime pie on this blog yet, will have to fix that ;) best part is you can just buy one of those store bought graham cracker crusts if you don't feel the need to use your own.
KEY LIME PIE
21 oz sweetened condensed milk
6 oz fresh-squeezed key lime juice
6 egg yolks
1 – 10” Graham Cracker Crust
Preheat oven to 350F. Blend sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks on low speed. Gradually add the key lime juice and mix together well. Pour into the pie shell and bake for 20 minutes. Cool. Cover with plastic wrap and chill.
NOTE: FOR 9” pie shell, use 14 oz sweetened condensed milk, 4 oz key lime juice, and 4 egg yolks.
Yes folks its just that easy, and its really good. Can garnish with whipped cream :)
KEY LIME PIE
21 oz sweetened condensed milk
6 oz fresh-squeezed key lime juice
6 egg yolks
1 – 10” Graham Cracker Crust
Preheat oven to 350F. Blend sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks on low speed. Gradually add the key lime juice and mix together well. Pour into the pie shell and bake for 20 minutes. Cool. Cover with plastic wrap and chill.
NOTE: FOR 9” pie shell, use 14 oz sweetened condensed milk, 4 oz key lime juice, and 4 egg yolks.
Yes folks its just that easy, and its really good. Can garnish with whipped cream :)
work party ideas
So I've been told that the management team from Chris' company is coming over here for a work dinner, since they can't talk to everyone if they go to a restaurant. They are getting carryout dinner from Italia Gardens but I am gonna have to do some appetizer and dessert magic.
Appetizers.... hmmm. I may make the Neimen Marcus spread referenced in this post or maybe the spinach/artichoke dip.
Dessert I am making that chocolate chip cheesecake (again) per my husband's request and may make key lime pie. Just to have something if someone doesn't *gasp* like chocolate very much. Plus its a good summery dessert.
Any other recommendations/suggestions?
Appetizers.... hmmm. I may make the Neimen Marcus spread referenced in this post or maybe the spinach/artichoke dip.
Dessert I am making that chocolate chip cheesecake (again) per my husband's request and may make key lime pie. Just to have something if someone doesn't *gasp* like chocolate very much. Plus its a good summery dessert.
Any other recommendations/suggestions?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Cheeeeeeesecake
Made some cheesecake this weekend, thought I'd share the recipes ;)
Got this one from my high school friend, she'd posted making it a few times on facebook, I asked her for the recipe ;)
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
1 package oreo cookies (1 lb)
1 stick of butter.
12 oz chocolate chips (I like to use the mini-chips)
3 bricks of cream cheese (8 oz each)
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp flour
Using food processor, combine the cookies and butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of a spring form pan.
Beat the cream cheese and slowly add the milk. Then add the eggs and the vanilla.
Mix half the chocolate chips with the flour. (This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.) Carefully fold into the batter.
Pour into pan.
Sprinkle with the rest of the chocolate.
Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. Cool and the refrigerate before serving
Note: best to bake on a cookie sheet to catch anything that may spill.
I also made these chunky cheesecake brownies, using the hershey special dark chips and threw a little vanilla into the cheesecake and to the brownie batter. Otherwise pretty good :)
Got this one from my high school friend, she'd posted making it a few times on facebook, I asked her for the recipe ;)
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
1 package oreo cookies (1 lb)
1 stick of butter.
12 oz chocolate chips (I like to use the mini-chips)
3 bricks of cream cheese (8 oz each)
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp flour
Using food processor, combine the cookies and butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of a spring form pan.
Beat the cream cheese and slowly add the milk. Then add the eggs and the vanilla.
Mix half the chocolate chips with the flour. (This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.) Carefully fold into the batter.
Pour into pan.
Sprinkle with the rest of the chocolate.
Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. Cool and the refrigerate before serving
Note: best to bake on a cookie sheet to catch anything that may spill.
I also made these chunky cheesecake brownies, using the hershey special dark chips and threw a little vanilla into the cheesecake and to the brownie batter. Otherwise pretty good :)
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