When making shortbread one should never use this recipe:
1 Cup butter
2 C + 3T flour
1/2 C. sugar
1 egg
Yes, I know that shortbread does not have egg in it. Nevertheless, due to inattention, it found its way in. I don't think the cookies would have tasted any better without the egg though. They had a general lack of flavor which probably would have been remedied with a little salt and more sugar. Oh, well. Happy Boy loved them and gobbled about five of them down when I was distracted on the phone.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Thai Pesto
A friend came over for lunch today and we had Thai Pesto. It was very good and very easy with a food processor. I didn't put as much chili sauce in it in case it was too spicy, but I think that next time I will add it all because I think it could have had more kick. This isn't summertime (although it feels like it today) but this would be a great summer meal or side dish.
For those of you who don't like Asian food, here is a tip: fix yourself a grilled cheese sandwich. That is what my husband did and he said his lunch was better than ours. :)
For those of you who don't like Asian food, here is a tip: fix yourself a grilled cheese sandwich. That is what my husband did and he said his lunch was better than ours. :)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Cranberry Jello
Here is the recipe my husband uses for his Thanksgiving cranberry dish.
1 lb Cranberries
2 C. Orange juice
1/2 C. honey
2 Tb. plain gelatin
Grated rind of one orange (optional)
1 20 oz. can of crushed pineapple
1/2 Pint Whipping cream
1 C chopped walnuts
Boil cranberries in orange juice until berries pop. Add honey and gelatin; let mixture cool. Add orange rind, pineapple, and nuts. Whip cream and fold it into the jello. Pour mixture into a mold and refrigerate to set.
My comments:
Since cranberries now come in 12 ounce packages instead of 16 ounce ones, my husband sometimes takes extra from a second bag and sometimes he does the math to reduce everything by25%.
In all the times we have made this since we've been married about half the time we have had trouble with the gelatin. If we just dump in the gelatin part of it turns into inedible globs and is hard to remove before eating. Dissolving it in water didn't work very well, either, and if you do that you need to reduce the orange juice by the amount of water that is used. What has worked best is me constantly stirring the pot while he sprinkles the gelatin over the sauce. Also, since the gelatin we have comes in packages it is hard to measure in tablespoons. Last time he used 2.5 packages for 12 ounces of berries* and it worked out well.
When I said something to my mother-in-law about this recipe she said that she didn't like it because it was too greasy with the cream and that she only makes it because her children all like it so much. Neither my husband or I have ever noticed any greasiness, but if that sort of fat bothers you, you probably could use Cool Whip. What I have noticed, however, is that it is very acidic. I didn't notice that this year but, unlike most other Christmases, I am not pregnant and when I am pregnant I am very sensitive to acid.
Finally, we have never used a mold for this. A glass bowl works fine, and if you don't have that then I guess use plastic. For some reason I am under the impression that stainless steel wouldn't work very well.
Enjoy!
* He just told me that this time he used 12 ounces of berries but kept all the other ingredients the same just to see if it would work this way. I guess it did.
1 lb Cranberries
2 C. Orange juice
1/2 C. honey
2 Tb. plain gelatin
Grated rind of one orange (optional)
1 20 oz. can of crushed pineapple
1/2 Pint Whipping cream
1 C chopped walnuts
Boil cranberries in orange juice until berries pop. Add honey and gelatin; let mixture cool. Add orange rind, pineapple, and nuts. Whip cream and fold it into the jello. Pour mixture into a mold and refrigerate to set.
My comments:
Since cranberries now come in 12 ounce packages instead of 16 ounce ones, my husband sometimes takes extra from a second bag and sometimes he does the math to reduce everything by25%.
In all the times we have made this since we've been married about half the time we have had trouble with the gelatin. If we just dump in the gelatin part of it turns into inedible globs and is hard to remove before eating. Dissolving it in water didn't work very well, either, and if you do that you need to reduce the orange juice by the amount of water that is used. What has worked best is me constantly stirring the pot while he sprinkles the gelatin over the sauce. Also, since the gelatin we have comes in packages it is hard to measure in tablespoons. Last time he used 2.5 packages for 12 ounces of berries* and it worked out well.
When I said something to my mother-in-law about this recipe she said that she didn't like it because it was too greasy with the cream and that she only makes it because her children all like it so much. Neither my husband or I have ever noticed any greasiness, but if that sort of fat bothers you, you probably could use Cool Whip. What I have noticed, however, is that it is very acidic. I didn't notice that this year but, unlike most other Christmases, I am not pregnant and when I am pregnant I am very sensitive to acid.
Finally, we have never used a mold for this. A glass bowl works fine, and if you don't have that then I guess use plastic. For some reason I am under the impression that stainless steel wouldn't work very well.
Enjoy!
* He just told me that this time he used 12 ounces of berries but kept all the other ingredients the same just to see if it would work this way. I guess it did.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thanksgiving Questions
In the combox of my other blog, Mrs. Bear asks some questions about Thanksgiving so I thought I would answer them here instead. (This being a food blog and all.)
Hey, do you bake pies?
Yes! I rarely have made a pie that requires two crusts, but I do make pies. The first year I was married I made my own crusts. Then I read a statement by someone who called herself a chef who said that the taste difference between store bought crusts and homemade is barely perceptible. I started buying the crusts and last year realized that they just do not taste good. So if I make a pie this year I will make it 100% and not just the filling.
And what are your views on cranberry sauce?
My views on cranberry sauce are Will Rogers-esque: I have never met a cranberry sauce I didn't like. To my shame, that even includes the canned stuff. The year I celebrated Thanksgiving with Flannery she made a fantastic cranberry relish where the berries didn't even need to be cooked. I asked her for the recipe but am still waiting. . . My mother always made the cranberry sauce recipe on the back of the bag and my husband's family made a cranberry sauce jello with fresh cranberries, whipped cream, and several other yummy ingredients. He has made that each year since we got married, so I haven't bothered to make anything else.
And what kind of bread do you like for Thanksgiving? I am wondering if I should bake biscuits.
When I was a child I loved rolls with my Thanksgiving dinner. However, since I reached adulthood I have realized rolls with my dinner are one more starch in a heavily-starched meal so I have never had any sort of bread product. I think a lot of people serve it as a filler so that their guests won't eat as much of the other stuff. If I were making dinner for lots of people I would serve it (or have someone else bring it), but as long as we are just having small Thanksgivings I will do without bread or rolls. So I guess you need to think of whether the people you are serving will eat the biscuits, will they like them, will they be disappointed not to have them, or will they not even notice if they aren't there. Just my two cents. ;)
Hey, do you bake pies?
Yes! I rarely have made a pie that requires two crusts, but I do make pies. The first year I was married I made my own crusts. Then I read a statement by someone who called herself a chef who said that the taste difference between store bought crusts and homemade is barely perceptible. I started buying the crusts and last year realized that they just do not taste good. So if I make a pie this year I will make it 100% and not just the filling.
And what are your views on cranberry sauce?
My views on cranberry sauce are Will Rogers-esque: I have never met a cranberry sauce I didn't like. To my shame, that even includes the canned stuff. The year I celebrated Thanksgiving with Flannery she made a fantastic cranberry relish where the berries didn't even need to be cooked. I asked her for the recipe but am still waiting. . . My mother always made the cranberry sauce recipe on the back of the bag and my husband's family made a cranberry sauce jello with fresh cranberries, whipped cream, and several other yummy ingredients. He has made that each year since we got married, so I haven't bothered to make anything else.
And what kind of bread do you like for Thanksgiving? I am wondering if I should bake biscuits.
When I was a child I loved rolls with my Thanksgiving dinner. However, since I reached adulthood I have realized rolls with my dinner are one more starch in a heavily-starched meal so I have never had any sort of bread product. I think a lot of people serve it as a filler so that their guests won't eat as much of the other stuff. If I were making dinner for lots of people I would serve it (or have someone else bring it), but as long as we are just having small Thanksgivings I will do without bread or rolls. So I guess you need to think of whether the people you are serving will eat the biscuits, will they like them, will they be disappointed not to have them, or will they not even notice if they aren't there. Just my two cents. ;)
Thursday, November 08, 2007
This One's for You, Mrs. Bear!
I recently discovered a wonderful food blog called Organic Kitchen written by an Orthodox homeschooling mother of five. What I find so amazing about her blog is that most of the recipes she posts are things that my family actually eat.
Today's post is on her thoughts regarding the fast before Christmas and is accompanied by her menu for the fast. If you (read "Mrs. Bear") fast during this season it might be a great resource. I am looking forward to referencing it quite a bit when Lent rolls along.
Today's post is on her thoughts regarding the fast before Christmas and is accompanied by her menu for the fast. If you (read "Mrs. Bear") fast during this season it might be a great resource. I am looking forward to referencing it quite a bit when Lent rolls along.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Exploring the Kitchen
For a while now Happy Boy has been randomly saying "I like sugar." I think it comes from him wanting something sweet and my husband or I telling him, "No I don't want you having sugar." Then he would tell us that he liked it.
Today I found him with a teaspoon eating sugar out of the sugar container. Later I found him doing the same thing with the flour, which sits right next to the sugar in a similar container. He said, "This sugar no taste good." To top it off, just now I found him with a children's knife cutting and eating a stick of butter. Butter, sugar and flour go into lots of good things, I just never thought of eating them on their own.
Today I found him with a teaspoon eating sugar out of the sugar container. Later I found him doing the same thing with the flour, which sits right next to the sugar in a similar container. He said, "This sugar no taste good." To top it off, just now I found him with a children's knife cutting and eating a stick of butter. Butter, sugar and flour go into lots of good things, I just never thought of eating them on their own.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Peanut Butter and Chocolate
Why is that combination just so good? My husband loves peanut butter M&Ms and I have mentioned how I like this dessert. Matilda has repeatedly posted links to Puppy Chow and every time I click on it I think, "Yum! I need to try that." Peanut butter and chocolate make such a great couple, someone should right a cookbook devoted to them. Maybe someone already has, but I haven't been able to find it.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Tea Meme
Thank you, Mrs. Bear, for this meme!
Your first cup, when do you drink it? Either while breakfast is cooking or with breakfast.
How many cups a day do you drink? During warmer months I don't drink any, but during the coldest months I probably have had up to five. Right now in October I drink two.
Teabag or leaf? I like both, but usually buy teabags because they seem to be cheaper.
Milk or sugar? None for herbal teas, milk for a couple black teas and both for most black teas.
Your favourite way of brewing? Pour a boiling kettle of water over the tea and set the timer for four minutes.
With whom do you prefer to enjoy your tea? Family or friends, but normally I am by myself.
Your favourite tea? At home either English Breakfast or Blackberry Sage. At a coffee shop it is chai. I just can't seem to make good chai at home.
Where do you prefer to drink your tea? At the computer or on the couch watching my children.
What does your favourite cup look like? Like this only red instead of green.
English Breakfast or Earl Grey? English Breakfast - I love it!
Favourite occupation while drinking tea? Talking with friends or reading blogs.
Formative tea experience? After my mom started homeschooling us, we would always have a tea break in the late morning in the winter. It was usually chamomile or raspberry. I have loved tea ever since, but didn't discover black tea until I was in college.
Incidentally, I have had to declare a moratorium on buying tea. I have so many different types that it will take a long, long time to use up. My poor husband has been very patient with my vice, but I know he would like to see my tea taking up only one shelf in the kitchen.
Your first cup, when do you drink it? Either while breakfast is cooking or with breakfast.
How many cups a day do you drink? During warmer months I don't drink any, but during the coldest months I probably have had up to five. Right now in October I drink two.
Teabag or leaf? I like both, but usually buy teabags because they seem to be cheaper.
Milk or sugar? None for herbal teas, milk for a couple black teas and both for most black teas.
Your favourite way of brewing? Pour a boiling kettle of water over the tea and set the timer for four minutes.
With whom do you prefer to enjoy your tea? Family or friends, but normally I am by myself.
Your favourite tea? At home either English Breakfast or Blackberry Sage. At a coffee shop it is chai. I just can't seem to make good chai at home.
Where do you prefer to drink your tea? At the computer or on the couch watching my children.
What does your favourite cup look like? Like this only red instead of green.
English Breakfast or Earl Grey? English Breakfast - I love it!
Favourite occupation while drinking tea? Talking with friends or reading blogs.
Formative tea experience? After my mom started homeschooling us, we would always have a tea break in the late morning in the winter. It was usually chamomile or raspberry. I have loved tea ever since, but didn't discover black tea until I was in college.
Incidentally, I have had to declare a moratorium on buying tea. I have so many different types that it will take a long, long time to use up. My poor husband has been very patient with my vice, but I know he would like to see my tea taking up only one shelf in the kitchen.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Every time I used to use a recipe that called for taco seasoning I would grumble. I don't buy that because it almost always has MSG in it. I would just add a little cumin and chili powder and be a little dissatisfied with the recipe. Not anymore. Now I have a taco seasoning recipe that I am very happy with so I thought I would share it.
Taco Seasoning
Place in blender or food processor:
Taco Seasoning
Place in blender or food processor:
¼ C. Flour
2 T. Chili powder
¼ C. Onion powder (I use onion flakes)
2 t. Garlic powder
2 t. Salt (I use less)
4 t. Paprika
½ t. Cayenne pepper (more if your family likes things HOT)
2 t. Cumin (I use more because I love cumin)
2 t. Oregano
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Loveliness of Comfort Drinks
The first weekend in autumn it starts to cool down my husband always says, "I'm cold. Let's have some cocoa." Then he gets out the saucepan and makes a scrumptious batch of hot chocolate. The recipe comes from his favorite cookbook. It is a wonderful treat he makes for us during the winter and my cleaning the pan is a small price to pay for it. :)
Hot Chocolate
4 C. Milk
¼ C. Powdered cocoa such as Hershey's (or use 2 squares of unsweetened baking cocoa, chopped)
¼ C. Sugar, or to taste
A pinch of salt
A dash of vanilla
Blend the dry ingredients with about ½ C milk over very low heat in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth. Stir in the rest of the milk, beating with a fork or wire whisk.
Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. Add the vanilla, pour into cups and serve.
Hot Chocolate
4 C. Milk
¼ C. Powdered cocoa such as Hershey's (or use 2 squares of unsweetened baking cocoa, chopped)
¼ C. Sugar, or to taste
A pinch of salt
A dash of vanilla
Blend the dry ingredients with about ½ C milk over very low heat in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth. Stir in the rest of the milk, beating with a fork or wire whisk.
Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. Add the vanilla, pour into cups and serve.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
A Man's Cookbook
When we got married a friend gave us How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman. The friend's mother was a chef and highly recommended the book. Since both my husband and I enjoy cooking, we looked forward to trying the book out.
I like the book but my husband loves this book. It is always the first book he goes to when he is hunting down a new recipe. I have since found a couple other men who really enjoy this cookbook, and yet I have never heard a woman praise it as highly.
The only reason I can think of for this is that because Mark Bittman taught himself to cook, he knows and explains the basics in a way that men find appealing. He doesn't bog the book down in culinary profundity, but tells it like it is with a cut-and-dry-no-frills kind of way. This is pure speculation, so if there are any other theories I would love to hear them.
I like the book but my husband loves this book. It is always the first book he goes to when he is hunting down a new recipe. I have since found a couple other men who really enjoy this cookbook, and yet I have never heard a woman praise it as highly.
The only reason I can think of for this is that because Mark Bittman taught himself to cook, he knows and explains the basics in a way that men find appealing. He doesn't bog the book down in culinary profundity, but tells it like it is with a cut-and-dry-no-frills kind of way. This is pure speculation, so if there are any other theories I would love to hear them.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
The Healthiest Cookies in the World
Or so my husband bills them. He calls them such because they have no sugar, only ¼ cup of honey, and the only fat is from the peanut butter and the oats. Of course, the raisins and concentrate also raise the fructose level of the cookies.
No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Mix these ingredients and bring to a boil:
¼ C. Honey
¼ C. Cocoa powder
¼ C. Orange juice concentrate
¾ C. Water
⅓-½ C. Raisins
Turn off stove and mix in:
⅓ -½ C. Peanut butter
½ tsp. Vanilla
2 ¾ C. Oats
Pat the mixture into a large pie pan, slice and enjoy.
No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Mix these ingredients and bring to a boil:
¼ C. Honey
¼ C. Cocoa powder
¼ C. Orange juice concentrate
¾ C. Water
⅓-½ C. Raisins
Turn off stove and mix in:
⅓ -½ C. Peanut butter
½ tsp. Vanilla
2 ¾ C. Oats
Pat the mixture into a large pie pan, slice and enjoy.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Corn on the Cob
I love corn on the cob, but always felt guilty lathering it with butter and salt. Not something my body needs.Last summer we were invited over to dinner a some friends' home and they served us corn on the cob. They had recently gotten back from a honeymoon in Mexico where they were served corn on the cob with lime juice and sprinkled with chili powder. They loved that so much they served that to us.
Salt and butter step aside! That combination was so good that I have done it every time we have had corn this summer. In my opinion it tastes far better than the traditional salt and butter, and opinion aside, limes and chilis are far, far better for me than salt and butter.
In full disclosure though, my husband didn't care for it and will stick with the usual.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Rocky Road
I found this recipe online a long time ago and liked it because it was so quick and easy. It is extremely sweet and rich so don't eat too much at once!
Rocky Road
2 C. chocolate chips
1 C. peanut butter
4 C. marshmallows
Heat chocolate chips and peanut butter in pan over a low heat until melted. Place chocolate chips in 9x9 inch pan and pour chocolate mixture over them. Stir thoroughly and enjoy.
N.B. This will be a very gooey dessert. If you would prefer it firmer, refrigerate for a couple hours before eating.
Rocky Road
2 C. chocolate chips
1 C. peanut butter
4 C. marshmallows
Heat chocolate chips and peanut butter in pan over a low heat until melted. Place chocolate chips in 9x9 inch pan and pour chocolate mixture over them. Stir thoroughly and enjoy.
N.B. This will be a very gooey dessert. If you would prefer it firmer, refrigerate for a couple hours before eating.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
What's for Dinner: Chicken Ziti Casserole
I was supposed to make dinner for a friend who recently had a baby, so today I went looking for a chicken casserole recipe that did not include any form of condensed soup. Those types of recipes always taste the same and aren't very healthy. I found this on Recipe Goldmine and we all enjoyed it.
Chicken Ziti Casserole
• 1 Jar spaghetti sauce
• 4 C. Cooked ziti (about 6 oz. uncooked)
• 1 ½ C. Cooked cubed chicken
• 1 C. Shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Stir together spaghetti sauce, cooked ziti, chicken and ½ cup mozzarella. Pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
Although I don't normally buy canned pasta sauce, this was the step that made the recipe super easy. The chicken and the pasta cooked at the same time and while they were cooking I shredded the cheese. My two-year old even asked for thirds! Definitely a hit.
Chicken Ziti Casserole
• 1 Jar spaghetti sauce
• 4 C. Cooked ziti (about 6 oz. uncooked)
• 1 ½ C. Cooked cubed chicken
• 1 C. Shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Stir together spaghetti sauce, cooked ziti, chicken and ½ cup mozzarella. Pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbling.
Makes 6 servings.
My comments:Although I don't normally buy canned pasta sauce, this was the step that made the recipe super easy. The chicken and the pasta cooked at the same time and while they were cooking I shredded the cheese. My two-year old even asked for thirds! Definitely a hit.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
What's for Dinner: Quick Fiesta Casserole
This recipe came from one of the sample menus from Saving Dinner. It was the first time I tried it and we all liked it.
Quick Fiesta Casserole
•1 lb prepared black beans
• 1 8oz. jar salsa
• 2 tbs. taco sauce
• 2 tsp. each cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder
• 2 C. baked tortilla chips
• 1 C. low fat sour cream
• ½ C. sliced green onions
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese, low fat
• Shredded lettuce and taco sauce, if desired
Heat oven to 350°. In a skillet, stir in beans, salsa, 2 tbs. taco sauce, cumin, chili powder and garlic powder. Heat to a simmer; stirring occasionally. Place tortilla chips in un-greased 2 quart casserole. Top with bean mixture. Spread with sour cream. Sprinkle with onions, tomatoes and cheese. Bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, 20-30 minutes. Serve on bed of lettuce with extra chips and taco sauce if desired. Serves six.
My comments:
I started by cutting the recipe in half, but somewhere along the line forgot to halve the ingredients so ended up with more than I intended. I used canned beans instead of dried because I can never cook dried beans long enough for some reason. Instead of taco sauce I put in two tablespoons of my homemade taco seasoning along with a little water. I didn't have much hope of finding baked tortilla chips, but discovered a company that is advertising "New! Baked tortilla chips!" so I was able to used baked after all. I also broke the chips up slightly so that they wouldn't take up as much room in the pan. Finally, I only put sour cream on half because not all of us like it. Despite all these changes, my husband and I both agreed that it is something that we should try again sometime.
Quick Fiesta Casserole
•1 lb prepared black beans
• 1 8oz. jar salsa
• 2 tbs. taco sauce
• 2 tsp. each cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder
• 2 C. baked tortilla chips
• 1 C. low fat sour cream
• ½ C. sliced green onions
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese, low fat
• Shredded lettuce and taco sauce, if desired
Heat oven to 350°. In a skillet, stir in beans, salsa, 2 tbs. taco sauce, cumin, chili powder and garlic powder. Heat to a simmer; stirring occasionally. Place tortilla chips in un-greased 2 quart casserole. Top with bean mixture. Spread with sour cream. Sprinkle with onions, tomatoes and cheese. Bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, 20-30 minutes. Serve on bed of lettuce with extra chips and taco sauce if desired. Serves six.
My comments:
I started by cutting the recipe in half, but somewhere along the line forgot to halve the ingredients so ended up with more than I intended. I used canned beans instead of dried because I can never cook dried beans long enough for some reason. Instead of taco sauce I put in two tablespoons of my homemade taco seasoning along with a little water. I didn't have much hope of finding baked tortilla chips, but discovered a company that is advertising "New! Baked tortilla chips!" so I was able to used baked after all. I also broke the chips up slightly so that they wouldn't take up as much room in the pan. Finally, I only put sour cream on half because not all of us like it. Despite all these changes, my husband and I both agreed that it is something that we should try again sometime.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Easter Food
Traditionally during Lent people gave up meat, sugar, dairy, eggs, and fat. When Easter rolled around people were able to use those ingredients for tasty, rich dishes.
Pascha is one of those dishes. It is a traditional Easter dish has everything "forbidden" in it (except meat), which is probably why it is called "Pascha" in the first place. It is a food that my husband's family has always had on the Easter table and wouldn't dream of omitting from the Paschal feast. They normally have it as a spread on Russian Kulich bread.
Pascha
1 whole egg
4 egg yolks
2 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream
2 pounds ricotta cheese
1/2 pound sweet butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups golden raisins
1 cup blanched almonds, chopped
2 tablespoons grated orange rind
Beat the egg and the yolks until thick and lemon-colored.
Gradually add the sugar, and beat until the mixture is thick and
creamy.
Pour into a saucepan and add 1/2 cup of the cream.
Heat over medium-low heat, beating constantly, until the mixture begins
to thicken. Do not boil. Remove the pan from the heat and continue
beating until the mixture has cooled to lukewarm.
In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, butter, the other 1/2 cup of
cream and the vanilla. Cream until the mixture is smooth.
Add the egg mixture, then the fruits, almonds, and orange rind. Blend
thoroughly.
Chill overnight.
Pascha is one of those dishes. It is a traditional Easter dish has everything "forbidden" in it (except meat), which is probably why it is called "Pascha" in the first place. It is a food that my husband's family has always had on the Easter table and wouldn't dream of omitting from the Paschal feast. They normally have it as a spread on Russian Kulich bread.
Pascha
1 whole egg
4 egg yolks
2 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream
2 pounds ricotta cheese
1/2 pound sweet butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups golden raisins
1 cup blanched almonds, chopped
2 tablespoons grated orange rind
Beat the egg and the yolks until thick and lemon-colored.
Gradually add the sugar, and beat until the mixture is thick and
creamy.
Pour into a saucepan and add 1/2 cup of the cream.
Heat over medium-low heat, beating constantly, until the mixture begins
to thicken. Do not boil. Remove the pan from the heat and continue
beating until the mixture has cooled to lukewarm.
In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, butter, the other 1/2 cup of
cream and the vanilla. Cream until the mixture is smooth.
Add the egg mixture, then the fruits, almonds, and orange rind. Blend
thoroughly.
Chill overnight.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
What Kind of Cake are You?
| You Are a Chocolate Cake |
 Fun, comforting, and friendly. You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality. People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you. |
Yum!
Friday, March 16, 2007
More Grocery Bargains
I was at Kroger this evening to pick up some pita bread. (I haven't been able to find pitas anywhere else, and I am just not up to trying to make them from scratch.) Since the pitas were near the produce I decided to see if there were any good deals to be had.
Were there ever. I was able to get more than seven pounds of organic bananas for 0.99 total. They were on the ripe side, but definitely not over ripe. That was a much better price than the non-organic bananas which were lime green.
Next, I noticed that all the berries were marked $2 a carton. (This may not be a good price where you live, but it is here.) When I inspected them, fully expecting them to be over ripe and slightly slimy, I saw some of the most beautiful berries outside of Whole Foods I have ever seen. I was able to get fresh blueberries, raspberries and blackberries for a great price. Normally I only look at the berries with longing, but today I was able to bring home a healthy treat for my family.
Were there ever. I was able to get more than seven pounds of organic bananas for 0.99 total. They were on the ripe side, but definitely not over ripe. That was a much better price than the non-organic bananas which were lime green.
Next, I noticed that all the berries were marked $2 a carton. (This may not be a good price where you live, but it is here.) When I inspected them, fully expecting them to be over ripe and slightly slimy, I saw some of the most beautiful berries outside of Whole Foods I have ever seen. I was able to get fresh blueberries, raspberries and blackberries for a great price. Normally I only look at the berries with longing, but today I was able to bring home a healthy treat for my family.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Just Checking In
I don't have anything in particular to post, but I wanted to let you know that I haven't totally forgotten about this blog.
In other news, since it was a pretty warm day today, I decided to make this recipe which I posted a while ago. My husband still liked it and I was even able to get my son to eat it. Also, I recently found this muffin recipe which looks both healthy and delicious. The only thing keeping me from making it is that it makes 18 muffins instead of 12. I don't know what I could do with the extra batter.
In other news, since it was a pretty warm day today, I decided to make this recipe which I posted a while ago. My husband still liked it and I was even able to get my son to eat it. Also, I recently found this muffin recipe which looks both healthy and delicious. The only thing keeping me from making it is that it makes 18 muffins instead of 12. I don't know what I could do with the extra batter.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Happy Birthday!
On Sunday we celebrated my son's birthday. About a year ago I had seen on the Internet a ship cake and I thought I would try my hand at it. If you want to see it better you can click on the picture.My husband made the cake and frosting and I "sculpted" and frosted it. All the guests were quite impressed. I thought it best not to mention that it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Next time I will probably do better just because I will have more experience.
The ship was a chocolate cake with chocolate peanut butter frosting. Since we were having so many guests I also made a spice cake with cream cheese frosting. (I'll give the recipe in a future post. It was excellent!) It ended up being one of the situations where one cake wasn't enough but two cakes were way too much. We don't mind that!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Grocery Bargains
I had such an exciting time at the grocery store this evening that I just had to relate my experience. :) Yes, I am a nerd to get excited about saving money on groceries.
I hate what our grocery bill often looks like and usually check out all the grocery circulars each week to see if there are any deals that work for my family. Oftentimes there are not, since we don't buy processed foods very much.
This week however, Kroger is having some sort of pre-Super Bowl sale where if one buys eight select Kraft or Nabisco products there is a seven dollar discount at checkout. Normally, the names Kraft and Nabisco scream processed foods, and sure enough, most of the select items are highly processed. However, one of the select items was Philadelphia Cream Cheese. They also had in on sale for one dollar a package.
For one dollar I was able to buy eight (8!) packages of cream cheese. One may ask, what does one do with that much cream cheese? Well, I wondered that myself for a brief instant, but then I had an answer. I have a very yummy cheesecake recipe that I want to make before Lent begins which calls for five bars of it. I will still have three left, and I know I will use one of them for something or other. Even if I never end up using the other two before they go bad, I will still have saved more than if I had bought the five bars on their own.
While I was at the store I also looked for the apples that were on sale. Though I couldn't find them, I did notice a sale on grapefruits for 33¢ each. I bought six of them. They brought the total for my grocery bill to $3. Three dollars for fourteen items. Even my husband was happy. He said, "Boy, they must have lost money on us." I guess that is why they call them "Loss leaders".
I hate what our grocery bill often looks like and usually check out all the grocery circulars each week to see if there are any deals that work for my family. Oftentimes there are not, since we don't buy processed foods very much.
This week however, Kroger is having some sort of pre-Super Bowl sale where if one buys eight select Kraft or Nabisco products there is a seven dollar discount at checkout. Normally, the names Kraft and Nabisco scream processed foods, and sure enough, most of the select items are highly processed. However, one of the select items was Philadelphia Cream Cheese. They also had in on sale for one dollar a package.
For one dollar I was able to buy eight (8!) packages of cream cheese. One may ask, what does one do with that much cream cheese? Well, I wondered that myself for a brief instant, but then I had an answer. I have a very yummy cheesecake recipe that I want to make before Lent begins which calls for five bars of it. I will still have three left, and I know I will use one of them for something or other. Even if I never end up using the other two before they go bad, I will still have saved more than if I had bought the five bars on their own.
While I was at the store I also looked for the apples that were on sale. Though I couldn't find them, I did notice a sale on grapefruits for 33¢ each. I bought six of them. They brought the total for my grocery bill to $3. Three dollars for fourteen items. Even my husband was happy. He said, "Boy, they must have lost money on us." I guess that is why they call them "Loss leaders".
Saturday, January 27, 2007
200 Calories
A website that aptly labels itself the "Wise-geek" has put together a page of different foods and how much of each equals 200 calories. If the portion sizes in the pictures are accurate, it pains me to see that only 2/3 of a bagel qualifies, and yet two full glasses of Coca-cola meet that criteria. Give me a bagel any day over Coke. Blech!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
I'm Back (for now)
Well, after a six month hiatus, I have returned. Although the main reason I haven't posted has been due to laziness, the other reason is that I just haven't made any meals lately that are both particularly good and interesting.
I have been thinking about changing the theme of the blog to something more general so I can blog about family life, but as I write this, I think I will just create a new blog which will allow me to do that.
I have been thinking about changing the theme of the blog to something more general so I can blog about family life, but as I write this, I think I will just create a new blog which will allow me to do that.
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