Just because you're short on time doesn't mean that you can't have a fabulous homemade meal or dessert:
Shrimp and Scallops with Angel Hair Pasta
2 lbs of angel hair pasta
2 bags of frozen shrimp and 2 bags of frozen scallops
1 bag of frozen broccoli
1/3 cup of olive oil
1 stick of butter
2 tablespoons of garlic salt
2 tablespoons of parsley
2 teaspoons of pepper
3 teaspoons of basil
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
Fill a big pot with salted water and heat to boil
in a large saucepan heat the oil and the butter on medium low till melted add the minced garlic then turn the heat down so you don't burn the garlic and
add the rest of the seasonings.
Next add the seafood that is thawed. Heat till it is heated through on about a medium heat.Then stir in the broccoli.If it looks like you might need more butter then go ahead and add accordingly.
Add the spaghetti when the water is boiling.Cook til tender then drain.
Serve the seafood/sauce over a nest of cooked angel hair pasta.
If you want add mushrooms to the sauce and grape tomatoes also black olives are good in it.
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Another quick recipe that is a favorite:
Buttery Cinnamon Skillet Apples
1/3 cup of butter
1/2-3/4 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of corn starch
1 1/2 cup of water
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
4 medium cooking apples unpeeled,cored and cut in half
In a 10 inch heavy skillet melt butter over medium heat.Stir in sugar and corn starch. Mix well.Add remaining ingredients.Cover and cook over medium heat.
Spoon sauce over apples occasionally until apples are forked tender and sauce is thickened.(12-15 min.).
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Banana sour cream cake
1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
1 cup of Sour Cream
1/4 cup oil
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar
1 cup finely chopped PLANTERS Walnuts
HEAT oven to 350°F.
BEAT first 5 ingredients with mixer on low speed just until moistened, stopping frequently to scrape bottom and side of bowl. Beat on medium speed 2 min. Pour into greased and floured 13x9-inch pan.
BAKE 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
BEAT cream cheese and butter with mixer until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition.
REMOVE cake from pan. Carefully cut cake crosswise in half using serrated knife. Place 1 cake half, top-side down, on plate; spread with some of the cream cheese frosting. Top with remaining cake half, top-side up. Spread top and sides with remaining frosting. Press nuts into sides. Keep refrigerated.
I really can't remember when it snowed so much and was so cold. It's really a blessing to stay in a nice warm home while the weather is so fierce out.It does give me a chance to dig out some of my old recipes and cook them again.
One I have not cooked for a long time is: Spaghetti Carbonara
1 pound spaghetti
2 cups cubed pancetta rind removed
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine or vermouth
4 eggs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup heavy cream
Freshly ground black pepper
Freshly ground nutmeg
Directions
Put a large pan of water on to boil for the pasta.
In another large pan that will fit the pasta later, cook the pancetta cubes in the oil until crispy but not crunchy. Pour over the white wine or vermouth and let it bubble away so that, after a few minutes, you have a small amount of salty winey syrup left. Take the pan off the heat.
In a bowl, beat together the eggs, Parmesan, cream, and pepper. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, but since you want it kept al dente start checking it 2 minutes before end of the recommended cooking time.
When the pasta is done, remove approximately 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Put the pan with the bacon cubes back on the heat and add the drained pasta, tossing well to coat with the syrupy pancetta. Take the pan off the heat again and add the eggs and cheese mixture, swiftly tossing everything to mix. Thin with pasta water, if needed. Grind over some more pepper and grate over the nutmeg to serve.
_____ Or how about Creamed Chipped Beef On Toast_________________________
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1-4 ounce package of chipped beef
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth and heat until bubbly.
Gradually stir in milk and continue stirring to keep from getting lumpy.
The mixture-which is white sauce-will gradually thicken.
Add the chipped beef, separating the slices, and keep over low heat about 5 minutes.
Add salt and pepper as desired.
Serve over toast. Recipe makes four serving. ( I DOUBLE THIS)
ONE OF MY FAMILY'S FAVORITE SIDE DISHES IS CHEESY POTATOES ( sorry for yelling but it's that good)
50 min Total: 1 hr 0 min
1/4 cup butter, plus more for dish
1 onion, chopped
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can cream of celery soup
1 (8-ounce) package shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (30-ounce) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups crushed corn flakes
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a casserole dish.
In a small skillet, melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft. Pour mixture into a large bowl. Add the sour cream, cream of celery soup, cheese, garlic powder, hash browns, and salt and pepper. Combine until well blended.
Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top evenly with crushed corn flakes and bake for 45 minutes, or until hot and bubbly
Another family favorite is :
Seafood Lasagna
Total Time: 25 min
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-ounce carton)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons capers
1 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
9 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 cup small curd creamed cottage cheese
1 can (6 ounces) crab meat, drained and cartilage removed
1 can (4 ounces) tiny shrimp, drained
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Cook garlic in butter about 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until golden. Stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, until bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk and broth. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in mozzarella cheese, onions, capers, tarragon and lemon pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted.
2. Spread one-fourth of the cheese sauce (about 1 1/4 cups) in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches; top with 3 uncooked noodles. Spread cottage cheese over noodles. Repeat with one-fourth of the cheese sauce and 3 noodles. Top with crab meat, shrimp, one-fourth of the cheese sauce, the remaining noodles and cheese sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
3. Bake uncovered about 40 minutes or until noodles are tender. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Now I must go and make and make dinner- think tonight it'll be Chicken
I've been too busy these last couple of months that I never blogged the two holidays that are indicative for family feast and treasures.
My Thanksgiving was slightly irregular than in the years past with the usual big family dinner of turkey, homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, gravy, squash, dressing, and lots of various pies all created with my loving hands.But this year my oldest daughter decided to tackle the feat by herself. However instead of the usual dinner she decided to have an Italian feast something that she is fantastic at and loves to do.We had stuffed manicotti,spaghetti and meatballs .marinara and cheese sauce for the garlic bread, salad,with a fabulous punch with raspberries,strawberries ans blueberries.For dessert we had a rich chocolate cheesecake and a pumpkin cheesecake. wow needless to say none of us could hardly move ,it was sooooo good!!!!!!!!!! The weeks followed with the warmth of the Christmas season and the love of my family near to us especially our little Granddaughter were the usual cookies to bake chocolate chip, chocolate oatmeal.lots of rolled Christmas cookies with icing and decorated for the first year my grand daughter whom I love to have in the kitchen helping stirring and tasting .I think I actually enjoy the bars,brownies and rice krispie treats we make even more than the cookies.
We had a nice Christmas eve dinner with the ravioli casserole,salad,garlic bread and relish tray and I made the turkey and all the trimmings for Christmas.
I find that stuffing my turkey with a lemon cut in half,whole clove of garlic,fresh parsley,and a onion cut in half, really makes the turkey flavorful and moist.I still baste the bird with butter and seasoning. I think what I love most about the holidays is the smells. I have a recipe for a wonderful pot-potpourri..
Sliced apples
Sliced lemons
Sliced oranges
Water
Bay leaves
Whole cloves
Cinnamon sticks
Directions
In a slow-cooker, combine fruit to preferences of smell. Cover in water. Top with bay leaves, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Leave slow-cooker on low.
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. A old recipe for the sugar cookies that I use whether I use it for roll out and cut out cookies or the ball shaped and flatten with a glass kind ,is as follows
SUGAR COOKIES from my MOM
pre heat oven to 350 degrees
3 sticks of butter of margin
2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla
mix until creamy
4 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of cream of tarter-optional
mix into balls of dough
dip a glass bottom in water,then sugar and flatten balls of dough into cookies shapes
Now when I'm going to roll and cut out cookies I like to frig the dough over night then spread flour out on the counter and divide your dough in half in order to work easier with it ,sprinkle the dough with flour also to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin. If the dough is too sticky then add a little flour to it also.
I use just a half of stick of softened butter,4 cups of powdered sugar , 2 tablespoons of water then you can add whatever color of food dye you want and whatever flavor you want like almond, peppermint ,vanilla ,lemon,or even cherry.
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What is most important during this time is to share kindness and warmth with others.The prayer of St. Andrews reminds me on a daily basis of the extreme kindness that Christ gave to us and that of His most tender Mother and brave Foster-father.
