Favorite blog posts from the start! Happy Baking and Cooking from my kitchen to yours Blog Annivesary 5/18/13

Over the past 2 years I have found the below posts to be some of the most popular ones viewed. Two great years of baking and cooking and sharing recipes for you and your family, hoping to make your time in YOUR kitchen a time for making great food memories more enjoyable.

Some of the links are not highlighted so you may have to paste the link in your browser to access.  I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.  Have a great weekend!

As always,

M.J.

*****Here is the Most Popular Post!

Strawberry Blueberry Cobbler


Strawberry Blueberry Cobbler



After checking my blog posts it seems the second most viewed(2) recipe has been my own recipe for Italian seasoned Porchetta (porketta).

Porketta



3. Aunt Alda's Cheesecake

 
Aunt Alda's Cheesecake Recipe

4. Italian Chambelone

Italian Chambalone
5. Roasted Pork, Spinach and Carrots

Roasted Pork and carrots
6. Two Lonely Apples and a Piecrust

Two lonely apples and a piecrust
7. Handy Kitchen Tools #3

 http://iliketobakeandcook.blogspot.com/2011/08/handy-kitchen-tools-3.html

8. Drop Noodles for Haluski

 

Drop noodles for Haluski

9. Italian Stuffed Meatloaf

 

 Stuffed meatloaf Italian Style

10. Sweet BBQ Bake

 

 Sweet BBQ Bake

11. Bacon /Cheeseburger loaf

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

12.. Easy Bake Scones

 

Easy Baked Scones


13. Mom's Italian Macaroni and Cheese

 

 Mom's Italian Style Mac and Cheese
14. Cream Puff Ring

 


Cream Puff Ring!
15. Chicken Francese

 


Easy Chicken Francaise



******There were a lot of others that had great responses as well.  Honorable mention to Aunt Dora's Earthquake cake, Easy Peanut Butter Fudge, My version of Banana Split cake, A different salad Roasted Butternut Squash and many more.

To date I have posted over 700 recipes which include many family recipes and each and every one of them I am proud of.  I have many more recipes to share with you and hope you are enjoying my blog posts as much as I am enjoying writing, taking photos and typing them.

Happy Baking and Cooking from my kitchen to yours,

 

M.J.

5/19/13

How to make Polenta with Red Sauce: My First Blog Post

Two year Blogging and still going strong!

My Mother in Law served polenta on a board(large wooden cutting board).  I remember eating from that board many times. We would all sit around the table, she would place the polenta in the center of the table on a large wooden board and we would all eat our section of polenta that we would mark  in our area with our fork. ( Half circle around area that we felt we would eat). She also made her sauce from freshly hunted rabbit and used ground fat back to start her red sauce.   I never knew there was rabbit meat in her sauce or I might have been reluctant to eat it. :) but sometimes the less you know the better :). It actually tasted ok.

It was a new experience for me because even though I am half Italian Mom made polenta on many Sunday's and would make it with her traditional meat sauce.

She usually spooned the polenta  into a dish the way my pictures demonstrate and topped the meat sauce with plenty of freshly grated Italian (pecorino romano) cheese. 

Here is the recipe that I follow to this day!  Enjoy!!

 

2 cups corn meal poured into 2 cups cold water  Stir into mixed.    Bring 5 cups of water to boil to which 1 1/2 tsp. salt has been added..  Add cornmeal mix... Cook slowly with cover slightly on(it will splash if not covered) until it has thickened..About 1/2 hour....Let it set for a few minutes before adding a Meat Sauce and grated Italian cheese..That's Italian!!!

Just a note:  This post on Polenta was my very first blogpost on blogger!  5/18/11!! 

Happy Baking and Cooking from my kitchen to yours,

 M.J.

 

 

5/18/11 My first blog post!

Overnight Blueberry French Toast

Blueberries, blueberries, blueberries!   Soon it'll be the season for everything made with blueberries!

  Today I got a head start using some fresh Florida blueberries and decided to make Overnight Blueberry French Toast courtesy of allrecipes.com.   I changed it a bit to my liking and everyone who ate it at the Brunch loved it, so I know it was a success!!   Every single bit disappeared before my eyes!  I did manage to get a taste and  I'd have to say it was delish! 

 Enjoy some yum from my kitchen to yours,

M.J.

The blueberry topping really gave it the added umph to make it all the better.  Enjoy!

• 12 slices day-old bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (I cut the bread in thick slices and halved them)
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes( I used 1 1/2 pkgs.) 
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 12 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup maple syrup( I increased to 1/2 cup)
  
  
  Topping: 

• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 tablespoon butter
  1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon or lemon juice( I felt it could use some to boost the flavor and it did) 
   
•  
• Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange half the bread cubes in the dish, and top with cream cheese cubes. Sprinkle 1 cup blueberries over the cream cheese, and top with remaining bread cubes.
• In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and syrup. Pour over the bread cubes. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the bread cube mixture from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cover, and bake 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking 25 to 30 minutes, until center is firm and surface is lightly browned.
• In a medium saucepan, mix the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to a boil. Stirring constantly, cook 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the remaining 1 cup blueberries. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, until the blueberries burst. Stir in the butter, and pour over the baked French toast.