Cooks Day Off!!

 I'd like to share some of my first blog posts with you.  My family is going through some tough times and my mind is not on baking or cooking.  I am preparing a lot of my old recipes and also getting out and enjoying a few small meals. 

Once I can focus a little better I'll be back to my passion of baking and cooking. I promise!

Love, M.j.




I've surpassed my expectations of what I thought my blog would be.. It has taken me on a journey of  my family recipes but also new ideas to make this blog what my fellow foodies seem to enjoy.  It seems my waking hours are spent thinking of what I am going to post the next day!  I have become somewhat obsessed with it!    My son tells me that is because it is my passion, and that it is a good thing! I agree!!!

Since I am not cooking today we are searching out that quick but tasty something to satisfy both my hubby and grandson.who is visiting us...  We are searching out a place to satisfy their love for that perfect quick satisfying meal?  A hoagie or a sub?   My hubby likes Philly cheese steak hoagies.  My grandson loves Italian subs.   So depending on your locale it is a hoagie or a sub?  I grew up calling this crispy long roll , piled with lots of different meat, cheese and lots of toppings a hoagie . Today where we ate they called them subs.  Whatever you want to call them..it really doesn't matter as long as they are Yummy!!!

9/5/2011 original

Super Bowl!!! Appetizers for entertaining

Check out  the label section of my blog under appetizers for these wonderful "kitchen tested"selections.

Enjoy the game!

Meat Sauce using Plum Tomatoes

A simple and delicious crockpot pasta sauce using Plum tomatoes.  

Simple to make

2 lb. beef and pork ground
3 to 4 cloves garlic (sliced, minced or whole)
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black or red pepper
2 large cans Tuttorosso plum tomatoes emulsified several times with immersion blender, processor(or simply crush well pushing down with a fork).
3 or fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp. dried basil
**1 small can tomato paste (optional for thicker sauce) 

1 lb. pasta cooked according to directions.  Drain well!!!!  so water does not settle to bottom of serving dish.

Brown meat in olive oil chopping with large spoon to break up into small pieces.  Add salt and pepper and garlic.  Add to crockpot and set on low.  Add tomatoes, basil, and Italian seasoning.  Cover and cook approximately 4 to 6 hours. 

 ** Note: If you like a slightly thicker pasta sauce add 1 can tomato paste when adding the tomatoes and stir to blend before placing lid on crockpot.

Use blender and pulse until tomatoes are no longer whole

Ricotta Cake

I just came across a handwritten recipe of Mom's for Ricotta Cake. After reading it I was not completely sure what size pan to use so I wound up using a large cookie sheet.  I now wished I had used a smaller size pan until I put my creative juice to work. Enjoy!

Single layer cake

My idea was to cut the topped pieces in squares and layer one on top of each for a really cool looking dessert.

 

Without topping

 Adding some whipped topping makes it so yummy

The cake is wonderful but in the large cookie sheet it is very thin which was fine by hubby and I.  I topped the cake half with cherry pie filling and the other with blueberry pie filling.  Gave it a little whipped cream to top it and it was fabulous.

A suggestion might be that you could use a regular oblong cake pan.  9 x 13 might do better but remember baking time might increase.  Nana's recipe added dried fruit so that's an option as well.

Here is the typed recipe.

15 to 16 oz. Whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar (we increased to 3/4 cup)
Grated rind of one lemon
4 large egg yolks
2 large egg whites
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 T vanilla
1 T lemon juice (optional)

Optional:  1/3 cup golden raisins, 1/2 cup dried fruit finely chopped.  I think Grandma added these but we chose not to.

Mom doubled the recipe and used her jelly roll pan.

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Butter pan generously with real butter. In a small bowl combine 4 T. graham cracker crumbs and 2 T granulated sugar.  Mix and sprinkle over buttered pan.

With an electric mixer place sugar, egg yolks, ricotta,lemon rind, vanilla.  Beat thoroughly.  When blended add flour and increase speed to high while adding egg whites beating for several minutes.  Pour (batter will be liquid) and place in preheated oven approx. 35 minutes for large cookie sheet.

  Adjust time for smaller pan.  Happy Baking!

 

copyright 2014 I Like to Bake and Cook Blog

The Perfect Hard-Boiled Egg!

I have the worst time getting the perfect hard boiled egg so today after two attempts these eggs are looking perfect .

Here is what I did.  I placed two eggs in cold water. You can do as many as you like but don't overcrowd them. I added a splash of vinegar and a dash of salt and boiled them for 15 minutes slightly covered.

 With a slotted spoon I removed the eggs and placed them in a pan of ice water. The shells were able to be removed easily and they look pretty lol. No chunks of white missing!

The end result hopefully the perfect egg. 

 Note:  Very dull knife so the cut isn't as nice as it could be.