Texas time

Our daughter moved to Texas in June.

We had the opportunity to visit her and her family and were able to see a few of the Fort Worth Texas sights as well as Waco, Houston and College station.

One of the highlights were visiting Magnolia Farm.  A few of the pictures are from there. Also visiting the Stockyards were a great fun and interesting experience.

Check out those Texas Longhorns!!!

Other photos were from precious time with family and having some yummy food! Yummy!

Family time is the Best Time!

Pasta with Broccoli, Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

This was our dinner tonight.  The recipe seemed so easy I just had to make it mine!! I adapted it to our liking with lemon pepper salt seasoning.  I didn't think it had enough zing without it. Yummy dish!

Enjoy! 
From my kitchen to yours,

M.J.

6 cups broccoli, cut into florets
1 lb. Farfalle, orecchiette or penne(I used Tri color penne)
8 tablespoons butter..I cut to 4 tablespoons
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 T. fresh lemon juice
Lemon Pepper seasoning salt(approx. 1/2 tsp.)
extra-virgin olive oil
 grilled or pan fried chicken (optional)

Cook broccoli in large pan of salted water for 2 minutes.  Using a slotted spoon scoop out broccoli and set aside.
Add pasta to boiling water and cook for package directions.  Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.

Meanwhile heat in a large skillet over medium high heat butter for approx 2 minutes until butter starts to brown slightly. Add the broccoli and cook 1 minute. Gently stir in pasta, basil, pine nuts and lemon juice.  Season with lemon pepper seasoning salt or salt and pepper and stir in enough pasta water to create a light sauce.  Drizzle each serving with olive oil. Top with grilled chicken if desired.

       Add some grilled or pan fried chicken to make it a meal.

All recipes and their respective images are the sole property of I Like to Bake and Cook™ ©2022, all rights reserved. All content herein is meant for your personal enjoyment only and is in no way to be used for commercial purposes. Use of this site automatically constitutes your agreement to these terms.

Raspberry cookie bars

My good friend Nancy shared this recipe with me after she gave me a taste of hers.  OMG they are delicious.

If you are looking for a recipe that serves many this would be it.

Not only tasty and buttery but with the topping of fruit it makes for a beautiful presentation.  Everyone will love it.  I am sure.

Enjoy!

PS:  it doesn’t have to be Christmas to make cookies!0

Raspberry Bars

2/ 1/4 c flour
1 c sugar
1 cup chopped nuts(I used pecans)
1 c soft butter
1 egg

Combine and press 3/4 of mixture into a 9x13" sprayed pan(remember to save about 1/4 of crust mixture for topping.

Filling:

1-10-12 oz. jar of raspberry preserves(I used raspberry and blackberry jam)

Spread preserves over crumb base to with-in 1/2 of edge.

Break remainder of crust mixture into small crumb pieces and top the preserves.

Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool completely and cut into small squares.  Store in a cool area.

Less sugar Ricotta cookie logs/ rolls

Today’s Christmas themed Ricotta logs/rolls

12/22/23

 Updated:

My easy Ricotta logs.  

Playing with my ricotta cookie recipe.

Concerned about your sugar consumption?  Try my ricotta cookie recipe with half the sugar and made into rolls as an option to individual cookies.

Ingredients;

1 cup  sugar

1stick softened butter

3 eggs ( room temperature)

1 lb. Ricotta ( you can use reduced fat)

1to 2 tsp.  Extract of choice ( we like anise, orange, lemon as our favorites)

4 cups flour 

1tsp. Baking soda

1/4 cup Milk to brush logs before baking

Icing

Confectionery sugar 

A few tablespoons Milk or vanilla creamer for icing 

Using an upright mixer Beat sugar and softened butter, add eggs then slowly add flour and 1 tsp. Baking soda and ricotta.

   

 Mixture will be thick but easy to manage.

On a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray then drop large tablespoons of batter in a vertical line.  ( approximately 8 tablespoons) make a roll.  Smooth edges making sure it looks like a long roll.

***Smooth sides and top of rolls. These pictures are an example of how they look before baking them.  They  have chocolate chips in them.

***I do not usually put any thing in them.

Brush rolls with with milk before placing in oven.

Bake at 375 degrees approximately 20/25 minutes until when you insert toothpick in center it comes out clean. Oven temperatures vary.

Cool completely.  When rolls are cooled using a small brush  rolls  with icing.

Icing instructions :

Approximately 1 cup confectionery (powdered sugar)

Milk or French vanilla creamer.  With a large spoon slowly add milk to confectionery sugar until desired consistency.

Spread over rolls! Once icing dries cut with a serrated knife.  

Rolls freeze well.

Store in cool area or refrigerate until serving. I store mine in a container  with wax paper in between to keep from drying out.  

***if freezing rolls wrap securely with freezer paper or aluminum foil.

Yummy!

Ham Steak with pineapple and cherries! So easy and so good!!

I'm cooking for myself tonight!  Hubby is out and it gives me an opportunity to cook something that I like and he really doesn't care for.  Tender, sweet ham!! I do love ham and it is a one pan meal!!

I had bought a lean looking thicker slice of ham at the market last week which I was planning to make a small pot of bean soup with.  

All that changed when this popped up

In my mind. What was going to be ham and bean soup

 became this.  I added a par cooked skin removed sweet potato to the ham etc. into what I really felt like eating which was ham, baked with brown sugar, pineapple and cherries.  Doesn't that sound good?

  Note:  added a quartered sweet potato( I microwaved the potato slightly) and added a pinch of pepper and Wow it was so delicious!

Easy, Easy meal and I have leftovers for tomorrow!  I baked  everything with the brown sugar, pineapple and cherries in a small oven pan at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes.. Enjoy!

I used pineapple tidbits, maraschino cherries and sprinkled about 2 tsp. brown sugar..

Quick easy and so delicious!  Enjoy!  

Happy Cooking from my kitchen to yours!!

 

All recipes and their respective images are the sole property of I Like to Bake and Cook2014, all rights reserved. All content herein is meant for your personal enjoyment only and is in no way to be used for commercial purposes. Use of this site automatically constitutes your agreement to these terms.

12/15/11
7/3/15