Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Wanna join me for dinner? in Italy?

It's 6:09 pm and all the World Changers are sleeping. Can I just say that NEVER has happened before? I'm actually in shock! I even made another thing out of my recipe book this evening. Drats. THATS prolly why they chose to sleep. See those wonderful green things? 



I cut them big enough so you could take them out if you like. Tasty little bugers. mmmmmm... and since I got to relish in this dish all alone this evening. I'm going to tell you....


Don't waste your time making it. There are crock-pot versions out there I'm sure you'd love better. It wasn't horrible by any means, but had my World Changers been awake... they woulda hollered... and that makes me not so happy.

However, I am in the mood to show you some more pictures from our trip of a lifetime.. so let me introduce you to the Chianti region of Italy.. a definite highlight in my week.



Road to a medieval village we visited 

 the castle at the winery we went too. 


We had like a 18 course meal and a taste of the wine they produced here. 
It was fantastic in every sense of the word.


We even got a surprise "we have a few minutes before the ship leaves we might as 
well take a  trip into Pisa."  It's much smaller than the picture suggests... but I'm super glad we stared at this leaning building... you know beings its famous and all. 


then, we get dressed up again and have dinner. Speaking of dinner, I should go clean up the kitchen. 
Thanks for "eating" with me... can you come back when all the World Changers are up at 9 and entertain them? Please? 

Monday, September 12, 2011

i miss my nikon..aka.. recipe for sugar cookies.

It's a pretty popular recipe that goes by a gazillion names. My lovely book calls them "Angel Cookies." 



I didn't frost them, only because the directions didn't tell me too. And well, I always obey the rules.  Like how I used only butter and not shortening.. only cuz I don't even keep shortening on my shelf.. butter is WAY better. I suspect that's why they are all flat and happy. *sigh* O well. They still only took from start to finish about 30 minutes. Which, along with the butter, just makes me happy. Easy Peasy to whip up a batch and clean up before the World Changers get off the... 


.....I hear the bus... the jury is about to arrive.. 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

a short detour while on vacation...lets cook something

Recipe books. Have you read one lately? Alright, I'll admit it. Besides being addicted to the Lead Singer's sweetness, fabric, and  a host of other things.. I'm in love love love with cook books. Where else can you read something start to finish when your waiting for anything and everything. I'll admit also that I have always had a sweet dream of someday picking up a recipe book and making everything in it. Yes, everything. Not just the stuff I think my family will eat, but even the stuff  I usually pass over. 

I just lacked a book that I felt confident cooking from, that my picky world changers wouldn't wanna move out when I cook something for dinner. 

Enter this little beauty. 


Isn't she pretty? My sister nailed it when I told her it was written in 1973 and she said.."that's it then."  Of course I had to use this one. Who cares if the first main dish was "Salad Bar Hot Dish for 300 Servings" or that later in the book there is a recipe for "Partridge." Get the gun world changer.. mommy needs ya to kill dinner.   Hmmmmmm..... maybe we will just wait on that particular recipe. 


What did I cook first? The official title is "Lasagna"  however, after carefully perusing this particular recipe, you will notice, it's missing a key ingredient that even my family knew was missing.. can you spot it? 



I apologize right now for the horrible image.  Someone lost the battery to my Mr. Nick in Italy.. but that's another story...




All in all, the family gave this two thumbs up. I particularly loved it. It was yummy in all the senses, and ever though it sounds hard... it's totally not. Without further ado... here's the goods.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Lasagne
  • 1 lb. Ground beef
  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
  • 1 med. onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 large can tomato sauce
  • 1 large can tomato paste
  • salt/pepper to taste
  • 1/4 lb grated mozzarella cheese 
  • Parmesan cheese
  • 1 package lasagna noodles
  • 1 T cooking oil
  • 1 can pizza sauce or tomato juice
In heavy pan, cook meat, garlic and onion until meat is gray color. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste and salt and pepper to taste. Cook very slowly (stirring often) for 1 1/2 hours or longer, the longer the better.  If sauce is too thick, add either pizza sauce or tomato juice. Sauce should not be soupy. About 1 hour before serving time, cook noodles in 3 q. kettle of boiling salted water to which 1 T of oil has been added. Cook until noodles are tender (about 10 minutes) then blanch in cold water. In deep 9x13 buttered pan, pour 1/4 of meat sauce, then a layer of noodles and some of the mozzarella cheese. Then add 1/4 of sauce, noodles, and cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 40-45 minutes. in 350 degrees oven. Remove from oven and let set or 10 minues. Much easier served this way. Cut into squares to serve.
________________________________________________________________________________
I'm crackin up at the wording they used back in the 70s in their recipes. If your not a cooker, your going to struggle a bit on words like "blanch" or if your detailed when the recipe calls for a "can" your going to wonder what size. Thats where the comments section comes in.. if your making this and need more info on what I used.. pipe in and I'll let ya know.. cooking is fun, and a learned thing.. and I'd be honored to share from my experience! 

Every recipe in one book.. this is crazy......





Friday, September 2, 2011

nice is nice!

Ok, after a fabulous night out at formal night, vacation doesn't stop there... so let's go to Nice!! It's pronounced Neece. I didn't know either. I also didn't know it was a fantastic place on this earth.  If I had to pick one place to return to. It would be here.  France! 



mmmm.... REAL pizza.  


Flowers climbing the walls.. sooo lovely. 


Shops lined the streets of this medieval town. 


The Lead Singer found this fun little stairway on our way out. 
We just learned to trust his GPS. I'm certain he can't get lost. Ever. 


 Feet in the Mediterranean Sea anyone? 



and of course... a pre-dinner shot of the sunset as we are leaving France. 

By the morning, we will be docked in Italy!  I'm still trying to absorb that we actually DID this.