pesto

this is a classic recipe you can probably find anywhere.  i just want it on my site for quick reference.  fresh pesto is the best pesto!

ingredients and directions

throw the following in a blender and blend til blended :>

4 cloves garlic
1/2 C pine nuts
2 C fresh basil, tightly packed
1/2 C olive oil
1/4 C grated parmesan
3/4 t salt
1/2 t pepper
a couple shakes dried parsley and dried pepper flakes

johansen's favorite stuffed mushrooms

i confess i don't remember who the johansens are, but i know they are a friend of a friend and deserve their name accredited to this delicious appetizer.  gosh, i haven't made these in a while--i might just be grabbing some mushrooms next grocery trip.

ingredients

8-10 large mushrooms, stems pulled out and finely chopped
1 T butter
1/2 bunch green onion, finely sliced
1/4 t worcestershire
1/2 C bread crumbs, finely ground
1/2 C sharp cheddar, finely grated
salt and pepper to taste
2 T water

directions

sauté stems in melted butter with onions.  let cool then stir in everything else except water.  lightly salt the insides of the mushrooms and fill to overflowing.  place water in a small baking dish then add the mushrooms and bake @ 350 for 20 minutes.

hand-dipped/homemade peanut butter cups

a Christmas chocolates staple at my house.  this recipe has always been too ridiculously large, so i'm finally writing it down reduced appropriately!

ingredients

3/8 C fine graham cracker crumbs
1 C sifted powdered sugar
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/2 C peanut butter

directions

combine ingredients and roll into marble-sized balls (actually, about a third smaller than a marble would be best).  you can either dip them as balls, or, if you want to be fancy, fill a candy cup with your favorite melted chocolate, drop the ball in and then cover with more chocolate until the candy cup is filled almost to the top.  wait for the chocolate to set before eating (if you can!).

carbonara

many of my old recipes are in a bulky recipe box so i am in the middle of reorganizing them into a more space-efficient format.  i thought that while i was at it, i may as well add some of my favorites to the site.

the recipe probably won't blow your mind, but it's a great thing to do with leftover ham or on a day when you're pressed for time--done in under 30 minutes!  someday when i'm on the ball, i'd love to make this with fresh spaghetti.

ingredients

1 T butter
3 eggs, beaten
6-7 medium mushrooms
5-7 oz cooked ham, cubed
1/2 C grated parmesan
1/2 lb spaghetti

directions

cook spaghetti.  meanwhile, sauté ham and mushrooms in butter.  drain spaghetti and return it to the hot pot.  pour ham and mushrooms over it, plus the eggs and cheese.  mix vigorously to allow the eggs to cook without letting them get too hot and scramble.

dinners on the go: pizza bread

three kids in soccer makes for a busy fall and the kids are always famished right after school but before practice....so, i've started to try out dinner recipes that can be eaten on the go--edible by hand with little or no mess. 

this was one of the first recipes i tried.  it came from pickypalate.com.  i substituted italian sausage and black olives for the pepperoni.  we made ours into garlic toast the next day by brushing with a little bit of olive oil and sprinkling with garlic salt and broiling til brown.  yum!


ingredients


1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 cup quartered pepperoni slices, about 32 slices

1/2 cup marinara sauce

1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese

 

directions

combine everything except the last two ingredients.  place in greased and floured bread pan.  sprinkle with the seasoning and parmesan.  bake @ 350 for 45 minutes.

sour cream substitution

i don't always have sour cream lying around and even if i do, i cringe a little when i'm using it because i recognize it isn't the healthiest thing on the planet.  so, my new favorite thing to do is to mix greek yogurt with a little bit of buttermilk.  it works like a charm!  i've used it in stroganoff and tacos and in poppy seed chicken.  no one in my family noticed, either, which is a bonus.

healthy and hearty pancakes

i recently made these on a campout with friends and was pleasantly surprised at the favorable reaction--I sort of thought these were the kind of thing I like because they're my kind of yummy, but that my kids endure only because they know they don't have a choice...  ;>  enjoy!  and yes, there really aren't any eggs.

ingredients

2 C whole wheat flour
1 C flour
2 C quick oats
3 T flaxseed meal
1 T baking powder
generous amounts of cinnamon, ground cloves and allspice
2-3 C applesauce
2 T molasses
1 T oil
then just add any kind of milk until you have the right consistency--I frequently use soy milk

if you want to make them more hearty you can add up to 1/2 C each of wheat germ and/or uncooked malt-o-meal.