Ravenwolf Lodge

Creamy Orange-Lemon Gelatto

2011-01-06T02:28:00.000+01:00

I'm trying to cut back on calories for the new year, in addition to starting the couch to 5k program at cool runnings. This recipe isn't the greatest, but it's a start. Next times I'll try to make it with splenda sugar instead and see how it goes. Maybe egg beaters...I wouldn't do it with any less than whole milk as it could effect the creaminess.

First, whisk together 5 egg yolks and 3/4 cup of sugar and set aside.

Then heat 2 cups of milk, 6 coffee beans, and 4 thin strips of orange peel in saucepan until steamy. Do not boil!

Add half of the milk to the egg mix and whisk. Add the egg mix back into the remaining milk and cook on low until slightly thickened. Mine didn't thicken that well. I don't know what happened.

Pour into large bowl and put in the fridge. Forget about it for 8 hours.

When it's time, take it out and stir in 4 tsp of lemon juice.

Process according to your ice cream makers' instructions, then scoop out and place in your freezer to let flavors melt for a couple of hours. Serving tonight with cocoa meringues. The ice cream is only 145 calories per half cup...I rarely eat that much.

Orange-Lemon Gelatto
2 cups whole milk
5 large egg yolks
strips of lemon and orange peel
6 coffee beans
3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp lemon juice

Scald the milk with the orange and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar to blend. Gradually whisk half of the hot milk into the yolks. Return the yolks to the saucepan with remaining milk. Stir over low heat until custard thickens and leave a path on the back of the spoon when you draw your finger across it. Do not let the mixture boil. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and chill.

Once the mixture is cool stir in the lemon juice. Transfer to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturers instructions.

Cocoa Meringues

2011-01-05T17:03:00.001+01:00

After I made the Orange-lemon gelato, I was left with 5 egg whites. I didn't want to just toss them, and I don't like egg white omelets, so I went looking for a recipe and decided on a recipe for regular french meringues with a twist: cocoa. And hey, chocolate goes well with orange, right?

First, combine powdered sugar with cocoa powder then set aside.

In your mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form, then gradually add the sugar mix. Continue beating until stiff peaks form.

Now you pipe the batter onto cookie sheets. You can use a fancy pastry bag with tips, or if you're like me and constantly losing tips and couplers, you can just put the batter in a freezer bag, snip off the tip and start piping. I piped little swirly peak shapes.

I'd like at this point to warn any fellow dieters...you will taste the batter to make sure that it's not too sweet or bitter from cocoa. It will taste like the most creamy, fluffy chocolate ice cream that you have ever tried. You may consider grabbing a spoon. Don't or you won't have cookies. Take it from one who knows.

Bake in a 185 degree oven for 3 hours or until cookies dry.

Cocoa Meringues

5 egg whites
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Mix sugar and cocoa. Set aside.

Beat egg whites in mixer with wire whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar mixture and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Pipe onto cookie sheets and bake at 185 degrees for 3 hours or until dry.

Makes 44 cookies. Each cookie is .3 g fat (yes point 3) and 31 calories.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-26T01:12:00.000+01:00

It's been a while and for those who may be still reading, I'm sorry. I've started school and between Human Anatomy and Physiology and Organic Chemistry, I've been swamped. Add to that 4 kids, looking for a job, and a husband getting out of the navy soon and I'm one busy mama!

I've of course still been cooking, especially today, Christmas. The day started off with monkey bread, then scrambled egg toast, bacon and mimosas. Dinner was this fantastic prime rib, served with baked potatoes and broccoli. A light dinner (well, for me) due to my husband's head cold. He still managed to make sounds that I previously had only heard in the bedroom when eating the rib roast. Here's how I did it.

I started with a 6 lb rib roast. Removed meat part from the ribs myself...not terribly hard to do, just cut along the tissue away from the ribs. Then tied the roast to the ribs with twine. I did this because I didn't relish the thought of trying to cut it away when hot, and the bones give it out of this world flavor. Rubbed the roast down with sea salt, ground black pepper and garlic. I roasted the first 15 minutes at 450 degrees, then promptly reduced the temp to 300 degrees. This high temp start sears the outside, then the lower temp cooks it slowly to buttery tenderness. I removed it when the temp read 120 degrees. I want medium rare, and it will continue to cook on the counter at least another 5-10 degrees.

Then I let it rest. 20 minutes at least to keep all the juices inside. Sliced:

Served with a Malbec red from Argentina...a wonderful dinner:

Hope your Christmas was a Merry one!

Roast Pork Shoulder and Scalloped Potatoes

2010-04-01T00:29:00.000+02:00

See this? That is a juicy roast pork shoulder. It's buttery, melt in your mouth smooth. I gave slices to the twins and they kept crying for more. You need to run, not walk, to buy a pork shoulder picnic roast to make this.

Served with scalloped potatoes (recipe follows pork recipe) and cucumber salad (you're on your own...)

Roast Pork Shoulder

1 boneless pork shoulder picnic roast (4-8 lbs, you may want to double the rub if using the larger size)
5 cloves of garlic
1 btsp dried oregano
1 tbsp dried cumin
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
juice of 1 lime

Prepare the roast by lifting the fat cap and scoring the meat on all sides. Place in roasting pan.
In a food processor combine the garlic, oregano, cumin, lime and olive oil to make a paste. Rub all over pork, making sure to get under the cap and in the scored lines. Let marinate for an hour or even up to overnight. Make sure to bring to room temp in chilling overnight.

Pour a small bit of water to cover bottom of pan about 1/4 inch. Roast covered in foil in 275 degree oven for 6 hours or 50 minutes per pound. When done, I paint the pork all over with a little olive oil mixed into the honey the increase the temp to 350. Let the outside crisp and brown then remove from oven and place roast on platter to sit for 20 minutes before cutting. At this point you can make gravy. I just loosen the bits on the bottom with some red wine, then add about 2 tbsp of flour to make a roux. I then finish with about 2 cups of beef stock, cooking to desired thickness.

Scalloped potatoes
recipe courtesy of Savory Sweet Life

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 sprig fresh thyme (optional)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Non-stick spray
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled/unpeeled and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices – about 5-6 sm-med. sized potatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup grated Cheddar
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/3 cup grated Parmesan for topping off and broiling
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium sauce pan – heat cream, chopped garlic, nutmeg, and sprig of thyme on medium heat. While the cream mixture is heating up, spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray. Place a layer of potato slices at the base of the casserole dish in an overlapping pattern seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove the cream from heat, discard thyme, and pour a little over the potatoes adding some of the Cheddar and Parmesan cheese on top. Repeat the layers two more times. Pour any remaining cream sauce on top of the last layer and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

Bacon, Cheddar and Carmelized onion Casatiello

2010-04-01T00:11:00.000+02:00

I made this wonderful bread this weekend to take to an SCA event and received many compliments. It's a variation on Peter Reinhart's Casatiello recipe, except instead of using provolone and salami, I used bacon, shredded sharp cheddar and carmelized onions. These were kneaded in the last 6 minutes, each seperately, at the end of the kneading cycle. I baked this on parchment paper in the ring of a 9 in springform pan with the bottom removed. Fabulous! I was glad to have something nice to share...

Casatiello

By: Peter Reinhart in The Bread Baker's Apprentice

Sponge
1/2 cup (2.3 oz) bread flour

1 tbsp instant yeast

1 cup buttermilk

Dough
3 1/2 cups (16 oz) bread flour

1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 eggs
3/4 cup (6 oz) unsalted butter, softened and divided in 4 pieces
6 oz shredded cheddar
6 oz bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled

1 large onion, diced and carmelized in butter.

Directions

Combine the sponge ingredients in a non-reactive mixing bowl, blending thoroughly. Cover and allow to rest 1 hour.

In the bowl of a standing mixer, whisk together the 16 oz bread flour, salt and pepper.

Pour in the sponge mixture and the eggs and mix well on low-medium speed until the dough forms a coarse, shaggy ball.

Continue mixing for 1-2 minutes longer, then turn off the mixer and allow the dough to relax for 15 minutes.

On low speed, begin working the butter into the dough one piece at a time. The dough will be very soft.

Continue beating dough until smooth and velvety, about 12-13 minutes, and the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. Use the dough hook if you have one and add the cheese, bacon and onions one at a time staggered at 2 minute intervals over the last 6 minutes.

Place in an oiled bowl, turning to grease the top. Cover and allow to rise 90 minutes. The dough will easily triple.

Deflate the dough and shape into a boule. Place in a 9" springform tin that has been lightly greased.

Cover and allow to rise again 45-60 minutes, until it rises over the top of the pan.

Preheat oven to 450F and move the oven rack to the lowest position.

Bake 20 minutes, then rotate pan 180 degrees and bake 25 minutes longer.

Remove from the pan immediately and cool completely on a wire rack.

Teaser Tuesday March 30

2010-03-30T13:12:00.000+02:00

Here's another book meme hosted by Should Be Reading, Teaser Tuesdays and it's a fun one. The rules are thus:

Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences for somewhere on the page.
Do not include spoilers!!!
Share title and author.

My teaser this week:

"Her mother came upstairs because she heard the sobbing. It had seeped through the grout of the tile and the soffitts and the plaster that made up the ceiling downstairs. it would, in fact, become as much of this household as the bricks and the mortar, although neither of the women realized it yet."

It's from Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult which is a fantastic book.

March What's On My Nightstand

2010-03-24T13:08:00.000+01:00

It's difficult to get a whole lot of reading done when you're chasing after 4 kids (that's not including husband-child), a new puppy and trying to sew an entire wardrobe for your family for the SCA...something new that needs to be made always comes up. I look back longingly at the days when I could go through a book a day and now wonder if I'll ever even come close reading the 100 books in the 100 book challenge that I"m participating in. It's March and I'm only at 12.

Nonetheless, I was able to read some, which is a good thing. My stack this month looks like this (digital stack, since the read ones have been responsibly returned to the library.) Join us for more stacks at 5 minutes for books

Book Review: Jane Austen Ruined My Life

2010-03-16T16:48:00.000+01:00

I had really hoped to like this book, but I didn't. I never really clicked with the heroine, whom I frequently wanted to slap some sense into or any of the other characters and the story just didn't engage me. I have to force myself to finish. The facts about Jane's life were interesting, but not enough to redeem the rest. In my opinion, in a market current glutted by these Jane Austen-centric novels, this is one you can skip.

Menu Plan Monday: Easy week

2010-03-15T12:22:00.000+01:00

Not much going on this week...Scott is gone Tuesday and most of wednesday doing St. Patrick's day activities with the band. I've got lots of sewing to do in preparation for Spring Coronation for the SCA in 2 weeks.

Sunday: Crock Pot Turkey breast with stuffing, cranberry sauce and roasted sweet potatoes.

Monday: Brats on Buns with grilled onions and saurkraut. Fries. Strawberry shortcakes

Tuesday: BBQ Meatballs and macaroni and cheese. Tiramisu.

Wednesday: Corned Beef, potatoes, carrots and Irish soda bread...Happy Valentines day!

Thursday: London Broil Salad.

Friday: Aunt to eat with Scott's aunt who is visiting from Maine on her way back from Scotland.

Saturday: Happy Ostara! Herb roasted lamb, roast potatoes and carrots, peep ambrosia and easter celebration bread.

Have a good week and check out more menus or join the fun at orgjunkie.com

Book Review: The Briar King

2010-03-14T04:53:00.001+01:00

This evening I finished another book for the 4 month challenge, completing the "read a fantasy" category. I knew that this wouldn't be a difficult category for me because I'm no stranger to this genre.

This book was a standard entry in the genre. There were the stereotypical fantasy characters with all of their stereotypical motivations. Not a whole lot new going on, but still an enjoyable read. If you liked George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series, this series will surround you like a familiar friend. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Teaser Tuesday: The Briar King by Greg Keyes

2010-03-09T21:49:00.001+01:00

Here's another book meme hosted by Should Be Reading, Teaser Tuesdays and it's a fun one. The rules are thus:

Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences for somewhere on the page.
Do not include spoilers!!!
Share title and author.

I'm Reading The Briar King by Greg Keyes currently. This is from the page I am on:

"A frost touched Stephen's spine. What in the name of the Saints did he have here?"

Go visit our host for more entries!

BBA Challenge: Cranberry (read Cherry) Walnut Celebration Bread

2010-03-09T21:23:00.001+01:00

This bread is about as perfect as it gets. Great chewy crust, great crumb, slightly sweet flavor loaded with fruit and nuts. This would go great on a holiday table. I didn't do the standard braid shape because, frankly, after gardening all morning I was tired. It came out fabulous as a boulee though. Also, didn't have cranberries so I used cherries. I'm wondering how chocolate would go in here for a chocolate-cherry-walnut bread?

Cranberry Walnut Celebration bread
By Peter Reinhart in The Bread Baker's Apprentice

13.5 oz unbleached bread flour
1.5 oz granulated sugar
19 oz salt
.39 oz instant yeast
.75 oz orange or lemon extract
3.3 oz (2 large) eggs
4 oz buttermilk
1 oz unsalted butter melted
2 to 4 oz water at room temp
9 oz dried sweetened cranberries (I used cherries)
3 oz coarsely chopped walnuts
1 egg whisked until frothy for egg wash.

I stirred the flour, sugar, salt and yeast together in bowl of my mixer. Add the paddle attachment and start to mix on medium gradually adding the extract, eggs, milk and butter until it forms a soft ball. I needed to add a touch more flour to reach soft but not sticky mess. Switch to the dough hook and knead on medium for 5 minutes. Add the cranberries, knead another 2 minutes. Add the nuts, knead another 2 minutes.

Remove the dough, form into a ball and place in a well oiled bowl. Turn to coat. Let rise 2 hours until doubled.

Now is when you would form into a double braid, but I just formed it into a boulee making sure to reserve surface tension, then covered and let rise again. Paint with egg wash before covering. The recipe calls for 90 minutes but it took mine another 2 hours to reach desired size. It was a bit chilly in here. I'm a heavy girl, I like it cold!

Preheat oven to 325 degrees, paint with remaining egg wash, then bake for 25 minutes, turn 180 degrees and bake another 25 minutes. Try to let it cool a bit before cutting if you can.

Book Review: Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia and the Biggest Funeral In The World

2010-03-03T23:48:00.004+01:00

I expected to like this book much more than I actually did considering what the author and I have in common. Like him, I lived in Italy, though it was Naples instead of Rome. Also like him I have twins which I had there. Sure there were moments where I did chuckle a bit over tales of him, his wife and the twins and I did recognize similarities in my experiences in Italy with what he posted but there is where my entertainment with the book ended. While I found his explanations of art and history interesting, mostly I felt that this book was tedious and very difficult to get through. If you're interested in traveling to Roma, especially with kids and most especially with twins you may find it interesting even though I did not.

This book completes one category in the Four Month Challenge.

BBA Challenge: Italian Bread

2010-03-03T23:33:00.001+01:00

The next bread in the challenge was Italian Bread. I chose to do rolls instead of a loaf, just for kicks. These came out so good. I ignored Mr. Reinhart's admonition to let them cool for an hour and instead ate mine right out of the oven. They went perfectly with the braised shortribs that we had for dinner.

First, you make a biga, which is just some pre-made bread dough that you allow to ferment over night in the fridge so that it develops lots of flavor.

Italian Bread
From The Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart

18 oz biga
11.25 oz unbleached bread flour
.41 oz salt
.5 oz sugar
.11 oz instant yeast
.17 oz diastatic barley malt powder (optional, I didn't use)
.5 oz olive oil
7 to 8 oz lukewarm water or milk
semolina flour or cornmeal for dusting.

Take your biga out of the fridge an hour before you start, cut into 10 pieces and let sit to let the chill out.

In the mixer I mixed the flour, salt, sugar, yeast and biga. Add the olive oil and water gradually and mix on low with the paddle attachment until it forms a soft sticky ball. Then knead on 4 or 6 (medium high) with dough hook attachment for 8 minutes.

Remove and place in oiled bowl, rolling it around to coat in the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 2 hours or until doubled.

Remove from bowl, cut into 9 pieces for rolls or torpedos or two pieces for loaves. let sit 5 minutes, then form into the desired shapes. Place on floured, parchment covered pans and let rise an hour or until 1 1/2 times the size.

Prepare oven as for home hearth...heat to 500F placing a steam pan inside as it heats. When ready to bake, place pan with bread, then pour about a cup of boiling water in the pan, then spray the sides. Spray the sides again after 30 seconds then repeat after another 30 seconds. reduce heat to 450 F and bake 20 minutes for loaves or 15 minutes for rolls.

The Four Month Challenge: Part 3 (books)

2010-03-02T16:45:00.006+01:00

I saw this fun challenge today and had to join up. It's hosted by She Read A Book Basically, you have to read a book in each of the following categories. Up to 2 audiobooks are allowed. You can overlap with other challenges as well. My choices are listed after the individual categories in bold.

5 Point Challenges
Read a book by an author you’ve never read before - Far From The Land: An Irish Memoir by Thomas J Rice
Read a book with a one word title - Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Read a book with an animal name in the title - The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry

Read a book with a proper name in the title - Four Seasons in Rome - Anthony Doerr

Read a fantasy - The Briar King - Greg Keyes

10 Point Challenges
Read an ‘Austenesque’ book -Jane Austen Ruined by Life by Beth Pattillo
Read a book with a two word title - Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Read a book that is part of a series - Fade Out by Rachel Caine

Read a book about a real person - I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali
Read a mystery - Fatal Voyage Kathy Reichs

15 Point Challenges
Read a book written in the 60’s (any century) - The House On The Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Read a book with a number in the title - Nineteen minutes by Jodi Picoult
Read a book by an author born in March, April, May or June - Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchet (April)
Read a book with a three word title - Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Read a book by an author with three names - No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark

20 Point Challenges
Read a book with over 500 pages - The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
Read a book with a four word title - The Magic of Recluse by L.E. Modesitt
Read a book by two authors - Forging the Darksword by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Read a book written in the 70s (any century) - The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
Read a book that has been number one on the NYT Best-sellers list - The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Book Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2010-02-25T01:00:00.001+01:00

This is the story of 3 different women in a time vastly different from now, 1960's Jackson, Mississippi. They are in different positions: 2 are black maids in the service of white middle class ladies, and one is a white middle class lady.

Aibilene is one of the maids...she's older than the other two women and nursing the heartbreak of having lost her son to an accident on his work site. She works for Elizabeth Treelore, an aspiring socialite who consistently neglects her child, Mae Bo, in deference to her social life and pursuit of a perfect home.

Minny is the other of the maids...strong; she'll tell you she's got a mouth on her. Mother to many, wife to an abusive husband she struggles to keep a job as a maid to the mother of Ms. Hilly, a job that is doomed. Later, moving on to work for Miss Celia we see her for who she is: a kind, caring woman looking out for others as much as herself.

Skeeter, the final of the women, is the daughter of a plantation owner. She dreams of a life as a writer, a career to quite open to women in Jackson in the 60's.

As the story progresses, after hardships and wrongs done to the maids, the three women come together to tell tales of their lives as maids to middle class white women and what their daily lives are like, despite the inherent danger in their being discovered.

It's taken me a while to get my thoughts together coherently on what I thought and felt about this book. Mixtures of sadness, hate, disbelief, shame and relief washed over me as I turned the pages.

I was sad for Aibie at the loss of her son. Sad that Minny had to live her life attached to a man who did not treat her as any human should be treated. Sad for little Mae Bo, confused about her mother's indifference, confused about why Aibie was a different color and thus treated differently. My heart broke for that child each and every time her mother hurt her. I loved Aibileen so much more every time she sat Mae Bo down and said "You smart. You sweet. You important."

Minny, Minny, Minny...she never could keep her mouth shut. As a fellow person lacking tact, I understand. She wants the best out of people, and goodness knows she rarely gets to see it. I watched the budding relationship between her and Celia with happiness and glee, while I watched her relationship with Ms. Hilly with steadily growing disbelief, then hatred. By the end of the book I was thinking how nice it would be is Ms. Hilly could be hit by a car. Her deceptions and plotting made her a villian for the books.

I had moments of shame in my race...knowing that even though this is a work of fiction, there were assuredly tales much worse that actually happened. Shame that white people, and ANY people for that matter could treat another human the way some did. One maid in the story confessed that her boss made her soak her hands in bleach every morning...according to many of the white women in the novel, blacks were dirty, covered in disease. This woman had burns on her hands from the bleach. Maids were accused of stealing and put in jail, despite the truth because the boss lady just didn't want them around any more. Minny was labeled as a thief because she didn't want to work for Ms. Hilly.

I was RELIEVED to know that my family, always being poor never employed blacks such as portrayed in this novel, nor were we slave owners. If anything WE were the maids and tenant workers. I was relieved to see Ms. Skeeter growing in her knowledge of what was going on...growing as a person. Her transformation was lovely.

This was a wonderfully written book, fully of strong believable characters. It had me crying several times, especially at the end. I strongly recommend it.

BBA Challenge: French Bread, or a trip to heaven

2010-02-24T22:43:00.001+01:00

The next bread in the challenge that I created is Peter's french bread. I don't have words for how good this came out..slightly crunchy on the outside, perfect on the inside. This is the best baguette that I've ever eaten, much less made. I feel like an honest to goodness baker now. They were so much easier than I thought they'd be, I can't believe that I haven't done this before. I now promise to never buy french bread again. Oh the sandwiches, pizza and garlic bread that I'm going to make!

First, yesterday I made the pate' fermentee'. Funny how I thought that that and a "sponge" just sounded gross until I actually made them (well, a sponge still is a little). Pate' fermentee' is basically just bread dough. I has all of the same ingredients as the rest of the bread dough does, you just make it ahead. I took it out of the fridge an hour before i was ready to begin, cut into pieces and let it sit to let the chill out.

Place the pate fermentee into the mixer bowl, added the dry ingredients, then the water and mixed for 1 minute on low until it formed a rough ball.

Switched to the dough hook and kneaded for 9 minutes (it an extra 3 minutes to reach the windowpane effect.)

Place in a well oiled bowl, turn to coat and let rise 2 hours. Peter says that if it doubles before the 2 hours, knead slightly to degas then let rise again until double original size. That's what happened, so that's what I did.

Shape into 3 baguettes. Let rise again another 75 minutes or until double. Score diagonally with serrated knife. Meanwhile prepare your oven as for a hearth. I don't have a baking stone yet (want!!!) so I just put a heavy cookie sheet in as it was preheating. When oven reached 500F I placed a loaf in (on the back of another cookie sheet), then poured hot water in the steam pan. Sprayed the inside of the oven at 30 second intervals in the beginning twice, then reduced to 450 and baked 20 minutes, turning halfway through.

The result was a marvelous crunchy, chewy crust and fantastic crumb. I'm so proud of myself!

See more at Pinch My Salt.

Menu Plan Monday: Now on Tuesday!!!

2010-02-23T19:09:00.000+01:00

Well I'm a day behind. My only excuse is that I'm tired. I spent 8+ hours every day last week at the sewing machine trying to get garb ready for the Cutlasses and Curaisses event this weekend.

Everything came out lovely but it exhausted me by the time the event rolled around. Sunday was Sam's first T-Ball practice so no rest there...and yesterday I had housecleaning to do! so here it is.

Sunday was Steaks, baked potatoes and zucchini with melted mozzarella.

Monday: Broiled teriyai salmon, thai kitchen peanut noodles and salad

Tuesday: Macaroni Bolognese

Wednesday: Crock Pot Steak Tips, noodles, bread of some sort, cherry apricot crisp.

Thursday: Uglies and salad.

Friday: Grilled honey mustard chicken, roasted potatoes, carrots.

Saturday: lunch at the scottish festival and faire, dinner chicken sandwiches with grilled mushroom vinaigrette.

Have a great week all! See more menus or join in at orgjunkie.com.

What's On My Nightstand

2010-02-23T17:03:00.003+01:00

This month is a slow reading month for me. I used to go through several books a WEEK pre-twins. That number dwindled substantially since I had them for obvious reasons but this month is a new record in low, what with getting our household goods, unpacking, decorating and getting ready for the SCA even this past weekend. I do usually try to at read for at least 30 minutes at night no matter what, and being a relatively fast reader I can get through my reading list that way.

First up is The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

I usually try to read a book before the movie it is based on comes out and this time was no exception, though parts were spoiled by the CONSTANT barrage of previews. I'm glad to hear that the movie (which I haven't yet seen) differs a bit from the book. It's the story of Percy, a troubled 12 year old, who finds himself repeated expelled from schools. Now at a new school, the pattern appears to be repeating again, with trouble with other students and a few abnormally difficult teachers. Again expelled, but with an ally in one teacher he goes home to his mom and abusive step father. When on their way back from a short vacation with his mother they find themselves attacked by mysterious creatures and he ends up seeking refuge at a nearby summer camp pointed out by his mother. Adventure and new friendships ensue.

If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series, then this is for you. The similarities are endless..boy with a troubled life, mysterious missing parent(s) goes to a magical school/camp for other kids like himself and finds friends and adventure. What made this interesting for me were the characters taken from the Greek pantheon. While usually portrayed more formally and austerely, they were down-to-earth, interesting and often humorous characters. Give this book a whirl if you have time or encourage your pre-teens to read. It's great.

Next up is The Gargoyle by Andrew Davison.

A man, specifically, a man who is a drug addict and porn star drives his car off of a cliff one evening after hallucinating a volley of arrows coming directly for him. His car bursts into flames and he becomes a victim horrifying burns and injuries. While in the hospital he meets a psychiatric patient named Marianne who is completely convinced that they have known each other in past lives. While he continues his recovery she comes to him often telling stories of their past where he has been burned before. They begin a love affair that has burned for centuries and continues during their remaining time together.

This synopsis is extremely simplified for such a complex, moving story. The protagonist is a cynical atheist....his belief in nothing and promise to himself to end his own life see changes as the story progresses. Marianne's insanity becomes more and more sane as the story goes on. I find the historical details in the stories she tells fascinating and the entire journey beautiful, heartbreaking and at times hideous. I truly couldn't recommend this book any more highly.

I am currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and will post about that next time.

Upcoming reads for March are:

FNCC Challenge: Mario Batali Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina

2010-02-19T00:37:00.000+01:00

This is my hands-down favorite dish to order in restaurants here in Napoli and when we go to Sorrento. The sauce's appearance came out a bit different from what I've gotten in Sorrento, but very close and the taste was exact! This is a lovely dish if you love gnocchi. I must confess to using premade gnocchi...it's so easy to get good ready made here in Naples and difficult when your equipment (such as a food mill) is packed away and on a boat on it's way to the states, making gnocchi yourself is nearly impossible. I followed the rest of the recipe exactly, however. Join us at I Blame My Mother for more of this week's entries.

Gnocchi All Sorrentina

Adapted from a recipe by Mario Batali at foodtv.com

Ingredients

Gnocchi dough:

3 pounds russet potatoes
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 extra large egg
Pinch kosher salt

Sauce:

1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
4 cups basic tomato sauce, recipe follows
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella di bufala, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

Directions

Place the potatoes in a large pot and just cover with cold water. Boil the whole potatoes until they are soft, about 45 minutes. While still warm, peel the potatoes and pass them through a food mill onto a clean pasta board.

Make a well in the center of the potatoes and sprinkle with the flour. Place the egg and salt in the center of the well and, using a fork, stir the egg into the flour and potatoes. Bring the dough together, kneading gently until a ball is formed, and continue to knead for another 4 minutes, until the dough is dry to the touch. Cut a tennis-ball sized hunk of dough off the main ball and roll it into a dowel about 3/4-inch thick. Cut across the dowel to form pellets about 1 inch long. Flick each pellet down the tines of a fork to form the traditional gnocchi shape. Repeat with the remaining dough.

In a 14 to 16-inch frying pan, combine the pepper flakes, tomato sauce, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 15 minutes, or until the sauce is as thick as good porridge. (At this point the sauce could be refrigerated for up to 2 days).

When you are ready to serve the gnocchi, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.

Drop the gnocchi into the boiling water and cook until floating aggressively, 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the gnocchi to the pan with the sauce, using a slotted spoon. Turn the heat to medium and toss gently for about 30 seconds. Tear the basil leaves into a few pieces and add to the sauce along with the mozzarella cubes. Toss together for 30 seconds longer. Pour into a heated bowl and serve immediately.

Basic tomato sauce:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped in 1/4-inch dice
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried
1/2 medium carrot, finely shredded
2 (28-ounce) cans peeled whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juices reserved
Salt
In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer.
Yield: 4 cups

Happy Mardi Gras!!!!! Pt. 1

2010-02-16T16:11:00.000+01:00

It's Fat Tuesday back home in the Big Easy, where I spent all of my childhood and a good chunk of my adulthood. Mardi Gras is a New Orleans tradition, dating back to the 18th century, but parades actually started rolling in 1857..it was the Krewe of Comus which still rolls today. Parades roll for 2 weeks prior to Mardi Gras day, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in the Catholic church.

This cake is traditionally eaten during Mardi Gras season mostly at parties, at parties and at breakfast by me! A small plastic baby or pecan is hidden in the cake after baking and the person who finds it is King or Queen for the rest of the party and traditionally would host the next party.

Being hard to find outside of Louisiana (the crap they sell at target here doesn't count IMO) I decided to make my own this year instead of ordering. I had never made it before, but now that I see how easy it is, I'll be doing it all the time! This recipe is, in my humble opionion, every bit as good as the cakes found at the best bakeries back home.

I didn't take pictures of the early process of the dough, but the recipe is dead on. Scald the milk, remove from heat, add butter and let melt. Put yeast into bowl of mixer, add water, let bubble for 10 minutes. Add the milk and butter mix. With paddle attachment, mix in the eggs, nutmeg and sugar. Mix in the flour one cup at a time. Change to the hook attachment and let the machine knead it for 5-7 minutes. Remove and place in oiled bowl. Cover and let rise 2 hours or until double. Punch down.

Meanwhile mix up your filling. Set aside.

Here you have two options. You can cut the dough in half and make two smaller king cakes, or make one big one like I did. The process is the same either way. Roll out on floured counter to a rectangle.

Sprinkle the filling evenly.

Roll tightly into a cylinder.

Place on a cookie sheet covered with parchment. Put something in the middle to keep the hole from closing then cover and let rise another 45 minutes.

When it's doubled again, remove the insert and bake at 325 for 30-35 minutes or until golden. Let cool a bit.

Meanwhile, make your colored sugar. You can use regular granulated or crystals. I used food coloring (4- drops yellow and green each in their own bags, 2 drops each red and blue in the purple bag. Use more if needed.) Shake shake shake.

Mix a thin solution of confectioner's sugar and water and paint on the cake, then sprinkle your colored sugars, alternating colors.

Then make a thicker icing with confectioners sugar and water and drizzle all over. Hide the baby and it's ready to eat!

Ce les bon temps roulez!!!! (Let the good times roll!)

Valentines and Chinese New Year

2010-02-16T15:50:00.000+01:00

We had a very lovely day...

First thing the kids saw when they got up...lots of potential cavities here!

It was also Chinese new year, so we had a small do for that:

Asian Noodle Salad recipe here at Pioneer Woman.

Bourbon chicken, recipe here.

And finally, blood orange slice and fortune cookies. Happy New Years all!

Menu Plan Monday: Lots of work this week!

2010-02-15T13:59:00.000+01:00

Next weekend is our first SCA event here in Jacksonville. For the unitiated, the SCA stands for Society for Creative Anachronism. We're a group of people who recreate and re-enact the time period between 500AD-1600AD. We're a fun group of crazies who love learning martial arts of the period,

(this is my handsome husband, he's recreating a 16th century samurai)

costuming,

(The whole group of us in Naples. I really need a picture that isn't of me at 5 months pregnant with twins, especially since they're 15 months now.)

and basically doing everything MOSTLY how things were done back then (minus the misogyny and plague.) I'm in need of some new gowns for my period (roughly 1190) so I'll be working on that this week. The kids could use a few things also.

Add that to the fact that I'm still technically unpacking boxes. I'm down to the stuff we've had in basements and storage that we don't regularly look at, but still needs to be done. I'm completely burnt out on unpacking, but I'm forcing myself to do a bit a day. On to the menu:

Sunday: We had Blueberry French Toast, bacon and eggs in a basket cut with the heart shaped cutter for breakfast, pizza in St. Augustine's Old Town for lunch and for dinner we celebrated Chinese new year with Pioneer woman's Asian Noodle Salad, this bourbon chicken that I didn't take good photos of but was fantastic, rice, fortune cookies and orange slices. I also got the have Sake for the first time in 3 years, because it just wasn't available in Naples.

Monday: Guy Fieri's Jagerschnitzel in Mushroom Gravy (for FNCC) and spaetzel. I'll also be baking some king cake.

Tuesday: Happy Mardi Gras! Crockpot jambalaya and the king cake that I made on Monday.

Wednesday: Giada DiLaurentis' Beef and Cheese Manicotti for FNCC. Also some cinnamon raisin bread for BBA challenge.

Thursday: Amish Breakfast Casserole, bacon, biscuits.

Friday: Cheeseburger Mac, chocolate almond torte.

Saturday: The SCA event. We don't stay for feast because they tend to run at least 2-3 hours and the kids just don't hang for that so we'll probably do drive through on the way home.

Join us for more menus and ideas at orgjunkie.com!

Crockpot Wednesday: Bread pudding

2010-02-11T03:03:00.002+01:00

By now ya'll know I'm a New Orleans girl, so you know I love some bread pudding. I've tried it lots of ways...regular, coconut rum, butterscotch, chocolate. So when I found this recipe today I know I had to try it. It didn't hurt the cause that the previous idea that I had for this week's crockpot wednsday ended in disaster.

I was supposed to make a BBQ Meatloaf. All the ingredients came together, I lined the pot with foil like it said, added the meat and the sauce. The recipe called for it to cook on low for 6-8 hours so I figured 4-5 on high would do it.

Nope.

At 6 pm it was mostly raw. That was at the 5 hour mark. It went into the oven and I promised to not use that crock pot again (it came from Italy, and is on the European power system so it may not work correctly.) Luckily, I have another crock pot and this recipe is just fine and dandy.

Into the pot put 8 cubed slices of bread, a chopped apple and however many raisins float your boat.

Pour over it a mix of 4 eggs, 2 cups of milk, 1/4 c sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Stir and cook for 1 hour on high, then 3 hours on low. I promise low is right this time.

It'll be all bubbly and brown and smelling like summerland when it's finished. To make the sauce melt 2 tbsp margarine or butter in a saucepan. Then whisk in 2 tbsp flour until smooth. Gradually add the 1 c water, 3/4 c sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Bring to a boil and whisk constantly for 2 minutes until thick. Spoon over the pudding as you serve. Makes a lot.

BBA Challenge: Focaccia, or the best thing I've baked ever.

2010-02-11T02:53:00.001+01:00

I'm following this challenge out of order...that bothers me a little bit as I'm slightly OCD and not following steps is one of my triggers. However, the next bread in the challenge for me was cinnamon rolls and those just don't go with lasagna (I'm guessing.)

Peter Reinhart declares in the introduction to this recipe that most people are eating bad focaccia...and after having tried this recipe I can state that if you haven't been eating this recipe, then he's right. This was the most delicious focaccia that I've had. Light, moist, flavorful due to the herb oil...I'll make this many times.

I mixed the ingredients (copyrighted, can't post sorry) in my mixer with the paddle attachment until they formed a soft, sticky ball, adding a bit extra flour so that it stuck to the bottom of the bowl but not the sides. Then I switched to the dough hook attachment and let the machine knead the dough for 7 minutes. Meanwhile I made a bed of flour. With a wet spoon I scooped out the dough onto the bed of flour, topped with flour and patted into a rectangle. Let sit 5 minutes.

Stretched and folded to twice the width and folded like a letter..let rise 30 minutes. Repeat twice more.

Mine looked rather pathetic at the end of that...still learning how to manipulate the dough.

Meanwhile, make the herb oil. I used a cup of olive oil though the recipe calls for 2...add whatever herbs you like. I threw in rosemary, chopped garlic, thyme, basil, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper. Let the oil warm, then remove from heat and let it steep while the dough is rising.

Pour half of the herb oil over the dough...

Then using just the tips of my fingers I poked dents into the dough, moving it outward towards the edges of the pan. It didn't reach all the way but that's ok. Covered loosely with plastic wrap and set into the fridge to proof overnight.

Removed today 4 hours before I wanted to serve it. I just had to do a little bit more poking, the dough spread and filled the pan! I added the rest of the oil to the top and let it sit loosely covered for 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 500. Place the pan in the oven and reduce heat to 450. Baked 10 min, then turned it 180 and baked another 10 minutes. It was golden and beautiful.

I made a vinaigrette to serve as dipping sauce with basically the herb oil and a touch of vinegar. My husband enjoyed it with the marinara sauce I made for the lasagna we were having it with. It was a complete success even though the edges weren't quite straight...and hey, I always feel that it looks more homemade and good if it's a little imperfect looking.

Maybe next I'll do the cinnamon rolls...