What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine

Deconstructed Jar Filled Pie Video Idea's and Recipes

2013-06-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

I love pie of any kind but not necessarily the mess that comes with making them especially if baked in these jars. Sure it's mouth watering to see the oozing berries or other fillings over flowing off the sides of the glass but do you really want to soak and clean them later with all that baked on mess? I don't! Deconstructed pie makes cleaning easy as pie can be! No mess from baking, Why do you ask? Well you are prebaking the crust first and then cutting or breaking it up into the jars instead of baking that gooey mess and getting the glass jars all sticky and impossible to clean! This is the perfect answer to us cooks on the go who hate to clean the mess and want to take the easy way out! Watch the video for more suggestions and tips to combine many ways to create these delectable pies in a jar! You can use fresh fruits, canned pie fillings, pre made puddings or homemade. The skies the limit of your creative pie making combinations. I just love the simplicity and ease, hope you do too! Fast and easy but oh so delicious!

Try cutting out shapes from your pie dough to create a festive flair to what ever holiday is upon you

Fill with your favorite fresh fruits or pie fillings even puddings alternating with whipped cream and garnishing for a gourmet pie treat! Are you ready to astonish your family and friends?

Depending on your favorites you will need some of the following to make your jar pies you will need imagination with these ingredient suggestions to make your perfect deconstructed pie:

1/2 pint mason jars with cover lids

Ingredients Suggestions:

Whipped cream or topping

Fruits

Chocolate chips

Nuts

Chocolate candy bars

Mini marshmallows

Marshmallow cream

Graham crackers crushed

Pie Crusts

Syrups

Jams

Ice cream toppings

Chocolate shavings

Sprinkles

Cooked brownies crumbled

Crushed cookie crumbs

Coconut

Candy bars cut up

Puddings

Lemon or lime slices

Directions:

Make pie crust baked on a cookie sheet according to package instructions but flat on a cookie sheet then cut up in strips or you can use a cookie cutter. You can allso cut and bake them in various shapes per the package instructions on the cookie sheet.

Filling suggestions make according to pudding and box instrucitons:

Cheesecake filling, puddings chocolate, vanilla, coconut cream, lemon, key lime or any other boxed pudding cooked to package instructions

Cookies such as oreo's shortbread, peanut butter, snickerdoodles, oatmeal, nutter butters etc.

Garnishes: Sprinkles, ice cream toppings, coconut, various jams to match the fresh fruits, cinnamon and sugar mixed together, white or chocolate chips or other crushed candy bars. Add anything else you like to add that you love!

Here are the ideas and suggestions I have to make your favorite pies with some basic recipes.

Fresh fruits slices you prefer you can mix with coordinating glazes, ice cream toppings, preserves or jams:

Kiwi

Peaches

Pears

Cherries

Blueberries

Raspberries or Blackberries

Strawberries

Bananas

Pineapple

Orange Segments

Kiwi

or a combination of several above

Canned Pie fillings suggestions you can use to layer:

Apples

Peach

Raspberry

Blueberry

Lemon

Key lime

Banana cream

Coconut cream

Chocolate cream

Remember you can always heat in the microwave the filling first for a warm pie. Use the pre made cooked crust layers, warm filling layered and top with whipped cream or ice cream. Layer with whipped cream alternating with pie filling if you prefer.

Premade such as snack pack puddings or boxed cooked homemade pudding ideas below (for special treats make from scratch puddings):

Vanilla

Chocolate

Butterscotch

Key Lime

Lemon

Lemon Curd or Lime Curd

Coconut cream

Banana cream

Cookies and cream

Cheesecake mix

(some are found in the supermarket dairy cases)

Line the glass jar with strips of pie crust. Alternate with whipped cream, pudding then end with whipped cream.

Directions for Assembly:

Line the mason jar with strips of pie crust, cookie crumbs or graham crackers crumbs. Layer with pudding or favorite fruits, whipped cream them repeat until the jar is full. Garnish with whipped cream, lime slices, lemon slices, fruits, nuts, cherries, syrups, chocolate chips or sprinkles for a fun and festive pie. Coordinate if its a holiday with color doughs or colored sugars.

See video for exact instructions.

Here are some basic recipes for Mom's homemade crusts:

Homemade Crust:

2 cups of flour

1/2 teaspoons salt

2/3 cups shortening cut in the flour and salt

4 tablespoons ice water

Mix together till dough forms a ball, roll out dough to fit a pie plate. Place flat on a cookie sheet. You can cut out cookie cutter shapes to the current holiday or event or just cut into strips when cooked. Proceed with layering cooked pie crust with above suggestions for pie favorites.

Filling for Fresh Fruits:

Get creative and make a great memory!

Click links below for more ideas and homemade recipes.

Home made fruit tart dough

Fruit filling homemade recipe

Glazed Fruit Turnovers

Thick Homemade Pudding Recipes

Lemon or Lime Curd and more

@claudia lamascolo Author

How To Make Perfect Iced Coffee At Home Recipes

2013-06-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Brewed coffee poured over ice and adding your favorite flavorings is hardly a recipe. Whether it be served black, flavored or with a touch of cream you will have the perfect iced coffee treat that is alot less expensive than going to the pricey coffee establishments. Really the best coffees are made from being fresh perked over ice however in your busy schedule feel free to make it however you like from your fast coffee makers it just won't be as special.

Amazing what they charge for such an easy drink.

Here's all you do. See the tip at the end for your ice cubes!

Be sure to brew a good grade coffee and if all possible DONT USE A COFFEE MAKER.... I love my old fashioned perked coffee and fresh ground beans. Something you will still enjoy as it sits overnight in the refrigerator as it strengthens in flavor. Brew and store away till the next day.

In the morning add the ice in your cup or glass first. Pour the chilled coffee over the ice
(see tip below).
Add any flavoring of choice or plain with cream, sugar or black.

During the day:

For those who enjoy your coffee with alcohol add a shot of Amaretto, Frangelico, Godiva or the many other choices of sweet liqueurs out there but wait until brunch at least!

If you like cream top it off with a little cream. Add whipped cream on top or keep it skinny with none!

That's it enjoy!

Here some suggestions to try that are easy to have ready:

Vanilla Iced Coffee:

1 cup strong vanilla flavored black coffee brewed cooled
1 can evaporated milk room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
Place in a blender until smooth. Chill. Pour over ice (see tip below) in a glass or cup.

Tip: Fill ice cube trays with brewed coffee or a mixture of cream and coffee (or liqueur if you prefer) and freeze. Take them out of the trays when frozen and add to freezer bags to use them in your coffee drinks anytime!

Coconut Iced Coffee Recipe

1 can condensed milk chilled (13 oz can)
1 can coconut milk chilled (14 oz can)
2 tablespoons instant coffee
ice cubes
Place the coffee and coconut milk in a blender until dissolved. Add condensed milk and pulse for 2 minutes. Pour over ice.

Father's Day Recipes Roundup and Ideas 2013

2013-06-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Triple Berry Cannoli French Toast

Baked Lemon Garlic Chicken Wings

Triple Berry Cake Mix Cobbler Dessert

Seasoned Cajun Potato Cubes

Grilled Chili Chicken and Steak Kabobs

Grilled Citrus Scallops and Shrimp

Funnel Cake Recipe


Taco Cupcakes

Corn dog Kielbasa cupcakes

@claudia lamascolo Author

New York Style Chocolate Coconut Cream Pustie (Pastaciotti) Recipe

2013-06-09T00:00:00.002-04:00

While visiting in my home town I had the pleasure of eating a Pastaciotti, ( pustie) that was full of vanilla cream and coconut. I decided to adapt it to my favorite using chocolate pudding and toasted coconut. Absolutely now my favorite way to eat these. I just love my Italian Upstate Utica, New York heritage, here is another reason why the food there is the best in the world...
love you Utica ,New York!

FOR THE TART CRUST:

4 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 lb shortening

1 tablespoon water

You will need special tins, they have fluted edges and are tart tins. Try online and search for pustie tart tins. You will need 12 large or 24 small.

Mix crust ingredient in a large bowl, careful not to work the dough too long, a mix master such with a flat beater works great. Spray each tin with pam spray for easier release.

Roll dough 1/4 inch thick (not to thin) I break 24 pieces of dough evenly up so I have enough tops and bottoms. Roll out, pat down in each tin. Save scraps.
Roll out remaining dough and cut into rounds to fit for the tops of each tin.
Place cooled filling in each pastry-lined pan and cover each with a round of dough.
Paint top of pusties with beaten egg yolk before baking.
Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Cool a few minutes, if they look like they stuck around the edges, take a knife to loosen, pop out of the tins onto wax paper and cool completely right side up.

Fillings Adaptions: When making the filling for coconut cream add 1 cup shredded coconut to the chocolate or vanilla filling of choice whether you like vanilla or chocolate. Also toast 1 cup coconut in the oven until light brown and put on top of pusties to garnish.

Homemade pudding below, make this first and completely cool, set aside.

Notes:
You can use boxed Chocolate cooking pudding and add only 1 1/2 cups of milk to a box. You will need two boxed for the whole recipe of one of each flavor.

Add two egg yolks to a box of cooking Vanilla pudding with the 1 1/2 cups of milk and for added flavor a teas. of vanilla extract or rum after thickened. This makes a richer pudding. Add the shredded coconut at the end if making coconut cream.

Another variation is to add raspberry jam on the bottom and 1 teaspoon of almond paste on the top, add a little vanilla cooked pudding on top and seal.

Also Lemon cooked pre packaged pudding could be used and as above directions decrease the water to make a thicker pudding by a half cup to package directions.

Homemade version for chocolate or vanilla fillings:

Chocolate:

1 cup white granulated sugar
3 heaping tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
3 egg yolks
2 squares (1 ounce each) chocolate, unsweetened
1 tsp. vanilla

OR Vanilla:

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 cups milk
3 egg yolks, beaten well
2 tsp. vanilla or rum

Place sugar and flour in a saucepan. Slowly whisk in milk and egg yolks to incorporate and make smooth . Cook until thick, stirring frequently. Cool, then add vanilla or rum. Stir in coconut if using. Fill bake and garnish with toasted coconut.

Click Here for more Italian Easter Dessert

Make sure pudding is thoroughly cooled before filling pusties.

@claudia lamascolo Author

Italian Crabmeat and Almond Pasta Salad Recipe

2013-06-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of those cold colorful salads that people always want t
he recipe for, no mayonnaise in this one.
I am not a big fan of mayo, so this is always a hit whenever I bring it to a picnic outing. A lighter taste, if you prefer cooked chicken, tuna or shrimps I have used them all at one time or another, they all work well with this pasta dish.

1 lb Tri Colored Rotini Pasta or regular
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup cooked chicken or can crab meat flaked drained or frozen thawed around 1 cup ( also can used cooked baby shrimp or a can of tuna,)
1/4 cup roasted sliced almonds
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon each oregano, basil, parsley (dried) and garlic powder
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Optional additions: sliced olive, chunks of provolone cheese, cherry tomatoes cut in half

Boil in a pot of salt water, Rotini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and put into a large bowl to fit.
In a small bowl add the oil, vinegar, minced garlic, seasonings, sauce, lemon juice and herbs.
Add the crab meat to the pasta then add the dressing and toss all together until well blended.
Sprinkle the top with sliced roasted almonds before serving.

Taste best when refrigerated overnight or at least 4 hours before serving.

+claudia lamascolo Author

Baked Garlic Cajun Spiced Sea Bass

2013-06-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

Here is a wonderful Sea bass dish with lots of flavor and a little kick. Some great Cajun seasonings, butter and garlic bring this to the next level of creamy flaky fish! The aroma alone will make your mouth water!

Sea Bass ( allow as much needed for your size family)
2 fresh lemons
1/2 stick or 4 tablespoons butter
fresh minced garlic
1/4 cup white wine
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degree oven. Oil spray a oven proof baking dish. Melt the butter add to the dish. Pour 1/2 cup lemon juice in the dish. Set the Sea Bass in the dish. Sprinkle each piece with salt, pepper, Cajun spice, fresh garlic, pinch of cayenne. Pour wine in. Bake uncovered until fish flakes easily around 35 minutes depending on thickness.

+claudia lamascolo Author

Homemade Cavatelli and Broccoli Recipe

2013-06-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a light or hardy pasta which ever way you prefer. Add the meat last or leave it vegetarian style. Either way you will have a tasty dish of Italian homemade pasta that everyone will enjoy. No time to make them homemade? Go ahead and use frozen store bought cavatelli but if you ever want a real treat make them homemade and click the link below to get started you won't believe how easy they are.

1 lb of homemade cavatelli
1 lb fresh broccoli cooked to your liking drained
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
red pepper flakes optional
1/4 cup or more grating cheese
optional: fried sausage sliced and drained

Cook homemade cavatelli pasta to your liking, we like al dente. Drain and reserve 3 cups liquid. Set aside. Cook broccoli to your taste set aside.
In a large sauce pan, brown garlic to a light color 1 minute with the oil and pepper. Add cooked broccoli to coat with garlic flavored oil then add the cooked pasta with the liquid. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes and top with grating cheese. Garnish with sausage.
+claudia lamascolo Author

Mom's Quick Fruit Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe

2013-06-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

I think mom made this once a week. She loved using the biscuits mixes. Quick and easy we would have all different kinds. Toppings can consist of anything from blueberry, strawberries, mandarin oranges, pineapple, apples, pears, bananas, raspberries, cherries, what ever fruit was in the house would be our coffee cake. Sprinkled with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar or nuts sometimes coconut was added and some pecans too! This was the basic recipe for all coffee cakes in our house. I think she adapted it along the years from several cookbooks.

Chose the kind of fruit you want sliced, chopped or diced around 1 cup
1 1/2 cup biscuit mix
1/2 evaporated milk or half and half
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 tablespoons shortening
cinnamon and sugar mixture (1/2 cup brown or white to 1 tablespoon cinnamon and combine)
1 tablespoon softened butter

Mix the shortening and sugar together in a bowl or beat with mixture until blended well. Add the biscuit mix, egg, alternating with milk or half and half, add in the almond extract. Mix until all is blended together for around 3 minutes. Pour into a 9x9 square greased pan. Mix the fruit in a bowl with softened butter. Sprinkle around 2 tablespoon cinnamon sugar mixture and toss with the fruit. Spread over the batter. Sprinkle with more cinnamon and sugar to cover the top. Add anything else you like with suggestions mentioned.

Bake at 350 degree hot oven until the middle comes clean with a toothpick around 35 minutes.
You can also add chocolate chips instead of fruit, nuts of choice and coconut for another variation.

+claudia lamascolo Author

Favorite Italian Meat Calzone Recipe

2013-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

You can add whatever your family loves. We like this one with pepperoni, capicola (Italian spice meat) and genoa salami

1 pound of pizza dough homemade or store bought (per calzone)
assorted meats pepperoni slices, prosciutto, capicola sliced thin and genoa salami

sliced fresh roma plum tomatoes
sliced roasted peppers
shredded mozzarella and provolone blend whole milk cheeses
grating cheese

Optional:
sliced roasted peppers
sliced mushrooms
thinly sliced eggplant or zucchini
sliced olives
sausage
meatball
ricotta cheese
ham
pineapple
chicken sliced

(obviously you can add whatever combinations you and your family like this is a traditional Italian style calzone tailored to our tastes.)

flour
Preheat oven to 425 degree hot oven.

Spread a little flour on some parchment paper.
Roll each piece of the whole pound of dough out on parchment paper (for easy rolling and the dough to stick together better do not add flour to the top of the dough) spread the dough out 1/4 inch thick with a rolling pin or your hand to stretch it out. Now add the meats in layers, then tomato and all vegetables that your using all in the center, sprinkle with cheeses. Bring both sides of the dough to the middle like a sack closing all the dough sides to hide all the filling and sticking together so the filling is hidden. Using a large spatula or floured hands carefully pick up and place seam side down back on the parchment paper and transfer this all on a cookie sheet. Bake until crisp outside and deep brown color around 45 minutes. Serve with marinara sauce.
+claudia lamascolo Author

Holiday Red White and Blue Jello Trifle Recipe Ideas and More

2013-05-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Here's an easy Patriotic festive dessert! Your imagination will let your dessert be the talk of any party! Add layers of star cut jello if you have time for the perfect festive look!
All you need is some blue and red pre made jello made and chilled in sheets, chilled and cut into stars from a small cookie cutter or make different bowls of jello chilled with
blue then a bowl of red jello.
Layer jello with whipped cream and fruit in between in a large big bowl to make a trifle! Top with cut out watermelon stars for decorations!

It doesn't matter if you feel you don't have a creative imagination my tips will get you started.

Here are the are the ingredients you will need:

1 package of blue jello

1 package of red jello

whipped cream or topping of any kind

Fruit suggestions: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries sliced, watermelon or other melon of choice

Optional: small star cookie cutter for an even more wow dessert presentation

Make the jello to package instructions and pour into small rectangular fudge size pans to make at least 1 inch thick. Refrigerate until firm. Then you can scoop into a parfait glass by each color alternate, or martini glass layered with blue, whipped cream then red jello. Top with fruit suggestions and whipped cream.

Chill. Unmold the jello and scoop or cut into cookie cutter shapes. You can cut out any shapes you like a star shape or anything else pertaining to that holiday, using a cookie cutter. Layer with blue, whipped cream, red jello.

Option 2

Layer one color at a time. Refrigerate blue until firm. Add whipped cream, pour the red layer. Refrigerate.

Option 3

Make a pan of blue then red in separate pans of jello. Cut out with star cookie cutter making several stars of each color. Add stars in a trifle dish to the outside of the glass dish. Fill the trifle dish with whipped cream alternating with more stars of jello through out the bowl. Top with cut outs watermelon stars using a small cookie cutter star shape and add blueberries, strawberries or/and raspberries.

Option 4

Fill a pre made cooked pie crust adding some fresh star cut out fruits using watermelon, cantaloupe, or any kind of melons you can make out of star cookie cutters. Or just use all whole Strawberries adding a premade glaze,topping then add whipped cream garnish and then some cut out stars of fruits on top. Add some blueberries and raspberries for extra color.

+claudia lamascolo author

Raspberry and Blueberry Frosted Cupcakes for Memorial Day Recipe

2013-05-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

Looking for a Patriotic festive tribute for the good ole USA? Here is a wonderful cupcake easy to make and festive looking for any red white and blue kind of occasion.

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 stick unsalted butter softened (8 tablespoons)
4 extra large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup whole milk ( I have use 2% works fine)
Filling:

Raspberry seedless jam or other favorite red seedless jam

Blueberries for garnish

Powdered sugar and water for glaze drizzle

Cooking oil spray

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare and line your cupcake tins pans ( I also spray the inside with a little cooking oil spray.

In a large electric mixer mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until evenly blended together, smooth and light in color. Beat in 1 egg at a time to the butter and sugar mixture. Add the milk and vanilla, next into the same wet ingredients beating until smooth, in a mixer around 3 minutes. Using a gravy ladle or use a large spoon for adding the filling 3/4 full into paper lined cupcake prepared tins. Make sure you tap the bottom of the pans on the table to release the air bubbles. This will make 24 medium sized cupcakes. Bake them for around 25 minutes or until the middles spring back to the touch or use a tooth pick in the center to see if it comes out clean. Cool completely before filling and decorating.

After the cup cakes cool. Take a sharp knife to cut out the centers. Fill with jam. Drizzle with a powdered sugar and water thick frosting, then decorate with blueberries as a garnish. Place the cored out top back off set to the side of the hole made.

Note: If you don't like a heavy scratch cake you can use your yellow favorite cake mix to the package instructions.

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Chambord Frosting Recipe

2013-05-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

My very favorite flavor combinations are chocolate and raspberry. The Chambord liqueur compliments this ganache frosting perfectly to top these cupcakes and turns them into a gourmet flair. The fresh raspberries are elegant to serve to any guest for any functions. This recipe will give you many compliments along with many asking for the recipe by all your friends and family. Splurge a little and make this for yourself your going to love them! If you have kids just make some without using the liqueur they are still wonderful and delicious filled with pudding and the frosting!

Dark Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

8 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup special dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream

Optional: chocolate cooked pudding by package directions and then cooled

Ganache Frosting (recipe below)

Raspberries for garnish
Chambord for drizzling

In a heavy duty bowl and electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter till light and fluffy. Melt the chips in the microwave until smooth around 2 minutes. Add the the sugar mixture. Add the eggs, sour cream and beat for 1 minute until combined. Add all the dry ingredients left. Beat until smooth around 2 more minutes.
Prepare cupcake tins with liners. Scoop batter into the cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake in a preheated oven of 350 degrees hot oven until centers are clean inserting a toothpick or around 25 minutes.
Cool Completely.

Optional Chocolate Filling: If using the pudding option, cut a hole around 1 inch in each of the centers and then removing the cake, of each cupcake. Fill centers with pudding. Frost with ganache recipe below.

Ganache Frosting:

1 bag 12 ounces of milk chocolate chips put through a food processor until fine
8 oz heavy cream
8 tablespoons very soft room temperature butter
1/4 cup Chambord Liqueur and more for drizzling

Heat cream to just a simmer. Remove from heat. Add cream to the food processor with chopped milk chocolate. Add butter and chambord then pulse until well combined. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. Frost them with a spreader or you can add to a pastry bag to decorate with a large star tube for piping the frosting on top.
Add red raspberries for garnishing. Drizzle more Chambord over the top before serving.

+claudia lamascolo Author

Memorial Day Recipe Picks For 2013

2013-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Bloody Mary

Avocado Cucumber Tomato Appetizers

Curt's Black and Blue Angus Burger

Grilled Chicken Whiskey Barbecue

Mango Salsa Grilled Salmon

Grilled Rum Jerk Style Pork, Chicken or Shrimp

Italian Style Ham and Potato Baked Casserole

Tropical Banana Blueberry Bread

Texas Sheet Cake!

Grandma's Strawberries and Cream Pound Cake

Check out the links below

4th of July Ideas with RED WHITE AND BLUE
Grilling Roundup 2012
Appetizers and Side Dish Ideas
Memorial Day 2012
Memorial Day 2011

To all our lost loved ones, friends and soldiers, thinking of you today on this Memorial Day..

+claudia lamascolo Author

Chicken Parmesan Loaded Baked Potato Recipe

2013-05-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

Who would have thought a meal can be made out of a simple baked potato then topped with a favorite entrée like Chicken Parmesan could be so easy! I was just thinking how much I love it with pasta the usual way we prepare the meal. Tonight we thought we would try a loaded baked potato with our favorite topping. This was one heck of a hit in our house this evening!

My favorite Chicken Parmesan strips recipe:

Three boneless chicken breasts cut up into long strips
Baked Potatoes (I use Yukon gold or large white potatoes) made ahead of time. Bake in the oven or in microwave which ever you prefer. Make as many for family size needed.

Italian flavored panko bread crumbs

Grating cheese

2 teaspoons of minced garlic

1 cup of half and half or milk

1 baggie gallon sized

marinara sauce click here for the recipe or bottled sauce

shredded mozzarella

olive oil

Place cut up chicken in a bowl of half and half.

Put cheese, bread crumbs, minced garlic, in a large baggie gallon size. Shake the bag to mix ingredients. Add cut up moistened chicken in the bag and shake. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil then drizzle with olive oil or parchment and oil sprayed. Bake at 400 till brown. You can also fry if you prefer. Remove from oven, pour sauce on top, shredded mozzarella, and more grating cheese, place in oven till cheese melts. Top chicken parmesan with a cooked baked potato and serve.

Suggestions for more toppings: Chopped black olives, chopped peppers, sautéed mushrooms, red pepper flakes for heat, cooked chopped broccoli, cooked spinach.

A faster version of this recipe would be:

Frozen style chicken tenders

Store bought sauce

Mozzarella
Grating cheese

Yukon Gold Potatoes microwaved

Place the tenders on a baking sheet, add the sauce of choice, top with mozzarella and load it up with grating cheese, bake until cheese is browned or melted and chicken is cooked.

Top a cooked baked potato with your cooked cheesy topped chicken and serve.

Sunday Morning Italian Traditional Style Meatballs and Video Recipe

2013-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

And so the story goes, Sunday morning, in our Italian household, meatballs must be frying. If not something would be wrong. Mom would be frying the meatballs, dad and my brothers waiting by the stove not patiently to put one on their fork and of course the aroma engulfed the entire neighborhood swooning everyone to our house while they were frying. A traditional Sunday for us, breakfast was being served with meatballs or it wasn't the Sunday we looked forward to period, didn't really care about anything else until the sauce was done and then it was time to dip the bread into the homemade sauce. Oh the story doesn't end there. Then came the yelling from mom, "who ate all the meatballs?" there are none left in the bowl for the Traditional Sunday Sauce! We would all scram!

Sometimes mom made a double batch and there still wasn't enough meatballs, it depended who crashed the party. Oh the wonderful memories of the neighborhood kids trying to rush to the door for a fork full of a meatballs frying, not even caring to have it cooled off and burning the roof of their mouth. I was lucky if I got just one! The story goes on from generation to generation. Our kids, my brothers kids probably even the neighborhood kids continued Sunday Traditional morning breakfast meatballs and in Upstate N.Y., this is a way of life if your Italian. No better smell can be had. I can tell you one thing you won't be sorry you made them from scratch from now on, they are the best along with the best memories!

Check out this original page for the recipe for meatballs: click on this link.

Thanks for watching

+claudia lamascolo Author

Strawberries and Cream with Grandma's Poundcake Recipe

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite desserts and actually birthday cake favorites. I love to make this one for my own birthday every year. Nothing else compares. The cake is buttery heavy and rich and goes perfectly with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Simple, elegant and you just can't go wrong with a cake that grandma made. Making this in her #memorialdayweekend memory. Thanks Gram!

You will need:
Heavy cream whipped and sweetened with sugar
1 quart cleaned and washed and hulled strawberries sliced
1 pound cake recipe below or store bought
strawberry ice cream topping or warm strawberry jam

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

For the cake:
1 1/2 pounds of butter at room temperature and then cream for 4 minutes with an electric mixer adding 3 cups of sugar. Beat until light, it may be longer than 4 minutes with your mixer.

Add:
9 whole large eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon milk
4 teaspoons vanilla pure

Bake in greased buttered and floured loaf pans at 350 for 1 hour or until the tooth pick comes out clean in the center of the loaf pans. Completely cool.

Whip chilled heavy cream and sweeten with sugar (around 4 tablespoons) to taste. Slice the cooled pound cake in half. Layer with fresh strawberries and drizzle with strawberry ice cream topping or warmed strawberry jam. Top first layer with whipped cream. Add the top layer or pound cake. Spread with whipped cream. Add more strawberries and drizzle with more strawberry topping. Chill or serve. You can make three loaves with this recipe. I freeze the other two for future use.
+claudia lamascolo Author

Crockpot Mushroom Wine Chicken and Wild Rice Recipe

2013-05-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Crock pot cooking is perfect for anyone on the go go go! Well here is a great dinner that everyone will think your a gourmet cook! The chicken is fall apart tender with amazing flavors! Of course you can adapt to whatever your family likes with spices if you love hot hot hot add more cayenne! The side dishes are your choice, I will suggest the rice or mashed potatoes as an alternative. No matter what the chicken will be a big hit!

You will need:

Boneless chicken breasts enough for your family size
1- 12 or 16 ounce can beef gravy
1/2 can Marsala wine or white wine from your gravy can used
1lb fresh sliced mushrooms washed or canned drained
1 teaspoon each garlic powder, salt, black pepper
pinch of cayenne and sprinkle of dried rosemary (Optional)

1 box wild long rice cooked to package instructions or
Make some homemade roasted garlic mashed potatoes CLICK HERE

In a 5 quart or larger crock pot, place the chicken breasts on the bottom. Add the gravy and wine, herbs and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Cook rice to package instructions.
Serve chicken and mushrooms with wild rice.
+claudia lamascolo Author

Italian Roasted Peppers On The Grill Recipe

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Grilled Roasted Peppers are so easy to make!
These peppers are on sliced Italian bread, don't use anything else.

First use cooking oil and spray the grates on your grill.
Heat on medium heat.

Now all you have to do is place 3 or 4 whole peppers on the grill. Close the lid.

Keep checking them and turn them often with tongs. They will be scorched on the outside with good darkened marks.
Cook them until the peppers look soft ,wilted and charred.

Cool them. Cut them open, scoop out the seeds and place just the pepper slices in a jar.
Drizzle a good grade Extra Virgin Olive Oil over them, whole peeled and cleaned garlic cloves and that's it!
Store in the refrigerator.

I let them sit overnight in the refrigerator the first time to eat them to soak in the flavors. Then I take them out an hour before I will eat them to room temperature.

Serve on crusty Italian Bread. Love the Ciabatta and Rustic breads the best!

Banana Cake Squares with Mascarpone Frosting Recipe

2013-05-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

I think this is a quick easy comforting dessert that no matter when I make this it's a favorite. The mascarpone cheese is a great addition to make ordinary banana cake taste wonderfully decadent. Add some chopped garnishing favorites on top and you
will have something for everyone!

Banana Cake:

1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed banana
2 teaspoons of banana rum, or regular rum or banana extract if not available
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt

Optional garnish for topping the frosting : 1/2 cup chopped pecans, diced raisins, flaked coconut, craisins, or miniature chocolate chips

Cream sugar and butter together, beating around 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in eggs and banana's along with flavoring. Mix well. Pour in to a 15x10 inch x 1 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees till brown and set around 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost and garnish with whatever your favorites are, suggestions above.

Frosting:

4 ounces Mascarpone Cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Blend in a medium sized bowl the cheese and vanilla with a fork adding the powdered sugar a little at a time. Add some water if too thick to spread, 1 teaspoon at a time.

Spread over cooled cut into squares banana cake.

German Puffed Pancakes Baked in Cupcake Tins Recipe

2013-05-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Well nothing would make me happier than to have to cook for mom. If I had one wish in the world it would be to have her back again. Every Mother's Day, I blog on a recipe I really think Mom would have flipped over. Since my blog is dedicated to her and her teachings, I again wish her peace where ever she is and hope she can hear me say Happy Mother's Day, until we meet again. All the years we had together were precious minutes and joyous memories.

Mom and me

1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons melted butter
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk

In a small bowl add the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and beat together with a whisk. Add salt and mix. Slowly add flour whisking in rapidly to make sure you have no lumps, keep whisking until all the flour is entered and blended smoothly. Last whisk in the butter.
Prepare the muffin tin with heavy sprayed oil. This makes around 7 or 8 - 3/4 filled, this recipe can be doubled and still comes out fine. Bake in a preheated oven on 400 degrees for around 15 minutes or until browned and puffed on top.

Carefully lift onto your plate, fill the center with desired toppings. Fresh fruits sprinkle with sugar and topped with whipped cream or powdered sugar.

+claudia lamascolo Author

Mom's Baked Italian Style Hamburgers Recipe

2013-05-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Not only a great Italian style burger but just a way our Mom would make hamburgers with an Italian flair is the perfect tribute to recreate on Mother's Day for her this year. I miss her way of making the simplest meals and turning them into a banquet. This was dressed to the nines as Mom would say. Melted provolone cheese, tomato, Romaine lettuce a thick burger with peppers. Oh course Dad loved his onions too! You can add whatever you like on it but it's all in the way she spiced it up.... take a look. So today I am making hamburgers ala Margaret Ann Fanelli Colenzo in style, Happy Mother's Day wherever you are my dear mother in heaven, I will always cherish and love our memories we shared in the kitchen.

Carmen my dad and Margaret my mom

4 hamburger patties hand molded ground chuck 1/2 thick
Italianelles sliced are the first choice. If you can't find them us bell pepper sliced in rings (around 2 peppers) or pepperoncini sliced.
Italian seasoning not much just around 1/4 teaspoon on each burger we made our own blend. Dried basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Equal amounts around 1 teaspoon each.
Worcestershire sauce (drizzles)
grating cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil or
1 tablespoon melted butter

Topping suggestions:
provolone cheese, tomatoes, Romaine lettuce, pickles, Italian olives, bacon, prosciutto, mushrooms sauteed, onions, fresh roasted garlic, tomato sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, hot peppers, olive oil and vinegar on a garlic bun toasted.

Cast iron fry pan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray pan with cooking oil. Place the patties in the pan. Drizzle a few drops of Worcestershire sauce on each pattie, sprinkle with seasoning over each pattie, Italian seasoning and grating cheese. Place pepper of choice on top of hamburgers. Drizzle a little olive oil over each ring. Sprinkle with more grating cheese. Bake for 45 minutes until burger are browned and potatoes are crisp on top. Serve with Italian home fries my dad's recipe!

Serve on Italian bread rolls with your favorite topping. Suggestions would be provolone cheese, tomatoes, Romaine lettuce, pickles, Italian olives, bacon, prosciutto, mushrooms sauteed, onions, fresh roasted garlic, (of course peppers) and anything else your heart desires. Marinara is you want a pizza burger. Traditional sauces for a hamburger Italian/American style.
+claudia lamascolo Author

Crockpot London Broil Burgundy Recipe

2013-05-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Crockpots are really the best way to may any roast tender and fall apart sensational. Even if the meat is over cooked it will be a tender experience. The real secret is the juice to keep it moist. When your carving the meat, make sure you place it back into the juice. The juice will keep the meat from drying out and also enhance the flavors. Always serve it in the juice.

Tender, juicy, falls apart and has a wonderful flavor! I always love the leftovers for a future pot pie this will make the best beef pot pie ever!

If there is anything I hate more with beef it's a piece of tough been and you can't chew through it!
This is foolproof tender everytime you make it!

1 (3 pound) London Broil

1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic, cut into thick slivers
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup Burgundy wine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
oregano and garlic powder
Sprig fresh rosemary (optional)
1 teaspoon flour or cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter

Place the roast in a shallow baking dish and rub with the salt and pepper garlic powder and a little oregano. Using a thin sharp knife, poke slits all over the top and sides of the roast and stuff each slit with a garlic halves. Add 1/2 cup wine. Refrigerate overnight.
Place the beef in the crockpot adding 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup broth, Worcestershire sauce and marinade wine from the pan, into the bottom of the pot. Put the crockpot on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Remove the roast and let sit while making the gravy.
Add a large sprig of fresh rosemary to the sauce if using. Stir the cornstarch or flour into the remaining 1/4 cup broth and then whisk into the sauce. Put into the crockpot cook until thickened. Remove the rosemary sprig, stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add more flour and water if you like a thicker sauce. The beef will fall apart. Great with mashed potatoes or over cooked egg noodles.

+claudia lamascolo Author

Sticky Cinnamon Monkey Raisin Bread Cupcake Recipe

2013-05-08T08:24:00.001-04:00

A sticky cinnamon raisin bread worth the time to make individual cupcake tins for us on the go folks! A great way to grab something yummy home baked for that dreaded day of work (smile) This is really a bread recipe not a cupcake, it just makes it easier to take with
you, no slicing involved!

Dough:
4 eggs at room temperature (do not miss that step) important for proper rising
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups evaporated milk or buttermilk heated to luke warm
1/4 cup melted butter
8 cups flour
2 tablespoon rapid rise yeast

Filling:
1/2 cup assorted raisins in gold, brown or red or use craisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional) or use all raisins instead
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
4 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon

Drizzle:
powdered sugar
water
pinch cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl using a flat beater bar, beat the eggs with sugar around 2 minutes. Add the salt, milk, 1/4 cup melted butter blend with eggs mixture. Sprinkle in the yeast stirring. Add the flour beating slowly and stop the mixer when it almost all the flour is added and add the remaining to a board to add the rest as it gets too thick to beat. After you add all the remaining flour let rise until double in the mixer bowl away from drafts in a warm area until it doubles in size. Covered with plastic wrap and a towel.
Preheat oven to 350 degree hot oven.
In the meantime prepare your cupcake tins with paper liners or use cooking spray to generously coat. Make the filling by combining the sugar, butter and cinnamon, raisins and nut mixture in a bowl.
When the dough is proofed, roll into tiny balls the size of a quarter. Add the filling, more dough balls and ending with more raisin mixture. (I actually like to use the sprayed tins instead of the paper liners so nothing sticks to the paper. )

Bake until golden brown on top no need to rise again. Cool completely and make a glaze using 2 cups powdered around 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and warm water to make a thick frosting. Drizzle over the tops with a fork. Let dry.

+claudia lamascolo Author

Churro French Toast With Caramel Rum Sauce For Cinco De Mayo Recipe

2013-05-05T00:00:00.003-04:00

Here is a fun treat for breakfast or anytime snack. You can make them ahead of time then serve them warm or cold for the kids after school. Dip them in a caramel rum sauce for the adults (see recipe below for kids version also) or just with a sprinkle of powdered sugar they even taste great as a dessert! I have also baked them in the oven for less calories! After you try these you decide which way you love them more! Check out the recipe for the Caramel Rum Sauce at the end!

Sliced Soft Italian style bread, cinnamon bread or your favorite brand of bread any kind of a soft bread is a great choice! As many slices as it takes to feed your size family.

Filling

softened butter for each slice you determine how much to use or use soft margarine that works fine too
cinnamon and sugar mixture (I usually make the cinnamon sugar in a bowl using 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons of cinnamon)

2 to 3 eggs beaten (I used egg whites in the carton premade) add 3 tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to the egg mixture

powdered sugar
Optional:

caramel sauce or other dipping syrups of choice
Fresh fruits

canola oil

Flatten bread out on a cutting board with a rolling pin, cutting the crusts off with a sharp knife. Spread the bread with butter, sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture evenly on the bread and make as many as you need for the family. Roll up like a cigar shape. Place seam down until your done with all your making on wax paper.

In a pie plate beat 2 eggs, milk add 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 3 tablespoons mix mix until blended. Dip the rolls into the mixture.

Heat canola oil in a fry pan on medium heat.

Fry each roll seam side down saute until browned on each side. Drain on paper towels.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon while still hot and serve.

You can dip into caramel melted any favorite breakfast syrups.

Caramel Rum Sauce The Adult Version (leave the rum out for the kids version)

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 heavy cream
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons rum flavoring or liqueur

Bring to boil. Add rum. Cool several hours in refrigerator .

+claudia lamascolo Author

Wonton or Tortilla Mini Bowls, Cinco De Mayo Bowls and Easy Savory Instruction Recipes

2013-05-04T00:00:00.001-04:00

These are a simple little bowls you can fill with anything you desire from savory appetizers to mouth watering desserts! I love them sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and then filled with vanilla or coffee flavored ice cream drizzled with some hot fudge sauce, perfect for Cinco de mayo but just use flour tortillas instead of wontons! You can go from salads to desserts all in the same appetizer party frenzy. See some of the suggestions below just to name a few! Get your imagination going you can make a whole lot of different appetizers for your party gatherings and tailor these to all your guests favorites!

Here's how to make them:
1 package of wonton or use flour tortilla (you find these in the produce department at your local grocery store)
1 cupcake pan of 12 openings of medium sized
1 can cooking oil spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray you cupcake tins with cooking oil.
Place a wonton in each cup.
Bake until browned and crispy around 15 minutes on 350 degrees.

Suggestions and Notes: Brush the bottoms with a little rum and melted butter before filling for desserts. For the savory styles, brush with melted butter and a little white wine.

For dessert cups, fill with lemon, chocolate, banana or vanilla puddings add fruits such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries, berries, chopped nuts or chunks of chocolate then topped with whipped cream

Add ice cream of your choice (we love coffee flavored) with a sprinkle of cinnamon/sugar and then drizzled with a little chocolate hot fudge syrup

Fresh fruits on top of a dollop of lemon curd

Nutella and whipped cream on top

For savory filled cup fill with a Mexican refried bean dip, add also lettuce, tomato and top with sour cream, chopped olives and jalapenos.
You can fill with chopped tomato and mozzarella and fresh basil for a great started appetizer as shown in photo.
Black beans, avocado, garbanzo beans, corn, mixed with a salsa for a Tex Mex style.
Use a tuna salad, egg salad or ham salad and chicken salad all great fillings.
Cream cheese mixed with smoked salmon.
Cream cheese mixed with crab meat.
Cream cheese mixed with chopped peppers, olives, tomato, onion and tuna.
Roasted chicken, buffalo sauce, drizzled with blue cheese and sprinkled with shredded cheddar
Sliced corned beef, sauerkraut and then drizzled with thousand island dressing
Chopped steak, sauteed mushrooms, onions and drizzled with steak sauce
Pulled pork with barbecue sauce

I am sure you can come up with hundreds of more ideas!

You can make these bowls ahead of time for company to have on hand freeze them on a cookie sheet then store in a freezer bag laying flat until ready to use!

The skies the limit of imagination! These hold up great with any filling.
+claudia lamascolo Author