Bon Appétit!

Saffron Risotto with Osso Buco and Gremolata

2013-05-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Have you ever had a dish remind you of home? your grandma? a sweet memory that warms your heart and soul? Yes? Haha well here is a dish that warms my heart and soul, and reminds me of my dad and being home. Family is something that we as humans cannot live with out, even if they sometimes drive us insane. They bring joy and laughter, as well as tears and pain, but this dish mends all bridges just for a while, so that simple beauty like this dish can be appreciated. Beauty often stands out and this dish does just that. This being said, remember to STAND OUT LIVE ORIGINAL or in this beautiful case STAND OUT EAT ORIGINAL.

Osso Buco Ingredients

1 cup all purpose flour
Salt and ground pepper
6 veal shakes
1/2 cup olive oil
1yellow onion chopped
1carrot, peeled and diced
1celery stalk, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups red wine at room temp
8 cups meat stock

Saffron Risotto Ingredients

8cups meat stock
1/2 cups olive oil
1/2 cups finely chopped yellow onion
3 cups arborio rice
1cup white wine at room temp
2 pinches of saffron threads
4 tablespoons of undated butter
1cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper

Put the flour in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the veal shank pieces , coating them evenly with flour and shaking off the excess. In a heavy frying pan, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the veal and brown for about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to plate and set aside.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, carrots,celery, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the wine and deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom. Cook over high heat to reduce the liquid by half. Add the stick and reduce the heat to a simmer. Return veal to the pan. Cover and cook, turning occasionally, for 1 hour. remove lid and cook until the shanks are tender, about 30 minutes longer.

About 30 minutes before the veal is done, make the risotto. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the stock to a simmer and maintain over low heat. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the rice and stir until each grain is well coated with oil and translucent with a white dot in the center, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and stir until completely absorbed.

Add the hot stock a ladleful at a time, stirring frequently after each addition. Wait until the stock is almost completely absorbed before adding the next ladleful. Reserve 1/2 cup stock and add the saffron to it.

When the rice is tender to the bite but slightly firm in the center and looks creamy, after about 20 minutes, add the saffron infused stock. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the risotto to a warmed platter. Top with the veal shanks and sprinkle with gremolata (recipe below), if using. Serve at once and enjoy!

Gremolata Ingredients

1/2 cup minced flat leave parsley
2 cloves minced garlic
Zest of 1 lemon
1tsp of lemon juice

Salt and pepper

Just mix and sprinkle over the Osso Buco!

I hope this reminds you of home and warms your heart and soul,

Elena

Pound Cake Cups with Berries and Disaronno

2013-05-07T20:21:00.002-07:00

Fellow Humans,

Here is a simple and delicious dessert that anyone can enjoy! I recommend this on a steamy summer night or when you need to impress someone, but don't have a lot of money, skill, or time!

This is a simple dish that delights the sences with texture and flavor.

Ingredients:

---Amount of ingredients based on how much you are making

-Rasberries

-Blue Berries

-Black Berries

--other fruit optional, or you can always substitute other fruit in

-A package of pound cake cups from meijer ( small round cups made from pound cake, easy and cheap)

-Disaronno

-Slivered Almonds (toasted)

Step 1: Place pound cake on plate, cover with berries.

Step 2: Sprinkle toasted almonds, and a few tablespoons of Disaronno.

Enjoy!

Elena

Just Because it's so Chili Out

2013-04-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Hello!

As this cold weather persists and Michigan seems to be very confused as to what season it actually is haha here is a chili recipe that will make you forget the weather and warm you up from the inside. This super simple and delicious recipe is easy to make and not to bad on the wallet either. This recipe requires absolutly no skill in the kitchen...well maybe just a bit so you don't burn anything, and only takes 45 min to make. So heres to enjoing the simple things in life; today chili.

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef (or meet of choice)

1/2 onion, chopped

1tsp. ground black pepper

1(8oz) jar salsa

4 Tbsp. chili seasoning mix

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

2 1/2 cups tomato sauce

1 (15 oz) can light red kidney beans

1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans

Step 1:

In a large sauce pan over medium heat, combine the ground beef and the onion and saute for 10 minutes, or until meat has browned and onion is tended. Drain grease (optional).

Step 2:

Add the ground black pepper, garlic salt, tomatoe sauce, salsa, chili seasoning mix and kidney beans (make sure to drain and rinse before adding to sauce pan). Mix well, reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

-Lena

A Little Taste of Paradise

2013-03-12T18:24:00.002-07:00

Hello Fellow Human Beings,

I would like to share with you a company that has brought much joy to my life, and has taught me to be an individual as well as to never melt into the crowd, but to stand out and live original. Now what amazing company could I be speaking of you ask? SOLO DETROIT. A clothing company that not only makes you look great, but makes you feel great too. SOLO, like my recipes is food for the soul, and we all need a little happiness and inspiration in our lives. So here is a little bit of paradise for days like today, cold and rainy. This recipe will brighten your mood and make you feel great about yourself!

Click the following link for further SOLO DETROIT information and to shop their amazing products! This is an amazing startup company and like all great things needs support! So get inspired and munch on! You never know how inspiring you, yourself can be, and SOLO helps you do just that. STAND OUT. LIVE ORIGINAL.

Coconut Cream Fruit Dip:

Ingredients:

4 oz cream cheese

1/2 (15 oz) can Cream of Coconut - this is not coconut milk, you can find this in the aisle with the margarita mixes

1/2 (8 oz) tub Cool Whip

Step 1: Whip the cream cheese with the cream of coconut in a stand mixer until all lumps are gone.

Step 2: Remove paddle, and fold in cool whip.

Step 3: Serve with fruit or graham crackers and smile.

Love, Peace and Happiness,

Elena

Cheese Cake Love!

2013-02-28T21:31:00.000-08:00

Hello Out There!
I have finally broken down and have decide to share my cheesecake recipe. This lovely piece of work was inspired in Paris, France. There is nothing more sinful then freshly baked cheesecake and a lovely cool glass of white wine. This simple and delicate recipe is easy to make and will wow everyone! I hope you enjoy this sinful dessert with someone special, or if you are like me, sitting on the back porch overlooking the water and enjoying a glass of wine. Here's to warm and breezy summer days and starry nights under the moonlight!

French Cheesecake : Serves 6-8

Crust Ingredients:

· 1 cup graham cracker crumbs = 8 whole crackers

· 3 tbls sugar

· 3 tbls melted margarine

Combine for crust and press into bottom of a 9 inch spring pan.
Bake for 10 minutes at 350 F.

Cream Ingredients:

· 16 oz = cream cheese

· ¼ cup = margarine

· ¾ cup = sugar

· ¼ cup = flour

· 2 eggs

· ¾ cup milk

· ½ stp vanilla

Combine and mix thoroughly then blend in 2 eggs (one at a time), 3/4 cup of milk and 1/2tsp vanilla.
Pour over baked crust and bake at 350 F for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool thoroughly before removing rim of pan.

Love,

Lena!

Berry Tart with Mascarpone Filling

2013-02-18T07:48:00.002-08:00

"The world is moving so fast these days that the one who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it." a comment made by one of my professors. As the years pass and I grow older I have started appreciating life's little moments a bit more, time no longer slows down for me, but rather speeds up and disappears in a blink of an eye. So much so that I have neglected this small joy of mine. But do not worry my passion for food is still here and so is my joy of creating it! Today my inspiration is a fruit tart. Something so simple and beautiful that it's hard to ignore, yet many pass it by with out a glance. Seeing but not enjoying. So here is a glance…

Berry Tart with Mascarpone Filling Serves 6-8

Mandarin orange slices, sliced kiwi fruit, and/or sliced bananas can all be substituted for any of the berries in this recipe.

1 recipe pastry dough (recipe follows)
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup apricot jelly
1/3 cup water
1/2 pint strawberries, washed, hulled, and halved
6 ounces blackberries, washed
6 ounces raspberries, washed
2 ounces blueberries, washed

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

On a well-floured surface, roll out the pastry dough to 1/4-inch thickness in the shape of a large circle (about 14-inches in diameter). Place the rolling pin in the center of the circle and fold one half of the pastry dough over the rolling pin. Pick up the rolling pin and transport the pastry dough to a 10-inch tart pan. Trim and adjust the pastry dough as needed so that it fits in the tart pan.

Prick the dough with the tines of a fork and then lay a sheet of parchment paper over it. Place pie weights or a mixture of dried beans and rice on top of the parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes then remove the tart shell from the oven and carefully remove the parchment paper and pie weights. Return the tart shell to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes until it is golden brown. Remove the shell from the oven and cool.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring the apricot jelly and the water to a boil. Reduce the heat so that you have a strong simmer and allow the jelly mixture to reduce by about half. Strain the jelly mixture into a small bowl (discard any fruit bits that are caught in the strainer) and let cool.

In an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the mascarpone, heavy cream, and sugar until stiff peaks form.

To assemble the tart, spread the mascarpone filling over the bottom of the cooled tart shell. Place the fruit on top of the mascarpone filling as desired. Brush the fruit with the jelly mixture and serve.

Pastry Dough
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
5 tablespoons ice water

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Using a fork or pastry blender cut the butter into the flour mixture until the fat is in small lumps. Sprinkle with ice water and use a fork to pull the mixture together. If the mixture is not holding together, add up to 1 more tablespoon of water. If you haven't handled pastry dough before, you can always throw all of the ingredients into a food processor! Once done, follow directions below!

Turn dough on the counter and, working quickly, mold into a large ball. Press into a 5” disc then wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes and up to one day.

Enjoy,

Lena

Cucumber Bites!

2012-05-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely people,
Like many of you I love the summer! But I do not like the cooking part! It is just to hot! Well here's a bite of goodness! These bites are refreshing and a treat for anyone, young and old.

Ingredients:

Ricotta Cheese
~Lemon Juice
~Fresh Basil
~Fresh Parsley
~Fresh Green Onions
~Salt and Pepper
~Italian Seasoning

Step 1: Finely mince the basil, parsley, and green onions. Mix in with Ricotta cheese.
Step 2: Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and seasoning ( or more based on how much you make).
Step 3: Slice cucumber and top with a teaspoon of ricotta mixture.
Step 4: ENJOY!!! YUM!!!

Come back and see whats new in a few!

~Elena

Hello Lovely People! Long time no Blog!

2012-05-16T05:47:00.001-07:00

So as you may have noticed, I have not been timely at all with my post in the past few months.
Life has been really hectic with classes and work and just life in general…I could really use a breather. But its summer time!!!! WOOOOHOOOO! Break time! right?? well unfortunately not..still taking classes and working two jobs! haha the adult world has its rough patches..but it is all gooood! I now have a kitchen and things will be made and posted!

Come back in a day or two for something delicious!
IT WONT DISAPPOINT!
~Lena

HEY GUYS HERE IS AN UPDATE!

2011-08-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
I have just moved into CMU and no longer have a kitchen, therefore no more cooking for a while. I'll do my best to post more recipes but no promises. Sorry for the inconvenience.
~Lena

Pickled Fig, Robiola, & Pistachio Oil Crostini

2011-07-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Well..this is not my standard type of recipe but I LOVE IT! It's delicious and light and great for parties. I hope you guys enjoy them as much I do!

Ingredients

~12 slices ciabatta bread~1/2 cup red wine vinegar
~2 tablespoons sugar
~6 dried figs
~1/4 cup water
~2 tablespoons pistachios, toasted and shelled
~1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
~Robiola cheese

Step 1: Combine red wine vinegar, sugar, and dried figs with 1/4 cup water in a saucepan; bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and let sit until figs soften, about 30 minutes.

Step 2: Halve figs lengthwise. (Alternatively, use 6 fresh figs and halve lengthwise.)

Step 3: Finely crush pistachios and combine with extra-virgin olive oil.

Grill bread slices. Smear room-temperature Robiola cheese onto warm toasts. Top with halved figs. Drizzle with pistachio oil

Enjoy!
~Lena

Monte Cristo... It sounds just as good as it sounds fancy :)

2011-07-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

I tried this once at a restaurant and decided to once again put my own spin on it! So normally Monte Cristos' don't have chicken breast but I of course decided to put it in! They normally consist of ham, turkey, and swiss cheese, but my version consists of chicken breast, munster, and swiss. This is delicious. :]

Makes 2

Ingredients:

~ 4 slices of italian bread
~4 slices of munster cheese
~4 slices of swiss cheese
~4 slices of deli cut chicken breast

~ 2 cups of batter ( any type of pancake batter works)

Step 1: Place 2 slices of munster on bread, then 2 slices of chicken breast, and finally 2 slices of swiss and complete with another piece of bread.

Step 2 : Heat up 3 tbs. of vegetable oil into a skillet, dip sandwiches into batter and set in skillet. Cook until golden brown on all sides.

Step 3 : Pour Eggo syrup over sandwich and enjoy!

Enjoy !
~ Lena and Sarah Lee

Meatballs and SARAH LEE!

2011-06-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

Yay for days off!!!!

I have another day off for the wonderful Sarah Lee :D! So since I am starving right now, I am making meatballs! I will be also making a deLICIOUS gravy and white rice to go along with the meatballs! Instead of the standard ground beef, I'm using ground turkey and ground chuck because I think they give better flavor :) Not only does this combination give off better flavor (in my opinion) since chuck is a bit fatty, and turkey is lean, they balance each other out well! When you have ground turkey and ground chuck in hand, you can always make these delicious meatballs and enjoy food at its simplest :)

Ingredients

~1 lb ground chuck

~2 slices of fresh bread

~1 egg

~2 Tbs. (Tablespoon) Italian (opt) bread crumbs

~1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

~1 Tsp. (teaspoon) garlic powder

~1 Tsp. Italian seasoning

Gravy

~1 can cream of mushroom

~1 cup white wine

Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Then mix all the meatball ingredients together in a bowl and start making meatballs out of the mixture. They should be a little bigger than a golfball, like a bouncy ball, but you can make them whatever size you would like! Place the meatballs on the bottom of a pan coated with olive oil. At this point, we're just browning the meatballs, so brown the meatballs evenly on all sides.

Step 2: Place the meatballs in an oven-safe dish. Then put the meatballs in the oven for 30 minutes if they're about the size of golfballs. If they're bigger then the time varies, most likely needing more time for bigger ones. While the meatballs are still baking, deglaze the skillet with white wine. Turn the temperature to low, and let it simmer for about a minute. Add the cream of mushroom soup, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salf and pepper to taste, and then let it simmer more for about a minute.

Step 3: The rice at this point should be already done and ready to be eaten. Once the meatballs are done, serve them and enjoy! :)

~ Lena and Sarah Lee!

MAC & CHEESE!

2011-06-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

On rainy days comfort food is number one on my menu! And nothing sounds better then a trip down memory lane to my childhood than mac & cheese. Macaroni and cheese may seem to be a subject as straightforward as its flat, yellow-orange color. It’s rich, flavorful and filling; familiar but never dull. It’s a classic! There are many variations and one may argue that one version is better than another, but to each his own. This is my favorite version! You can easily call it Crack and Cheese! So addictive, but be warned, your trip to the store will leave your wallet much thinner.

Ingredients

~ 6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
~ 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
~ 5 1/2 cups milk
~ 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
~ 2 teaspoons kosher salt
~ 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
~ 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
~ 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
~ 4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
~ 2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
~ 1 pound elbow macaroni

Step 1:

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and mix. Set the breadcrumbs aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Step 2: Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.

Step 3: Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.
Step 4: Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. Drain macaroni, rinse under cold running water. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.
Step 5: Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!
~Lena

Breaded Steak with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a Brown Cream Sauce

2011-06-13T16:24:00.000-07:00

So today is one of those rare days where I have a day off! Today, although my day off, I have been doing chores and running errands none stop, not my best day off so I'm making up for it with breaded steak and mashed potatoes. YUMM! While making this I didn't measure anything out, I made enough for one. So if you have questions....I might not be able to answer them, but I will do my best.

Ingredients:
~ 2 Pealed Large Idaho Potatoes (or which ever you prefer)
~ 1 Steak ( cut into slices)

~ 1/2 cup Italian Bread Crumbs
~ 1/4 cup Sour Cream
~ 6 tablespoons Butter
~ 1teaspoon Garlic Powder
~ 1/4 cup milk
~ 1/4 cup White Wine
~ 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
~ Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to Taste

Step 1: In a medium pan boil water, add potatoes. Meanwhile, take the already cut steak and bread with Italian bread crumbs. Heat up 3 tablespoons butter in a small skillet, add breaded steak. Cook until golden brown and then flip. This should only take a few minutes on each side. Once the potatoes are done, drain. Mash and add garlic powder, half of the sour cream, and the rest of the butter.

Step 2: Remove steak from skillet and deglaze the pan with the white wine. Let simmer for 2 minutes, add sour cream and let cook another minute. Once complete add steak on top of potatoes and pour sauce on top. garnish with Parmesan cheese.

So as you can see this was a simple recipe. I added some steamed asparagus to go with it just to add something healthy, but feel free to pair it with whatever green food you may like.

I wish I had more time to spend on this recipe but I'm afraid errands never stop. Feel free to comment!

Love, Peace, and Happiness, Elena

Fresh Rosemary and Roasted Garlic Pasta

2011-06-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, first recipe post!
This dish is simple to make and is pure joy to taste. Fresh Rosemary is preferred but dried works just as well. I love making this dish in the summer, especially after work. We all have days where we come home from work and we do not want to cook, well this is one recipe thats so easy to make that even work cant deter you from its delicious, fresh and simple flavors.

Fresh from my garden.

Ingredients:

~ 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

~ 1/4 cup finely chopped onion

~ 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

~ 1/2 cup chicken stock

~ 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

~ 1/2 (16 ounce) package spaghetti

~ 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

~ kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste

This makes enough for 4

Step 1: Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over low heat. Add the onions; cook and stir until they turn a deep brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant. Mix in the chicken stock and rosemary, and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook until reduced by 1/3, about 8 minutes. If you are a fan of using wine in your cooking feel free to use half chicken stock and half white wine.

Step 2: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti pasta, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain, then add noodles to the sauce in the skillet. Stir in the remaining butter and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve and let everyone dig in! Feel free to garnish with extra cheese and fresh Rosemary sprigs.

Love, Peace, and Happiness, Elena

Why a food blog?

2011-06-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

I love food, to me every ingredient has a personality, a flavor. Great ingredients combined, dance in your mouth to create something wonderful, something perfect, something that can brighten the worst of days. The word food has many meanings; Meals are the food for the body, Knowledge is the food for the mind, Music is the food for love of heart, Dreams are food for the consciousness, and Love is the food for the living heart. This blog is the food for stories and happy memories to come.

Love, Peace, and Happiness, Elena