Cooking Blog

Welcome to the Ladies Recipes Cooking Blog! Post those things you want everyone to know about here. It's as easy as typing in your post title in the box on the right and telling us what's going on! Enjoy.

Halloween Brunch Revisited

28 Oct 2011 00:12
stacitastacita

I came across Amanda's legendary Halloween Brunch from a few years ago. Hmm! That was fun and comforting.

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Pumpkin Pie for Halloween

28 Oct 2011 00:10
stacitastacita

What better way to celebrate Halloween than baking a pumpkin pie? With the snow gently falling outside, the warmth of the oven and the aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are more needed than ever. (This is not a joke.)

I found a good overview here:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/pumpkinpie.html

I liked that the offer several options for the crust and the filling. I can decide at the last minute if I want to go for the real pumpkin filling or slack off and use the can.

You should also consult http://ladiesrecipes.wikidot.com/pumpkin-pie.

What pumpkin-themed goodies are you cooking up?

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Tags: fall

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New Seasonal Menu

03 Sep 2011 13:23
stacitastacita

I've added a new Seasonal Menu feature to Ladies Recipes. Now any recipe or blog post tagged with Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter will automatically appear on this menu under the appropriate category. This will make it easier to browse for recipes during your current season.

You can find the link to the Seasonal Menu by going to Menus > Seasons.

Enjoy!

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Tags: technology

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Cookbook: Italian Grill

14 Jul 2011 11:39
stacitastacita

Mario Batali's Italian Grill

Now that the summer is in full bloom, can I recommend this cookbook? I absolutely adore it for its delicious, simple, healthy recipes. As usual, Mario focuses on freshness and pizzaz (generally achieved by vinegar and hot pepper.) Mario includes ample vegetable grilling dishes, as well as fish, poultry, and meat. There's even grilled pizza!

Every dish I have made from this book has been a delight. (Note: I have only made veggies!)

51Zxkk1izsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
  • Grilled radicchio with pears and balsamic
  • Grilled vegetable salad, capri-style
  • Marinated zucchini with homemade ricotta, mint, and bottarga
  • Eggplant rollantini with goat cheese and pesto
  • Grilled polenta with robiola and scallions
  • Grilled artichokes with mint and chilies
  • Corn as Italians would eat it

The pictures are stunning. I think if you are looking for a summer cookbook, this is it!

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Tags: grill italian mario

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Pastas of Summer

13 Jul 2011 20:05
stacitastacita

Came across this article on NPR about using fresh summer veggies and herbs in light sauces. It comes with four recipes: yum!

pastafarfalle.jpg?t=1310495601&s=2

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Tags: italian pasta

2 Comments


Fresh Ricotta

23 May 2011 13:37
stacitastacita

I had a life-changing experience this weekend. I made fresh ricotta. It's life changing because it's so easy and so delicious, which is a powerful combination.

Amanda made the fresh ricotta awhile back, and I swore I would try it. It's taken me over a year, but it has been done!

I was motivated when I found a simple recipe for it in Mario Batali's (my kitchen god) Italian Grill, which you should probably purchase immediately.

The process is very simple. I thought I would need more exact measurements and explanation, but after doing it, I think you will agree that within certain parameters, you really can't mess it up:

  1. Bring whole milk + milk fat (like half and half or heavy cream), and a pinch of salt to a "boil" (aka, just before the milk froth rises and spills out of the pan all over your stove) over medium heat. While heating, stir occasionally to make sure the milk doesn't burn on the bottom of the pan.
  2. Remove from heat.
  3. Add lemon juice and stir until the curds separate. (For reference, I ended up using 2 lemons for 1/2 gallon of milk. I kept added the lemon juice until the curds really started to form.)
  4. Slowly pour the entire mixture over a strainer fitted with 2 layers of cheesecloth. I found it easiest to pour out the liquid (whey) first to make the draining of the ricotta quicker.
  5. Let drain for 5-30 minutes, or overnight if you want to make ricotta gnocchi.

Here's another source if you want to read about it in more detail:
http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/pg/217-Ricotta.html

I then proceeded to make Mario's Eggplant Involtini and Lidia's Ricotta Fritta, neither of which I would recommend if you ever want to move from the table again.

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Tags: cheese decadence italian mario

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"Yotam Ottolenghi"

05 Apr 2011 18:37
Paula JeannePaula Jeanne

FYI On Martha Stewart today she had Yotam Ottolenghi cook two of his recipes. Check out her site for the recipes. He is a Vegetarian from Israel and owns five restaurants in England. I believe he has written two cook books, his newest one "Plenty" just came out.

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Man Catcher Brownies

20 Mar 2011 23:54
stacitastacita

Ladies, I was recently treated to some seriously problematic brownies. I like brownies ok, and if you are going to use a box, Ghirardelli's dark chocolate mix has never given me cause to regret. But these things were…vile indeed. They were little beasts, the bete noire of brownies.

I was given to understand that they were called "Man-Catcher Brownies" but assured that they could catch anyone at all. I believe this must be true. I'm a little horrified by the ingredient list (particularly item 1), but if you would like to make a truly decadent brownie, you might try these.

Man-Catcher Brownies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/06/AR2007020600438.html

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Tags: baking chocolate decadence desserts

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More Gimbot

16 Feb 2011 11:09
stacitastacita

I passed by one of the new Pizzeria Regina chain booths that are springing up in every food court, and I was struck when I noticed a pizza called the "Giambotta."

Here it is…
http://www.reginapizzeria.com/menu.php

You'll be interested to see it is sausage-heavy! I then googled giambotta and found a slew of related recipes, most commonly translated as "Italian Vegetable Stew," but many of which were flavored with Italian sausage.

Another complication to the mystery of the Gimbot?

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Tags: italian

4 Comments


Two words: Nutella. Pie.

15 Feb 2011 01:58
ClaireMereClaireMere

I was consumed with envy at the making of the fresh pasta. There is no way that I have the stamina for the making of such - nor have I the equipment.

But at least I have discovered something fabulous that I can easily whip up in my increasingly gravid state.

NUTELLA PIE

The recipe is simplicity itself. I will transcribe it here, with the crust I used, and put the original link at the bottom. I BEG you to make this pie either at your next gathering or when you want to make the person you love deeply in your debt. Or for yourself. Like, tonight.

Crust:
9 graham crackers, crushed into crumbs - chocolate cookies might be even better - yikes
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Mix ingredients together. Butter a 9-inch pie plate and press crumbs evenly onto the bottom and up the sides. Bake in oven ten minutes at 350 degrees. Remove and cool completely.

Filling:
1 8oz block of cream cheese, softened
1 cup Nutella
1 cup heavy whipping cream

No, you will not need at add sugar.

When crust is cool, use a hand mixer to beat together cream cheese and Nutella. Clean beaters. In a fresh bowl, beat cream to medium peaks. Fold whipped cream into Nutella mixture. Pour into crust and put in fridge for a few hours to set. Two hours is the minimum, I think. Making it in the morning for an evening dinner would be fine.

You will have a creamy, foamy pie that is both rich and airy and tastes far more sophisticated than any three ingredient pie has the right to. It will delight anyone, including two-year-olds. They will have Nutella pie face and be wonderful about it.

PS - the two year old pretty much made this pie, so there you go. Easy.
The original recipe if you're looking for it. She uses a cookie crust, which I bet is good, but I prefer the ease and more savory, toasted flavor of the grahams. Also, she sometimes freezes it. Yum. I would shave the bittersweet choc over it if I had it. But I had none and eating it seemed rather urgent. Let me know if you try it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

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