Author Archives: Judi

Pizza Chicken Skillet

Posted on

September 30, 2014 by author

Pizza Chicken Skillet

I had a busy day and needed something fast for dinner. I also hate doing dishes so the idea of a one pot meal was very appealing. I looked at what I had on hand and this is the dish I came up with. I started with some basics, browned onion and chicken in a skillet. I also had some fresh tomatoes and peppers and pizza seasoning so it all came together quite nicely. By adding some chicken stock and pasta I was able to finish it all together in the same skillet. It was wonderful just the way it was- but you could top it with shredded cheese, if you like.

Pizza Chicken Skillet

1 T. oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 chicken, cut up

4 c. chopped fresh tomatoes

1 sweet pepper, seeded and diced

3 c. chicken stock- you might need a little more*

2 t. pizza seasoning

8 oz. uncooked pasta- I used rotini**

salt and pepper to taste

In large skillet brown onion in oil. add chicken pieces and brown on both sides. Add tomatoes to skillet and cook a few minutes more. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and bring to a simmer. Place lid on skillet and cook over medium low heat for about 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked. Add pasta and cook, covered, about 12 minutes longer, or until pasta is cooked. Stir from time to time to prevent sticking and to see if you need more stock. Time will vary depending on which pasta you choose. Adjust seasonings and serve as is or with cheese on top. Serves 4.

* Depending on how juicy your tomatoes are you might need a little more stock. I wanted to have some sauce with the dish so I liked the amount of stock I used.

** You could use more pasta just add more stock.

Pumpkin Squares

Posted on

September 29, 2014 by author

Judi

Pumpkin Squares

This recipe has been part of our family for years now. The original recipe came from Bisquick, but it had 2 cups of sugar in it. My Mother’s sensibilities kicked in and she cut the sugar down to one cup. Great move on her part. The cake is still plenty sweet with less sugar. It mixes and bakes up in no time. I normally top it with cream cheese frosting, but it would be good with a simple powdered sugar glaze or even just a dusting of powdered sugar mixed with a little cinnamon. The texture is moist and tender and I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.

Pumpkin Squares

1 c. sugar
½ c. oil
16 oz. cooked pumpkin, canned, fresh (preferred) or frozen
4 eggs, beaten
2 c. biscuit mix (homemade or Bisquick or Jiffy Mix)
2 t. cinnamon
½ c. raisins, optional
Grease a jelly roll pan and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat first 4 ingredients for 1 minute. Stir in mix, cinnamon and raisins. Pour in prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes. Test for doneness with a toothpick. Cool and frost. Frosted cake must be kept refrigerated between servings.

Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese
2/3 c. butter
2 T. milk
2 t. vanilla
3 c. powdered sugar, or more
Beat together until smooth.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged easy pumpkin recipe, pumpkin, pumpkin cake, pumpkin dessert, pumpkin recipe, pumpkin squares recipe, pumpking dessert recipe |

Liqueur Class

Posted on

September 28, 2014 by author

Judi

I will be teaching a class on making homemade liqueurs this Thursday at the Community Center in Concord. It is a fun time, for sure. If you are interested here is the contact information. There is no online registration. The class is from 7-9 pm.

Concord

Students may enroll in classes directly at the Concord Community Center, at 7671 Auburn Road, Concord Township OH 44077. They can call to inquire about classes at 440-639-4650. They can register in person or send in registration to the above address. A registration form is available on our website at concordtwp.com, under Current Happenings/Township Newsletter. Or, in place of a registration form, they can just write a note stating their name, address, phone, the class they are enrolling in, dates, times and payment – and send it in with their check. Class fee is $15- non residents $19.

Fall 2014

Oct. 2 : Liqueurs: Learn about the history of liqueurs and how their combination of fruit, herbs and spices can enhance your cooking. Sample recipes that, through the addition of liqueurs, go from ordinary to extraordinary. You’ll learn how to make your own liqueurs and how to use them in cooking. You will also get recipes to take home. No one under 21 is permitted to take this class. Food Fee: $10.00

Posted in Cooking |

Warm Blueberry Cake

Posted on

September 25, 2014 by author

Judi

Warm Blueberry Cake

If you need a quick dessert or even a nice addition for a brunch this cake is a great choice. It really is so easy to make. As the name implies it is meant to be served warm, but good at room temp, too.

Warm Blueberry Cake

2 c. biscuit mix*
1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. milk
2 T. oil
1 egg
1 1/2 c. blueberries

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour a 9×9-inch pan. Beat all ingredients together, except berries, for about 30 seconds. Fold in berries and pour into prepared pan. Bake for about 35 minutes. Cake should be golden brown on top and test clean with a toothpick. Serve warm.

*Like Bisquick or Jiffy mix. I make my own. Recipe follows.

Biscuit Mix

8 c. flour
1 c. powdered milk
1 c. powdered buttermilk (or 1 more cup powdered milk)
1/4 c. baking powder
1 T. salt
1 1/2 c. shortening*

Combine dry ingredients and cut in shortening until well mixed. Store in tightly covered container. Makes 10 cups.

* You can use butter instead, but keep mix in fridge and use in a couple of months. You can also use coconut oil- also best to keep this version in the fridge.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged blueberry, blueberry cake recipe, blueberry dessert recipe, cake, easy blueberry dessert, recipe |

Pumpkin Cake at the Market

Posted on

September 25, 2014 by author

Judi

Pumpkin Cake

It is going to be a beautiful day for the Market at Blue Pike Farm today. Pumpkin cake will be back!! There will be samples for tasting, too. I’ll also have my other baked goodies including Chocolate Beet cake, pumpkin bread, zucchini bread and more. Jellies, pickles and herb mixes, too. There will be a wide assortment of local produce, great coffee, soaps and lotions and the best olive oil. I got a bottle last week and I love it. Hope to see you there. Blue Pike Farm is located at 900 E. 72 St., just 1./2 mile south of the Shoreway. Market hours are from 4-7 pm.

This is the olive oil I got at the market last week. Amazing!!

Posted in Cooking |

Pumpkin Chiffon

Posted on

September 24, 2014 by author

Judi

Pumpkin Chiffon

I have been making this for a long time and really love it. From a technical foodie standpoint it’s not really a chiffon, but that is what my Mom called it so I will leave it as Pumpkin Chiffon. It’s really a sort of pumpkin pie without the crust. Super easy to make and quite tasty. I make it in a casserole dish but you could also make it in individual ramekins. We had it in my squash class last night and everybody liked it a lot. You could use canned or fresh cooked pumpkin or butternut squash. I sometimes serve it with gingersnaps and whipped cream. It is a lovely Fall dessert.

Pumpkin Chiffon

½ c. applesauce
1 c. cooked or canned pumpkin or squash
¾ c. brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon
½ t. salt
½ t. nutmeg
1/8 t. cloves
4 eggs, well beaten
1 c. light cream or evaporated milk
Stir together first seven ingredients. Beat in eggs and stir in milk. Place mixture in 1 ½ quart casserole and bake in a 350-degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Serve alone or with cookies. Serves 6-8.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged Autumn dessert, autumn dessert recipe, pumpkin, pumpkin chiffon, pumpkin dessert, pumpkin dessert recipe, pumpkin recipe |

Sweet Potato “Gnocchi”

Updated on

September 22, 2014 by author

Judi

Sweet Potato “Gnocchi”

I made my classic gnocchi with potatoes and gnocchi made with beets for a birthday dinner with friends the other night. I also made gnocchi with sweet potatoes. They went well with the other gnocchi and the rest of the menu. I was using small sweet potatoes that were pretty pale once I cooked them so I added some turmeric to the dough to bring up the color a bit. That would certainly be optional. The turmeric added some flavor, but it really made the sweet potato gnocchi look great on the serving platter.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

1 c. mashed, cooked sweet potatoes

1/2 c. mashed, cooked russet potatoes

2 eggs

1 t. salt

1 t. turmeric, optional

2 c. flour or more

Get a pot of water boiling. In mixing bowl combine the sweet potatoes with the eggs and seasonings. Add about 1 1/2 cups of the flour and stir until a soft dough forms. Continue adding flour, a little at a time, until the dough can be handled without sticking to your hands but is still soft. Take about 1/4 of the dough at a time and roll into a rope, about 15 inches long, on a floured work surface. Cut dough into 1/2 thick pieces. Place pieces in a pot of boiling water and after a few minutes the gnocchi will float to the top. Cook them for several minutes after they have risen to the top of the pot. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain. If you aren’t going to use them right away drizzle with a little oil to prevent sticking or toss with butter. You can also run a little cold water over them instead. Repeat with the remaining dough.

A Trio of Gnocchi

Posted in Cooking | Tagged gnocchi recipe, sweet potato, sweet potato gnocchi recipe, sweet potato recipe |

Classic Gnocchi

Updated on

September 22, 2014 by author

Judi

Classic Gnocchi

When I was a kid my mother made dumplings or spaetzle. That was part of my Eastern European heritage. I was much older before I tasted gnocchi for the first time. Similar to dumplings, gnocchi are Italian in origin. Made with cooked potatoes, flour and eggs when done right, gnocchi are quite light and tender. I wish I could remember where I got this recipe. I have a hand written copy of it- but it isn’t my handwriting. This is the version I have been making forever. The original recipe calls for steaming the potatoes, but I will admit to baking them or using leftover boiled potatoes. I sometimes use red skinned or Yukon Gold, too, with nice results. All methods produced a product I was happy with. Here is the recipe I use for gnocchi. Hope you give them a try.

Slicing the dough

Cook until they float

Tossed finished gnocchi with oil or butter to prevent sticking

Classic Gnocchi

4 small russet potatoes, 22-24 oz. total, peeled, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 egg
2 T. whipping cream
1 1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. nutmeg
1 1/2 c. (about) flour
Steam potatoes over boiling water until tender, about 12 minutes. Place in bowl and mash or put potatoes through a ricer. Place in bowl and cool about 10 minutes. Add egg, cream, salt and nutmeg and mix well. Stir in flour and combine until slightly sticky dough forms. Add more flour a tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too moist. Turn dough onto lightly floured work surface and divide into 6 equal portions. Roll out 1 piece into a rope about 20-inches long by 3/4 inch. Cut dough into 3/4 -inch pieces and roll each piece over the tines of a fork or over a wire whisk to make grooves in them. Arrange finished gnocchi in a single layer on a floured baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining dough. Boil the gnocchi in well-salted boiling water, about 1/3 at a time. Boil for 4-5 minutes. They will come to the surface and be tender. Check after 4 minutes. Serve with butter and Parmesan cheese or with marinara sauce. Serves 6.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged easy gnocchi recipe, gnocchi, gnocchi recipe, homemade gnocchi recipe |

Autumn Tomato Salad

Posted on

September 21, 2014 by author

Judi

Autumn Tomato Salad

It’s always kind of sad to say goodbye to fresh tomato season. There should be another month until frost hits our area and I am trying to eat as many fresh tomatoes as I can between now and then. I have been getting heirloom tomatoes from my friend Carl at Blue Pike Farm. I needed a salad for a dinner with friends and decided to make this simple but tasty tomato salad. That’s the thing about fresh tomatoes. You really don’t need to do much with them. Heck, I’m happy with some fresh slices and a sprinkle of salt. For this salad I started with slices of fresh tomatoes. I had a bottle of this amazing olive oil so I added a drizzle of it to the tomatoes along with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, too. I also added a few basil leaves and some freshly ground sea salt. I wanted a crunch element and decided to add toasted pumpkin seeds. You can buy them already toasted or just toast them yourself.* I sprinkled them over the tomato salad and it added just the texture I was looking for.

The olive oil I used

*To toast pumpkin seeds place a layer of pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet and cook them, over medium heat, until they start to brown a little. Toss or stir often. Be careful not to burn them. The seeds will jump a little in the pan. That’s normal. Once seeds have toasted remove them from the heat and let them cool down.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged autumn tomato salad, how to toast pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seeds, salad recipe, toasting pumpkin seeds, tomato recipe, tomato salad, tomato salad recipe |

Beet “Gnocchi”

Posted on

September 21, 2014 by author

Judi

Beet Gnocchi

Gnocchi are wonderful little dumplings made with potatoes in the dough. I love them and make them often. I wanted to shake things up a little and made a version with cooked beets. The color came out so vibrant. The flavor of the beet is somewhat muted in this little dumpling. For serving I combined the beet version with traditional gnocchi and some made from sweet potatoes. They were the perfect thing to serve with a mutton stew. Pretty, too. I do a very rustic version- just slice dough off into 1/2 -inch thick pieces and boil them up. These could be made ahead and frozen, too.

Beet Gnocchi

2 small russet potatoes, 11-12 oz. total, peeled, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
2 medium/small beets, roasted, skin on, cooled
1 egg
1/4 c. whipping cream
1 1/4 t. salt
¼ t. dill weed
1 1/2 c. (about) flour
Steam potatoes over boiling water until tender, about 12 minutes. Place in bowl and mash or put potatoes through a ricer. Place in bowl and cool about 10 minutes. Remove skins from cooled beets and dice. Place beets in a food processor or blender. Add the cream and process until smooth. Combine with potatoes, egg, salt and dill and mix well. Stir in flour and combine until slightly sticky dough forms. Add more flour a tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too moist. Turn dough onto lightly floured work surface and divide into 6 equal portions. Roll out 1 piece into a rope about 20-inches long by 3/4 inch. Cut dough into 3/4 -inch pieces and arrange finished gnocchi in a single layer on a floured baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining dough. Boil the gnocchi in well-salted boiling water, about 1/3 at a time. Boil for 4-5 minutes. They will come to the surface and be tender. Check after 4 minutes. Serve with butter and Parmesan cheese or with your favorite sauce. Serves 6.

A Trio of Gnocchi

Posted in Cooking | Tagged beet gnocchi, beet gnocchi recipe, gnocchi recipe, rainbow gnocchi recipe, vegetable gnocchi recipe |