Fruit and Nut Biscotti
Tag: food
Split-Second Cookies Recipe
Here’s the recipe I used to bake Split-Second Cookies. They are like a shortbread filled with jam.
I creamed the butter and sugar by hand.
Added egg and vanilla.
The combined dry ingredients.
I usually fill them with raspberry and apricot Bonne Maman jam. I was fortunate to receive some delicious marmalade and jam from two different friends.
I used Eileen’s Orange Marmalade and Pam’s Blubarb in addition to the raspberry and apricot.
Mushroom Risotto
The only risotto I’ve eaten was made in fine restaurants. Although I always loved eating it. I’d never made it myself.
I’ve been binge watching lots of cooking shows. One episode of Master Chef Junior had Joe Bastianich demonstrating how to make risotto. Then I found a video of his mother Lidia Bastianich at Harvard demonstrating the science behind the cooking of risotto at a public lecture on Science and Cooking. I watched them and felt confident but upon a second look I heard that you use 1/4 c of wine not the one cup I thought I heard. Good thing I watched again.
You need the Arborio rice to begin with so I bought the correct ingredients (except I did not have a hunk of Grana Padano cheese and used some Parmesan to finish it) cook with wine you would drink, no cooking wine.
The best 22 minutes I’ve spent in a long time, and standing at the stove stirring constantly wasn’t difficult. Can’t wait to make it again.
Sautéed mushrooms separately 
Wordless Wednesday
Spinach Pie Recipe – No Crust
This recipe is from a woman named Becky in 1980. It has been a family favorite since then. Somewhere I have the original recipe card.
Spinach Pie
Butter a 9″ glass pie plate. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
In a large bowl mix together:
2 10 oz packages Frozen Chopped Spinach, thawed, drained and squeeze out as much water as possible
4 Eggs
1 16 ounce container Cottage Cheese, (I like the small curd)
2 Cups of shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese ( I have added a bit of shredded Gruyere or fresh Parmesan on occasion)
Salt and Pepper to taste. The cheese is salty to me so I don’t add much salt.
Pour into the buttered pie plate. Bake for 45 minutes or until knife in center comes out clean.
Let rest a bit before slicing so the wedge holds shape nicely.
Popcorn. Yes or No?
I had no idea that popcorn has been around as long as the following entry says–
“Archaeologists discovered that people have known about popcorn for thousands of years. In Mexico, for example, remnants of popcorn have been found that date circa 3600 BC. Fossil evidence from Peru suggests that corn was popped as early as 4700 BC.” Wikipedia
Popcorn. Yes or No?
Winter Supper
Steve brought home a container of vegetable soup from Maria Merante’s which a block from his work. To turn it into a main course, I added a can of white cannellini beans, drained.
Added salt to boiling water and cooked a cup of penne pasta.
I placed the cooked pasta in the bowl first, poured the hot soup over and then added some Parmesan cheese.
It was fragrant and hearty on a chilly winter evening. Merante’s : celebrating all things Italian since 1983
Lebkuchen Ice Cream
Three years ago I had my first Lebkuchen Ice Cream at Kiez Eis in Berlin, Germany. Here’s my post of that experience.
I received some Lebkuchen (a soft spiced gingerbread cookie with ground dried fruit and nuts) for Christmas from my sister and daughter.
Last night I chopped two cookies and folded them into softened vanilla ice cream.
I ate a dish of it last night and it tasted good.
But this evening, I had another scoop and after 24 hours in the freezer it was so flavorful, the spices flavoring the ice cream beautifully.
Spaghetti Arugula
Ten years ago this month I took a cooking class at La Flegrea in Squirrel Hill . Here is one dish I learned to make- Spaghetti Arugula, a recipe from Ana Flevola. (Click to see the class)
I’ve posted the dish before in 2016, too if you want to see the steps of preparation.
Here’s the refreshing dish once again, from last night.
Jan 1. 1977 Three Kings’ Cake and Spring Seeds to Plant
This page is from the January 1, 1977 New York Times Magazine.
My sister sent me the photos of the clipping today as Epiphany or Three Kings Day is January 6th. This day is the traditional day families would take down their Christmas decorations when I was growing up .
One side of the magazine page is Three Kings’ Cake recipe article by Mimi Sheraton. This recipe makes two Loaves of sweet bread with yeast and lemon and orange rind, currants and mixed fruits. Almonds are hidden in the dough to be discovered by one lucky eater .
On the reverse side of the paper is an ad to order seeds for Spring planting. Park Seed is celebrating 150 years of being in the gardening business.
(This is not the same king cake of February’s Mardi Gras.)
My friend Roberta sent me an email this evening with a video from the University of Pittsburgh French Nationality Room Galette Des Rois (click the name of cake to watch) see how to make another type of Kings’ Cake with Almond paste and puff pastry. The French version.