100th Post!

Wow 100 blog posts. I must say I have enjoyed doing this blog. And I think some people are actually reading it!

I wanted to do something special for today's post. Planning on making meatballs on the grill if the weather does not change. But than I thought I would share one of my mom's recipe's as a special treat. So here it is, The Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.

I had gotten the basic recipe from her but the I was missing one key ingredient. I made this recipe for the longest time and something was not right. One Sunday my sister was over and had a cookie and said they tasted just like mom's without the Rice Krispies in them. Rice Krispies! Mom had told me about the oatmeal and coconut flakes and nuts and that in the late 60's she started adding wheat germ but did not mention the Rice Krispies.

These cookies are really good. I know 2 little kids in Maryland who would be disappointed if they see me without the cookies. I know this is not a "dinner" recipe but this recipe is near and dear to my heart. It is written as she told it to me (except for the Rice Krispies part).

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

2 1/4 cup sifted flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp hot water
1 tsp baking soda
12 oz. chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts nuts
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup Rice Krispies

Blend butter and sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Sift flour and salt. Blend hot water and baking soda. Add baking soda and flour to butter mixture. Add all other ingredients except the Rice Krispies. Stir in the Rice Krispies by hand, do not use the mixer (you don't want to over beat them). Roll them into about a teaspoon size balls. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. I usually get about 8 dozen cookies. It sounds like a lot but they are small. That way you can eat more.
: )

You can add or subtract what you ever you like. I have made them with Heath Bar chips and different nuts. I use to love coming home from school and walking in to a house that smelled like a bakery. I hope you all enjoy these cookies as much as we do!

"Look to the Cookie"

Wow! Forget what we had for dinner.

Well wait a minute. Dinner was quite tasty. Grilled meatballs and an awesome Greek Pasta Salad.

Okay enough about that... I entered my mom's Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe in a Top Cookie Contest at a local coffee shop, Koffee, and my mom's recipe was selected to be in the top 5 recipes! I am going to be in the running for bragging rights to having the Top Cookie. I never thought I was a competitive person but my mom's recipe is at stake.
Who could the other 5 be? What if I am up against a Pignoli cookie! Chocolate Chip vs. Pignoli. I would be torn. All I know is my mom would be tickled pink.

The next question is what do you wear to a bake off? My lucky apron of course. And yes I have a lucky apron.

The title of this entry is from Seinfeld, Season 5 Episode 13, The Dinner Party.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Lives On...

I witnessed the cutest thing today. My nephew was visiting from California with his wife and his son, Luca, who turned one in April. The first time Luca had chocolate was on his birthday. I have seen the video. It was love at first bite. I emailed the parents to find out if they thought he might be able to have some cookies. The Chocolate Chip Cookies. I sent them the recipe in case there were any allergy issues. The response was all clear!

Now when I walked in today and and said to Luca that I had cookies for him, he did not know what I was talking about. After dinner, my nephew brought him into the kitchen and opened the bag of cookies without the Rice Krispies. I had made a batch without the Rice Krispies and one batch with them.  He let Luca taste it and it was all over. My nephew had to hold the cookie so Luca would only take small bites. He was hooked. But he was okay with the one cookie.

Later I was getting ready to leave. I had brought over some dishes for a dip I had made and I put them back in my shopping bag, which the cookies had been in, and put the bag near the door. I was saying my good-byes and I said good-bye to Luca and he looked at the bag. He stopped and headed into the kitchen. He wanted to see if the cookies were still there. My sister had moved them to another bag which he discovered and seemed noticeably relieved.

The Visitors

We were visited by my nephew and his family. It was a really nice evening and we had a very good meal.

We started with Rice Balls and Chickpeas and Black Olive Bruschetta. Summer Ale, Moretti Italian Beer and Vodka Gimlets rounded out the appetizers.

Dinner was Grilled Skirt Steak and Grilled Onions and Red Pepper Sandwiches with Basil Mayo. Also had a Caesar salad. Dessert was really good, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake...

The appetizers came from that wonderful little book, Simple Italian Snacks, the Suppli (Rice Balls) were a light and crispy snack. The recipe said it was a good way to use left over risotto but I just made a batch of aborio rice last night for the recipe.

The Grilled Skirt Steak and Grilled Onions and Red Pepper Sandwiches with Basil Mayo was from the new Bon Appetit. The recipe called for Corn being added to the mayo but I opted not to do that. The Caesar Salad was for Lidia Italian-American Kitchen and is the best Caesar dressing I have made.


Now about that dessert. Yes the crust was the same cookie recipe that my mom used. And there was a layer of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and then I had some of that cake, the Chocolate Cinnamon Bundt Cake that I chopped up and used as a center filling. Topped that with another layer of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. A hush fell over the table as dessert was eaten. Even the kids did not make a sound. It was that good.


Rounding out the meal was a bottle or two of Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006. It had aromas of cherries and a hint of vanilla on the finish. The wine received rave reviews. And I would like to thank the salesman at Madison Wine Exchange who asked what I was making and suggested that wine.

My Cookie Swap Dream Team

Today was the Saint Lawrence School's 100th Anniversary Tea. It was such a nice event. There was a lot of hard work that went into the event. The decorations and the food were all wonderful. Every person had a different tea cup and no 2 teapots were alike. The tables were decorated with teacups filled with flowers and each place had a wrapped napkin with silverware and a honey stick. There was a lot of attention to detail.

Now back to the food. There were assorted Tea Sandwiches. Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad,. My two favorites were the cucumber and I think it was dill. And then there was an apple and cheddar. Loved those two! Scones with homemade jam, and clotted cream. First time tasting clotted cream and I liked it!

Now let me just say that I am a cookie snob. My sister's cookies are the best. I worked with this guy whose sister made the absolute best chocolate chip cookies. Ian, if you are out there please stop by SFA someday with some of those cookies. Just call to make sure I am not working from home that day! I am just very picky about cookies. That being said if I could have a dream team for a cookie swap every person that made cookies for this tea would be invited. Lemon Bars, Russian Tea Cakes, a chocolate cookie covered with sugar, a shortbread that was to die for and it was made with an antique press. Pizzella, brownies, and much more. There was even a tray of sugar-free treats.

Easter Baking Part 2

Last Saturday I posted on my Facebook page that I was officially done with my Easter baking. I had made 6 Meat Pies and that was going to be it. Well then I was talking to my sister and realized that my favorite Easter pie was not going to be made. The Ricotta Pie.

My sister makes amazing Rice and Wheat pies but my favorite is the Ricotta. So I announce that I would make the pie. Fine. Except I can't find my mom's recipe. She had cut it out of a newspaper years ago. I had it in a cookbook or so I thought. I decided to check a blog where I had found a nice Rice Pie recipe a couple of years back. Ta Da! A Ricotta Pie recipe with a story and a Soprano's reference! You have to visit Food Blogga. The writing is fun and there are a lot of good recipes to try. I can't wait to cut into this pie!

But wait there is more...
On Friday a co-worker, emailed me a recipe for a cookie. Slice and Bake Lemon Gems, from Taste of Home. I thought, "Oh how cute!" I knew I was going to be baking these for Easter.

 Yum! Lemony goodness! I just have to work on my decorating technique!

Than there were the Chocolate Chip Cookies. I will be seeing 2 kids who believe I make the best cookies. I can't let them down... yes that is 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies, give or take 2 or 3...

So what does all this have to do with a blog entitled "So what are you making for dinner?" Well when one does this much baking, not to mention the prepping of tomorrow's vegetable dish, this is what we had for dinner -

 PS. I did find my mom's Ricotta Pie recipe after baking was completed!


What did we have for dinner a year ago...
Ham Steaks with Rice and Green Beans

7 Years!

Seven years ago, about this time of night I had finished baking a lot of Easter Pies. I poured a glass of wine and wished I could pick up the phone and call my mom and tell her about all the baking I had done. That is when I started this blog.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane. Here is a list of some blog firsts, some favorite posts, and recipes, and some sad things, and some happy things.

The first post -  Twas the night before Easter…

The first post with a photo - Lucia At Home

The first post with a recipe - Pane Cotto

The first post with a family recipe - If I knew you were coming I would have baked a cake.

The first post with my Mom's Baked Macaroni recipe - Mom's Baked Macaroni

Blog post I am glad I just reread-  "Wow This Is Delicious!"

The first post with Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe - 100th Post!

The first post with a photo of a cat - Roasted Chicken Purses

The first time I made 18 hour bread - Pasta with Meat Sauce...

One of my favorite photos of my Dad - Fettuccine Primavera

Learning how to can tomatoes with Dad - Canning Tomatoes with Dad

The Food Blog Challenge and one of my favorite photos of my Mom and me - Challenge #1: Ready, Set, Blog!

A day with my Dad - Roasting Peppers with Dad and a Visit to Whole Foods

A sad post - Dinner?

There is a bird in our house! - Vegetable Soup with Squash and Orzo

Meeting one of my favorite cooks - Lidia!

My favorite post Christmas Dinner - Deviled Bones

The most viewed blog post - Hell's Kitchen Chicken Parmesan

The saddest post of all - My Dad

My parent's 10th great-grandchild - The Circle of Life

Realizing I need to adjust how I cook, aka cooking for two - A Funny Little Dinner

Favorite work lunch - I Confess

Proud God-parents - The Baptism

Cooking Australian - Italy vs Australia 

Of course - One More Hug...

Book Club at my house! - The Book Club - Mona Lisa

My favorite new recipe - Chicken Cutlets and Roasted Green Beans

A recipe I never thought I would make - Book Club, Delicious!  

A day trip - Arthur Avenue AKA Disneyland 

The Stuffed Artichoke Saga - By George, I Think I've Got It! 

I could have picked out a lot more but I doubt anyone will even get this far in the post. Do I have anything on a wish list for next year... not really other than putting meals on the table that Chris likes. Well I might like to try making a decent pignoil cookie.

The Week of No Cooking, Well Almost...

This week I did not really make dinner, well except for Thursday. The past 2 weekends have been occupied by making cookies for a fund raiser for a co-worker's friend. The co-worker asked if I would bake some cookies. She supplied all the ingredients I supplied the cookie baking. Needless to say there was no way I could cook for this week and do the cookies. So we went to the freezer.

We started the week off on a high note with leftovers from a dinner at Leon's. Chris had the Chicken Zingara, "Gypsy Chicken", boneless chicken, fennel sausage, caramelized onions, hot cherry peppers, fried potatoes, red wine vinegar reduction. This is now his favorite menu choice, unless Osso Bucco in on the goodies list. I have had this dish before and it is wonderful. I chose Risotto Funghi. Arborio rice, sautéed wild mushrooms, spinach, pecorino-romano, and white truffle essences. This is the item I will be ordering from now on at Leon's. Each little piece of risotto was like a cloud that I wanted to rest my head on. Okay maybe a little dramatic but seriously it was perfect. I was so sad when I cleaned my plate tonight because I wanted more.

To go along with the leftovers I had some Vegetable Stew in the freezer.

On Tuesday we got more snow. It started snowing right before the evening commute. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to get home. I can not tell you how happy I was to walk in and find Chris plating Pasta with Meat Sauce.

Wednesday was actually a nice commute home. I was home in one hour! I had Chicken Cutlets in the freezer and there was left over pasta from last night. Just the perfect amount of food.

And then on Thursday it snowed. Again. All day. It was crazy how much snow we got. Close to 8 inches in 8 hours. I do not think we will see our lawn any time soon.

Dinner Thursday night consisted of Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup from Lidia's Favorite Recipes which I was made when took my lunch break.

My version of Pappa al Pomodoro, Tomato and Bread Soup, adapted from Lidia's Favorite Recipes.

Ingredients-
1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the finished
1/4 cup onions, finely diced
1 28 oz can whole tomatoes
1 cup water
2 slices Italian bread, crusts removed
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried basil

Method-
In a deep, heavy 4 to 5-quart pot heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes.

Crush the tomatoes by hand.

Add the tomatoes and their juice to the pot. Add the water. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Once the tomatoes have boiled for 10 minutes, add the bread to the pot and bring back to a boil. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Add the basil and adjust the level of heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, whisking occasionally to break up the pieces of bread, until the mixture is dense and silky, about 40 minutes. The soup was rather chunky from the bread so I used the immersion blender to give it a smooth texture.

Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Serve in warm bowls, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. 

And about those cookies. Well, here are some photos of the finished cookies packed and ready for delivery...

Cinnamon Sticks

Lemon Shortbread

Palm Beach Brownies with Chocolate Covered Mints

Vanilla and Chocolate Butter Cookies

Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies

Lenore's Oatmeal Raisin

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Grilled Pork Sirloin Cutlets & Watercress Salad With Beets and Goat Cheese

Tonight we marinated Pork Sirloin Cutlets in a Kentucky Marinade. I found the recipe for the marinade in 365 Great Barbecue and Grilling Recipes. I got my copy in 1990. It's a good book to have in your library.

The Marinade-
1 Bunch Scallions
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey

Process all ingredients in a food processor or blender until thoroughly combined. The marinade can be stored in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 3 days.


For side dishes I made Mashed Potatoes and Watercress Salad With Beets and Goat Cheese from RealSimple.com. The recipe on the site called for Feta but I had Goat Cheese. I made the Lemon Shallot dressing. Loved it!


I also took the new oven out for a test run. Again from RealSimple.com I made Chocolate Chip Pecan Blondies. Wow. I will be making these again and again. I even think my 2 cookie fans in Maryland might like these.


Then I found a cookie recipe from my Aunt Nora. She passed away in 2003 and at her wake there were copies of the recipes she was best know for. This was was one of them.

Aunty Nora's Twist Cookies

5 cups of flour
2 sticks of margarine
1 cup milk
2 eggs
5 tsp. baking powder
Jam (I used blackberry and vanilla jam)
Cinnamon
Coconut
Confectionery Sugar

First, roll out the dough and spread the jam.
Add cinnamon and coconut. Then cut dough in three's. Bend in half. Twist and put them on a cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper) and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Let cool. Dust with confectionery sugar.

Pour the coffee and let's eat.

It took a couple of readings of the recipe to figure out what she meant by cutting the dough in three's. But I just did what I thought looked right. There are a few more of her recipes I will be trying. The one recipe we did not get from her was for her Stuffed Razor Clams. I think it was just bread crumbs and herbs but boy were they good.

Tuscan Pot Roast, Peanut Butter & Nutella Cookies and Pinolata

Busy day in the kitchen! Started off with some cookies. I did not feel like making chocolate chip cookies so I went to Joy of Baking.com and used a peanut butter cookie recipe as a starting point. Instead of using 3/4 cup peanut butter I used 1/2 cup and added 1/4 Nutella. Also added dark chocolate chips and rice crispies so they would be a little lighter. Yum.

I found a recipe for Pinolata, Pine Nut Cake. It was a nice recipe and the results look great. And the recipe make 3 cakes! Click here to see the recipe on the Italian Dish blog.

For dinner I made a Tuscan Pot Roast. I don't usually do pot roasts. I always overcook them... But this one was not bad. I am sure it was the wine in the recipe that helped. And there is enough left over for tomorrow night.