Culinary Goods

So, this recipe is similar to one I blogged a couple of years ago, but this was a fun addition. If you wanted pink cream, you know, to be all peppermint-ey, add red food coloring. Anyway, this is excellent. It gets a 9.5. Chocolate Cream Pie Filling (I got this recipe from my Dad originally) You need 1 saucepan and 2 bowls In first bowl, 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup unsweetened dutch processed cocoa, 3 Tbs. cornstarch, 1/4 cup milk. Whip until smooth, it will smooth out even if looks bumpy In saucepan, take 2 3/4 cups milk, 2/3 cup sugar (I have used a generous 1/4 and can’t tell the difference, just FYI), pinch salt. In 3rd bowl, put in 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I use Callebaut intense bitter-sweet callets from Orson Gygi, and I often do 75% bittersweet 25% milk chocolate). 2 Tbs. unsalted butter. On the side, have 1 tsp. vanilla. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a full boil. With a whisk, whisk 1/4 cup of hot mixture into egg/cocoa bowl mixture, and whisk that back into the m

I took an  Indian Food cooking class, and I got this recipe for Mango Lassi from Neeta Fraser. Unfortunately, I didn’t have mangoes, so I used strawberries instead, and it was still good. This is very thick. It feels like you are drinking those yogurt drinks. I will make this again though—I give it a 7. It’s a great mid-afternoon snack. 1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt 1/2 cup coconut water or coconut milk I used coconut milk, lite, from a can 1/2 cup mango puree (2 ripe mangos (frozen ok)--peeled, diced and pureed in a food processor) I used 1 cup frozen strawberries, but a combo would be fantastic) Pinch salt 2 ice cubes If you have frozen fruit, I don’t think you would need this. 1 tsp. sugar or honey I left this out, but mine was tart. Blend.

First, this looked much better when it was warm. I took a leftover picture. We also ended up adding leftover Wings sauce on top of the pasta, which gave it good flavor. Keep in mind that I think that hands down the best mac & cheese recipe is the Chipotle Mac & Cheese I blogged last year. I think from now on, that’s the base and I add to it from there. I got this recipe off of carlsbadcravings.com. It got mixed reviews. Emma said it was her favorite pasta, and I thought it was perfectly good. Therefore, I give it a 7. I have noted my changes below in bold. Ingredients: 12 oz. cellentani pasta (may sub rigatoni, penne, etc.) 2 cups cooked chicken or turkey, chopped** We used leftover turkey 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 small red onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 15 oz. can sweet creamed corn 4 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, cubed and softened 1/2 cup lowfat milk 2-5 tablespoons Frank's Hot WINGS Sauce (not original hot sauce)** We made this

 I love sugar cookies. But they have to be soft. I’ve experimented with this recipe for years, and I think this is the one I’m keeping. I give these an 8. And, they  look cracked and dry on the edges, but they’re not. That’s just the way the method below shapes them into circles. I just kind of put this recipe together, which is why there is no source. Sugar Cookies 1 cup butter 1/2 cup canola oil 1/2 cup sour cream 3 beaten eggs 1 Tbs. vanilla 1 tsp. salt 1 1/4 cups sugar 1/2 cup powdered sugar 5-5 1/2 cups flour 3 tsp. baking powder Frosting: 1 cup butter (I also did a version with half cream cheese half butter) 3 cups powdered sugar 3 Tbs. milk 1 tsp. vanilla 1-1 1/4 tsp. almond extract Cream wet ingredients, add dry ingredients. Chill for one hour, then roll out 1/2 inch thick. For the circles, I rolled in balls and smashed them with the bottom end of a glass cup. Bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes. Do not overcook these.

I like that I found a good baked chicken recipe that seems pretty versatile. This badly needed some fresh ginger and more flavor all around, but it wasn't too bad. I gave it a 7 and Jared gave it a 6. I got the recipe from jocooks.com. Here are the directions: 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces 2 eggs, beaten 1½ cups  Panko breadcrumbs sesame seeds, optional fresh chopped parsley, optional For Honey Garlic Sauce ¼ cup honey ¼ cup soy sauce 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce (optional) salt and pepper to taste Here are the directions:  http://www.jocooks.com/healthy-eating/baked-honey-garlic-chicken/

This was pretty good- Jared gave it a 6 and I gave it a 7. I got the recipe from food52.com. 2 TBS. butter splash of olive oil 1 1/2 C. fresh bread crumbs 1/4 C. grated Parmesan Handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped I used dried  Pinch of lemon zest I added about 1/2 tsp.  1/2-1 LB. linguine I used 3/4 LB. angel hair 1/2-3/4 C. Milk I used 3/4 C. 2 C. ricotta at room temperature 1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste Here are the directions: http://food52.com/recipes/16421-white-pasta-with-garlic-parmigiano-breadcrumbs

So, this was better than I thought it would be. I would make it again, and I would give it a 7.3. My changes are below in bold. 3/4 cup dry lentils I used green 8 ounces No Yolks Extra Broad Egg Noodles 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for tossing pasta 1 large yellow onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 20 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced I used button mushrooms 2 teaspoons dried thyme I only used 1/2 tsp. 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt 3/4 teaspoon black pepper 3 tablespoons brandy (or substitute balsamic vinegar) I left this out entirely 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (omit to make vegetarian, tasting recipe for extra salt as needed) 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt   I changed this to sour cream 1/2 cup low fat sour cream 1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus additional for garnish I used dry   You can link to the recipe where I copied the ingredients from and the full instructions below: http://www.wellplated.com/lentil-mushroom-stroganoff/   One th

  My neighbor made this, and it was really good.  I give it an 8. The only thing I would change is that this is SUPER sweet. I would cut the sugar in half, easily. I also added a shake of nutmeg to the top, and it would even be good with some orange zest. YUM. Rice Pudding 1 cup white rice cooked normally on a medium pot on stovetop When all the water is absorbed, add 1 TBSP butter with heat on low, add 1tsp salt 1 1/2 cups milk 1 12oz can evaporated milk 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup raisins (optional) 1 tsp vanilla lastly-  2 eggs beaten- I wisk them into the rice mixture really, really well so ensure there are no little egg chunks! Heat over medium-low heat until you have a nice creamy consistency.  It will continue to thicken a bit as it cools. (approx 15-20 min)  Do not boil. Serve warm or cold, with a little cinnamon.

So, I pinned this on Pinterest and then linked to a website for the recipe. This was good, but not amazing—probably a 7. That being said, I think it would have been MUCH better without the new curry powder I bought and used. I couldn’t find garam masala, so we used curry, and I don’t like the brand I just bought. I would try this again, in other words. My changes are below in bold. 1 tb. olive oil 1 c. diced sweet potatoes (a small dice is best) 1/2 red onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 jalapeno or 2 Indian green chiles, seeded and minced 1 tb. minced fresh ginger 2 tb. garam masala   We used curry (optional) 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper I left this out 1 c. quinoa, rinsed 1 and 1/4 c. vegetable broth 1 and 1/2 c. cooked chickpeas (equal to one 15 oz. can) about 1 and 1/2 c. diced tomatoes (equal to one 14 oz. can) 1 tsp. coconut sugar or brown sugar I left this out salt and pepper, to taste fresh lime juice (lemon also works), for serving chopped fresh ci