Cranberry-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

At work, my coworker suggested we should have little get-together and celebrate with the honored food for the month. Of course, it is a nice break and fun to see what others have made for this celebration. 

I have previously made a Bundt cake and will be bring it into work since it was requested by my friend. However, my husband doesn't think it is very nice of me to tease him with the promise of a cake and not make him something. So, I have to make something for home.

When I saw this cake, I knew it would be prefect to make for home. My husband agrees! I also had helpers making this cake.

Cranberry-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 lemon
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
1 Tbsp flour
whipped cream (optional for topping)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease the Bundt pan with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, carefully cover the cranberries with the 1 Tbsp flour. Set aside.
3. Cream the butter with the cream cheese in a bowl.
4. Add the sugar to the butter and cream.
5. One at the time, add the eggs.
6. Add the zest of the lemon and then the juice.
7. Mix in the almond and vanilla extract.
8. Add the cake flour and salt. Mix well.
9. Carefully, fold in the flour covered cranberries.
10. Add the batter to the Bundt pan.
11. Cook for 60 minutes or until done. *
12. Let cool for about 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Recipe adapted from Confections of a Foodie Bride.

*I had to cover my cake around 45 minutes because the bottom was becoming dark. However, I'm thinking it is my pan.
I will post a how to make whip cream tomorrow if you would like to know how. 

Did you already know....................
-The Bundt pan evolved because of the European kugelhopf molds.
-In 1950, Nordic ware invent the aluminum Bundt pan because owner H. David Dalquist was approached by a group of Minneapolis women asking him to make the pan for them.
-In 1966, Bundt cakes become very popular after one is featured in the Pillsbury cookoff and wins 2nd place.

Butternut Squash Risotto

Any time my son sneezes, he expects me to say, "God bless you." The problem is I do not always hear him. If he is upstairs and sneezes, he will come downstairs and find me. He will ask me, "What do you say?" I'll reply, "What?" He will repeat a little impatiently, "What do you say?" 

It takes me a few seconds and it will dawn on me what he wants so I will reply, "God bless you." Then he will say, "Momma, I sneezed twice." "God bless you again." Sometimes I try to be ahead so when he does this I will add a few "God bless you". He doesn't do this to my husband but only me. I actually think it is really cute!

I wanted a quick meal. Since my husband wasn't eating, I thought this was the perfect recipe. My son even asked for seconds. My youngest daughter said, "What? We are only having rice for supper?" Don't worry she also had a milkshake for dessert.

Butternut Squash Risotto

32oz. chicken broth
1 package frozen butternut squash (about 10 oz.)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
1 shallot
1 cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup white wine
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
salt and pepper for taste

Directions:
Place the chicken broth in a small saucepan to heat.
Microwave the squash in a microwavable safe bowl for 5 minutes.
Stir the squash and set aside.
Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat with the olive oil and butter.
Add the shallot and cook about 4 minutes.
Add the rice to the shallot and stir for about 3 minutes to toast rice.
Stir in the white wine for about a minute.
Add 1/2 cup of the heated chicken broth to the rice and continue to stir until the liquid is absorbed.
Continue to add 1/2 cup of the heated chicken broth until the liquid is absorbed for about 15 minutes.
Stir in the squash into the risotto and continue stirring until the risotto is creamy.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cheese.
Season with salt and pepper.

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.

Did you already know..................
-Risotto is a rice.
-Risotto is originally from Northern Italy.
-During the medieval times, the Arabs introduced rice to Italy.
-Due to the humidity of the Mediterranean, the Italians found rice is a productive crop.

Asparagus with lemon and thyme

Do you like asparagus? My son does. One morning, he asked me to make asparagus for supper. My husband would never ask for anything green for any meal. My husband thinks my son is crazy.

 Since I just made the roast chicken with lemon and thyme, I thought it would be a nice addition to the asparagus. Also, I wanted to try it out before Thanksgiving. 

I asked my son if he wanted to help and he said sure. At home, I think my son's two favorite words are sure and Mamma. "Son, do you want me to add lemon to the asparagus?" He shrugs, "Sure." "Should I try adding a little thyme?" "Sure." My oldest replies, "Why not?"

Asparagus with lemon and thyme 1 lb asparagus
1 1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 lemon zest, cut into stripes
1 tsp dry thyme
salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Take one stalk of asparagus and bend it in half until it snaps.
3. Cut the other pieces of asparagus the same length as the snapped asparagus.
4. Drizzle the olive oil over the asparagus.
5. Add the lemon zest, thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the asparagus.
6. Cook the asparagus for about 15 to 18 minutes.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

 Did you already know..............
-Asparagus is a member of the lily family.
-When harvesting is completed, the asparagus spear will grow into ferns.
-A well cared asparagus plant can produce asparagus for about fifteen years from the same plant.

Parker House Rolls

When I was in Junior High, I took a Home Economics class. I really liked the cooking section. The parenting section was alright but the sewing section was my least favorite part. Maybe this is why my blog is about cooking and not sewing. 

 I am very lucky since my Mom and 2 of my sisters can sew very well. I can sew a button and other minor items. I could probably make an outfit like I had to in class. The only thing I will not sew is a zipper. For extra credit, my Home Economics teacher said we needed to sew a zipper. I asked my Mom to help me. She showed me how to do it but wasn't going to complete my work for me. I tried and tried but I couldn't do it. Finally, my Mom came over and looked. She had accidentally showed it to me upside down. My Mom did feel really bad but I guess being awesome at sewing was not in my future.

In my class, my teacher showed us how to make bread from scratch. How to make sure your water was warm but not too hot before adding the yeast. How to add a little sugar to the water to help the yeast along. The nice thing about making bread is if your dough doesn't rise then something went wrong. The dough needs to be in a warm room or area because it will not rise. If the room is warm or the bowl is in the sun and it still doesn't rise, I would just throw it out and serve biscuits.

Parker House Rolls 1 1/2 cups milk
1 stick unsalted butter plus additional for the top of the rolls
1/2 cup of sugar plus a pinch for the yeast
1 package active dry yeast
1/2 cup water, between 110 to 120 degrees
3 large eggs
1 tsp salt
6 cups all purpose flour

1. Place milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer.
2. Remove pan from burner and add the butter and sugar. Stir and let cool
3. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast with the warm water and a pinch of sugar.
4. Set aside for about five minutes.
5. In a large bowl, grease the sides and bottom. Set aside.
6. In another large bowl, add the eggs and lightly beat.
7. Add the milk mixture, salt, and 1/2 cup of flour. Mix well.
8. Add the yeast and mix.
9. To the milk mixture, continue to add 1/2 cup of flour at a time. Mix well after each time. 
10. Mix until the dough comes together into a ball.***
11. Generously flour a working surface.
12. Remove dough from bowl and place on the floured surface.
13. Knead the dough about 5 minutes. 
14. Add more flour if the dough is really sticky but a little at a time because you do not want your dough dry.
15. Place the dough in the greased bowl and cover.
16. Place the bowl in a warm place so it can double in bulk. 
17. After at least 60 minutes to about 2 hours, punch down the dough.
18. Roll the dough in the desired shape and place in a pie pan.
19. Leave about 1 inch between each ball of dough.
20. Cover the dough and let rise about 30-40 minutes.
21. 
    
22. Preheat the oven 350 degrees.
23. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
24. Remove the rolls from the oven and brush with melted butter if desired.

Recipe adapted from Bobby Flay.
***I added a little bit of chopped rosemary to some of the rolls for additional flavor and they came out great!

Did you already know..............
-The Boston hotel Omni Parker House created the Parker House rolls and the Boston Cream Pie.
- In the early 1940s, Malcolm X worked as a busboy at the Hotel.
-President Kennedy had his bachelor party at the hotel. 

Noah's Kickin' Chicken Bake

When I was pregnant with my younger children, I didn't cook a lot. I felt tired but it didn't stop me from watching a lot of food network. My husband would watch it with me without a complaint. Isn't that sweet? I guess he figured he would be making me watch football real soon.

One of the shows I would watch was Emeril. One day Emeril had a cook with your kids contest. We decided to make one of the dishes. It was really good. I have made this dish many times and the kids like it a lot. If you are going to make this, I would recommend planning ahead. This is a great recipe to use left over chicken. I plan ahead and roast my vegetables at the same time so the ingredients are ready.

Triangle style

Noah's Kickin' Chicken Bake

2 cups chicken, cooked and diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, roasted and chopped
1 1/2 cup broccoli, cooked and chopped
2 stalks of green onions, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
1 cup light sour cream
2 tsp Emeril's Southwest Spice**
1 sheet of frozen packaged puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients except the puff pastry.

3. Cut the puff pastry into desired shape either triangles or cirles.

For the triangles: eight triangles and arrange the triangles in a circle with the pointed end facing out. ***

4.  Spoon the chicken mixture onto the triangles leaving the points exposed. Fold the points over the chicken mixture and press points down to seal.

5. Brush tops with the egg wash mixture.

6. Bake for 25 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown.

***For the circles: just cut eight circles a little larger than 3 oz. small ramekins that the chicken will be cooked. Spoon the chicken into the dishes and top with the puff pastry circle. Brush with the egg wash. Bake for 25 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown. This is the easier method.

Recipe adapted from Emeril. **Recipe can be found at this website for Emeril's Southwest Spice.

Did you already know...........
-Emeril was born in Massachusetts.
-Emeril's father is French-Canadian and his mother is Portuguese.
-As a teenager, he worked at a local Portuguese bakery.
-Emeril was offered a full scholarship to the New England conservatory of Music because he was a talented percussionist. BAM!