Alfredo

My daughter requested Fettuccine Alfredo. If I'm going to make something so rich, well I think a vegetable should be added. Since the broccoli is covered with alfredo, my husband willingly even ate his vegetables. With this meal, I like to serve a salad. I think it must balance out the meal. Is this dish delicious? Yes! Does it taste like the alfredo served at my daughter's favorite restaurant? I didn't think so but it didn't matter. It was a great meal for a special occasion.

Alfredo
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 shallots, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/8 tsp white pepper
pinch of salt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Add the shallot and saute.
3. Add the heavy cream, pepper, and salt. Stir.
4. Once the mixture reaches a simmer, stir in the Parmesan cheese. 
5. Allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes or until the mixture reaches desired consistence.

Serve with pasta, breadsticks, etc. 
Recipe adapted from Top Secret Recipes.

One year ago........................................I made Tri-berry Pancakes.
Two years ago......................................I made Chocolate Cupcakes.
Three years ago....................................I made Raspberry Cream Cheese Scones.

Did you already know............................
-In 1908, Alfredo di Lelio created a dish for his postpartum wife.
-In 1914, Alfredo added his alfredo pasta dish to his restaurant menu in Italy.
-In 1928, Douglas Fairbanks with his newlywed Mary Pickford (popular Hollywood actors of the silent screen) enjoyed the dish so well they requested the recipe and other Hollywood elites dined at his restaurant.

Peanut Butter Whirl Cookies

These cookies were suppose to be pinwheels. These cookies were suppose to have a nice swirl throughout. Well, these cookies aren't those pinwheel cookies. These cookies decided they wanted to be different. They didn't want to roll. They wanted to spread. Since these cookies taste great, we allowed them to do what they wanted. My husband told me these are his favorite cookies. Yes, favorite cookie. My daughter loved them!

Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, and sugar until fluffy.
2. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla. Combine until incorporated.
3. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. 
4. Slowly, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Combine until incorporated.
5. Cover the dough and refrigerate for an hour. 
6. Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
7. In the microwave, melt the peanut butter chips. Stir until smooth.
8. Allow the melted chips to cool slightly.
9. Spread the melted chips over the rolled out dough.
10. Tightly roll the dough from one end into the other end. 
11. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate an hour. 
12. Unwrap and cut the dough into 1/4 inch slices or form the dough into golf ball size balls. Flatten the balls slightly and make a criss cross mark on top with a fork.
13. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
14. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
15. Remove from oven and allow to cool onto a wire rack.

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home Five Star Desserts magazine. 
 
Two years ago........................I made Cherry Muffins.
Three years ago......................I made Blueberry Pie Bars.

Did you already know...............
-In England and Australia, cookies are called biscuits.
-In Spanish, cookies are called galleta.
-In Italian, cookies are called biscotto.

Breadsticks

I'm sorry I've been gone. I headed to Mississippi and back. It was very nice to see my family. I have been spoiled by my Aunt E did the cooking. Boy, she can cook. After a trip, the last thing I want to do is eat out. So when we arrive home, I asked the family what I should make. My family elected pasta. So, what goes better with pasta? Breadsticks! Yum! These breadsticks are so good.

Breadsticks
1 1/2 cups water (110 degrees)
1 packet (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 Tbsp salted butter, melted and cooled slightly

Butter topping:
1/2 cups unsalted butter
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. In a large bowl, combine the water with the yeast and sugar. Allow to proof for 10 minutes.
3. Add the flour and butter to the yeast mixture. Mix until incorporated.
4. Knead the dough until the dough is smooth.
5. Divide the evenly and roll the dough into long strips. 
6. Cover the dough and allow to rise for 45 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
8. Bake the breadsticks for 6 minutes.
9. While the breadsticks are cooking, combine the butter,  garlic powder, and salt.
10. Remove the breadsticks from the oven and brush with the butter topping.
11. Return the breadsticks to the oven and allow to bake for another 5 minutes or until the breadsticks are throughly cooked.
12. Remove from the oven and brush with the butter topping again.

Recipe adapted from Chef in Training.

One year ago..................................I made Summer Minestrone.
Two years ago.................................I made Kohlrobi Spring Rolls.
Three years ago...............................I made Blueberry Coffee Cake.

Did you already know..........................
-The Indian word Mississippi means great river in Ojibwa. 
-In 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state of the United States of America.
-In 1954, Oprah Winfrey was born in Mississippi.

Berry Cobbler

Since 4th of July is approaching fast, I decided to make a red, white, and blue berry cobbler. I placed the blueberry filling on one side. The other side had a raspberry and strawberry filling. I really liked both sides but my husband preferred the raspberry and strawberry filling better. Next time I make this recipe, I will mix all the berries together. This cobbler is really good and easy to make. I really should make more cobblers. They make me think of my Mom. She spoiled us by making cobblers for us. It would be perfect to bring to a 4th of July celebration!

Mixed Berry Cobbler
Filling:
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp flour
7 cups blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries

Dough:
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar plus more for sprinkling
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp chilled, unsalted butter
1/2 cup chilled milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Spray the 2 quart baking dish with nonstick baking spray

For Filling:

1. In a large bowl, combine the berries.
2. Fold in the sugar and flour with the berries. Set aside.

For Dough:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. Add the butter and mix until coarse meal forms.
3. Stir in the milk. Combine until incorporated. 
4. Add the berries into the prepared baking dish.
5. Spoon on the dough evenly over the berries.
6. Sprinkle the top of the dough with a little sugar. 
7. Bake the cobbler for 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
8. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted from Epicurious.

One year ago................................................I made Tri-Berry Pancakes.
Two years ago..............................................I made Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies.
Three years ago............................................I made Dulce de Leche Macaroons.

Did you already know.......................................
-Since 1777, Americans have been celebrating the 4th of July as Independence Day.
-In 1870, Congress made 4th of July an official holiday.
-Our 30th President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July.

PB Pancakes

Yes, I made pancakes again. I made these pancakes with my husband specifically in mind. They are peanut butter pancakes. I had found some peanut powder at the store which I thought would add a nice flavor to the pancakes. Also, some of them had peanut butter chips but the chips tended to make the pan really messy. So, I had to whip it down after each batch. I really thought the kids would be excited about these pancakes but they were hesitant about trying them. Once they tried them, they loved them. To top them, I even microwaved some peanut butter which my husband mixed with maple syrup. He loved them. The kids loved them. These pancakes are definitely for a peanut butter lover.

Peanut Butter Pancakes
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup peanut powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:

1. Whisk together the eggs and buttermilk in a large bowl. 
2. Whisk in the baking soda until combined.
3. Add the flour, peanut powder, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Whisk until incorporated.
4. Stir in the melted butter and mix well.
5. Heat a frying pan over medium heat.
6. Add a little oil to the pan and wait about 30 seconds.
7. Pour 1/2 cup of the batter into the frying pan. 
8. Top the pancakes in the pan with some of each peanut butter chips if desired. 
9. When bubbles form on top of the pancake, flip the pancake over.
10. Cook the pancake until the bottom is golden brown.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen cookbook. 

One year ago.........................................I made Paint Splatter Cupcakes.
Two years ago.......................................I made Flag Cookies.
Three years ago.....................................I made Broccoli and Cheese Chicken Bake.

Did you already know..........................
-Peanut powder is just roasted peanuts.
-Peanut powder has 85% less fat than the commercial peanut butter.
-Peanut powder can be added to smoothies and baking ideas.