I love mushrooms, but my kids HATE them. I knew that they would hate them. When I found out I was pregnant with my oldest, the first few times I had mushrooms while pregnant, he returned them and made sure I knew he did NOT like them. I stopped eating mushrooms until April 29. Then I got to eat mushrooms again! And then I got pregnant again, and once again, I ate a portabello mushroom grilled on the grill outside, and once again, the child inside of me returned them. I stopped eating mushrooms until April 25, and then I could not wait to eat them again.
I tried to get the kids to eat mushrooms over the years, but each time they resist. They do eat lots of other things, and I think it must be hard wired in each of their bodies.
So last night, I made an amazing wild mushroom pizza for the adults, and I made a plain old cheese pizza for the kids, which they LOVED.
Here is my pizza dough recipe.
To make the mushroom topping you need:
1 pound of mushrooms (shitake, portabello, etc), chopped
1 1/2 cup sherry
2 T butter
salt
pepper
1 cup shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)
Put cold pizza stones in oven and heat to 400.
Chop the mushrooms and put them in a glass bowl, and pour the sherry on top of them. Soak for 30 minutes. Drain the mushrooms.
In a saute pan, heat the butter over medium heat, and then put in the mushrooms for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Once your rolled out pizza dough is on the pizza stone, top the pizza with the shredded cheese, and then add the mushrooms.
Put in the pizza stone in the oven (still at 400 degrees) for 25 minutes. Take out, and slice and eat.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Cookbooks
I really enjoy my cookbook collection. I love pulling a cookbook off the shelf, and flipping through it. Most of them have notes on the recipes that I have made. . . . YUM or DELICIOUS or DO NOT MAKE AGAIN or YUCK! My collection started when I was a young child, and my neighbor gave me "The Cookie Book" by Eva Moore. There are 12 cookie recipes, and it was given to me by my neighbors and they signed the book "To Stephanie and her Mommy, Happy Baking! Love, The Gennacos." Who knew that decades later, that I would not only still have the book, but love to bake.
One of the more recent purchases is "The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook" by Deb Perelman, which I really love. The photographs in the book are amazing. Her directions are very clear, and she likes the same foods that I do. . . . and at one point in her life, she was vegetarian.
When I got married, I received a few cookbooks, and one of them was the "Betty Crocker NEW Cookbook," which I really like also. It is a three ring binder, and opens flat on the counter, which I appreciate. I learned how to make baked stuffed potatoes from this cookbook, which all four of us like to eat.
Another cookbook that I received when we got married was "Spice and Spirit - the complete Kosher Jewish Cookbook." I love reading the recipes, and the latke recipe is amazing! This book was given to me by a friend who I have known since I was three, and we grew up together. She got married first, so I had a feeling this cookbook is one she used many times!
Another great book is Bruce Weinstein's "The Ultimate Brownie Book" which I could read over and over again. He also has an ice cream book. Both books I highly recommend.
There is another set of cookbooks. . . . the ones I gave away . . . . the ones that had recipes that no one liked to eat. I would not say it was a bad book, but one that was not my taste.
Which cookbooks do you love???????
One of the more recent purchases is "The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook" by Deb Perelman, which I really love. The photographs in the book are amazing. Her directions are very clear, and she likes the same foods that I do. . . . and at one point in her life, she was vegetarian.
When I got married, I received a few cookbooks, and one of them was the "Betty Crocker NEW Cookbook," which I really like also. It is a three ring binder, and opens flat on the counter, which I appreciate. I learned how to make baked stuffed potatoes from this cookbook, which all four of us like to eat.
Another cookbook that I received when we got married was "Spice and Spirit - the complete Kosher Jewish Cookbook." I love reading the recipes, and the latke recipe is amazing! This book was given to me by a friend who I have known since I was three, and we grew up together. She got married first, so I had a feeling this cookbook is one she used many times!
Another great book is Bruce Weinstein's "The Ultimate Brownie Book" which I could read over and over again. He also has an ice cream book. Both books I highly recommend.
There is another set of cookbooks. . . . the ones I gave away . . . . the ones that had recipes that no one liked to eat. I would not say it was a bad book, but one that was not my taste.
Which cookbooks do you love???????
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
NYC
So, what did I want for my birthday this year???? I wanted a weekend away from laundry, cooking, cleaning and I wanted to go to NYC. Sure, we have been to NYC before . . . stay in CT and DRIVE into the city and cut the day short. This time I wanted to do it the TOURIST way.
Started the vacation on a FRIDAY night and drove the kids to my parents house, which usually takes an hour. It took nearly TWO hours. But I was still gearing up for vacation.
Saturday once, we arrived in NYC it was time to LIVE IT UP!!!! We checked into the hotel (finding a lovely bottle of wine from our friends) and parked the car. Once we parked the car on 56th Street we WALKED up to 93rd Street to visit the Jewish Museum. It was 25 degrees outside and the line went around the block and did not move quickly. Decided that I would skip it and we walked to the Guggenheim. Took a look at the WOOL exhibit, which wasn't my taste, but still loved the building and the permanent art work!
Walked BACK to the hotel on W 57th Street and rested up for dinner. Took my FIRST NYC Subway ride to Clarkson's and ate the most delicious meal. My favorite part of the meal was the soft and creamy polenta, served with a sunny side up duck egg and shaved truffle and Parmesan cheese! That was the best thing I ate in NYC!!!!!!
On Sunday we woke up and left the hotel to walk to the bakery Le BOUCHON, which is near the NBC studios. Did I say it was cold??? The baked goods were delicious. . . . the coffee was not that great. Then we walked up Park Ave and Madison Avenue and eventually made it to the MET.
At the MET we saw the Venetian glass exhibit, the guitar exhibit and the American Wing. Then we went back to the Jewish Museum, and we got in (the reason for the line on Saturday is that admission is free). We saw an AMAZING Art Spegielman exhibit and a wonderful Chagall exhibit along with the permanent exhibit.
Then we walked through Central Park and ended at the Plaza. We had to go through the Eloise store and then stopped for coffee and pastry in the basement of the Plaza. Then back to the hotel, to rest up before dinner at Clearwater on Hudson.
On Monday we checked out of the hotel and had breakfast at the Brooklyn Diner. A place, where I would not return . . . . the prices were pricey and the food was average. . . . . and then Jerry Seinfeld sat down at the both behind me. . . . things changed! I could hear his voice! It was like I was on location!!!!!! No one was surprised to see Jerry eating there. . . . it was an every day thing for people in the diner.
Then we walked to Dylan's Candy Shop, FAO Schwartz and did some serious window shopping along Madison!!!!! Our weekend was coming to an end, and it was time go get the car, and start dreaming of my next NYC weekend . . . . but next time with the kids.
Started the vacation on a FRIDAY night and drove the kids to my parents house, which usually takes an hour. It took nearly TWO hours. But I was still gearing up for vacation.
Saturday once, we arrived in NYC it was time to LIVE IT UP!!!! We checked into the hotel (finding a lovely bottle of wine from our friends) and parked the car. Once we parked the car on 56th Street we WALKED up to 93rd Street to visit the Jewish Museum. It was 25 degrees outside and the line went around the block and did not move quickly. Decided that I would skip it and we walked to the Guggenheim. Took a look at the WOOL exhibit, which wasn't my taste, but still loved the building and the permanent art work!
Walked BACK to the hotel on W 57th Street and rested up for dinner. Took my FIRST NYC Subway ride to Clarkson's and ate the most delicious meal. My favorite part of the meal was the soft and creamy polenta, served with a sunny side up duck egg and shaved truffle and Parmesan cheese! That was the best thing I ate in NYC!!!!!!
On Sunday we woke up and left the hotel to walk to the bakery Le BOUCHON, which is near the NBC studios. Did I say it was cold??? The baked goods were delicious. . . . the coffee was not that great. Then we walked up Park Ave and Madison Avenue and eventually made it to the MET.
At the MET we saw the Venetian glass exhibit, the guitar exhibit and the American Wing. Then we went back to the Jewish Museum, and we got in (the reason for the line on Saturday is that admission is free). We saw an AMAZING Art Spegielman exhibit and a wonderful Chagall exhibit along with the permanent exhibit.
Then we walked through Central Park and ended at the Plaza. We had to go through the Eloise store and then stopped for coffee and pastry in the basement of the Plaza. Then back to the hotel, to rest up before dinner at Clearwater on Hudson.
On Monday we checked out of the hotel and had breakfast at the Brooklyn Diner. A place, where I would not return . . . . the prices were pricey and the food was average. . . . . and then Jerry Seinfeld sat down at the both behind me. . . . things changed! I could hear his voice! It was like I was on location!!!!!! No one was surprised to see Jerry eating there. . . . it was an every day thing for people in the diner.
Then we walked to Dylan's Candy Shop, FAO Schwartz and did some serious window shopping along Madison!!!!! Our weekend was coming to an end, and it was time go get the car, and start dreaming of my next NYC weekend . . . . but next time with the kids.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Another delicious dinner!
Last night I made a great dinner, that was a hit. One of the dishes I made was Chicken in Tomato Sauce and Saffron, made from the Persian Bride cookbook.
1 whole chicken (in pieces) (Do not use boneless chicken).
Marinade:
1 6oz can of tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon saffron powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 c olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
pepper
The juice of one lime.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl combine all of the marinade ingredients. Rub the marinate on the pieces of the chicken. Bake for 40-60 minutes. Start checking the chicken at 40 minutes.
1 whole chicken (in pieces) (Do not use boneless chicken).
Marinade:
1 6oz can of tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon saffron powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 c olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
pepper
The juice of one lime.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl combine all of the marinade ingredients. Rub the marinate on the pieces of the chicken. Bake for 40-60 minutes. Start checking the chicken at 40 minutes.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Snow Day
Living in Boston is great. There is alot to do, and of course I love the beach and the water. Days like this don't happen often. It is one degree here with a wind chill of . . . . I don't want to think about it right now.
School is closed today and I am expected to work from home. . . . already checked my email, and have my to-do list. On days like this my to do list also includes a baking list. Right now I have a loaf of challah in the bread machine, rising and I have mixed up pancake batter for when the kids wake up. I am sure there will be a few more treats also.
I did fill my bird feeder yesterday, just in case. Yesterday while I was at home a few small birds were using it, and I had no idea how they were going to be able to fly away. It is super cold and super windy plus the snow.
Stay safe! Stay warm! We will make it through the winter. I live for June, July and August and those months are around the corner!
School is closed today and I am expected to work from home. . . . already checked my email, and have my to-do list. On days like this my to do list also includes a baking list. Right now I have a loaf of challah in the bread machine, rising and I have mixed up pancake batter for when the kids wake up. I am sure there will be a few more treats also.
I did fill my bird feeder yesterday, just in case. Yesterday while I was at home a few small birds were using it, and I had no idea how they were going to be able to fly away. It is super cold and super windy plus the snow.
Stay safe! Stay warm! We will make it through the winter. I live for June, July and August and those months are around the corner!
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