Mamma can cook

Bacon, Onions, Chipotle, and Whiskey make for some outstanding Baked Beans. This comes from Bon Appetit and I made a few changes. I used Whiskey instead of Dark Beer because that is all I had. I used Maple Syrup instead of Light Molasses because I had to find out the hard way that Light Molasses is basically non existent in this part of Town. Control the spiciness with how many chipotles you add. Otherwise, just make and enjoy. You won't be sorry!! Ingredients: 6 bacon slices 1 1/2 cups chopped onion 1 1/4 cups purchased barbecue sauce 3/4 cup dark beer or Whiskey 1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses Or Maple Syrup which is what I used. 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 4 to 6 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chilie 6 15- to 16-ounce cans Great Northern beans, drained Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels and drain. Transf

I have been on a search for the most delish meatball. I found it. It is the Rao's Meatball recipe that I had tweaked to my liking. You can can tweak yours to your liking like all Beef, or all turkey, you can do Half and half or really whatever you enjoy, this is what I found to be the perfect blend for the best meatball. Just so you know....... Rao's Marinara is THE best sauce EVER, so you can cheat and buy that sauce to simmer these in.  I make the sauce and meatballs every Sunday and they are always a fan favorite. Enjoy!!! 1 pound ground beef, ½ pound ground veal, l½ pound ground pork  3 large eggs 1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese 1 ½ tablespoons chopped Italian parsley ½ small garlic clove, peeled and minced, optional 2 cups bread crumbs (see below+) 1.5 cups lukewarm water Salt (preferably Kosher or Sea Salt) and freshly ground pepper to taste 1 cup fine-quality olive oil Combine meats in a large bowl. Add eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic and salt and p

I needed to make a seafood appetizer for a little themed dinner, soooo I thought and I thought, and that obviously didn't work, so I googled and that always seems to work.... I am an amazing "googler" by the way. Like if there was a Google Olympics... I am confident to say I would win Gold. Confident!!! ANYway.... I love Crab but don't make it often, so I thought this recipe to be fitting since I can buy the crab all lovely and ready from Trader Joes and most importantly it is EASY!!!! Y'all know how I LOVE easy. Next time you need a fab Appetizer make this... you will surely please the peeps. Oh and one last thing... I found this hysterical that it comes from Al Roker's cookbook???? Seriously? Hot Crab Dip adapted from Al Roker's Hassle Free Holiday Cookbook 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1/4 tsp hot-pepper sauce 3 scallions, finely chopped 12 oz lump crabmeat (2 cups) 1/2 tsp each salt and freshly ground pepper 3 Tbs

Ok, I love me some flank steaks!!! The only thing one must understand is that this cut of meat is tougher than others, so really a perfect flank steak is cooked medium rare and sliced on a diagonal. Prepared this way, marinated, cooked quickly at high heat, thinly sliced, flank steak practically melts in your mouth. I put it over salad just to pretend we are healthy, but really it can be paired with anything. Enjoy INGREDIENTS Marinade Ingredients 1/3 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup honey 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Other ingredients 2 pounds flank steak Kosher salt Freshly ground pepper 1 Score the surface of the steak with 1/4 inch deep knife cuts, about an inch apart, across the grain of the meat. Combine the marinade ingredients. Place steak and marinade ingredients in a large freezer bag. Coat the steak well with the marinade. Seal the bag and place in a bowl. Chill and marinate for at least 2 hours and up to ov

These type of cookies are my Daddy's fav, soft, not overly sweet, a hint of lemon and just mmm mmm good. He loves them with coffee and/or tea as does everyone else in the family, along with the boys, minus the coffee and tea, they prefer scotch, and it seems I have not met anyone that doesn't love this soft Italian cookie. They make an appearance during Christmas as a ball, but they are disguised as Easter eggs today. If you need a "go to" cookie, here you go. Makes 72 cookies Cookie Dough: 6 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 3 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 6 large eggs 4 tablespoons lemon extract 1 cup Vegetable oil 1/2 cup whole milk Lemon Icing: 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons lemon extract A few Tablespoons of whole milk (until the right gooey consistency is achieved) Colored candy sprinkles (optional) 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Line four large cookie sheets with

Another easy shrimp recipe. It's actually a Rachel Ray recipe that I changed up a bit (am I the only one that really does not find her that cute and bubbly, but actually a bit irritating), ANYway, She calls it her 4 minute spicy garlic blah blah recipe. It's not spicy, I doubled the red pepper and still nada, she is obviously a wuss, but it's good and easy and I was looking for a recipe with ingredients I already had. I decided too give peace a chance, and try one of her recipes. You can find her original recipe here http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/4-minute-spicy-garlic-shrimp-recipe/index.html OR the better version below :) This is good as an appetizer, or as a main dish over pasta. Spicy Garlic Shrimp inspired by Rachel Ray Ingredients: 1 lb. large shrimp, deviened and shelled 1 1/2 Tbsp sesame or Olive oil 5 garlic cloves, minced or pressed 1 tsp red pepper flakes (I doubled the amount she had, but you can cut it in half if you are not hardcore like moi)

Chips 12 fresh corn tortillas vegetable oil Chipotle Salt 1 tsp. ground chipotle 2 tsp. kosher salt Serves 2-3 Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Start with good corn tortillas. You’ll usually find them in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Traditional corn tortillas are smaller than the flour tortillas usually used for burritos. Lightly spray each whole tortilla on one side with cooking oil. (Or brush it on.) Stack the tortillas up. Whack the stack into four pieces. And then in four again. You want to wind up with 8 wedges. Spread the chips out on two ungreased, unlined baking pans. Arrange them so they don’t overlap (if they overlap, they won’t get as crunchy). Pop the pans into your preheated 400-degree oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until light brown and crisp. Yeah Baby, your Own chips!!!!!!!!!

I bought some Andouille Sausage and didn't know what to do with it, so I looked up a recipe on Epicurious and this sounded devine, but I changed it a bit. I added more Heat to it with some Cayenne Pepper, and left out the Watercress and Okra pods. So, this is my adaptation and let me tell you it was beyond delicious, we had it 2 nights in a row. It was to die for. The pecans were an interesting addition, which added a nice texture, but you can certainly leave it out. We also used Grass fed beef, but that is not at all necessary, this way you can eat the burger medium instead of well done....if that's your thang. Oh gosh it's so damn good. Spicy mayonnaise (ahead of time) 3/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning blend 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper Burgers (mixed ahead of time) 1/2 pound andouille sausage, cut into scant 1/4-inch cubes 3/4 cup pecans, toasted, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground blac

I think everyone knows what an egg in a basket is, but in case you haven't had the pleasure of being introduced to one, it's a piece of bread, hole in center, egg cracked into the center and fried on a pan. SImple, quick, and get's your bread and egg fix out of the way. My only problem with this hole in bread, is that's its called an egg in a basket. A basket has depth to it, if I am not mistaken, I mean even if it's shallow it has a certain shape to be called a basket. I am no basket expert, or weaver, or have any idea about the Longaberger craze, but I do know a basket when I see one. Soooo, this is why I have reinvented the "Egg in a Basket", to really look like one, and have renamed the original to "Egg in a bed". Ok, now that I have gotten that clear. I present to you..... Egg in a Basket Obviously, you can add whatever your heart desires to this, and I have experimented with Mushrooms, different cheeses, this one here, of course has some ba

Ok, I love Salsa, and I love it without preservatives and with all organic ingredients. This is really easy to do if you make your own, and it makes a ton. Oh it is so yummy. You just dump all the ingredients into a food processor and you are good to go. Adjust your ingredients as you like. I like mine spicy with a lot of cilantro. Ingredients 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice 2 cans (10 Ounce) diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies (I use the organic ones from Trader Joes, but Rotel will be fine. ¼ cups Chopped Onion 1 clove Garlic, Minced 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin ¼ teaspoons Sugar ¼ teaspoons Salt ¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin ½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!) ½ whole Lime Juice Preparation Instructions Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust

I have been making this every year during this time of year, it's Paula Deen's recipe. It's perfect for Thanksgiving. It's an amazingly easy recipe, takes me less than 10 minutes to prepare and the baking time is what takes the longest. It is SO yummy, everyone LOVES it and always asks for it. I love Paula!!! Ingredients 1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling 1 (9-inch) graham cracker crust 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1/4 cup caramel topping 12 pecan halves, plus 2 tablespoons chopped pecans Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Reserve 3/4 cup of the apple filling; set aside. Spoon the remaining filling into the crust. Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add the eggs and mix well. Pour this over the pie filling. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the center of the cake is set. Cool to room temperature. Mix the reserved pie filling and caramel topping in a smal

I won't write much besides the fact that this is the best recipe that I have found, and it's amazing, and it's better than any bakery, and you can make them super huge like I like to do, so even though you are eating 3 cookies you are really only eating one. They are everyone's favorite, and here you go..... Ingredients: 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 12 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted & cooled until warm 1 c brown sugar, packed 1/2 c granulated sugar 1 large egg plus 1 yolk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips ( I get mine at Trader Joes) Directions: -Adjust oven racks to upper & lower -middle positions & heat oven to 325. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. -Whisk dry ingredients together except sugars; set aside. -With electric mixer, or by hand, mix butter & sugars until thoroughly combined. -Beat in egg, yolk and vanilla until combined. -Add dry ingredients & beat at l

I do love some Chinese food. This recipe is spot on, as long as you have the ingredients. It's easy, and so tasty. Who doesn't get sick of chicken? it's sometimes a headache just staring at it thinking what am I going to make with this thing that we haven't had 2 other nights this week? well this is a great addition to the chicken choices that we must make. Ingredients: 3 pieces of chicken breast or 1/2 chicken - cut to bite size pieces 1 tbsp of light soy sauce 1 tbsp of cooking wine 1/2 tbsp of sesame oil 1 tsp of sugar 2 tbsp flour 1 tbsp rice flour or cornstarch Salt & pepper to taste Sauce: 3 tbsp of sweet chili sauce 2 tbsp of tomato ketchup 1- 2 tbsp of honey (depend on how sweet you want) 1 tbsp of oyster sauce 2 tbsp of light soy sauce 1/4 cup of water some toasted sesame seed 1. Marinate chicken with soy sauce, wine, sugar, sesame oil, salt and pepper and set it aside for at least an hour. Just before frying mix the 2 type of flour together and mix it into

It's so nice to have friends around you that really love food, but more importantly know how much I love food because then you get to go on a playdate and have them give you food!!! This is how I discovered this heavenly bread. Amy walked up to me and the boys and hands me a few pieces of this obscenely delicious bread, I immediately shoved a piece down my throat and couldn't believe how delicious it was!!!! I kept telling her how good it was. She herself was impressed. I made the bread the next day, and everyone loves it!!! 2 loaves are almost gone. This recipe does make 2 loaves, and it is quite easy, the hardest part really is just waiting for it to rise, and even that is a pretty short wait time for bread. Please make this and ENJOY!!!! Pumpkin Pecan Swirl Bread Ingredients: 1 Tbsp active dry yeast 1/4 c. granulated sugar 1/2 c. warm water (115 degrees) 3/4 c. pumpkin puree 1 c. milk 3 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp ground cloves 1

After you go apple picking, there are only so many apples you can eat before you are thinking I will kill myself if I have to eat another apple, so what do you do with the rest? Well ,make a pie or a cake of course. Now, I love apple pies with the beautiful lattice that you make across the top ever so perfectly, but right now when time is non existent and you have people under 3 feet tall pulling at you while you are baking, you leave that lattice to Martha, and so what I look for in an apple pie is for it to be delicious and EASY!!! Here is a recipe that my mom would make when we were younger, and let me tell you, it is a KEEPER!!! Enjoy. Ingredients 4 to 5 small Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into six equal slices 
1 1/2sticks butter 
3/4 cup sugar 1 stick butter softened 
2/3 cup sugar
 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
 2 large eggs
 1/2 cup sour cream
 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
 1 teaspoon salt
 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
 1 small Granny Smith appl

First of all, this should not even be tried with regular tuna packed in water, it won't work!!! This is SUPER easy, it tastes devine, and actually my boys LOVED it. It is a traditional way to eat the tuna in Italy, and you will see why once you taste it!! You can get the Tuna in any Italian supermarket/deli or Trader Joes. INGREDIENTS 1 pound dried fettuccine, spaghetti or linguine (use gluten-free pasta for gluten-free version) 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 large garlic cloves, or more to taste, finely minced Generous pinch hot red pepper flakes 2 6-ounce cans tuna packed in olive oil, drained Kosher salt 1/2 to 3/4 pound baby arugula METHOD 1 Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and boil until al dente. 2 While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium-low heat. Add the garlic and hot pepper flakes and cook until garlic is fragrant and sizzling. Add tuna and shred it into fine flakes with a fork. Season with salt. Keep w

Sick of Tuna macaroni salad? I don't eat it enough to be sick of it, but I know I would have liked a spin on it and when I bought salmon in cans like tuna, I thought it must be done. Derek loves Salmon and loves this pasta salad. Enjoy!! INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound (about 2 cups) macaroni pasta Salt 2 (7-ounce) cans salmon 1/2 cup mayonnaise (plus more to taste or for added smoothness) 1 teaspoon mustard 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1/3 cup chopped shallots, red onions, or green onions (with onion greens) 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill) 2 stalks celery, chopped Tabasco to taste (we used about 10 drops) Freshly ground black pepper METHOD 1 Bring a pot of water (2 quarts) to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt. Add the dry macaroni pasta and cook, uncovered, in a rolling boil for about 10 minutes, or until the macaroni is al dente (slightly firm). Remove from heat, drain, rinse briefly in cold water (macaroni should be still warm aft

Once again, I find myself staring at 2 aging bananas which nobody in my house will eat, and so I hunt down another banana bread recipe. This time I found one which includes coconut and coconut milk, both of which I love, soooo I had to try it. It is really yummy and quick to make. Coconut Banana Bread 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup mashed banana (2 med-large) 1/2 cup coconut milk 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup shredded coconut Preheat oven 350F and lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and eggs until well combined, then whisk in the mashed banana, coconut milk, butter and vanilla extract. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir until just combined, making sure no streaks of flour remain. Stir in shredded coconut and pour batter out into prepared baking pan. Bake f

We are a household of chili lovers. Derek typically makes the chili in the house, but when I came across Barefoot Contessa's Chicken Chili, I knew I had to try to make this one. I added some ingredients that I felt she had left out, like BEANS!!! Who doesn't add beans to chili? I also used San Marzano tomatoes because they are the tastiest little red beasts ever!!!!!!! Oh and I did not use ANY of the peppers, because I hate peppers, and refuse to eat them, and stomp my feet on the ground if they are in my food. So here you go....I will put into parenthesis what I added to the dish. Ingredients * 4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 onions) * 1/8 cup olive oil, plus extra * olive oil, for chicken * 1/8 cup minced garlic (2 cloves) * 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced * 2 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced * 1 teaspoon chili powder * 1 teaspoon ground cumin * 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes * 1/4 teaspoon ca