Penne with Walnut Cream Sauce

I love Italian food, but it is so hard going out to dinner!  We enjoy rice noodles with tomato sauce, but this recipe was truly different! 

I tried some new penne noodles from Henrys and made a "cream" sauce without milk!  I also learned how to soften walnuts to make into a cream.

You have to cook 2 - 1/4 cup walnuts in boiled water for at least 15 minutes.  In a food processor, you have to grind the walnuts, 1 - 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 garlic clove, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stream in 1/2 cup Olive Oil.  Now, let me just say, it was a little bland and needed either more salt or garlic....



Chicken Rice Tetrazzini with Mushroom Gravy and Mustard Crumbs

I ate mushrooms for the first time with this recipe and really enjoyed them!  This was such a yummy recipe that made excellent lunch leftovers. 

You spread uncooked rice in a baking dish and top with chopped rotisserie chicken. 

The mushroom gravy consists of softened mushrooms cooked in olive oil, 2 Tbsn of flour, 1/2 cup white wine, 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups of water, 2 Tbsn parsley, and salt and pepper. 

The crumbs on the top are rice cereal crumbs, 1 Tbsn Dijon mustard and 1 Tbsn parsley.

Apple-Brown Sugar Coffee Cake

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup and 2 tsp Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

3/4 cup Brown Sugar

1/4 cup Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts

1 tsp Cinnamon

2 Eggs
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
2 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Peeled and Chopped Apples

While the oven is heating to 375, grease a round cake pan or spring-foam pan.  Whisk the 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.  In another bowl, mix the 2 tsp of flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, chocolate chips, walnuts, and cinnamon.  In a third bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, oil, and vanilla.  Stir in the flour mixture.  Pour half the batter in the pan and top with half the apples and chocolate chip mixture.  Repeat the process.  Bake for about 45 minutes.

Sloppy Joe Stuffed Potato Skins

I LOVE potatoes!  Mashed, Baked, Roasted, Au-Gratin...you name it, I will love it!  This receipe, even though it is considered an appetizer, was plenty for us for a meal.

Cook 6 potatoes at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

After they cool, half them and scopp our some of the insides. Rub with olive oil and bake for another 20 minutes.  Fill with the "sloppy joe" mix.

"Sloppy Joe" Mix:

Saute a chopped up bell pepper and 1/2 an onion in EVOO.  Add in 1 pound of ground beef until brown.  Pour in 3/4 cup of tomato sauce and 1 Tbsn of worcestershire sauce.  Season with salt and pepper.  Simmer.

Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken Wings

Alex and spent New Years Eve night together enjoying these Chicken Wings and Potato Skins (next post).  I had spent the day baking and later in the afternoon we walked took Porter for a walk at Fashion Island.  We rang in the new year in the middle of watching The Sound of Music. 

For this recipe I was able to use some homemade Peach Jam from one of my students!

In a food processor (on my list of kitchen items to get now), combine 2 cups of BBQ sause, 1 garlic clove chopped, 2 peaches (peeled and chopped), and salt and pepper.

Marinate 24 chicken wings for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

In a sauce pan, cook the 1/2 cup peach jam, 1 garlic clove chopped, 2 Tbsn of apple cider vinegar, and 1 Tbsn of hot sauce.

Grill the chicken wings basting with the recerved BBQ sauce and serve with the warm dipping sauce.

Cinnamon-Toasted Belgian Waffles

Here is a yummy twist on French Toast!  Make sure you have a waffle maker for this recipe.

Topping: 1/4 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1-1/2 tsn cinnamon

Waffles: 2 cups of Panckae Mix, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, 1 Tbsn of vanilla, and 1-1/2 cups of milk. 

Pour the batter into the waffle iron and sprinkle the topping over it!

Pancake Mix

Another of Silvana's "Basics" to keep in the cupboard is her Pancake Mix, which I used to make waffles (see tomorrow's post).  We love making pancakes and waffles!  She uses 9 cups of her All-Purpose Flour, 1 Cups + 2 Tbsn of Sugar, 3 Tbsn of Baking Powder, and 2.25 tsn of salt.