Candy Cane Hearts

is that not adorable or what?

you will need 

. minny candy canes,

.white chocolate

.Christmas colored sprinkles (optional)

.barbecue skewers.

.parchment paper.



Directions.

Place 2 candy canes on the parchment paper with the bent part facing each other. place the end of a skewer in between the 2 candy canes. fill the middle with melted white chocolate and add sprinkles. repeat this as many candy cane hearts as you wish. place in refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours or until completely hardened. enjoy.

Family peach cobbler

this recipe was passed from my great grandmother to my grandmother (Nona) and then Nona shared it with me. it is not actually a cobbler but a trifle, however we have always called it a cobbler and so it will stay. the recipe below is exactly as she passed it to me so enjoy cooking with Nona. :)

ingredients. 

.2 large boxes of jello brand cook and serve vanilla pudding  ( not instant !)

.Ripe peaches... About 10 or 12

.Pound cake or yellow cake .. Maybe two small SaraLee Pound cakes or one large. Sometimes I bake a yellow cake In a 9x12 pan and just scoop out the cake and sprinkle on the layer.  Cake doesn't have to stay in slices.

Directions....

Peel and slice peaches.  Slice cake in about 1/2 in slices. Cook pudding according to directions on the box.  You can use any kind of milk.

When pudding is cooked, Pour a small amount into bottom of waiting bowl . Add a layer of cake, then a layer of peaches .  Repeat layers....custard, cake, peaches, until all ingredients are used up. That's it!

Make a day ahead if possible. Is best when it has some setting time.  Refrigerate at all times

(picture from when i made it)

Chicken Stir Fry

Chicken Stir Fry

Chinese food, an art so old and full of tradition I would not be surprised if Eve herself invented sweet and sour chicken. But seriously its awesome. And, being such a huge fan of the stuff, I thought it only right to cook up a recipe and share it with you (even if its not sweet and sour chicken ;) ).

(note. the pictures are of a doubled recipe).

Serves 6-7

• 5 chicken breasts or thighs (thawed).
• 1/2 cabbage head (chopped).
• 4-5 mushrooms (diced).
• 1 tomato (diced). 
• 2 table spoons sesame oil.
• 4 table spoons soy sauce.
• 4 table spoons garlic (finely chopped).

First lightly brown the chicken on medium high, In a skillet/frying pan (about 5-10 minutes). 

Once fully brown on both sides chop the chicken into small slices. Put 2 table spoons of soy sauce and all the garlic in the pan already used and then continue cooking the chicken until done (another 5-10 minutes). Once fully cooked take the chicken out. 

And dump all the veggies in with the rest of the soy sauce and sesame oil.

  

Cook on medium high for 10-15 minutes or until done. 

When the veggies are almost done add the chicken.

And finish cooking.

And enjoy.

The Fruit Platter

the fruit platter

fruit trays are a great for party's of ANY kind, however a nice one can cost any where from $15 to $25 ( wow pricey), for something that A nobody touches, or B is gone in 5 seconds. however it really only takes $10 topes to make a really nice one at home. that's why I make my own.

 this is a recipe for a fruit tray a family friend made.

thing you'll need.

• grapes red and green.
• strawberries.
• blueberries .
• ritz crackers.
• wheat thins.
• cheddar cheese cubed.
• colby jack cheese cubed.
• other fruits, cheese's, and crackers of your choice.

1.  arrange the crackers on the tray dividing it into several sections. it is important to have more than one type of cracker as to ad texture to the plate.
2. if you have a sauce place it in the center.
3. cut the topes off the strawberries and chop them in half. place them in small groups in the sections you made by the crackers. 
4. next place the grapes. make sure you space them across the platter to create visual interest.
5. scatter the blueberries amongst the fruit to ad more color.
6. last place the cheeses in the remaining space.  

when making a fruit tray remember to make it colorful, different contrasting colors will make your tray pop. this is just a sample you can try but there is really no right way to make a fruit tray, try experimenting with different fruits and designs, and we'll see what cool tray you bring to the next party. :)

Nona's Pasta.

Nona's Pasta.

(Pasta Primavera)

For as long as I can remember every time my Nona (grandmother) came to visit, or we went and visited her, she would make her "famous" pasta. She learned this recipe from an Italian cooking instructor named Vera, whom she took lessons from. And once I was old enough to cook taught it to me.  

Pasta primavera means spring pasta and is actually quite common, you'll find it in fancy restaurants on fancy menus and they always find some way to "spice it up". But if you ask me there's no better way to make it than this quick and easy way.   

Serves 4-6

• 16 cherry tomatoes, chopped.
• 3/4 cup olive oil.
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated.
• 10.5 oz. mozzarella cheese, chopped.
• 1/2 cup romano cheese, grated.
• 2-3 cloves, chopped.
• 2 tbsp. fresh basil.
• 1 1b. bow tie pasta.

(Variation. just use mozzarella cheese. it still turns out great).

 Cook pasta as instructed by box and drain. Place pasta in a large bowl and add all other ingredients, mixing well.

 

and that's it. enjoy this authentic Italian meal.

     



Paninis

I love paninis! Let's face it, who doesn't? However, your average panini press costs any where between $50 to $400.  Personally, I think that's a lot of money just to make a sandwich, so I use a waffle iron.

Simply make a sandwich of your choice and butter it on both sides, than place the sandwich on the waffle iron and close, applying gentle pressure.

 Check it every so often. It will cook quickly, so don't let it go too long; 2 to 3 minutes at most.

And then your done.

Voila! Enjoy!