Spaghetti al la Carbonara

We have been unpacking, reading, and generally catching up on all the things that needed to be done...like a huge stack of mail...this week. I have been remembering our trip and all the wonderful things we did in Italy. Kerry got his pictures out today and we looked at them together. I am so glad that he took pictures of things that I didn't. For example, our first day in Rome we went to the Trevi fountain. It was one of the most crowded fountains that I saw in Rome. Jenessa said that she threw a coin into the fountain because the legend is that when you throw a coin in you will come back to Rome. There were so many people and police were there too watching the crowd and making sure that people didn't climb in for a swim. Some people got too close and she blew the whistle on them.

Today I made Italian pizza with Jenessa. She told me that you have to let the dough sit for 24 hours. I did and then she cranked the oven up to 550 which gave the pizza that wonderful crispy crust with the soft bread in the middle. It was the best. I got the recipe from Cooking Light. Jenessa even made authentic pizza sauce out of fresh tomatoes.

Last Sunday Jenessa gave her homecoming talk. She was absolutely the main attraction. There was only one other speaker...a youth speaker. Albert came with his children, Regan came with Debra and Lizzy, John Miles, and Mike Cecacci was here too. It was quite a crowd. I taught gospel doctrine and Kerry taught his two lessons afterwards. We came home and Jenessa made Italian food for everyone...it was spaghetti al la carbonara. I remember the first time we had it was when Maurine made it for us. I remembered it because I thought it was the best spaghetti... Here is the recipe:

1 pkg. spaghetti
4 eggs
4 egg yolks
3/4 lb. of uncured bacon
1 cup parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
onion
olive oil

Boil the spaghetti until tender.

Fry the onion in olive oil until it becomes transparent. Cut up the bacon and fry it until crisp with the onion.

In a separate bowl whisk the egg and egg yolk together and add in the parmesan, salt and pepper.

Put the strained noodles back in the pot and on low eat. Add the bacon and onions until mixed. Add the egg mixture and stir until it is cooked. Buon Appetito.

Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder (optional)
1/4 cup butter
1 to 1 ¼ cup warm water

• Combine dry ingredients in bowl. Work in the butter or oil. Add enough water to make soft, pliable dough.
• Knead lightly on floured surface. Divide into 16 balls. Let stand, covered 15 - 20 minutes.
• Roll into thin circles between sheets of parchment paper.
• Cook on non-greased, heavy skillet or griddle at medium-high temperature until brown specks appear on cooking side (about 10 seconds). Flip and cook other side.
• Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Super Fudge Brownie Recipe

Every once in awhile I come upon a recipe that is so good that I have to publish it. My friend Mary Ellen Lee made these Brownies in honor of Mother's Day and I had to get the recipe. These were the best brownies. Enjoy.

6 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup butter
4 large eggs
2 cups sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat over to 300 degrees. Grease 8X8 inch baking pan

Combine baking chocolate and butter in saucepan and melt over low heat. Remove from heat and cool.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until light yellow (about 5 mintes). Add sugar and blend on low until thoroughly combined.
Add vanilla and melted chocolate to the egg/sugar mixture and blend on low until smooth. Add the floor and mix thoroughly.

Pour batter into greased pan and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Back for about 45-55 minutes or until toothpick in the center comes out clean. Do not overbake.

Cool, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Last night I made up this recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu and it turned out great. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of it so I can't show you but it is really simple and easy to do and since I fed only 2 people it can be doubled or tripled, etc.

2 cups crushed Corn Flakes
2 chicken breasts
2 slices swiss cheese
2 slices ham
Pam

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray small 9x9 pan with cooking spray. Put chicken breasts in a quart size freezer bag and roll them flat, one at a time. Place a slice of ham and then swiss cheese on top of the chicken breast after you take it out of the bag. Roll it up and secure with toothpicks. Roll the chicken breast in the Corn Flakes crumbs and place them in the pan. Bake for 40 minutes. You can serve them with Cream of Chicken soup mixed with 1/2 cup sour cream which has been heated in a saucepan.

Choco Mint Picnic Brownies

I ran across this recipe in the Lion House Bakery Cookbook and I had this craving for mint brownies. This isn't the exact recipe in the cookbook because I did my mint variation. I thought they turned out great and wanted to share my success with everyone. I hope you enjoy them.

4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon mint flavoring
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate and mint chips

Preheat oven to 350 and grease 2 9-inch round pans.

In top of a double boiler or a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter. In a medium bowl, mix sugar, vanilla, mint flavor, and salt; add to melted chocolate mixture and blend well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and mix well. Divide batter equally into prepared pans. Spread evenly and sprinkle top of each with chopped nuts and chocolate/mint chips. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Brownies are done when a toothpick inserted an inch from center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before cutting. Run a thin knife between pan and brownies and turn upside down. With knife that is longer than brownies are wide, cut brownies by pressing knife straight down through brownines; cut each round into 8 wedges. Makes 16 brownies. These brownies store and stack well, for easy portability.

Cinnamon Apple Cake

This is one of my favorite recipes. Years ago I subscribed to Cooking Light Magazine when I was trying to eat and cook healthy things for my family. This recipe comes from the October 1997 issue of the magazine. I still try to cook healthy but sometimes fall off the wagon. Too much of a good thing is always too much of a good thing. The article says that it is the cream cheese in the batter that gives the cake lots of moisture. I think the cake melts in your mouth. I served this recipe last week when we had company for dinner.

1 3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup stick margarine, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 ounces block-style fat-free cream cheese, softened (about 3/4 cup)
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsps ground cinnamon
3 cups chopped peeled Rome apple (about 2 large)
cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, margarine, vanilla, and cream cheese at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 4 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
3. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Combine 2 TBS cinnamon mixture and apple in a bowl, and stir apple mixture into batter. Pour batter into an 8-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon mixture.
4. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool the cake completely on a wire rack, and cut using a serrated knife. Yield: 12 servings.

Note: You can also make this cake in a 9-inch square cake pan or a 9-knch springform pan; just reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes.

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

Last night Kerry and I invited family over because Janilee, my son Jonathan's wife, is here visiting and helping to decorate our home. I wanted to make something special for my company so I made a recipe that Kerry's mother had given to me. I made a little variation due to time constraints. The cookie is very rich and the marshmallow is a surprise when you bite into it. These are Kerry's favorite cookies so I hope you will enjoy them too.

1 3/4 cups sifted cake flour

1/2 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 tsp vanilla

36 large marshmallows, cut in half

1 can chocolate frosting, or add 5 Tbs cocoa to a can of white fluffy frosting

Sift flour, measure, sift again with soda, salt and cocoa. Cream shortening. Add sugar gradually, blending thoroughly. Add egg, beat well. Add flour mixture and milk alternately, beating after each addition. Add chopped nuts and vanilla, mix. Drop by level teaspoonsful, about two inches apart onto a well greased cookie sheet. Cookies will spread. Bake in moderate (350 degree) oven for eight minutes, top with marshmallow half, cut side down. Return to oven and bake two minutes, until marshmallows soften. Cool and frost with frosting.