Sunday, July 22, 2012 0 comments

Tortellini Salad




I got this recipe from my mother; the original recipe actually calls for goat cheese. However the first time I made it, I didn’t have any on hand, but I did have feta. I think you could use either kind and get good results; I’m just used to using feta. I like the flavor combination. 

Ingredients:

1 pound tortellini, cooked, drained and cooled (I use cheese tortellini)
6 sundried tomatoes, diced
6 roasted red peppers, diced
3 T olive oil
5 T balsamic vinegar
1—2 T oil from the sundried tomatoes (optional; I usually add just 1 T for extra flavor)
7 fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 ounces crumbled feta or goat cheese
Parsley to taste

Directions:
  • Combine the oils and vinegar and whisk til thoroughly mixed.
  • Pour the oil/vinegar mixture over the pasta.
  • Mix in the rest of the ingredients.
  • Chill before serving.
  • Enjoy!

Monday, July 9, 2012 0 comments

Baklava


I LOVE Baklava. Something about the sweet honey with the nuts just appeals to my palate. I recently received a large jar of fresh local honey from a friend of mine who has a bee hive. My first though to to make some baklava, and I wasn't disappointed!

Ingredients:
1 package phyllo dough
1 lbs of nuts, you can use any you want, I used a combination of almonds, walnuts, and pecans because that is what I had on hand.
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup honey

Directions:

  • Thaw the phyllo dough according to the directions on the box.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Butter a 9 x 13 pan.
  • Bring 1 cup to a boil. Turn off heat immediately. 
  • Add sugar, vanilla and honey. Stir until combined. Set aside to cool. 
  • Chop nuts in a food processor and toss with the cinnamon.
  • Roast the nuts until you can smell them. You can do this in the oven or in a large fry pan over medium heat.
  • Place two layers of pyllo dough in pan, then butter. Repeat until you have about 8 layers. 
  • Then add about 3 tbls of nuts over the buttered phyllo dough. Add two layers of phyllo dough, butter, add nuts on top. 
  • Repeat until you only have about 8 layers of phyllo dough left. You should run out of nuts at about the same time.
  • Cut the baklava before you bake it into whatever shape/size you desire.
  • Butter the top layer then bake in the over for about 50 minutes.
  • Immediately drizzle the cooled sauce over the baklava. 
  • The baklava will soak up the sauce in a few hours, leave uncovered.
  • Enjoy!


0 comments

Lemonade


Lemonade is actually very easy to make at home. Homemade lemonade just tastes so much better than the stuff from a can. Next time you're at the store, skip the frozen concentrate and grab a bag of lemons instead.

Ingredients:
6 Lemons
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup water
Cold water

Directions:

  • Bring 1 Cup of water to a boil. Immediately turn off the head. 
  • Add 1 Cup sugar to the hot water. 
  • Stir until sugar is dissolved.
  • Cut 6 lemons in half and juice them. (You can buy a hand squeeze juicer at the grocery store for about $3 if you don't have one).
  • In a pitcher combine the lemon juice, simple syrup. Fill the pitcher up with cold water. 
  • Enjoy!
 
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