Eggnog Martini & lights
Growing up in a house with 2 Jewish parents (in an area where I was one of the very few Jewish Kids) I had lots of cool menorahs, went to decorate the tree annually (just did it for the 29th year – we have being …
Author: teacher-chef
May-Day… SOS
“Houston – we have a problem”
“Its the end of the world as I know it (and I [don’t] feel fine)”
… Just a few of the phases that went through my head Thursday night when after about 20 minutes of making cookies and preheating the oven and then the oven not being warm at all! Rich proceeded to take apart the whole oven and found out that the igniter- glow bar thing is DEAD! No one has one in stock – we will have to order it (or take donations for a new oven!?) and and I am out of oven commission for a while (thanks Mom & Dad for letting me use your oven to bake this weekend).
Anything posted for the next few days has either (A) already been cooked, (B) was cooked at my parents [thanks again mom/dad and you know that I do share], or (C) didn’t need the oven!
“I’m a surviver – I’m not gonna give up – I’m not gonna stop – I’m gonna work harder – I’m a survivor – I’m gonna make it – I will survive – Keep on Surviving!”
Butternut Squash Bisque
Quick and Easy – the hardest part of this recipe is peeling & chopping the squash up before cooking it (I didn’t want the roasted flavor of precooking today). AND the hardest part I got out of doing this time since while making breakfast I …
Chicken Pot Pie
I don’t even like Pot Pie… I have told Rich that since we first started dating (and too bad for him, because he loves pot pie)! As much as he loves Pot Pie, I guess I might love him (eww barf – I know!) because …
Apple Turnovers
Birthdays, Holidays – all reasons to celebrate! Mom’s birthday was a few weeks ago & I wanted to make her apple turnovers and a smoked salmon quiche thing – but realized the evening before I didn’t have the ingredients to do so… just got bagels instead!
I know that my parents love turnovers, so even though I didn’t make it for mom’s birthday, figured after the show my mom was assisting with was over & we were celebrating a Hanukkah dinner – the least I could do was make turnovers!
Annie’s recipe called for making your own puff pastry dough (yeah – maybe one day) but for now I am more than happy with Pillsbury’s own! Don’t be shy about filling them (although the fact that the corner’s were empty reminded me of the first bite (or two) you get of a store-bought turnover. Next time I’ll add more filling, and maybe even try my own dough – but for now, what a perfect treat for after dinner and celebrating with family and with something I know they love!
Recipe (as adapted from Annie’s Eats – please take the time to visit her site & see her amazing step-by-step photos – this lady knows what she is doing!)
- Defrost one sheet of puff pastry
- peel, core, & grate 1 granny smith apple
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- sprinkle (less than 1/4 t) of salt
- dash of cinnamon
DIRECTIONS….
Peel & grate the apple using a large box grater. Combine the grated apple, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and salt in a medium bowl. Cut the puff pastry into even squares (as close as possible). Working with one square at a time (on parchment paper), place about 2 tablespoons of the apple filling (squeezed of excess liquid) in the center of the dough.
Moisten two adjoining edges of the dough square with the apple liquid, then fold the top portion of dough over the bottom. Crimp the edges of the turnover with a fork. Repeat with the remaining dough squares. Refrigerate the filled turnovers 30 minutes, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. While the turnovers are chilling, preheat the oven to 375° F and combine the sugar/cinnamon in a small bowl. Brush the turnovers lightly with water and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. [Using a wide metal spatula, transfer the turnovers to a wire rack to cool.] Serve warm or at room temperature.
Thought of the day: My parents always told me that they had to be nice to me because I would be the one choosing their nursing home… little did they know that since they were nice to me I would be nice to them & surprise them with tasty treats just ’cause I love them!
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