I really like pasta, and lately I’ve been eating the homemade kind. With homemade pasta, of course I need homemade sauce! The traditional garlic and oil was getting boring, and I don’t really love tomatoes, so unless they’re cooked for a really long time, I don’t like making sauce with them (sometimes I do, anyway). I do, however, like red sauces. And I really like pink sauces, and I used to only have them in restaurants. But now I’ve found a way to replicate the restaurant flavor at home…and it didn’t even take THAT long. True, the sauce had to simmer in the oven for an hour and a half, but if you have laundry to fold, a paper to write, or some TV to watch, then do it when the sauce is in the oven. Oh yeah, and you’ll definitely have to do some dishes, too.
Tag Archives: food network
Hot Chocolate Mix
I know it isn’t really hot chocolate season, but this is the reason that you need this post. Ever get home and just really want a mug of hot chocolate only to realize that you have no more little packets Well, after making this you won’t need any.
Half-Pound Cake
Pound cake is pretty much what it sounds like…You measure out a pound of all the ingredients, mix them together, and lo and behold you have a delicious, rich cake. It lasts a pretty long time on the counter, too. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, I’m not sure this is the right cake for you. I did take note of the volume, but I’m not sure how accurate those are. My advice? Get a kitchen scale! You can get a good one for 20 dollars. The smell alone is worth it. Continue reading
French Pear Tart
I had too many pears this week, and I just couldn’t figure out what to do with them. Then I remembered that I had some pie crust in the freezer and decided to make Ina Garten’s apple tart. I made a few changes, the most noticeable one the fruit I used, but I also realized that the recipe for tart dough was not hers, but the one from The Art and Soul of Baking. It was kind of crumbly (maybe because it was pareve), but still tasted great. Next time I’ll try Ina’s. Continue reading
Homemade Marshmallows
I like making candy. I never really thought marshmallows were candy until I made them, but now I know they are. Making them involves cooking sugar and corn syrup to the “soft ball” stage, and anything that involves cooking sugar and using a thermometer is candy to me. The result is just very different than some candies we’re used to!
At first I thought making these would be hard. Plus I’ve never used gelatin before, but making marshmallows is surprisingly easy and very fast (except for the 4-hour waiting time while they set). Try it at your own risk – you’ll want to make them all the time. My favorite way to eat them is in hot chocolate. You can also add them to your ice cream, melt them on top of brownies, or make s’mores…the possibilities are endless. Did I mention they taste better than store bought ones? Continue reading
Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables
This simple dish is a healthier version of mac and cheese. I adapted it from Giada’s version, but she uses way more cheese and adds sauce. I decided to omit the sauce and make it more like mac and cheese, less like baked ziti. Her recipe also calls for 4 mushrooms, which is nothing. I left them out, though they probably would have been a great addition to the meal. Next time I’ll definitely use them.
Truffles
Truffles are usually seen as these special and decadent Valentine’s Day gifts that are impossible to make at home…did you know that they’re really easy? It’s much cheaper to make them at home, not to mention that homemade candy makes a much more personal gift than Godiva.
Ribollita
I’ve been wanting to make this soup for a really long time, so when I saw that kale was showing up at the market, I added it to my menu. It takes a pretty long time to make, so I decided to make it on a Sunday and serve in on Monday. On Sunday morning I woke up early, soaked the beans, and went to work. When I came home a little before six, I went shopping for all the produce needed: celery, carrots, onions, garlic, basil, and kale. There was no kale at the fruit store, they ran out and are getting more tomorrow. There was no kale at the supermarket, either. They also ran out. I already soaked the beans, so I had to improvise on the soup. It came out delicious, anyway.
Food TV
I miss Food Network.
Stupid Cablevision and Scripps…
Mushroom “Parmesan”
Okay, I have to admit that I don’t like parmesan cheese. So when I say parmesan, I mean muenster. It’s delicious, anyway. If you do like parmesan cheese, feel free to sprinkle some on top. I got the idea for this dish while watching Giada make vegetarian meals for her mom. It’s super easy and very delicious! When I make this, I make one mushroom per person. Serve with a side of pasta and a light salad for an easy weeknight meal.