May302012
Cream Puffs Ingredients Filling 2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup milk Pastry 1/2 cup butter 1 cup water 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 4 eggs Directions Mix together vanilla instant pudding mix, cream and milk. Cover and refrigerate to set. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). In a large pot, bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and salt until the mixture forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon or stand mixer, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Centers should be dry. When the shells are cool, either split and fill them with the pudding mixture, or use a pastry bag to pipe the pudding into the shells. From: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cream-puffs/

Cream Puffs
Ingredients
Filling
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk

Pastry
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs

Directions
Mix together vanilla instant pudding mix, cream and milk. Cover and refrigerate to set.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

In a large pot, bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and salt until the mixture forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon or stand mixer, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Centers should be dry.

When the shells are cool, either split and fill them with the pudding mixture, or use a pastry bag to pipe the pudding into the shells.

From: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cream-puffs/
April52012

Crockpot Spinach Lasagna

I found this recipe for spinach lasagna rolls a while back and have since adapted it for my crockpot. If I have time to make it fancy then I’ll probably would still use the original recipe but for now, the crockpot method works the best for me! What’s even better is that I don’t have to cook the lasagna noodles ahead of time- just layer everything in the crockpot, put on high and time for about 2-3 hours!

Ingredients:
9 lasagna noodles
10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
15 oz ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
salt and fresh pepper to taste
32 oz favorite spaghetti sauce
1/2 package shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Ladle about 1 cup sauce on the bottom of crockpot.

Layer three lasagna noodles on the bottom of the crockpot, breaking if necessary to fill in the gaps.

Start with 1/3 of spinach mixture and spread on lasagna noodles. Ladle another cup of sauce and repeat the noodles-spinach mix-sauce pattern until you use everything. Top with shredded mozzarella and set your crockpot to high 2-3 hours.

It’s usually a large dish for our family so I just put the rest in small individual tupperware and freeze for later. Makes a good home-cooked lunch for work or a fast meal to microwave for the kids! One of my favorite meals!

May282011

Jamaican Beef Patties

There is a local Caribbean restaurant right around the corner from our place and I love love love their appetizer, beef patties. Thing is, sometimes they run out by the time we come for dinner which leaves me totally bummed! I’ve tried to recreate the recipe before, with moderate success. This time, it was still moderately successful but better than my first time. Beef patties can be described as curried empanadas. I’ve never been to Jamaica so I can’t say I can compare them to the “real thing.” They are still pretty yummy, though labor intensive (for someone with two youngsters under 2). I got the recipe for the Jamaican Beef Patties from allrecipes.com, but altered some steps.

Ingredients

  • PASTRY
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons curry powder
  • dash salt
  • 1/2 cup margarine
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2/3 cup water
  • FILLING
  • 2 tablespoons margarine
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 1 egg, beaten

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a large bowl, combine flour, curry powder, and pinch of salt. Cut in margarine and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Shape dough into a log, and cut into 8 equal sections. Roll each section into a six inch circle (approximately 1/8 inch thick). Set aside.
  2. Melt margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until soft and translucent. Stir in ground beef. Season with 1 teaspoon curry powder, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, red pepper flakes and pepper then adjust to taste. Cook until beef is evenly brown, stirring constantly. Stir in beef broth and bread crumbs. Simmer until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
  3. Spoon equal amounts of filling into each pastry circle. Fold over and press edges together, making a half circle. Use a fork to press edges, and brush the top of each patty with beaten egg. To make it neater, use a pizza cutter or a knife to trim the edges for a clean look.
  4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
8PM

Starting fresh

It seems like every time I try to start a blog, I quit after a post or two and become unmotivated. I’m going to try this again, this time with recipes that I’ve come across that I like, tried and actually felt like it was something I’d do again! I’ve been getting lots of good ideas from friends who’ve also tested out various recipes, and I’m hoping I can contribute something good too :) I’m drawn to recipes that are fast (I have a 1 1/2 year old, and a 3 month old), somewhat healthy, tasty and edible for a toddler too. There are days where it’d be way faster to just make a turkey sandwich but then my lil man would have nothing to eat! SO! Let’s see what I can cook up!

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