Posts Tagged ‘Slow Food’
National Tortini Day is February 13, this day in history
February 10, 2010 | 
Author National Tortini Day is February 13th. A tortini is a small tort so aptly named from Italy. I found a variety of recipes and yes, I know I have not been sharing any of mine as of late, but since I do not often go off to make Plum Pudding (for Feb. 12th nor Tortinis any time soon, I had to go off and search the web for you to share this information…
Upon my researching, I found both savory and sweet tortini recipes – and with this recipe, there is no using the oven.
Now since we are so close to Valentine’s Day, I found a lovely recipe for Chocolate Tortinis…let’s get started!
Ingredients:
- 3 egg whites
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 tsp vanilla essence/extract
- 3/4 cup ground almonds
- 1 1/2 tsp almond essence/extract
Directions:
- Take the eggs out of the refrigerator and separate the whites while they are still cold, then allow them to stand in a bowl at room temperature for about an hour to come to room temperature.
- Place the sugar and water in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add cocoa powder.
- Bring to the boil and let boil uncovered until the syrup spins a fine thread when dropped from a spoon.
- Beat the egg whites with added 1/4 teaspoon of salt until stiff peaks form.
- Then pour the hot syrup in a thin stream over them beating constantly until the mixture forms very thick peaks when the beaters are raised.
- Cover the mixture and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Combine the almond essence and the ground almonds, mixing well.
- Whip the heavy whipping cream and flavor with the vanilla and fold into the egg white mixture blending evenly.
- Spoon into paper lined miniature muffin tins and sprinkle the top of each Biscuit Tortini with a little grated chocolate and a cherry.
- Freeze until firm and then enjoy.
Also this day in history for February 13th:
1851 George Brown Goode was born. He was the editor of ‘The Fisheries and Fisheries Industries of the United States’ while Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries.
1933 The House of Commons defeated a bill that would have prohibited the sale of alcohol in the U.K.
1967 The Beatles single ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ is released.
1971 ‘One Bad Apple’ by the Osmonds reached Number 1 on the charts.
2000 The last original ‘Peanuts’ comic strip is published.
Posted in desserts, from scratch, homemade, National Food Day, Slow Food | 
Tags: Chocolate tortinis, desserts, from scratch, homemade, National Food Day, Slow Food | 
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How to Make a Homemade Multigrain Bread Recipe
Posted in bread, Eating Healthy, homemade, multi-grain, Slow Food | Tags: bread, from scratch, homemade, how to make homemade, multi-grain, multigrain, Recipe, recipes from scratch, Slow Food | No Comments »
Best Chicken Soup Recipe for Colds and Flu
Rosh Hashanah Dinner Menu – Happy New Year
This past Monday I made (with some help) a large and super tasty meal for my very first Rosh Hashanah Dinner. I may not be Jewish, but my guy is and we thought to make a nice meal for several of our friends, one couple whose wedding we had just gone to days before. So to keep the festivities going from their new wedding bliss, my guy and I sought out to create one heck of a meal.
I learned a lot including adding a few new dishes and appetizers to my arsenal of recipes, all of which came out wonderfully. I share them with you here. One thing that I found most interesting what that you eat certain foods to help start the new year sweetly – so that it is sweeter than the previous year. I am all for that. And certain foods are quite traditional as well such as pumpkin, pomegranates, honey, whole fish, just to name a few. Let me share with you some of the reasons as to why you eat these foods and the thoughts behind them.
By eating a head of a fish…yes, you make a large whole fish is “to help represent being ahead for the new year, and not ‘be’ the tail for the new year”…thankfully my guy’s brother is making this one..2) eating a new fruit or apple with honey, so help bring in sweetness to the new year and that your new year will be sweeter than the last year…3) also foods such as beets, pumpkins, spinach, dates, pomegranates.
One particular cool thing about the pomegranates is that they supposedly contain 613 seeds. Thus, Jews display their desire to fulfill God’s 613 mitzvoth (commandments from the Torah) by eating the pomegranate. ok I did not know that…
I will provide all the recipes in a separate post.
So our party menu is the following:
- Sliced apples dipped in honey (the honey was from a local farm and was incredible!) to start (tradition I’m told) all said with a beginning prayer for the meal/feast.
- Clear chicken soupwith special spices
- Spinach patties and leak with ground beef patties (new to me, my guy and I made these – and they were fantastic! You make them the night before and serve them up cold.
- Whole fish served in a creamy super light sauce with chopped tomatoes (will have to ask my guy’s brother for the recipe – it was amazing and looked incredibly pretty)
- Super Salad which resembles a Greek salad with fresh feta cheese, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, red onions, parsley, tomatoes with only fresh lemon juice and olive oil. This was mostly all vegetables and very little lettuce at all.
- homemade hummus – (already posted)
- homemade tortilla chips and toasted pita bread
- cilantro pesto (posted)
- zahatar and olive oil for bread dipping (posted)
- cilantro bean salad (my dish – posted)
- honey glazed carrots
- steamed green beans with then toasted almonds, garlic and drizzled olive oil (posted)
- Cilantro Basmati Rice (posted)
- A huge Roasted rib eye roast (posted)
- Yorkshire pudding and homemade horseradish sauce (ok this is totally me, but heck, give this wasp girl a break – lol)
- pumpkin pie and pecan pie from scratch
- Honey Cake (very traditional and kosher as well)
- then the usual wine, coffee lattes, turkish coffee, etc.
This was followed by followed by two days of cleaning…was it worth it all?… You betcha! You could tell everyone was so impressed (always love that factor, I admit!) – the food was super tasty, beautiful looking and was enjoyed by all…as it turns out, I did have left overs and have been making some interesting new dishes which I will share in another post….Chef Maven
Happy New Year!
Posted in appetizers, authentic, dinner ideas, Dinners, Eating Healthy, food, from scratch, Party Ideas, Party Recipes, Slow Food, slow food recipes | Tags: authentic, easy and best yorkshire pudding recipe, food, from scratch, holiday menues, how to cook bottom round roast of beef, jewish new year dinner menu, restaurant-styled, roasting times, rosh hashanah dinner menus, slow cooking, Slow Food, slow food recipe, slow food recipes, zahatar spice blend mix recipe | No Comments »
Sundays Are Made For Slow Food Meals and Great Times with Family and Friends
As I drank my homemade super-caffeinated unsweetened iced tea this morning after walking my dog Theodore Roosevelt (yes that’s his name), I was surfing and reading various wordpress blogs and after adding a comment to another wordpress.com’s blog: aptly named ‘And No Cheese’ – at http://yellowhammer.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/such-deliciousness/ I realized that Sunday’s are the wondrous days of the week that I like to ‘sit back’ and cook those meals that take some time.
I feel fortunate that my mate is not one to watch and be glued to football on any given Sunday – NOT that that is a bad thing at all mind you, for it really wouldn’t matter to me if he did that (he prefers to sleep in as much as possible – and quite frankly I allow it, since it gives me time to myself). But once up and about and as long as they were not in my kitchen getting in my way, I am at peace.
Actually, I am one of those that love company in the kitchen, I like to chit chat, talk recipes, talk about life, etc. while chopping and slicing away at some shallots. The kitchen is where many people naturally draw themselves too naturally when I entertain, as I am sure you have found this true at your place.
In the past, I have had boyfriends that enjoyed football, nascar – as they too (the men) also need a day off to relax, unwind in their own way before getting back into the grind of work. I am all for taking it slow on Sundays and that includes creating homemade foods from scratch to enjoy and relish in what I may have bought at the farmers market the day before. I save money by creating the food at home as well, that is for sure.
Not every Sunday can be so lucky, but when you can, remember to take this day for yourself and for your family. Relish in those things you love to do, but seem never have time to do. Maybe make a nice large breakfast filled with your favorite foods and newspaper.
Sunday’s are days that should be savored slowly and have time spent with friends and family. The day to do the laundry, the day to take a lovely walk in the woods, while something is slowly cooking in the oven or stove top or slow cooker say. A day to sit back a bit and enjoy the day and night at a calm pace. Sunday’s are days to take for yourself in whatever way you feel free to. And on Sunday’s, I like to create meals with the concept of ‘slow food recipes’.
I can recall many a Sunday where I have roasted a chicken, or a leg of lamb, or made several meals to last through out the week. And for today’s Sunday, I am making homemade loaf of rosemary bread (recipe to come) for the week ahead, my famous chili (now where’s the football?), guacamole, my tarragon salad dressing, corn bread among other dishes. By creating homemade food, I am practicing good ‘slow food’ habits. I know I am taking time to do the right thing by catching up on my weekly news, 60 minutes, etc. and am enjoying every minute of it. Then again, I am doing something I love, to cook and bake. It relaxes me in between posting to my many blogs and keeps me off the streets.
As I go about my day cleaning too around my house today, I will enjoy the smells coming from my kitchen. So, I say this to you on this Sunday. Get out that cookbook of yours, take a peek at trying something new if you dare. You may just find you like it once again. And cooking from scratch can really save monies when you are paying attention to ingredients. Get outside for a bit of fresh air.
Getting out that crock pot and making up a stew is nothing to brush off, but creating wholesome homemade food that you created by hand is something to be proud of knowing you are providing you and your family and friends with delightful and delicious meals to be savored, like every Sunday should be.
Posted in Slow Food, slow food recipes | Tags: chili, Musings, recipes from scratch, Slow Food, slow food recipes | No Comments »