About Anita

Sprouting Carrot Cupcakes

Using This Filled Mini Cupcake Recipe!

With a few simple changes this kid lovin’ treat can be their & your Easter Favorite! Yep, we changed out the green food coloring for a carrot orange, added cut green licorice strips sprouting from the shoulder of the “carrots” and switched out the vanilla with chocolate cupcakes for a more dramatic surprise with the first bite. Here’s the how to for the basics: Mini Filled Cupcakes

If you’re into the real deal, Carrot Cake, here.


Corned Beef Brine A Repost

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

Corned Beef BrineIt’s just fun to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day even if you aren’t Irish. Maybe like me you just don’t like the list of ingredients on the corned beef package. It’s not just the Insta Cure, a sodium nitrite that is usually added to impart the red color and the distinctive cured meat flavor, but the tenderizers and who knows what else. So, this year I’m giving my own try at Corned Beef Brine without the Insta Cure, tenderizers and other chemicals. If this is scary for you … you may want to try one of my other ‘sorta’ Irish recipes. You see, until about 6 years ago I thought I was part Irish. It’s not 23andMe that has me convinced otherwise. We are from a different part of Western Europe than previously thought. We are now Scottish Royalty instead according to my Mother. No, I’m not buying it!

If you are into it but want the redness of Corned Beef check out this lovely site. Not into Corned Beef at all? Take a look through my recipes below. I have even included a Chicken Shepherd’s Pie. Happy St. Patrick’s!

My version of Irish Stew. Yep, it has beer!

My version of Irish Stew. Yep, it has beer!

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage. It's just delicious!

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage. It’s just delicious!

Potatoes & Cheese, one of my favorite combinations.

Potatoes & Cheese, one of my favorite combinations.

Bangers and Mash

Bangers and Mash, amazing!

Chicken Shepherd's Pie

Chicken Shepherd’s Pie

Red Cabbage Salad

Red Cabbage Salad

Meat or Fruit-filled Scones

Meat or Fruit-filled Scones

30 Minute Beef Stew

30 Minute Beef Stew

Brisket and Cabbage

Brisket and Cabbage

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Onion Soup

And before Julia Child there was Fannie Farmer. My Mother in her later years acquired a Fannie Farmer Cookbook, a cookbook that was first published in 1896. Mother came from old school and followed recipes to the letter. She loved the simplicity of this cookbook. And no one was complaining about the delicious results. After Mother’s death I acquired her small collection of cookbooks. The one I cherished had long disappeared, a gift to my Mother from my Dad at their first Christmas. As my Mother tells it, she cried and cried when she opened the gift. At the age of 10 as she told the story I wasn’t sure … did she love it or hate it. For many years this Good Housekeeping Cookbook was her go-to.

This Onion Soup recipe is influenced by Fannie Farmer’s 6 ingredient recipe. No beef stock or broth. Has an amazing depth in flavor.

 

 

 

 

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Cranberry Almond Biscotti

Goodness! We’ve eaten them all up and I have yet to post the recipe. I have to honest. I’m particular about my biscotti. Freshly baked gets thumbs up while store bought … can’t go there. The reason is obvious to me … dry toasted vs stale! Try this little recipe … gives you just enough for a day or two treat … simple … delicious & healthy fresh.

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More than Chicken Soup

This chicken soup is not just for flu or cold season but if your family is stricken this More than Chicken Soup may help soothe those miserable symptoms. A friend of mine was under the weather and I just had to try this recipe. We’ve all heard of the benefits of chicken soup. But all chicken soups are not equal. Do chicken soups leave you searching for flavor? <yes, often> Do you find the chicken bland no matter how spicy the broth? <yes, often> Not here! The chicken is spiced up & oven roasted, adding to soup just before serving. I was a little tentative about the recipe since my friend is not into curry. Nope! The recipe doesn’t have curry powder but it has several spices (no turmeric) found in curry. He loved it! Yep, he feels much better today.

Thank you Baker by Nature for this Flu Fighter Chicken Noodle Soup recipe. Please forgive me if I change it ever so slightly.

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Mexi Pasta Salad

A pasta salad to please … packed with delicious ingredients. This is the perfect main dish. It’s a salad I just can’t stop eating. Yikes! A great side to add to my Smoker Brisket.

If like me, you have a hard time following a recipe exactly this is a recipe for you. It takes to change-ups easily. The campanelle pasta is a great touch but you can substitute.

I happened upon this recipe quite by accident. I love the blogger site but I’m not sure it remains active. I’ll be trying some of the authentic Portuguese recipes. Hope you enjoy the site and this recipe.

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Smoker Brisket

Our Valentine’s Gift

Perfect the first time! A home run! This smoker received almost a perfect score on Amazon for good reason. (Purchased locally at Home Depot.) Easy and slick. I did follow the directions! The only drawback … you’ll smell like smoke during the process. After you become a Pro it can be done over night while you sleep. Of course, you’ll have the safety risks ironed out. Just a fun way to cook, and I can finally make my own linguica.

For this brisket I used Emeril Lagasse’s rub. If anyone knows about these spices he does! He suggested mesquite for the smoking but I used hickory (pretty strong compared to some woods) which worked well. (Mainly using regular Kingsford briquets with 3 chunks of hickory placed by the bottom vents inside the briquet chamber. And if you haven’t used a chimney lighter you must get one. It works perfectly in minutes with just lighted paper.) Because the Weber Smoker has such a stellar rep I followed their directions very closely, kinda. I filled the briquet area of the smoker as directed for the time and meat I was smoking but removed about 35 pieces to the chimney lighter. Lit these 35 first and then added to the remainder and the three chunks of hickory. Really worked well! I’ll branch out as I become less of a novice.

 

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Lemon Pie

Couldn’t wait until it cooled to have a piece! Not recommended if you want to slice it perfectly. But it was perfectly delicious. A simple 50’s recipe … Use a traditional pie crust or use a Lemon Cookie Crust as I did here. The meringue might need an additional egg white or two if you’re into showy. I can help with that here.

If you can’t find Meyer lemons at your grocers the usual will do. We just had some Meyer lemons on hand.

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Chiffon Upside Down Cake

From Mother’s recipe tin. A great little cake for a quick dessert fix. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry. No pineapple? Then just add your favorite nuts to the top. I skipped the maraschino cherries you often see.

Amazing texture and moistness! Baked in an 8 inch cast iron pan, not recommended … the reason for the overflow edge around the cake. A 9-inch cast iron pan is recommended for the best results.

 

 

 

 

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