The only thing we know for sure is this dish, further, any Tetrazzini dish, is named after Luisa Tetrazzini, an Italian opera star popular in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. What seems to be in question is what hotel chef put this together for her and gave it her name. This is my own version of the dish. And it’s simmering.
Baking this a few minutes after the initial cooking gives a truly different twist to this pasta dish.
A cookie recipe I made last year around this time. I might use licorice this year or black and orange yogurt raisins to decorate the faces. Not into faces? This cookie is good without them too.
Over the last days I’ve been visiting with my daughter and her family in Southern California. My daughter is always mindful of healthy eating. Her pantry is low sugar, primarily organic and whole grain everything. She is into cookies and muffins if the nutritional value outweighs the calories. I’m for that! So, while driving home I was thinking dessert … after all, it had been three days without one. My thoughts went to a raisin biscuit, not gluten free, I ate as a kid. I’ve searched for this cookie in recent years … no longer available at my grocer’s.
I started this recipe late in the day when the natural light was disappearing from my kitchen … Working quickly to get a post together by the end of the day. The step to refrigerate the dough was skipped … saving time, but the recipe suffered a bit. I worked half the dough … So, tomorrow look for instruction photos showing the rolling out process when I work the second half. The typical all purpose flour has been replaced by a gluten free all purpose. This was an easy transition for this cookie since the texture of the original raisin biscuit is unlike a ‘cookie.’ I’ve done a taste test and this definitely passes. I think my daughter would approve!
Try this with any number of dried fruit. I tweaked this a little and added a few dried cranberries too.
Pumpkin Pie is one of the easiest and quickest pies to put together. Well, if you’re not making your own puree. I mentioned I’ve cooked raw pumpkin for my pies in the past. Once! When I found the taste was not different from the Libby’s canned puree I quickly eliminated the step. I’m a researcher from way back, cancer research that is … So, I have to add my taste test was not particularly scientific. I was the only taste tester before I added the spices. And I had a prejudice but in favor of my cooked pumpkin. I wanted my cooked pumpkin to taste differently … better. It just didn’t. Maybe others have had a different outcome. What do you think?
You may have noticed I’ve made the pie crust from scratch. In our family we have always made the pie crusts for any pies we’ve made. And after years of eating pie this way it’s hard to change. In fact, to me homemade pie crust makes this pie whether you eat the crust or simply eat the filling off it. Yes, that’s a bit strange. And I’m trying to think of an analogy but I can’t.
When I mention the importance of pie crust I’m referring to the taste and texture. In the last years I’ve used these little cutters just for fun. Adults and children just like the festive look. Me too.
Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs is one of Austin’s favorites and I’ve added the Mac N Cheese. Sounds over the top. I’m going to do a few things to keep this recipe healthier.
-First, lean bacon is going to be precooked slightly to render part of the fat.
-The hot dogs are going to be picked selectively to avoid excess fat and salt, and filler meat products.
-Lite on the cheese and milk.
-Spinach can be added but not this time.
-Whole wheat macaroni can be used but produces a little firmer Mac N Cheese.
I am definitely one who believes from scratch cooking more often than not is better. Most often healthier, tastier and cheaper. There are exceptions, I agree!
One Thanksgiving, yes just once, I decided to make pumpkin puree for my pumpkin pies. Easy enough but a little time consuming, and definitely time consuming when I couldn’t tell the difference between the Libby’s and my own. This was in the day when my tastebuds were extremely sensitive. Not everyone who cooks their own puree agrees. But for spicy pumpkin pie canned pureed pumpkin works. What a simple pie! Mom tweaked the Libby’s recipe slightly and this is what we bake each Thanksgiving. Thank you Libby and Mom. Oh, I didn’t mention the crust! Yes, scratch is a must for us.
An old fashioned dessert worth reviving. The crust is unlike pie crust and creates the perfect wrap to surround a large baking apple. The dumpling rests in a sweet cinnamon syrup. This dessert is not only apple delicious but has a lovely presentation. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a little extra.
Here are a few apple recipes to tide you over until My Apple Dumplings Post.
Top L-R: Spinach Apple Banana Smoothie, Mother’s Day Muffins, Apple Empanadas
Bottom L-R: Pork Chops Recipe, Apple Dessert, Apple Pie
Did you know there are over 7000 apple cultivars? Just within the last weeks I was looking through the apples at my grocer’s. And up popped a new one … to me anyway. Do you get confused about which to use for what? I kinda stick with my favorites. But it’s interesting and recommended to mix cooking apples to get a little different taste and texture.
The crabapple is the only apple variety native to North America. It’s not used in cooking often because of its extremely sour taste. Apples are usually categorized by use; cider, cooking, eating. Below I’ve listed what I often find available and their recommended use. Yep, in my youth I baked an apple pie with Red Delicious. It took forever for the apples to ‘cook.’
Braeburn-sweet, tart; eating and tarts (can turn brown inside from long storage)
Empire-sweet, crunchy, juicy, tangy; eating (cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious)
Fuji-one of the sweetest, crisp; eating (brought to market in the 60’s-developed in a research station in Japan)
Gala-sweet, juicy, crisp, grainy; eating and sauces (one of the most popular apples)
Golden Delicious-very sweet; eating (found in West Virginia-not closely related to Red Delicious)
Granny Smith-crisp, juicy, very tart; cooking and eating (originated in Australia)
Gravenstein-crisp, sweet, tart; cider, cooking and eating (been around for 100’s of years)
Jonathan-tart; cooking and eating (Origin-Woodstock)
McIntosh-slightly tart and crisp; cooking and eating (very popular in eastern Canada and the Northeast US)
Red Delicious-sweet, very mild to little taste; eating (easy to recognize by the mounds circling the bottom)
Rome-crisp, juicy, mild; cooking (flavor develops in baking)
Winesap-sweet, tangy; cider and eating (Stayman apple)
Rice on the side goes with just about any meat, fish or chicken. Actually, I appreciate it all alone! It’s one of my comfort foods. Try this with white rice when you need it quickly … say 15-20 minutes. Or the brown rice option for a little longer cooking time.
You’ll enjoy this for a change to the baked potato-fully loaded.
Every recipe I create for my blog has a story. My file is overflowing with handwritten, typed or photocopied delicious recipes. Anything less wasn’t saved. Many are decades old not unlike this one.
For years I worked with patients with cancer and during the holidays we were flooded with wonderful cakes, cookies and candies. Pumpkin roll was one of the treats. It was so light yet rich … and who doesn’t like pumpkin! The recipe was shared too. As the years passed I stayed loyal to our traditional pumpkin pie during holidays and never made this recipe ‘though I visited it frequently.
Today I pulled out the recipe and did an internet search to make sure it was original. And then what did I do? I changed it just a bit … not because it needs it but to give it a new look.
