Fennel (seeds and ground) - Margaret Ullrich

Okay...  Fennel ain't famous.

But, it's still good.



And you've probably been enjoying it already.

Really.



Do you like sweet Italian sausages?

Surprise!

You can thank fennel for that.



You can also turn plain sausage meat into sweet Italian sausages by working in 

fennel seeds and sage and refrigerating the sausages overnight before cooking.





Wondering what else you can do with

Easy Homemade Hot Cross Buns - Margaret Ullrich

One a penny, two a penny... hot cross buns;


If you have no daughters, give them to your sons.



Yeah, right.  Try getting 2 buns for a penny. 

Even when they are on sale.

As they are now, now that Lent is here. 



Okay, these will cost more than a penny to make, but they are cheaper than 

store-bought, and you can serve them fresh and warm from the oven.



And the recipe includes

Ash Wednesday / A New Start - Margaret Ullrich

Ash Wednesday.  The start of Lent.

Don't worry.  I'm not trying to convert you.

We Catholics aren't exactly the most assertive bunch.



Who could forget Father Mulcahey on the TV show M*A*S*H?

Remember how on one show he was trying to comfort a young soldier, 

who then admitted that he wasn't Catholic?

The best Mulcahey could muster was a shy, "Would you like to be?"

And how about when

Apple Cobbler & Apple Crisp (also Rhubarb and Peach Variations) - Margaret Ullrich

Who couldn't use a few more apple recipes?



By the way, these recipes also work with other fruit.

I added the rhubarb and peach variations after the basic recipe.



Enjoy!





                        Apple Cobbler



9 x 13" pan

Preheat oven to 375º

Bake 25 minutes



Combine in a large pot

6 apples, cored and sliced                  

1/2 Cup sugar (more or less)             

2

Spicy Apple Oatmeal Cookies - Margaret Ullrich

Apples are on sale this month.

So buy a big bag... or two.



Don't worry about finishing them off at one sitting.

They're great in all sorts of desserts.

Including cookies!



Hope you bought some allspice, too.





                        Spicy Apple Oatmeal Cookies



Grease 2   9" x 13" pan

Preheat oven to 350º

Bake 45 minutes



In a medium bowl combine

2 Cups flour

2 teaspoons

Apples, Apples, Apples - Margaret Ullrich

One of my favorite movies is Mr. Mom.



Remember the scene where Michael Keaton went to get a few groceries?

Ham and cheese.

What could be simpler?

So he thought.



Remember the varieties that were rattled off at him in the deli section?

The poor guy didn't know what had hit him.

Michael really thought there was only one kind of cheese.

And only one kind of ham.





Well, there's a

Allspice (whole berry or ground) - Margaret Ullrich

Allspice!  

A spice for all seasonings!



Just so you know... allspice is not a blend.

It's a fruit.

Just like a berry.

Really.



In 1493 Christopher Columbus discovered allspice in the West Indies.

It's the berry of the West Indian tree Pimenta dioica of the myrtle family.

Lucky for us.



It looks like a dark peppercorn.

It has a mildly pungent flavor.

And it goes with just about

Easy Stewed Chili Chicken - Margaret Ullrich

Got an e mail asking for another quicky chicken recipe.

No problem.



This recipe uses chili seasoning.

Which you've just made.

With the red pepper.



Kismet or what?





Variations:

If you want to make this a one pot meal, add a few peeled and sliced carrots 

to the pot while the chicken is simmering.

A few quartered potatoes can also be added, if you don't want rice.

You might also

Easy Fudge Cake - Margaret Ullrich

Carmela Soprano's Baci Cake is sure popular.

Especially around holidays.



Since the recipe was posted on January 8, 2011, it's had over 300 hits.



But, it is a bit of a hassle to make.

Here's a simpler recipe.

It's your Valentine's Day, too.

And you have way better things to do than make a cake.



Well, I sure hope you do.





                        Fudge Cake



grease 

13 x 9 x 2

Easy Chicken Paprikash and Homemade Spatzle - Margaret Ullrich

When you're right, you're right.

That recipe for Chicken Paprikash and Spatzle is a hassle.

Not the best thing for a weeknight dinner.

Especially when you have to help the kids with a project that's due tomorrow.





This recipe is quicker.

Not quite as good as the other recipe.

Well, what quickie ever is?



But, if you're in a rush, it'll do jusy fine.

Life's too short to stress out

Crushed Red Pepper / Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix and Taco Seasoning Mix - Margaret Ullrich

I know how it is.

You're in a rush.

They're both red and they looked the same.

Some twit had put a bag in the wrong place.





Got an email asking if crushed dried red pepper can be used in place of paprika.

Ah... not really.



Paprika is ground from dried sweet red peppers.  

Crushed dried red pepper is made from hot red peppers.

Paprika is milder than crushed dried red pepper.

Trust

Chicken Paprikash and Homemade Spatzle - Margaret Ullrich

You're absolutely right.

I shouldn't have posted about Paprika without including a recipe.

And the Homemade Meat and Poultry Seasoning Mix wasn't enough.



Sorry.

Here's a nice chicken recipe.



Like the Beef Stew, you have to start this a couple of hours before you need it.

But, it's an easy recipe.

And the stove does most of the work.



You just can't throw Chicken Paprikash together

Anna Sultana's Tomato Sauce and Homemade Meatballs, Maltese Style

What is it with Carmela's recipes?
I'm thinking about her Sunday Gravy / Tomato Sauce.

Don't get me wrong.

Her recipes are good.



But, if you have to watch what you eat - or are on a budget - her recipes sure 

can give you and your wallet ajita.





Ma's recipes are a bit easier.

And healthier.

And cheaper.

Much better recipes for when you're paying off the holiday bills.





Like I

Heart Smart Eating

February is Heart Month.Here are some tips from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  Please check out the recipes!Be well!!

Top 10 tips for heart-smart eatingBy Cara Rosenbloom, RDChoosing better-for-you foods and using heart-smart cooking techniques can help you control risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. Here are 10 ways to be good to your heart. 

Carmela Soprano's Sunday Gravy (Tomato Sauce with Meat) and Homemade Meatballs

Okay... it's February.

The holiday bills have been coming in.

And they're doozies.

Oh, well, Christmas comes but once a year.

Yeah, I know, that doesn't help.





Unfortunately, the gang wants to eat real dinners.

Recently Safeway had a sale on pasta.

Guess even store manager got their holiday bills.





Whether it’s Sunday dinner at Tony’s house or at Artie Bucco’s Nuovo Vesuvio

Paprika / Homemade Meat and Poultry Seasoning Mix - Margaret Ullrich

Got a couple of emails from folks I had left holding the bag.

The bag of Paprika, to be exact.



I had said, "Don't be afraid to buy a bag of paprika.

We'll have some more fun with it in a few weeks."



Well, a couple of folks reminded me it's been a few weeks.

Sheesh!



So, without further ado, here's the scoop on Paprika.





Paprika is ground from dried sweet red peppers.  

It can be