Random

I call this blog “Random”.  I’ve been so busy with school and work along with parties that I have not been able to post anything here that is decent! So sorry, but I hope you enjoy the photos of what has been going on.
 


Here are a couple more photos of the Spicy Green Chile burritos with fresh pan fried tortillas. Garnished with sour cream and fresh cilantro…just the way I like them!







A gift from Italy… I still need to make this and incorporate Mario’s instructions.



Need to grow these “special” bay leaves! 



 


In the mean time, I’ve cut sweet potatoes in half and started to grow them.  My grandmother used to grow these in her backyard and would harvest the leaves to eat.  She would sauté the leaves and eats them with rice.  I am growing these in memory of her.





Some photos from Italian feast 





 




Homemade Italian meatballs and sauce! Mmmm… This photo was taken after I fried the meatballs and threw them in the pot.  I ended up simmering the meatballs for hours afterward.  Looks so "rustic"!





So this filling for ravioli is sooo simple.  I just took spinach, Portobello mushrooms (sliced/diced) and sauteed with lots of fresh minced garlic in canola oil with salt & pepper (I ran out of olive oil)…remove from heat and mix in shredded Parmesan cheese.  Let the filling cool and stuff your raviolis!  I boiled these raviolis and mixed in my homemade Alfredo sauce!  I’ve made this twice and so far I’ve received raved reviews!  I plan on making a bunch and freezing them!  





Sichuan Chicken! Soo spicy!  I made this earlier last week for my uncles.  Original recipe is made with shrimp - one of my favorite dishes as a kid.  I first fell in love with this spicy shrimp dish at one of the restaurants my dad worked at.  He cooked the dish and brought it out for us to eat.  The sauce is soo good with white rice. I learned how to cook this by watching him make it at home. 




My first attempt at making caramel from sweet condensed milk! OMG sooo good! If I can only have one thing to eat forever and ever – I pick sweet condensed milk! LOL Here is a photo of the caramel popcorn I made Friday night.  I am working on my caramel popcorn skills for Fall Festivities!





Now don’t be jealous…. On Saturday we made 14 lbs of Prime Rib for the family along with garlic mashed potatoes (red potatoes, sour cream, butter, garlic, salt/pepper), shrimp scampi, Portobello baked, Caesar salad, corn, and dinner rolls! Below is the cow we roasted!





For every 5 lbs Standing Prime Rib Roast, mix the seasoning below and rub all over meat:

10 cloves minced garlic or 5 teaspoons of pre-minced garlic

2 tbs olive oil

2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground black pepper

2 tsp dried thyme

Optional…1 tsp onion powder



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BTW - This Sunday I am taking a Puerto Rican cooking class!  So stay tuned for photos!

"Have cake & eat it too!"

For our wedding, we had Robert’s Catering make our Wedding Cake. So every year we come back for an anniversary cake - a 6-inch round layered cake. All these are made from a Bavarian cream base. Honestly I go here about 6 to 8 times a year and they know me by name and exactly what I always order. Jon ordered my birthday cake a few months ago and he mistakenly ordered the wrong flavor (Strawberry instead of Strawberry Banana Rum) and the baker had to point it out. LOL I thought that was funny.




Our favorite here is

• Poppy Seed Cake, butter cream/whip cream frosting, Lemon Cream with sliced fresh strawberries
• Poppy Seed Cake, butter cream/whip cream frosting, Strawberry Banana Rum

Below is the Lemon Cream one. I had to quickly take a photo of it before my husband grabbed us each a slice.



This is the place to go if you want great tasting cakes!