Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread - 2 loaves or 1 bundt cake
Made this recipe hundreds of times. Let's put this in the category of "family favourite"

Ingredients
3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 1/2 tsp double baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups grated zucchini
2 tsp grated lemon peel
Optional 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf or bundt pans.
In a large bowl with fork mix flour, sugar, walnuts, baking powder and salt.
In another medium bowl with fork beat eggs slightly, stir in vegetable oil, zucchini and lemon peels. Stir liquid mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened, spread evenly in pans. (I use my KitchenAid mixer on the lowest speed instead of using a fork and mix just until moistened.)
Bake bread for 1 hour or until golden brown inserting a toothpick for doneness. Cool pans on wire rack for 10 minutes, remove from a pans.

#zucchini #zucchinibread #bundtcake #cake

Polenta

Polenta
One of my childhood favourites!
Polenta is cornmeal boiled into a porridge, and eaten directly or baked, fried or grilled. The following recipe is how I make it which is found on the back of the package. Although the directions suggest to bring the wafer to a boil, I find that the polenta flour clumps up. I whisk the flour in the water right away. My favourite topping is pasta sauce with Parmesan cheese and just a .
drizzle of pickled hot pepper oil...yum!

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups corn flour
6 cups water
1 tsp salt

Directions
Place water in a large pot. Immediately whisk in corn flour with salt whisk frequently until it starts to thicken. Let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
Place on individual plates and garnish with your favourite sauce and cheese, or serve with your favourite meat and gravy dish.

#polenta #cornmeal #porridge

Blog Oven Baked Ribs

Oven Baked Ribs

Fall off the bone super delicious! You will never BBQ again! I find the BBQ makes them too dry unless you like them that way.

Ingredients
4 lbs spare ribs
1 cup sliced onions
1 cup chilli sauce or ketchup
1 cup water
3 tbsp Worchestire sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp dry mustard
Salt and pepper
1/4 tsp paprika

Directions
Cut ribs into serving pieces. Bake on rake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Drain fat. Remove rack. Combine remaining ingredients in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Pour sauce over meat. Bake for 2 hours or until meat is tender.
#bbq #ribs #ovenbakedribs

Old Fashioned Irish Beef Stew

Old Fashioned Irish Beef Stew


I've been making this recipe for many years and yet another family favourite. However cooking time is long but your family will love you for it. Be sure to have plenty of Italian crusted bread for dipping! Save this recipe for the cooler fall/winter day.

Ingredients

2 lbs beef for stew

1 onion, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 bay leaf

2 lg potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks

(The potatoes are my favorite and so I add extra) 

3 lg carrots, peeled and cut into slices

2 cups frozen peas

4 cups beef broth

2 cups tomato sauce 

Flour in a plastic bag 

2 tbsp cooking oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cut beef into bit-size cubes. Add beef cubes to flour in bag and shake until cubes are coated with flour. Heat oil in a large pot. Add celery, onion and bay leaf. Sauté until onions and celery are translucent but not browned. Add the beef to the pan and brown beef completely. Add beef broth and tomato sauce. If necessary, add enough water to cover beef. Add salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover pot and cook for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours until beef is tender. Add carrots and potatoes. Cook 1/2 hour until vegetables are tender. Add frozen peas. Cook 5-10 minutes until peas are tender.

Note: Stir often

#stew #beefstew #homecooking #comfortfood

 

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake
No one will ever know that zucchini is in the recipe. This is so good and taste like brownies.
Feel free to add some chopped walnuts!

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa (I used Hersheys)
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups packed grated zucchini, I left the skin on
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl, just till blended. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl beat eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add in oil and vanilla, beat again till well combined and oil doesn't separate after sitting for a few minutes.
Blend egg mixture to flour mixture. Beat till blended but don't over beat. It'll be the consistency of thick brownie batter.
Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips.
Pour batter into 2 greased or sprayed loaf pans.
Bake in a preheated 350 dergee over for 50-60 minutes. Test for doneness using a toothpick.
Let cool for 20 minutes in pan before removing to rack to cool completely.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, slice and serve.



recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com
#chocolate #zucchini #cake

Ricotta Gnocchi

Ricotta Gnocchi

A healthier version of gnocchi instead of using potatoes.

Ingredients 

3 cups packaged whole-milk ricotta cheese

1¾ teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated

½ teaspoon white pepper, freshly ground

2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed, plus more for forming the gnocchi.

Directions 

Beat the eggs, and 1 teaspoon salt in a separate bowl until foamy. Stir the ricotta, eggs, grated cheese and pepper until thoroughly blended. Gradually add as much of the flour as necessary to form a soft and sticky dough. (Ricotta gnocchi dough is always soft and sticky-don't work in so much flour that you have a firm or smooth dough, or the gnocchi will be tough and heavy. 

Divide the dough into six approximately equal pieces. Roll one of the dough pieces out with a back-and-forth movement of your palms and fingers to a rope about 1/2-inch wide. Flour your hands, the work surface and the dough lightly as necessary to prevent the dough from sticking. Cut the roll crosswise into 1/4-inch lengths. Repeat with the remaining dough. Dust the cut gnocchi lightly with flour and toss them gently to separate. If not using right away, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in refrigerator until ready for use. 

In a large pot of boiling water, add some salt and add the gnocchi, stirring occasionally until they float to the top and are tender, about 5 minutes. 

Strain and serve with your favourite sauce. 

***If you like, make ridges in each gnocchi by placing them on a fork pressing it down with your finger rolling off the fork. Or you can do this on the bottom end of a ribbed wicker basket (what I use and prefer them this way).

#ricotta #gnocchi #dumplings

Lidia Bastianich

Cinnamon Roll Cake

CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

INGREDIENTS
3 cups flour
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1½ cups milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
½ cup butter, melted

TOPPING
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

GLAZE
2 cups powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 glass baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In an electric or stand mixer add the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined well , slowly stir in the melted butter. Pour into the prepared 9×13 baking pan.

For topping
In a large bowl mix the 2 sticks of butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon together until well combined and creamy. Drop evenly over the batter by the tablespoonfuls and use a knife to marble/swirl through the cake.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out nearly clean.

FOR GLAZE
In a medium bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together with a whisk. Drizzle evenly over the warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.
#cinnamoncake #cinnamon #cake
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