Italian Chicken Marsala Soup

Sunday, February 27, 2011
Italian Chicken Marsala Soup is a unique soup for all Marsala wine lovers or the popular "Chicken Marsala" dish.

This is a hearty soup bursting with the flavors of that famous Italian meal.

During the year we love to make this for a lighter meal especially during the summer months and it's certainly a unique in flavor but a favorite for all Marsala lovers.

This soup is so versatile loaded with chicken, mushrooms some diced vegetables, and certainly can even have added pastine to it.

It sure is a family favorite here all year round and is pure comfort food.

The soup makes a large amount and freezes well too so don't worry about having too much.

IF you love soups try our roundup of Best Soup Recipes where you will find all of Grandma's favorites.

Don't miss out on trying this old classic just scroll down for this printable recipe!





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No Bake Chocolate Irish Creme Pie

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
This No Bake Irish Cream Chocolate Pie is the perfect easy dessert to celebrate St. Patrick's Day but even better it's a great pie that's super easy to make all summer long.

This fluffy pie is loaded with whipped cream, cream cheese, and chocolate topped with more whipped topping, and drizzled with hot fudge sauce, the ultimate boozy chocolate cream pie!

If you're hosting an adult dinner party, this continues to be a favorite dessert, and being no-bake, it frees up lots of time for you to visit with your guests.

No problem if you want to omit the alcohol and add vanilla extract, the pie will still have that fluffy chocolate delicious flavor.

What can be easier than a no-bake chocolate pie with a chocolate cream creamy topping and a drizzle of hot fudge on top? It just may be your next favorite pie on the planet!

Our recipe is printable just scroll to the bottom of the page and hit print if you're in a hurry to make this one.


Irish cream in a chocolate pie in a chocolate crust


Creamy Orzo Herb and Parmesan

Monday, February 21, 2011
If you’re looking for an easy side dish this is the quickest and delicious little orzo side dish you'll ever make.

The butter and cheese cling to the pasta and it's a creamy mini pastina with a big bold flavor.

This recipe is printable if you scroll to the bottom and do not want to read the entire post, hit print and ads will do away.

I always have to double the recipe and never seem to make enough creamy orzo herb and Parmesan pastina it gets gobbled up so fast.


creamy orzo pastina recipe


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How To Roast a Perfect Italian Whole Chicken

Sunday, February 20, 2011
When it comes to roasting chicken, I should have watched mom when I was younger and wouldn't have struggled with all the things I didn't know about roasting a whole chicken.

Mom's was always perfect in appearance, beautifully browned with flavors that were fabulous in every juicy bite of chicken and after all these years, I finally aced her technique of roasting the perfect Italian-flavored chicken.

These instructions will teach you to clean a whole chicken, what herbs and spices are the best (for an Italian-style flavor of course!), and carving tips.

The bird is perfectly cooked when its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, so we urge you to invest in that little tool, it's quite handy.

I always remembered mom tenting the bird first to release the inner juices and then roasting it to a moist juicy fork tender chicken that everyone raved about.

After making our version, you'll be an expert on roasting the best whole chicken you ever had and did I mention leftover roasted chicken is awesome in so many recipes?!


delicious juicy roasted chicken on a broiler pan perfectly cooked


21

Valentine's Day Heart Cake

Sunday, February 13, 2011
What better way to celebrate a Valentine's Day holiday than to say "I love you" to that special someone than with an easy delicious pretty heart cake or pie?

Our heart-shaped pan does all the work needed, a cake mix or even a pie crust will work, and pudding, fresh strawberry, and strawberry glaze super fast and so pretty to serve.

The cake can even be made ahead of time and frozen then put together with these ingredients after thawing!

For other creative heart, food recipes check out our all Heart Shaped Food Ideas they are all super easy to make.

Scroll down to our printable recipe card for instructions for your special Valentine.



heart shaped cake


29

Raspberry Coconut Cake

Friday, February 11, 2011
Raspberry Coconut Cake was my dad's favorite cake of all time with red raspberry seedless jam and a white cake or yellow and smothered in coconut.


Every year I would make this for my daddy on Valentine's Day it was so special and the memories are priceless to see his face light up.


We usually don't post much about family, but this recipe has to be a tribute to him and dad was so appreciative, he deserves more than this shout-out.


I can't express enough the cherished memories and gratitute and how lucky I am for the kindness, support he gave me as a child and without his teachings cooking foods, support, love, and life in general, I wouldn't be the woman I am today.


Although you can make this cake with a mix or from his mom (my grandmother) scratch cake, it's a delicious easy cake, always made for him with love, this ones for you dad.



heart shaped raspberry coconut cake


28

Crispy Fried Calamari Spaghetti Marinara

Thursday, February 10, 2011
This is a special dish we love around Valentine's Day for two people celebrating at home Crispy Fried Calamari topped high on Spaghetti Marinara.

All are shortcut simple recipes and will come perfect with all homemade easy to find ingredients.

We added some suggestions and mix-ins below and for a printable copy of this recipe just scroll down to the bottom of the post.






19

Baked Panko Crusted Fish with Marinara Sauce

Monday, February 7, 2011
Baked Panko-Crusted Fish with a fresh tomato marinara sauce is a favorite seafood dish during Lent.

We love to serve with crunchy coated fish with some cooked pasta, angel hair being the favorite with this freshly made plum tomato sauce.

Any seafood whether it's halibut, cod, or even baked panko coated shrimp works great with all the flavors and makes an unforgettable meal.

This is one of our favorite recipes for Christmas Eve also when making The Feast of 7 Fishes.

Of course, you won't find this on many menus in a restaurant but if you love a great homemade sauce with fish you may also like our Baccala which is a salted codfish, Stuffed Squid, or our delicious Cioppino which is a fish stew then you will love this version.

Scroll down and print off the recipe to give it a try.


panko crusted fish with marinara and angel air pasta


19

Curry Chicken Wings

Sunday, February 6, 2011

 12 wings baked, grilled or fried

Salt, pepper, cayenne, curry powder
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, or about 1 tablespoon dried
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, or to taste
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt, to taste

Preparation:

Dredge  wings salt,  pinch of cayenne, pinch of curry powder and pepper mixed in flour to coat both sides. Fry till crisp. In a saucepan, add the chicken broth, wine, parsley , garlic, and curry powder. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes longer. Stir in cream and add salt, to taste. Heat through. Dip wings in  the sauce.

Want more wing recipes?  Click here
10

Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes



A great appetizer for any party! An easy side dish for any meal...

Potatoes
Sour Cream
Crumbled Bacon
Shredded REAL Cheddar Cheese
Whipped Cream Cheese
Garlic powder
Parsley
milk

Microwave the amount of potatoes you need for your party, I microwave 5 potatoes cutting them into 10 halves. After the potatoes are cooked, cut length wise in half and scoop out the centers of each half and place in a large bowl. Brush all potato jackets with olive oil, place on a cookie sheet lined with  parchment paper.  With a hand masher or electric hand blender, blend 1 tablespoon of sour cream per potato and 1 teaspoon per potato of cream cheese adding 1/4 cup milk and whip till creamy leaving a few chunks. Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, sprinkle with parsley flakes, mix. Fill each potato jacket and sprinkle tops with shredded  cheddar top with bacon. Bake in the oven till the potato jackets are crispy.
Makes a great side dish when making your favorites wings!
For wing recipes click here...
16

World Nutella Day with Nutella Melting Moments Gem Cookies

Saturday, February 5, 2011
February 5th is World Nutella Day, brought to you from Ms. Adventures of Italy and Bleeding Expresso . Another favorite of ours made with Nutella, if your a Nut for Nutella, this is a perfect cookie for you. Very delicate flavored cookie, with rich chocolate Nutella and hazelnuts on top.

Very hard to resist not eating the whole batch in one sitting.


Almond and Frangelico give this cookie a perfect flavoring for the batter.



Make sure you use a floured finger to make the well to fill after they're cooled thoroughly.


Wrap in wax paper for around and hour for easier handling of the dough.





1 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon Frangelico
Nutella

chopped hazelnuts for decorating

Cream butter in a large mixing bowl; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Sift in flour and cornstarch, mix well. Add flavorings, blending well. Chill 1 hours.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place 3" apart making a well in the center of each cookie with your index finger, to fill when cooled. Bake at 350 till set not brown.
Cool completely cookies are very fragile, spread with Nutella gently onto cookies, add chopped hazelnuts.
World Nutella Day
Check out these other wonderful recipe using Nutella:

 Bread Pudding Nutella 2011 Latest Food Craze
Ricotta Frangelico Nutella Cake
Nutella Hazelnut Truffles
Nutella Mousse Tart
Nutella Ferrero Rocher Hot Cocoa
Nutella Milano Cookies
Nutella Chocolate Banana Crepes
Nutella No Name Cupcakes
Raspberry Nutella Crepe
Nutella Chocolate Chip Bars
38

Baked Greek Style Chicken Wings

Friday, February 4, 2011



3 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 pounds fresh or frozen chicken wingettes, thawed


CUCUMBER SAUCE:


1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup chopped peeled cucumber

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dill weed

1 garlic clove, peeled

Dash salt

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the lemon juice, oil, honey, oregano, garlic and salt. Add chicken wings; seal bag and toss to coat. Refrigerate overnight.

In a blender, combine the sauce ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate until serving.

Drain and discard marinade. Place wings on a rack in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 35-40 minutes or until juices run clear, turning once. Serve with cucumber sauce. Yield: about 3 dozen (1 cup sauce).
Want More chicken wing recipes? Click here

Game Day Wing Spectacular!
15

Old Fashioned Italian Style Bread Crumbs

Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Don't throw out that leftover stale bread, keep saving it till you have enough to make these delicious Italian Flavored Bread Crumbs. I can remember as a kid, I would open the bread box and a ton of old bread would fall out. Couldn't figure out back then why she saved it all. Then as I got older, I was the one who had to grate it with that old fashioned cheese grater! Took forever....thanks to modern technology we can use the food processor to do this job in no time flat, and make the tastiest bread crumbs for any coated dish..of course you can add more or less to taste. But this is our basic recipe for most any Italian recipe on my site. Enjoy!~


The food processor takes no time at all, finely grind the crumbs or if you like chunkier don]t process as long, and its time to add all the spices.

If you keep saving the ends, you will eventually have enough stale bread to make your own. We just keep putting on a cookie sheet leave out for at least a week, it will be very hard. Mom only had a hand grater and still made her own.



Old Fashioned Italian Style Bread Crumbs

Hard Stale leftover bread 1 full loaf of saved Italian bread
cooking spray oil
1 tablespoon salt
3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder (optional)
2 tablespoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons dried basil
1/4 cup grating cheese (optional)

Directions Fast version if you need them quick:
Cut bread into slices or cubes, place on cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking oil,put oven on low over 175 degrees until the bread is dry and hard slightly browned.
You can also leave this out for days until the bread is rock hard and stale uncovered or it will get moldy. Keep in a dry place.
Place the hard bread into a food processor and finely grind the bread.
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, tossing to blend thoroughly.
Store in an airtight container, I use glass mason jars and you can use in any recipe calling for Italian breadcrumbs.
Depending on what you are cooking you can additional spices, rosemary, thyme, sage.
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