Let's try......Bocconcini cheese!

I am becoming more adventuresome in my older age....not that I am old or anything....In Internet years I am 24 and hot!! (hahaha.  I just saw that on a friend's facebook....had to use it!)  I want to taste new foods and combinations, be brave and eat things that I may not be sure of....like Dim Sum..  We will see about that one.

Anyways, I want to blog about my trying new things.  So here it goes.  Bocconcini cheese!!!  It is an Italian unripened mozzarella cheese that is packaged with whey liquid.  It's name means, "small mouthfuls" - depicting its small cherry size.  It has a spongy semi firm texture and it takes on flavors that it is mixed with.  It is usually paired with tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar.    So, that is what I did!!!

So here is what Bocconcini cheese looks like.  Kinda weird, kinda cool!  I've never seen cheese like this before!

So here is a simple beautiful recipe to make with this unique cheese. 

Tomato, Basil, and Bocconcini cheese salad with Balsamic vinaigrette.

You will need:  2 tomatoes (beefsteak or vine ripened is good)

                          1 bunch of fresh basil leaves

                          1/2 a package of bocconcini cheese

                          salt and pepper

                          balsamic vinegar

                          olive oil

 What you do:  (it is soooo easy!)

You may slice the tomatoes and the cheese.  ( I made this salad again the next day and cut the tomato into large chunks - I liked it better)  Layer tomato and cheese on plate and season well with salt and pepper.  You make then place basil leaves on top.  (In my second attempt I chopped the basil - like this better too)  Now you drizzle as much balsamic vinegar on that you would like, and add a good drizzle of olive oil too. 

That is it!  Now eat this beautiful salad!!!!

Amazing Soft Tacos!

My husband recently requested these amazing soft tacos for supper. These are my mom's speciality and I am a bit intimidated by them.  You have to swirl them in a pan to make them and sometimes that can be hard.  But when one loves one's husband as I do I got out my non-stick medium pan and practised my "swirling" technique.  I know....such a technical word....swirling....

Soft Tacos!  (Actually quite easy!)

You Need:  1 egg

                    1/2 cup  of all-purpose flour

                    1 cup water or milk 

                    1/4 cup of yellow cornmeal

                    1 tsp of chili powder

                    1/4 tsp of salt

Combine flour, cornmeal, chili-powder, and salt.  Add egg and water (or milk).

Whisk ingredients together till well combined.  Ready to swirl!!!

Add a very small amount of oil into non-stick pan.  Heat pan on medium-high.

Pour about 1/4 cup of  mixture into hot frying pan.

Here is where we swirl!  Tip pan around to make the round taco shape. 

**Note: first taco may be a bit oily as it is the first and absorbs the oil in the pan.  Still tasty.  The rest will work out beautifully.***

Heat taco in pan for about 30-45 seconds.  You will notice the edges will begin to separate from pan.  Using your "flipper" (another techy word) flip taco over.

Heat this side for another 30 seconds.  DONE!!!  Keep warm in oven while you make hundreds more....Your gonna need them. Your family will gobble them up PRONTO!!

Serve with your favourite taco toppings!  We love a spicy taco sauce on ours.

Wrap up your yummy taco and eat away!  Ariba!!

Nutty Mocha Biscotti

I love LOVE biscotti cookies!  When ever I was in Starbucks I HAD to have one with my over-priced yet oh so worth it caffinated beverage.  I had never made biscotti and now that I have discovered that it is SUPER EASY..... I won't be buying as many at the coffee shop. (ok, I probably will still buy them, all the while lamenting that I purchased biscotti when I had some perfectly better ones at home..)


Here is the first (and truthfully only recipe I have made so far.....It's good!)

Nutty Mocha Biscotti

Whatcha need:  2 eggs, 2 TBSP of instant coffee, 2 cups flour, 1 and 1/2 tsp of baking powder,  1/2 cup of butter (1 stick for my American friends), 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 cup of  pecans, and 4 squares of  baking chocolate ( 4 ounces).

Pre - Step One:  Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Step One:  Whisk eggs and coffee granules until well blended.

Step two:  Mix flour and baking sugar.

 Step three:  Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended.

Step 4:  Add egg mixture; mix well

Step Five:  Gradually beat in flour mixture until well blended.

Step Six:  Coarsely chop chocolate and pecans.

 So Beautiful together!

Step Seven:  Stir in chocolate and pecans.

 Place dough on lightly floured surface; divide in half.  Roll into 2 logs (approx 10 inches)   Place on greased or parchment papered cookie sheet 2 inches apart.  Bake for about 30- 35 minutes until lightly brown. 

 COOL for 10 minutes!!!  Transfer to cutting board and using a serrated knife cut diagonally each log into slices. 

 Place back on baking sheet bake 10 more minutes until crisp an dry.  Cool completely.

 You can now make your biscotti extra special by drizzling chocolate or dipping an end in chocolate. So good!!!  If you do this put in fridge until the chocolate is firm.

Then make some coffee baby and indulge in a wonderful biscotti that YOU made!!!

DO NOT EAT THIS!!! But make it for your kids!!!

Kool - Aid Playdough

You Need:
1c flour
1/2c salt
2tbsp cream of tartar
1pkg of Koolaid
2tbsp oil
1c water

Mix all ingredients into a saucepan.

On medium heat, stirring constantly cook until a soft dough forms.  You will know it is ready when you see the dough turn opaque...(ooooh fancy word....... for dull!) Cool for a bit and form into ball.  

When all cool hand over to children to smell (it smells nice!!) BUT don't let them eat it.  Its for playing with!!

Rosmary Garlic Pork Tenderloin

 This is a very easy, very flavorful marinade to use on any pork piece, be it tenderloin, chop, or roast.  We love to bbq our pork tenderloin and the smoky goodness of the bbq chars the Rosemary and adds a lovely smokiness to the meat.

You need:  5 cloves of garlic, 1 bunch of fresh Rosemary ( or a little less than 1/4 cup dried), 1 TBSP course salt, 1 TBSP of ground pepper, 2 TBSP of olive oil.

Combine this in a mini chopper or blender,  and chop away till you get a nice lumpy puree.

Slather this on a trimmed pork tenderloins ( usually 2 in a pack).

Beauteous!!!!

(Let sit for a couple of hrs in the fridge so the flavors can mingle and get to know one another!!

 BBQ: On a hot grill (brush with vegetable oil first so that the meat doesn't stick) bbq pork for 8 minutes per side. This is for a medium done meat.  A little pink in the inside and juices are running clear.  If you like your meat done more or less, bbq accordingly.

***Tent meat under tinfoil for 10 minutes.  Then slice the beautiful thing!!!

YUMMO!! (sorry for my Rachael Ray moment there...)

Serve with yummy things like roasted potatoes and salad.  I don't like peas...but my family does....  Enjoy!!!

Easter Fun!

 This week has been a busy one.  The boys had several Easter parties, so yesterday we spent the afternoon at home to have some quiet Easter fun.  Grandma and Daddy made Easter eggs while Papa slept on the couch.  Then we decorated cupcakes with yummy Easter candy!  Fun times.  May you have a blessed Easter with family and friends.

 Josh coloring his eggs

Looky mommy!

 

love cuddles from Daddy!

 

me and my cool Easter basket!

 

Grandma helping me!

 

Our cute cupcakes!