Because sometimes I am not sure what will come out of my mouth- so Rants & Raves us my melting pot of commentary
Started checking out the difference between “american” style biscotti v. “italian” style recipes.
No butter or oil yields a harder bite to the cookie and allows for thinner cuts and longer bake.
Today’s version: an adapted recipe for italian style Dried Cherry, Orange peel & Anise version.
Started checking out the difference between “american” style biscotti v. “italian” style recipes.
No butter or oil yields a harder bite to the cookie and allows for thinner cuts and longer bake.
Today’s version: an adapted recipe for italian style Dried Cherry, Orange peel & Anise version.
It’s gonna be a “dunking” kinda weekend with my homemade chocolate dipped, peanut butter & chocolate chip biscottimade fresh today.
Yes.. Its a bundle of something …
Because not only does my Mom’s Easter Bread dough recipe use “active live yeast” instead of dried (which was harder to find than you would think) , it also indicates that prior to the first rise overnight; you need to make the “sign of the cross” over it and then swaddle it in a blanket too…
Did I mention how much I hate the chemistry of baking. It’s true. I will cook over bake anytime. But I wanted to see how close I could make mine to hers.
And 8 hours later (or was it 9 months because it sur looks full term) a very “risen” dough is ready to handled for a second short raise before shaping and baking.
Unwrapping the baby after 8 hours.
And now for a short 3 hour rise
All done… Oven on
Now it’s time to shape & bake
A little egg wash
Maybe a little color..
Going classic
and 30 minutes later
But my oven runs hot so the next batch goes in at 325 degrees
Otherwise the taste and texture is good. I can taste the citrus and sugar, it’s dense with out being heavy. Will be perfect for toasting or as use in a bread pudding if I get tired of eating as is. 
Full recipe to follow shortly.
Channel surfing and landed in “Night Train To Terror” with Paul tonight. A bizarre portfolio of the 80’s; reflecting all the angst, hair, blood & gore, scream queens, claymation special effects, good vs evil, clothes you don’t want to admit you wore, skin shots and more.
Definitely was the kind of “train wreck” that you want to cover your eyes, yet can’t control the urge to keep your fingers open just enough so you could peek through.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087798/
http://youtu.be/EY-6Ba9PPnQ
Planning for family dinner Sunday with cousins before they leave the Bay Area. So first up; my version of Pear & Cornmeal cake with Rosemary Sryup (gluten, dairy & soy free).
Fresh out of the oven with a few modifications; I substituted 1/2 olive (4 tablespoons) oil & 1/2 corn oil (3 tablespoons) for the butter and used dairy free milk (lactaid free milk works too) treated w/lemon juice to stand in for buttermilk.
For the main recipe;
https://bitetheroad.com/2013/12/28/pear-cornmeal-cake-wrosemary-syrup/
OSIA creates a space for bringing the past into the present of our blended experiences past & present in its Italian America publication. The clever thinking behind it manages to create a reader to appeal on levels as complex as the 12-hour sunday “sauce” (or “gravy” depending on your region). The writing is clean and accessable without being dumbdowned. So the multi-generational readers will find it equally useful, funny, bittersweet and forward thinking. This issue from fall 2015 is a perfect example.
Roasted glazed chicken & veggies for dinner adapted from the ONE PAN HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN AND VEGGIES recipe on Damndelicious.net with a few minor modifications such using chicken tenders over full breasts, as switching sweet potatoes for red, adding carrots and maple sryup.
Inspired by the recent trip the Russian River over the weekend – the meal was a nice mix of local and regional finds. The honey I picked up at Beekind (http://beekind.com), they have a huge assortment of flavors to choose from and happen to be across the street from one of my fav resturants Hole In The Wall which we stopped at for lunch on the drive up.
The maple syrup came from my recent visit to KayCee Farm in CT which offers small batch, artisanal fresh harvested maple syrup. you can find them on facebook here
Then a special dessert picked up on our rainy drive back at Mom’s Pie, a local institution for those who love pies.
Overall The Arena at the Mohegan Sun Casino a nice facility; good sized, and has a solid sound system. It’s clean and does’t feel as “cold” as some arena’s. Staff are pretty cordial from scanning through food consessions. My biggest disappointment and the reason I don’t to give it more than a three if I were rating it out of 5, is around its no “outside” food rule.
We were traveling with a senior, and had stopped to have a meal in the casino while the kids were watching the lacrosse game. Our plan was then to head out to watch the kids actually get a chance to play on the field after playing in the casino and eating.
We had eaten at Hash House A Go Go, so as the real game ended and we entered to see the kids, they wouldn’t let us bring the leftovers in. Forcing us to toss it.
So that was a disappointment and with the money spent in the casino and for the meal that we had enjoyed, the experience “left a bad taste in my mouth”.
If I were in town and planning to use the Arena again I would be less inclined to make use of the casino and food as part of the package evening in the future.
Being a fan of the Hash House from my time in Las Vegas – when looking for a place to eat while visiting the Mohiegan Sun Casino on Sunday with my Mom – I knew this Hash House
would work. My mom is a fan of down home basics, often with an italian flair – but basic american food works too. And thats that they do well here, hearty portioned and solid foods. While she went easy with eggs, the corned beef hash ( you actually get to choose from 4 types of hash including a vegetarian one), eggs over great potatoes. I opted for my general favorite the Friend chicken breasts and waffles (umm and by they way thats two breasts and 4 waffles – so be hungry or ready to share.) As expected the food was good – not overly spiced so most tastes will find it mild and may need a bit of hot sauce to heat it up. Portions are hearty as I mentioned above. Over all, given its in a casino attached to an arena – one of several good food finds!
My biggest beef, which they can’t control was having to through away my leftovers in order to enter the Arena to see the kids play post the Lacrosse game..
