Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta with Lemon

MMM. This turned out soooo tasty! 10/10, we did not want to stop eating it lol. I started out kind of following a recipe, then decided I didn't like the way it was going, so I did my own thing and...success, super tasty dish!

Ingredients:

~8 oz. uncooked thin spaghetti, cooked according to package directions, reserve pasta cooking water

1 lb. large raw, deveined shrimp, thawed, shells removed (16-20 ct per pound; I used wild caught Argentine)

5 T. unsalted butter, divided

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 T. fresh lemon juice

1/2 c. Sauvignon Blanc wine

1 c. heavy cream

~1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 c. finely shredded Parmigiano Reggiano

coarse ground pepper, to taste

kosher salt, to taste

chopped Italian parsley, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large skillet over just higher than medium heat, melt 3 T. of the butter. Add minced garlic to the pan, stir and cook for around 1 min.

2. Stir in lemon juice, wine, heavy cream, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer, then keep at simmer for 5 min, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in the shredded cheese, followed by around 2 T. of the reserved pasta cooking water (you can go more, depending on desired consistency of the sauce). Remove from heat and season with pepper.

4. In a separate medium-large skillet, melt remaining 2 T. of butter over just higher than medium heat. Add shrimp, season lightly with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown slightly at edges on both sides.

5. Turn off heat, then pour cheesy sauce into pan, stir to combine. If needed, stir in additional reserved pasta cooking water to reach desired consistency (I did not, but some may wish to do so). 

6. Add pasta to sauce and stir to combine. Garnish with parsley, serve, and enjoy!

Saucy Baked Mezzi Rigatoni with Sausage and Mushrooms

Another one of my creations based on reading recipes and wanting to use up some ingredients I had on hand. The result? DELICIOUS. Seriously super delicious, 10+/10. I will be making this regularly for sure!

Link to my YouTube video of preparation: https://youtu.be/vtvDvNUEjMA

Ingredients:

8 oz. (uncooked) mezzi rigatoni pasta

3 links Italian sausage ( I think I used two mild and one hot in the video), casings removed

olive oil

8 oz. button mushrooms, sliced

kosher salt

coarse black pepper

~1 tsp. jarred minced garlic

dried basil

~18 oz. jarred pasta sauce (I used and recommend Mid's Three Cheese)

1/4 c. reserved pasta cooking water

1/3 c. heavy cream

8 oz. ball fresh mozzarella, sliced

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, stopping at 1-2 minutes PRIOR to al dente. Reserve 1/4 c. of the pasta cooking water when draining.

2. Heat oven to 350°F.

3. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook sausage, breaking up into crumbles as you cook it. Transfer cooked sausage to a bowl. Pour rendered fat into a clean large skillet.

4. Set clean skillet on burner, keeping on medium heat. Add a splash of olive oil (depending on how much rendered fat you have from the sausage), then add the sliced mushrooms. Season with kosher salt and coarse black pepper. Stir to coat and let cook until mushrooms start to give their liquid.

5. Stir in minced garlic, season with dried basil, and continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes.

6. Stir in the pasta sauce, reserved pasta water, and heavy cream. Let cook for 1-2 minutes.

7. Remove from heat and stir in cooked pasta. Pour mixture into ~10"x7" baking dish (an 8"x8" would also work). 

8. Top with sliced mozzarella and transfer to oven. Bake for 15 minutes.

9. Switch to broiler setting and broil for ~3 minutes, or until desired brown-ness of cheese has been reached. Serve up and enjoy (a lot)!!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (with video link)

Totally yummy, will be making these again and again--10/10! These cookies stay chewy days later, too (unlike some chewy ones that are only that way day-of baking). 

Link to my YouTube of my preparation of the recipe: https://youtu.be/XD3NjYMa69A

Original recipe credit: PDF version of cookbook Milk & Cookies: 89 Heirloom Recipes from New York's Milk & Cookies Bakery by Tina Casaceli, 2011.

Ingredients:

11.25 oz. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened

1 c. light brown sugar, packed

1/2 c. sugar

1/3 c. chocolate syrup

2 T. light corn syrup

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter for 3 minutes (will become light and fluffy).

4. With the mixer running, gradually add in the brown sugar, regular sugar, chocolate syrup, and light corn syrup. Beat together until light and creamy.

5. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla, until incorporated.

6. Add in the reserved dry ingredients mixture and mix until just combined (a few flour streaks left is okay).

7. Mix in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.

8. Use a cookie dough scoop (or small ice cream scoop), make rounded Tablespoon-sized portions of dough and place on prepared cookie sheets, spacing portions around 2" apart.

9. Bake for 12 minutes, or until crisped at edges and set in centers. Remove from oven, let rest on sheet for a minute or two, then transfer to a cooling rack. Once cooled, enjoy! (Store in airtight container to maintain chewiness.) 

Cavatappi with Pancetta Ricotta Tomato Sauce

Easy, quick pasta dish for a busy weeknight. With the amounts in the original recipe, I would give it 9/10. Below, I've put the modified amounts I will try next time I make this and will update again after I do so!

Link to my YouTube preparation of the recipe: https://youtu.be/_Ebv5_Nui8M

Original recipe credit: https://www.italianrecipebook.com/cellentani-pancetta-ricotta-tomato-sauce/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

*8oz. uncooked cavatappi/cellentani pasta (this is the amount I plan to use going forward, not what was used in the video)

splash of EV olive oil

4 oz. diced pancetta

~1 tsp. jarred minced garlic

*3/4 c. tomato passata (again, this is the amount I am going to try next time I make this)

dried basil, to taste (could also use fresh)

1/2 c. ricotta

1/4 c. reserved pasta cooking water (plus more, if needed)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve pasta cooking water when draining.

2. In a medium skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and pancetta to pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until pancetta starts to brown slightly. Stir in the garlic.

3. Lower heat to just below medium (may want to remove pan from heat momentarily to let cool down). Stir in the passata, season with the dried basil, then cook, stirring occasionally, letting gently simmer as you complete next step.

4. In a food processor or blender, purée together the ricotta and reserved pasta cooking water.

5. Add the puréed mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. If the sauce is not desired thickness, adjust with small amount of pasta cooking water.

6. Remove from heat, then add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Stir to coat and combine. Serve up and enjoy!

Fusilli (Rotini) Alla Vodka

Very tasty! 9.5/10, only reason for not 10/10 is that, while it is very tasty, it's not on the same level as other pastas I've rated 10's. It is quite easy to make, though, and I absolutely will make again. **note: I used 1/4 tsp. of crushed red pepper, NOT 1/4 cup as I say in the video lol!!**

Link to my YouTube video of preparation: https://youtu.be/pC3A8GX8csA

Original recipe credit (you may hit paywall if you've already browsed other Bon Appétit recipes): https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/fusilli-alla-vodka-basil-parmesan

Recipe below reflects my modifications.

Ingredients:

8 oz. fusilli (or, as I used, rotini) pasta, cooked according to package directions and strained cooking water reserved

2 T. olive oil

1/2 of a small shallot, minced

3 clove garlic, minced

1/2 c. tomato paste

2 T. vodka

1 c. heavy cream

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

2 T. unsalted butter

~1 oz. freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish

~1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic to skillet, cook for a couple of minutes, until softened (not browning!!).

2. Add tomato paste to pan. Stirring frequently, cook until turns brick red and caramelizes (*I don't know how tomato paste is supposed to 'caramelize', so I did not try for this; if this happens for you, however, wanted you to be aware.)

3. Stir in the vodka and cook, stirring, until it seems to have evaporated (this does not take very long).

4. Stir in the heavy cream and crushed red pepper. Continue stirring frequently until mixture has fully combined (should become a creamy, uniform sauce).

5. Remove from heat. Season with kosher salt (be generous) and pepper.

6. Add the unsalted butter along with the cooked pasta to the pan. Slowly stir in a bit of pasta water at a time until the desired consistency is achieved (it took 1/2 c. for mine to be nice and glossy, coating well, but not too thick or thin).

7. Stir in the Parmesan and basil. Garnish with additional Parmesan if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Snickerdoodle Pie (with video link)

Happy pi(e) day! I tried this recipe not only to celebrate pi day, but also as an early birthday dessert for my hubby, who loves snickerdoodle cookies. And it was a hit--we all loved it, 10/10 all the way! In my YouTube video below, I flubbed a couple of times on ingredient order; it still turned out great anyway, so I think it's a forgiving recipe lol. As for 'original recipe credit', I found it on two different sites with only one tiny variation, and could not tell which site had posted it first, so I'm listing both. Either way, if you love snickerdoodles, you are bound to love this, too.

As stated in the video, there is a cream cheese drizzle to top this in the original recipe; we opted to leave this out and have vanilla ice cream with it instead, which is delicious :)

Link to my YouTube video of preparation: https://youtu.be/JyKdxpYVLfE

Both 'original' recipe links: https://www.somethingswanky.com/snickerdoodle-pie-la-cookies-and-cups/

https://cookiesandcups.com/im-liking-the-snickerdoodle-pie/

Ingredients:

for the crust--

1 unbaked pie crust for 9" pie plate (I used this recipe to make my own)

1 T. sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

~1 T. butter, melted

for the syrup--

1/2 c. light brown sugar, packed

1/4 c. (half of a stick) butter

3 T. water

2 T. light corn syrup

1/4 tsp. cinnamon (*I forgot to add this in the video, still turned out great, will add next time!)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the filling--

1/4 c. unsalted butter, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. milk (original recipe doesn't specify type; I used 2%)

1 1/4 c. (5.31 oz.) all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. For the crust--Place the unbaked pie crust in the pie plate and crimp top edge as desired. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Brush the melted butter all over inside the pie crust, then sprinkle 1 tsp. only of the cinnamon-sugar mixture all over to coat evenly; reserve the rest for later.

2. For the syrup--In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, butter, water, corn syrup, and cinnamon. Bring to gentle boil and stir frequently to keep from boiling over for 2 minutes. 

3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside to cool while you make the filling.

4. Heat oven to 350°F.

5. Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer, then beat for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, powdered sugar, baking powder, salt, and cream of tartar. Beat together until well combined.

6. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat to combine, then slowly beat in the milk. (*I did this in wrong order in the video!)

7. Gradually mix in the flour and keep mixing until mixture becomes smooth.

8. Pour the mixture into the pie crust in the pie dish and spread as evenly as possible. Slowly pour the reserved syrup all over the top of the filling.

9. Sprinkle the reserved cinnamon-sugar mixture as evenly as possible across the top of the syrup. Cover the edges of the pie crust with aluminum foil.

10. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for additional 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

11. Cool, serve (with ice cream, if desired) and enjoy!

Chicken with Morels

Wonderful dish, special-occasion-worthy, 10+/10! 

The recipe I use in this entry is from a book called French: delicious classic cuisine made easy by Carole Clements & Elizabeth Wolf-Cohen. As I stated in the video, I got this book back when Borders bookstore existed and love it, it's full of great recipes, some of which are in this blog already. I have modified only slightly from the original for what is written below.

Link for my YouTube video of preparation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRwYRtVmqa0

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. dried morel mushrooms (*this could easily be reduced to just 1 oz. to make this more affordable)

1 c. chicken broth

4 T. butter, divided

3 medium shallots, thinly sliced (*you can use more, but I found this to be plenty)

3 1/2 oz. button mushrooms, thinly sliced

1/4 tsp. dried thyme

3 T. brandy

3/4 c. heavy cream, divided

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, around 7 oz. each (if you can find thinly sliced, those would be best)

1 T. vegetable oil (*I left this out by accident in the video; will use next time)

3/4 c. Champagne or dry sparkling wine

salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring morels and chicken broth to a boil. Remove pan from heat and let stand for 1 hour. (I covered my pan during the hour, but this is not listed in original recipe.)

2. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and place over a bowl. Pour the morels and broth over the cheesecloth, then press lightly to squeeze excess liquid out. Reserve the sauce and set aside some of the larger morels. If desired, coarsely chop the remaining morels. (I did not do this and it was fine.)

3. In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 T. of the butter. Once melted, add the shallots and cook for 2 minutes (until softened). Add the (chopped) morels and the sliced button mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, for around 2-3 minutes.

4. Stir in the thyme, brandy, and 1/3 c. of the heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to keep at a gentle simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid has nearly evaporated. When finished cooking, remove from heat to let cool slightly.

5. While the mixture is simmering, cut a slit pocket in each chicken breast, being careful to not pierce the sides.

6. Use a small spoon to stuff each pocket with around 1/4 of the mushroom mixture. (*If you have some leftover, just reserve it to add to the sauce like I did in the video.)

7. Melt the remaining 2 T. of butter along with the vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat if you have regular (thick) chicken breasts, medium high if you have thin chicken breasts. Gently add them to the heated butter/oil combo and cook for 8 minutes on one side, then 4 min on the other (longer if you have the regular/thicker ones). 

8. Transfer chicken breasts to a plate. Add the sparkling wine to the pan and bring to boil, keeping at boil until reduced by half. Then add the reserved morel liquid, bring back to boil and keep it boiling until again reduced by half.

9. Add remaining cream and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, until sauce thickens to point of coating the back of a spoon. Season with salt and pepper. 

10. Return the chicken to the pan, along with any accumulated juices, and stir in the reserved whole morels (and any leftover stuffing mixture, if you had any). Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 3-5 minutes, until sauce reaches desired thickness. Serve sauce over morels and enjoy!!