Spaghetti

As I am sure Ihave mentioned before, probably several times, I love to cook especially when the weather is cooler.  Yesterday being the first day of fall, came in just as it should.  It started off a wonderful summer day yet by mid afternoon a cold front had blown in and the weather shifted much cooler.  A stiff north breeze made it seem all that much colder.  Of course this immediately put me into the mood, so for dinner I prepared one of Vince's favorites Spaghetti. 

I love the aromas this meal puts through the air... Garlic, Oregano, Rosemary and they are just a few.  Of course my sauce starts first, as I love to let it simmer for as long as possible.  Start to brown a pound of suasage.  I know many people prefere beef, yet to me sausage gives it a bit more of a spicy taste.  As that is browning, I add chopped onions, any peppers I may have (green, red, yellow whatever), and a few cloves of garlic.  Seasonings of salt,

pepper, oregano, thyme,  and parsley are also added while the meat is browning.  I then add about 2 cups of sliced fresh mushrooms. Add a small splash of olive oil, about a Tablespoon or so.  You may not necessarily need it but it gives a wonderful hint of taste.   When the meat has cooked thoroughly, I then add my sauce.  I am all about easy so... I use a jar of good sphaghetti sauce, 1 can of diced tomatoes, and a small can of tomato paste.  On the top I place a fresh sprig of Rosemary.  It is wonderful to have my own herbs growing outdoors where I can just go and pick them when I wish.  The difference of fresh is wonderful.  Cover and let simmer on low while you prepare the rest of the meal and enjoy the wonderful aroma.

Next of course are the noodles.  While boiling your water, add salt, pepper, 2-3 crushed

garlic, olive oil, oregano, & parsley.  Place your noodles in when the water comes to a good boil.  It seems everyone likes their noodles a different consistency... Yet I remember an old woman once told me the way to check for doneness is to take a couple noodles and throw them at the wall.. If they stick they are done.. Now I dont necessarily do that yet I found her method quite funny.  Strain the noodles in a colandar.  Much of the herbs added eariler will cling to them giving that much more flavor and appearance to the finished product.  The olive oil also helps to keep them from sticking.

Of course no spaghetti dinner would be complete without garlic toast.  Slice up a small loaf

of french bread and place on a cookie sheet.  In a small bowl combine:  olive oil, pepper, sesame seeds, 1 Tablespoon butter, and 1-2 crushed garlic cloves.   Microwave this briefly just to melt the butter .  Spread on both sides of cut bread and broil in oven until lightly brown.  Turn as needed.  The rest... well that is simple... sit down and enjoy.  Needless to say it was an enjoyable dinner and just the right meal to start off our Fall season. 

The weather this morning is cloudy and a cool 56... I may just have to bake a little.. I did promise my son a goodie box in the mail.... Enjoy your day.

Peanut Butter Cookies

As the cooler weather continues and the sun decides to stay hidden by the clouds, the urge to bake is becoming stronger and stronger... I have tried somewhat to keep myself from its calling yet I think today I will give in. I have decided that my baking season has begun. Even if I have to give all my creations away. The urge is too strong.
Thus, today I decided to start small and make some cookies.. Usually Chocolate chip are the usual standby.. I love them soft and gooey, yet Vincent is not fond of them. So I will whip up a batch of his favotite, Peanut Butter. They also lend themselves nicely to the coolness and feeling of the coming Autumn.

This recipe is simple and usually one that is a favorite with my grandkids as they love to make the criss cross with the fork. Enjoy

1 cup shortning

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

In a mixing bowl, cream shortning, peanut butter, and sugars.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt and add to creamed mixture.  If you do not have a sifter, an easy way is to whisk the ingrediants together in a separate bowl, this works just as well. 

Roll mixture into small balls, aproximately 1 1/2".  Place on ungreased baking sheet 3" apart.  Flatten with a sugared fork, making the well known criss cross pattern. 
Bake at 375 degrees for 7 to 12 minutes.  Let cool slightly and remove from baking sheet.  Sit back and enjoy.

Extra note:  Recently per the Domestic Witch blog ( http://domesticwitch.blogspot.com/ ) she had a delightful recipe for lavendar sugar, which I intend to use.  I think that this would be perfect to use as a dusting on these cookies or possibly the sugar to dip the fork in before making the criss cross. 

Potatoes & Gravy

There is a good reason that some foods are called comfort foods. They give us a feeling of calmness, warmth and often fond memories. Unfortunately many if not all of these foods are not necessarily something that we should be eating at every meal. Unless of course we work a 10 hour day of hard labor. Yet still there are the occasional times when we indulge ourselves and partake of those things that always seem to bring a smile to our face.

A comfort food that can well be called one of my favorites is potatoes and gravy... You know the real potatoes cooked up and mashed just right. Then the gravy that is not from a package but made from the drippings of the meat cooked earlier. My mother being the German she is, had several ways to prepare potatoes. And I think I can safely say we had them every day at least once and sometimes twice. From potato pancakes to fried potatoes and onions they were all so delicious. Yet my favorite by far was when she fried pork chops and made potatoes and gravy.

I have tried over the years to duplicate that taste from her yet I just never seem to get it right. I think much of this is because it just always taste better when someone else prepares food for you.... That is if they are a good cook. Yet from the reviews I receive on my own attempts I am led to believe that I am not too bad at it.

There are a couple other things that give me a smile and a fond memory. My grandma's Lemon Pie: something I later found out she would make just for me when she knew I was coming. Saltine Crackers with a thin layer of real butter spread across the top: This was the treat that my grandma would give us as children when we stayed at her home. Soft white bread with butter and sugar on top: Another treat from Grandma. My moms fried chicken: something I still have not completely perfected. Pie Crust squares: Left over pie crust which is rolled out and topped with sugar and cinnamon. Violet, a woman I worked with when I was young, taught me how to make this. And the list goes on.. I guess I have a few more than just a couple.

Comfort foods bring us a feeling of nostalgia. A remembrance of people whom we love and hold dear. They may not be the healthiest food, yet it is hard to say that they are not good for you. As they take the worries of the day and make them disappear for a bit, giving you a moment of serenity and peace. So I say indulge now and then. Give homage to the memories and the people who with just a few bites can make us feel a little bit better, if only for a while.