Grandma Sigurjonsson's Sugar Cookies

2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Add sifted dry ingredients. Cover and chill about one hour. Grease cookie sheets. Roll out chilled dough to 1/8 inch thickness on lightly floured board. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes (until lightly browned around the edges).

White Chocolate Raspberry Scones

1 3/4 c flour
3 T sugar
2 1/2 t Baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/3 c butter
1 egg beaten
1/2 t almond extract
1/2 c whip cream
3/4 c frozen raspberries (or blueberries, blackberries)
3/4 c white baking chips

*In large bowl mix: sugar, flour, BP, salt
*cut in butter
*add berries and chips to dry ingredients
*mix egg, almond extract and whip cream in a small bowl add to dry ingredients
*mix til all is moistened
*pat into 8" circle on a greased cookie sheet or baking stone
*bake 18-23 min at 400. Cool til warm.

Raspberry Lemon Bars

2 c flour
1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T cornstarch
1/4 t salt
3/4 butter
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 c sugar
3 T flour
1 t finely shredded lemon peel
3/4 c lemon juice
1/4 cup half and half or cream
1 1/2 c fresh raspberries

line a 9x13 pa with foil, extending foil over ends of pan. Grease foil.

In a large bowl combine 2 c flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch and salt.
Cut in butter til mix resembles coarse crumbs.
Press mix into bottom of pan and bake 350 18-20 min til edges are golden

Meanwhile, for filling, in a med. bowl stir together eggs, sugar, 3 T flour, lemon peel and juice and cream (half and half).
Pour over hot crust. Sprinkle raspberries over top.
Bake 20-25 min until center is set.
Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Grasp overhanging foil and lift out of pan. Cut into bars.

Ricotta Pizza Pie (quiche)

I tried two new "gourmet" recipes this week. Both were delicious and pretty easy! This one and the Butternut Squash Soup:

Ricotta Pizza Pie
For the crust:
3 c flour
1 T kosher salt
6 T olive oil
2 eggs, beaten and mixed w/ 6 T water

For the filling:
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. grated pecorino
1 lb. ricotta, excess liquid drained
1 c salami, cut in cubes
1 c shredded mozzarella
1/2 t. pepper
2 T chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 400. Place flour, salt, olive oil in large bowl and work it with your hands until the oil is incorporated and mixture resembles crumbs. Add egg mixture and toss until dough comes together in dry mass. Knead until just smooth. Flatten dough into disc, set aside.
In large bowl, combine all filling ingredients except 1 T of eggs and 1 T pecorino. Line bottom and sides of 9 inch pie pan with 2/3 dough (rolled out 1/8 inch thick), allowing for 1 inch overhang. Scrape filling into the dish and top with remaining 1/3 dough (rolled out as well). Press edges together to seal, cut slits in top crust. Brush with reserved egg and sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 and bake until the top has puffed out, 45 min to an hour more. Let cool 15 min before removing from dish.

Butternut Squash Soup

1 butternut squash, cut in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds, prick hard side with fork randomly, set face down on cookie sheet and pour about 1/2 inch of water into the cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 degrees for 45 min to an hour, will be soft when cooked. Let cool and scoop out flesh.
Melt 2 T butter in pot, cook 2 med diced onions until translucent. Add 3/4 t. white pepper and 1 1/2 t. salt, stir. Add 4 c chicken stock and squash mixture. Stir until heated through, bring to a boil. Remove from heat and puree. Add 1 c heavy cream and 1 c half and half. Warm. Serve with lime slices (use lime generously, mm!).
Makes 2 qts.

Perfectly Easy Dinner Rolls

If I were to name these rolls, I'd call them "Ohmigosh-I'm-In-Love Dinner Rolls." I made them for the first time tonight, and our family of five eaters ate 22 rolls! I'm totally sold. Here's the introduction from my recipe card: "This icebox dough requires no kneading and can be made up to 4 days ahead. Just take it out of the refrigerator, let rise and bake for perfect rolls every time."

Pasta Primavera

I tried this recipe out the other day. I didn't use the asparagus or the shrimp, but made it to go with spaghetti and meatballs. I actually made it in the crock pot. The magic little ingredient here is the salsa. I never would have thought of it, but both Nate and I loved it. It made it taste a bit more spicy, and very fresh. It was great.

1/2 16-ounce box ziti
1/2 bunch asparagus (about 12 spears), cut into 2-inch pieces
1 16-ounce tub mild fresh salsa
4 ounces soft goat cheese
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 16-ounce bag frozen cooked shrimp, thawed

Cook the pasta according to the label directions, adding the asparagus to the boiling water during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Drain. Meanwhile, heat the salsa in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until the tomatoes release their

juices, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the goat cheese and sugar and heat until smooth. Add the shrimp and fold in gently until heated through, about 2 minutes. Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss.

Choripan

Nate served in Argentina and today (to celebrate his birthday) we made these sandwiches. They are SUPER yummy. We made them open face, and liked them a lot. A choripán is a popular sandwich in Argentina and Latin American countries. The name comes from the combination of its ingredients: a grilled chorizo (sausage) and a crusty bread.

INGREDIENTS
• 1 avocado, small dice
• 1/2 small red onion, small dice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and small diced
• 2 tablespoons parsley, minced
• 1/2 jalapeño, minced
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
• 6 Italian sausages, no fennel (hot or sweet, as you prefer)
• 6 crusty rolls (ciabatta, Kaiser, Portuguese, etc.)

DIRECTIONS
Prepare the salsa for your choripan by mixing the avocado, onion, garlic, tomato, parsley, jalapeno, lime juice, olive oil, and seasoning. Place in refrigerator while you grill your sausages.

Grill your sausages on your grill, away from direct flame. Open the rolls just before your sausages are ready, and place on the grill to toast up.

When your sausages are ready, slice open lengthwise and lay flat on your open roll. Divide the avo-salsa among the rolls.



Chimichurri

INGREDIENTS
1 bunch flat leaf parsley
8 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 lemon wedge (juice of)
1 tablespoon diced red onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Pulse parsley in processor to chop.
2. Add remaining ingredients and blend.
3. Separate sauce into equal parts.
4. (Use half for basting or marinade).
5. (Use other half for table service).

Betty Crocker's Easy Garlic, Herb & Cheese Biscuits

A fast favorite at our house. I tried them once mixed with pesto, but not nearly as good.

2c Bisquick
2/3c milk
1/2 shredded Cheddar cheese
3/4t basil, oregano, parsley, or rosemary

Mix until soft dough forms, beat vigorously 30 sec. Drop dough on cookie sheet by 10 to 12 spoonfuls (I actually usually make 6 or 7 big ones). Bake 8-10 min at 450. Mix together 1/4c melted butter and 1/4t garlic powder then brush on warm biscuits. Serve immediately. Ahhhh....

Marietta's Colombian Rice

This is from a Colombian friend who served this at every meal (in Colombia, they serve rice with everything, even spaghetti. A meal is not complete without three carbs). I have never been able to achieve the same amazing results (fabulous flavor and a beautiful brown, delicious crust on the bottom), but am still trying because David thinks this is absolutely heavenly.

Chop 1/2 onion and 2 cloves garlic per cup of rice (long grain, white Mahatma is good). Saute in 2T olive oil until clear. Add rice and stir. Add 2c water, salt to taste, and 1t bouillion per cup of rice. Bring to a boil, cover, and let cook until dry (about 20 min?). Then turn off the heat and let it sit for a while(she swears this is the most important part).

Mexican Meat

This is from my mom. We buy lots of ground chuck when it goes on sale, cook it up like this then freeze it in sandwich baggies (1/2-1lb) for a quick, easy meal. Defrost and sprinkle on nachos with black beans and peppers, put in quesadillas with black beans and peppers (or refried beans, if that's your thing), or eat in tacos. I've put dried pantry ingredients below, you can, of course, substitute fresh.

Mexican Meat

In a large pan, per 1lb of ground beef, add:
2T onion flakes
1t salt
1t chili powder
1/2t cornstarch
1/2t crushed red pepper
1/2t cumin
1/4t oregano
1/8t garlic
1/2c water

Brown, mixing well, then drain fat.

Spectacular Sides

Sidsie and I were talking the other day about cooking the same old boring things. She mentioned that she wanted to spruce up her sides, instead of always serving just plain old steamed veggies. So, here are a few of my straight from the pantry, amazing side dishes. By the way, I hardly ever measure things (including time). So all of this is approximate (sorry, Bonnie).

Carrots
Steam cut up carrots until tender. Toss with honey. Serve warm.
OR
Toss with shelled pistachios (get them at the Farmer's market). No extra salt needed.

Green beans
Saute green beans in 1-2T butter, add 1/4 c water and cover for, I don't know, 5 min? or until tender. Toss with toasted almond slivers (again, the blanched ones at YDFM are great, but you have to toast them yourself).

Asparagus
Wash and snap off tough ends of spears. Steam spears in some water in a covered skillet for ~5min. Drain. Saute spears in 2T butter, basil, salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2t basil). Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and Serve warm.
(Betty Crocker, who I've adapted this from, adds 8oz sliced mushrooms and 1/4c chopped hazelnuts, but I don't like mushrooms and never have hazelnuts so I've always cooked it this way).

Summer Squash, Zucchini and Onions
Saute sliced summer squash, zucchini and onions in 2T olive oil and 1t basil. Salt and pepper to taste. Yum!

Pumpkin Stuff

Sorry Amber, that I've not honored your request until now. I've been a complete mooch off this site so far.
I served this dessert at Book Group last October at my house and it's one of David's favorites.

Pumpkin Stuff

1 big can of pumpkin
1 can evaporated milk
1c sugar
3 eggs
2t cinnamon
1t nutmeg
1/2t ginger
1/2t cloves

Combine all, place in a 9x13 pan. Top with dry yellow cake mix, then pour 1.5 cubes of melted butter over the top (I usually use less than that, maybe 1 cube?). Bake for 50-55min at 350.