Baklava

In America, churches are abundant. In the south, where I grew up, there seems to be a church on every corner. Before moving to Italy, I wondered what type of church we would find. I was very surprised and relieved to find a thriving protestant chapel community on base.  I grew up Southern Baptist and have always attended SB churches. The chapel is definitely different than any church I have ever attended.

Military chaplains are required to serve all denominations including Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, even Wiccans, and many more. They do not have to officiate services for religions that they don't agree with, but must offer resources if requested. Our chapel has Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Church of Christ services. We attend the Sunday morning protestant service, and I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to worship and serve alongside other Christians of all protestant denominations. We all desire to serve the Lord of creation, and although we have some different beliefs we can still worship our Lord in unity. In my opinion, as long as we agree on biblical salvation, most other issues are not worth dividing over.

You may be wondering what this has to do with Baklava. I am getting there. We truly appreciate the opportunity to attend services at the base chapel and be involved in ministry there, but we miss participating in a small group like a community group or Sunday School. So a few of our friends have gotten together and started a small community group. We meet weekly and watch sermons by Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. He is a young, jean wearing, no holds barred preacher that teaches biblical truth. He isn't concerned with being politically correct or watering down scripture for the fear of offending anyone. He preaches about the depravity of the human soul and how we are all in desperate need of Jesus, but also preaches about the love and grace of God. He is very engaging, and we are really enjoying his messages. Even my 15 year old son enjoys listening to him. You can listen or watch his sermons at  http://www.marshill.com/ .


Ok, now to the Baklava. Each week at small group we have a themed potluck meal. Since most of the restaurants here in Italy only serve Italian food it is nice to occasionally enjoy other types of cuisine. A couple of weeks ago the theme was Greek. My husband suggested that I attempt to make Baklava which is a sweet pastry type dessert filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with a honey syrup. I was first introduced to Baklava when my son's teacher made it for a class party last year. I happened to have a recipe that a lady in my bible study emailed me a few months ago so decided to give it a try. It really wasn't difficult at all. Phyllo dough makes up the flaky crust and is a cinch to use. It is a really simple recipe and super yummy.

Kale Orexi!!

Baklava

Makes 32 pieces

Baklava
12 oz. pistachios, walnuts, or almonds
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 16-oz. pkg. phyllo dough, thawed
10 oz. (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

Honey Syrup
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup honey
Zest of 1 lemon, removed with vegetable peeler


To make Baklava:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread nuts on baking sheet, and toast in oven 6 minutes. Cool.

2. Pulse nuts, sugar, and cinnamon in food processor 8 to 10 times, or until finely chopped. Set aside. (I don't have a food processor, but I used a cuisinart electric chopper and it worked just fine)

3. Brush 13- x 9-inch metal baking pan with butter. (I used a pottery type casserole dish and it seemed to work well)
• Line with 2 phyllo sheets; brush phyllo with butter.

• Repeat 4 more times, or until you have 5 layers of 2 phyllo sheets each (10 sheets total).
• Sprinkle with one-third of nut mixture.

• Top with 2 phyllo sheets, brush with butter, and repeat phyllo layering 2 more times (6 sheets total).
• Sprinkle with one-third of nut mixture. Top with 2 phyllo sheets, brush with butter, and repeat phyllo layering 2 more times (6 sheets total).
• Sprinkle with remaining one-third of nut mixture. Top with 2 phyllo sheets, brush with butter, and repeat phyllo layering 2 more times (6 sheets total).
• Lay 1 phyllo sheet on top, brush with butter, then lay last phyllo sheet on top, and brush with butter.
• Chill 10 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut Baklava into 16 squares with knife. Cut each square into 2 triangles or for larger dessert-size serving, leave in squares.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until top is golden brown.

To make Honey Syrup:

5. Combine sugar, honey, lemon zest, and 1 cup water in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove lemon zest, and pour syrup over hot Baklava. Cool on wire rack.

6. To serve: recut triangles or squares with knife, and remove from pan. Store covered at room temperature.



William and Kate's White Almond Wedding Cake

I am a little behind on blogging to say the least, but wanted to share this wonderful cake recipe!

Less than a week before the Royal Wedding, I decided to throw a party. I thought it would be great fun to invite over some friends, get dressed up, and celebrate the mementous event. Most everyone dressed up in either wedding attire or something that they would wear to a wedding. Guests brought wedding pictures and/or momentos from their wedding and a finger food to share. It was so much fun!

Since you can't have a wedding party without a cake. I decided to attempt my version of a wedding cake. I wanted to decorate it using wildflowers, and at the time, wildflowers were abundant here in Sicily. The day before the party, I went to the flight line on base (the area where planes take off) and picked a trunk full of wildflowers while dodging bugs and fighter jets! After I got home, I put the mound of flowers on the floor near the kitchen. The next thing I knew there were creepy crawly things all over the place. So, I put the flowers outside until it was time to decorate the cake. By the time the cake was ready for decorating, most of the flowers had wilted.  I salvaged as many as I could and put them in the fridge. That didn't work so well either and by morning there just a few purple flowers that were usable. So shortly before my guests arrived, I was in my backyard cutting yellow flowers from our bush. Not exactly what I had in mind.

As for the recipe, I discovered it at http://www.allrecipes.com/. It had great reviews, and I was confident it would be really good. Most of the time when I bake a cake, I do a simple 9 x 13 inch sheet cake and serve it straight from the pan, but I knew that wouldn't suffice for the wedding party.  I decided to do a two tiered cake. The top tier was 6 in round layers and the bottom tier was 9 inch round layers.

After baking the layers and allowing them to cool, I leveled them using a cake leveler that I bought at The Nearly New Shop on base. (It is a thrift store run by Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. All the proceeds from the store go back to the military community.) It is a very handy tool and much easier than trying to level with a knife. The cake was so moist and delicious! I couldn't quit eating the leftover pieces.

 Instead of putting icing between the layers, I decided to use apricot preserves.

Next, I assembled the layers.

I iced the cake with a buttercream frosting and added ribbon, wildflowers, and some free printables that I found online.  

Here is a pic after it was eaten.

I had leftover batter, so I cooked a 9 inch cake and wrapped it in wax paper and foil then put it in the freezer. The next time I needed something to take to a potluck, I simply thawed the cake and topped it with a frosting of cool whip mixed with crushed fresh or frozen strawberries. The frosting was runny, so I put the cake on top of a wire baking rack and poured the frosting over the cake. I let the icing drip down then transferred the cake to a serving dish. Here is a pic of a slice.

A few weeks later I was asked to make a cake for a baby shower for one of my husband's coworkers. I decided to use this wedding recipe again, but wanted to do a cream cheese strawberry frosting instead of the buttercream frosting. She is expecting a girl, and I thought the pink icing would be pretty. Unfortunately, I cannot post the icing recipe, because I didn't pay attention to measurements, and it ended up being a concoction of cream cheese, cool whip, powdered sugar, frozen strawberries, and I think some strawberry sundae topping. I was given a bouquet of flowers for my birthday and used some of the flowers to decorate the cake. It turned out nice except you can see the layers of the cake since the icing was not very thick.

If you are looking for a very tasty, moist, and versatile cake, I would definitely recommend this recipe. 

WHITE ALMOND WEDDING CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups water
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 egg whites

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour an 11x13 inch cake pan.

2. Stir together the white cake mix, flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until well mixed. Pour in the water, sour cream, vegetable oil, almond and vanilla extracts, and egg whites, and beat with an electric mix on low until all the ingredients are mixed and moistened but some lumps still remain, 4 minutes.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, and bake in the preheated oven until the top is a light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting.

Buttercream Frosting

(I doubled this recipe for this cake)

4 cups powdered sugar

1 cup crisco

1/4 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla flavoring (clear) or almond flavoring

dash of salt

Mix together with a mixer until smooth.

Poppy Seed Chicken

"And now my beauties, something with poison in it I think, with poison in it... attractive to the eye and soothing to the smell. Poppies, poppies, poppies will put them to sleep, sleep. Now they'll sleep"

Do you know what famous movie this line is from? I will give you a hint. Growing up it was my favorite movie. I had a friend that I often slept over with and she had this movie, and I would ask her to watch it every time I spent the night. I know that she got tired of it, but she was kind enough to humor me. Okay, I guess if you don't know me that well that isn't a very good hint. So, I'll just tell you. I am sure most of you know exactly what movie that is from. If you guessed The Wizard of Oz, ding, ding, ding, you are right!

I can assure you this recipe doesn't have poison it, just deliciousness. This is another one of my go-to recipes. My entire family loves this one so much that I usually double the recipe. It is also freezer friendly meaning you can assemble, and then freeze before baking. When ready to use, simply thaw and bake according to directions.

Here are a few tips:

This recipe calls for 4 to 6 chicken breasts. I like to use a whole chicken. It is cheaper than boneless skinless chicken breasts and adds more flavor. I like to put the chicken in the crockpot overnight on low, and when I wake up it is done. You can add water if you like, but it is not necessary since the chicken will make its own juices. I just let it cool, and then pull it apart.

This recipe calls for one stick of melted butter. I don't know about you, but I would rather not take the chance of all that butter going straight to my thighs! So, I cut the butter in thin slices and place on the casserole. It melts and works just as well.

When crushing the crackers, keep them in the sleeve unopened. Place ends of the sleeve in each palm and press palms together.  This is an easy way to crush the crackers. Then just open the bag and pour over the dish.

Warning! Poppy seeds can show positive for opium on a drug test. I have to make half the casserole with no seeds since the Navy does random drug testing. It wouldn't look good if the head pharmacist on base tests positive for drugs. That is one hassle he would like to avoid.

I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do! I would love to hear the results.

Poppy Seed Chicken

4 to 6 chicken breasts (I use a whole chicken)

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

1 pkg. roll crushed Ritz crackers

1 cup sour cream

2 T. poppy seeds

1 stick of butter, melted

Cook chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Mix chicken, soup, and sour cream. Put into a casserole dish. Mix crackers and poppy seeds. Spread over top of chicken mixture. Pour melted butter over top. Bake 30 minutes at 350°.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Don't you just love the all-in-one printers we have these days. Printer, fax machine, copier, and scanner capability in the same machine. It's genius. I remember when we first got our all-in-one printer, I LOVED it. The copier option was my favorite. No more running to the library or office supply store to make copies. It was great! I don't use the fax capability much at all, but the other three options I use all the time. So I would be just as content without the fax machine, which would make it a three-in-one printer instead of an all-in-one printer.  

I think of this Chicken Pot Pie dish as an all-in-one dish. It includes the meat, veggies, and the crust which could take the place of dinner rolls or bread. The only thing that is not included is the dessert, and depending on whether or not you usually eat dessert with your meals, it may be a three-in-one recipe just like my printer. This recipe is one that my mom used to make often while I was growing up. It is so easy and really delicious. Since it calls for frozen pie shells for the crust there is no mixing or rolling of dough, and canned or frozen vegetables make this dish a snap to prepare.

Chicken Pot Pie

3 to 4 chicken breasts or whole chicken, cooked and deboned
1 can Veg-all vegetables, drained
1 small box broccoli, cooked and drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
¾ cup milk
2 pie crusts (Pillsbury frozen in a box)

Put one pie crust in the bottom of a large pie pan. Mix together other ingredients and put into pie shell. Top with second pie crust and pinch closed. Bake at 350 for one hour to one hour and 10 minutes. Check after one hour and cook until browned.

It's that easy! Enjoy!

Apricot-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Some of you may have read my post several months ago about the $100,000 Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls. They are the bomb diggity of cinnamon rolls. They are worth every bit of time and energy it takes to make them, but I realize that not everyone has the time or desire to tackle that recipe. It is not a difficult recipe, but does require several steps. Now that I think about it, selling cinnamon rolls might be a great little business for me here in Italy. I could call it The Bomb Diggity Cinnamon Roll Co. What do you think? Ok, maybe not one of my best ideas:)

These Apricot-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls are also really good, and are much easier and quicker to make. The dough is frozen biscuits, so there is no mixing, kneading, or rising required. The apricots are a nice change from typical cinnamon rolls, and there are other variations you can try with this recipe. I really want to try the chocolate cherry version. It sounds scrumtrulescent!

Apricot-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

source: www.southernliving.com

Prep: 10 min., Stand: 55 min., Bake: 40 min. To prepare individual rolls, prepare as directed; place one slice in each of 12 lightly greased 3-inch muffin cups. Bake at 375° for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly, and remove from pan.


Yield: Makes 1 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 (26.4-oz.) package frozen biscuits
• 1 (6-oz.) package dried apricots
• All-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Arrange frozen biscuits, with sides touching, in 3 rows of 4 biscuits on a lightly floured surface. Let stand 30 to 45 minutes or until biscuits are thawed but still cool to the touch.

2. Pour boiling water to cover over dried apricots, and let stand 10 minutes; drain well. Chop apricots.

3. Sprinkle thawed biscuits lightly with flour. Press biscuit edges together, and pat to form a 10- x 12-inch rectangle of dough; spread evenly with softened butter. Stir together brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over butter. Sprinkle chopped apricots and pecans evenly over brown sugar mixture.

4. Roll up, starting at one long end; cut into 12 (about 1-inch-thick) slices. Place rolls into a lightly greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet, 10-inch round pan, or 9-inch square pan.

5. Bake at 375° for 35 to 40 minutes or until center rolls are golden brown and done; cool slightly.

6. Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 Tbsp. milk, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla; drizzle evenly over rolls.

Cinnamon-Raisin Rolls: Prepare Apricot-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls as directed, substituting 1 cup golden raisins for 1 (6-oz.) package dried apricots.

Peaches-and-Cream Cinnamon Rolls: Prepare Apricot-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls as directed, substituting 1/2 (8-oz.) package softened cream cheese for 1/4 cup butter and 1 (6-oz.) package dried peaches for 1 (6-oz.) package dried apricots.

Chocolate-Cherry-Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls: Prepare Apricot-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls as directed, substituting 1/2 (8-oz.) package softened cream cheese for 1/4 cup butter, 1 (6-oz.) package dried cherries for 1 (6-oz.) package dried apricots, and 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels for 1/2 cup pecans.

Beans, beans good for your heart...

Beans, beans good for your heart, the more you eat them, the more you will love these awesome refried beans! I know, you thought I was gonna say fart, but I am too much of a southern belle to say such things:) Refried beans are not a glamour food, and you never hear anyone say they are craving them. People often crave ice cream, chocolate, or chips, but never refried beans. You would have to be a weirdy to admit that! Maybe you don't crave beans, but if you do have an affinity for them you will LOVE this refried beans recipe. They are a perfect complement to any Mexican dish.

Growing up we had tacos at least once a week, and one of my best friends used to laugh at how often we ate them. I can't blame my mother since she had five girls, and it was really hard to find foods that everyone liked. Our two favorite meals were tacos and spaghetti. Now my boys and husband love them as well, and although we don't continue the weekly ritual, we eat them very frequently. If you have Mexican night at your house, these beans would be a great addition. This recipe makes a ton, so it is great to take to a party, or you can freeze any leftovers for the next Mexican night. One tip, if you love these beans, and your family, you might start off with a dose of Beano before your first bite! Enjoy!

Refried Beans

Serves 4-6
http://www.food.com/

1 lb. pinto beans

1 large onion

water
4 T. margarine ( I use butter)

Pepper

8 ounces Monterey jack cheese, grated (with or without peppers)

1 ½ tsp. salt

1. Cover beans with water; add chopped onion and bring to a boil.

2. Boil 2 minutes

3. Take off heat, cover and let sit one hour.

4. Do not drain water, but again add enough water to cover beans, heat to boiling, turn down heat and cook until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 to 2 hours.

5. Add more water if needed during cooking. When beans are done (make sure there in not too much water in the beans), take off heat and mash with a mixer. Add margarine, salt, pepper, and cheese and continue to beat with a mixer until the beans are soft.

Crockpot Chicken

This recipe comes from a friend that I met in what seems like a lifetime ago when I had preschoolers. Some of you can relate to the endless tiresome days that are spent chasing a little one around and attempting to get other things done in the process. There were days if I didn't throw something in the crockpot in the morning, there wasn't enough time left at the end of the day to cook anything other than chicken strips and fries, which according to my boys is a perfectly good meal!

This Crockpot Chicken recipe is one of my go-to recipes. My family really enjoys it, and I often make it for new moms since it is so simple and delicious. I like to use bowtie pasta and serve with salad and garlic bread for a quick delicious meal.

Crockpot Chicken

6 or 7 boneless chicken breasts

1 can cream of mushroom soup

¼ cup butter

8 oz pkg. cream cheese

½ cup chicken broth

1 envelope Italian dressing mix
16 oz. pkg. noodles of your choice prepared according to directions

Cut raw chicken into small bite size pieces. Add all ingredients except chicken and pasta to Crockpot and stir. Add chicken, uncooked and stir.

Cook on low for 6 hours.

Serve on top of noodles.