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Author Archives: Hola

Homemade Applesauce

11 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by Hola in Uncategorized

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Is there anything better than Homemade Applesauce? Well, yes, if it is super easy that is better! I used apples straight from a local orchard. This time of year you can find them everywhere and they are so good. Whip this up before the game tonight. I served with sausage and fried cabbage. (Super easy also)

Easy Homemade Applesauce

6 large apples, peeled, cored chopped into chunks
¼ C. orange juice
½ lemon squeezed
½ C. brown sugar
2 T. butter
½ t. salt
Pinch of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg

Using a microwave safe bowl combine all of the above ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 10 min. Let sit for 5 minutes. Stir well and using a potato masher, mash until you reach the consistency you prefer. Serve warm or refrigerate. It is delicious either way.

Homegrown Tomato Soup

18 Friday Sep 2015

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tomato soup

This year our small garden has produced some very tasty tomatoes, zucchini, and tons of hot delicious peppers.  My husband planted many kinds of peppers but they all ended up hot. He enjoyed the experiment and plans to save the seeds from his crazy hot peppers to replant next year.

I love homegrown tomatoes and especially love making homemade roasted tomato soup.  I have used roma and grape tomatoes before and they work fine.  The secret is to roast all the veggies first.  This deepens the flavor and is so delicious.  I hope you give this a try.  Serve this with grilled cheese sandwiches and your family will be thrilled.

Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup

Homegrown tomato soup

  • 3 lbs of tomatoes – cleaned – wash and cut out center and stems and any spots – quartered
  • 2 carrots – peeled and chopped up
  • 1 onion – peeled and quartered
  • 4 peppers – seeded and sliced
  • 2 cloves of garlic – peeled
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Sugar – 1 T. or to taste
  • Heavy cream- to taste, I use about ½ cup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Put all the cleaned, quartered tomatoes, carrots, peppers, onions, and garlic on a large sheet pan. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Roast in oven for about 45 minutes until starting to char.  Feel  free to toss around carefully half way through.

tomato soup roasted vegetables

Remove from oven and put in your dutch oven on the stovetop over low heat.  Puree with an immersion blender until as smooth as you prefer.  I add about 1 tablespoon of sugar at this point and check the salt and pepper.  Add if needed.  Now stir in the cream and heat through.  Enjoy!

tomato soup recipe

Valentine’s Day Peanut Butter Cookies

16 Monday Feb 2015

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Betty Crocker, Cookies, Heart Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, Valentines Day

So, this recipe is really my rendition of Betty Crocker’s Chocolate Heart Peanut Butter Cookies that I found on Pinterest. These cookies are super cute and I made them to give to my boyfriend for Valentines Day. They are simple, cheap and very tasty; what else could you ask for in a cookie!

Valentines Day Cookie

Ingredients

  • 1 Pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ Peanut Butter Cookie Mix
  • 3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Water
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 18 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Hearts

I got a Kitchen Aid mixer for Christmas and I have been looking for every excuse to use it, so even though I used it for this recipe, it was not necessary.

First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Now, empty the contents of Betty Crocker mix into your medium sized mixing bowl. Add the vegetable oil, water, egg and mix together. Keep mixing until a dough forms, it may seem a little greasy but that is what you want.

Next, take your sugar and pour into a small bowl, I used a soup bowl. Then, roll your dough into small little balls and then roll them in the sugar. The original recipe says to make 36 dough balls but I only made 18.

Once you have all your balls rolled in the sugar, your going to want to place them on a ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake them for 8-10 minutes and remove from the oven as soon as they are golden brown.

While your cookies are in the oven, I suggest unwrapping your chocolate hearts because once you take your cookies out the oven, you will need to press the hearts into the cookies as soon as possible.

Transfer your cookies from the cookie sheet onto wire cooling racks. The cookies will need about an hour or so for the chocolate to harden before you can place them in air-tight storage containers.

I hope you enjoy making these cookies as much as I did. Let us know in the comment section below if you have any questions about the recipe or let us know about your experience with these cookies!

Duck, Duck, Yum

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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duck, duck breast, duck recipe, fresh duck breast, Recipe

Hi everyone, it’s Becca here or you can call me “Hola” if you prefer. I am not a master chef unlike my sister and mom but I saw such a great deal on Duck at my local grocery store that I had to try it. A brand new Giant Eagle Market District has just opened up near my house and I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have visited 3 times in the past 3 days.

My Giant Eagle is absolutely amazing! Everyone is super nice and the best part is, they have live cooking shows inside the store. The chefs are friendly, knowledgeable and super talented. They were making Duck since it was on sale, so I decided to watch their little show and then give it a go for myself.

photo 3

Ingredients:

  • 3 Fresh Duck Breasts (which I bought for $4.99 a pound)
  • Salt (Freshly Ground)
  • Pepper (Freshly Ground)
  • Seasoned Salt
  • 2 T. Bacon Fat or Canola Oil

First, take the duck out of the package and blot them on a paper towel. I don’t know if this is 100% necessary, but all that blood grosses me out. Once they are blotted on both sides, you are going to want to score the fatty side. Take a super sharp knife and cut diagonal strips into the fatty side of the duck. Make sure you cut all the way into the fat.

Next, sprinkle some salt, seasoned salt and pepper onto the fatty side of the duck while it is still on the paper towel. Keeping it on the paper towel will prevent a mess of salt and pepper all over your counter, that is, unless you are actually skilled at salting and peppering meat, unlike myself. I waited to season the other side of the duck until I put it in the pan.

photo 1

Now, toss some bacon grease into a cast iron pan and put it on about medium heat. I used a ramekin full of bacon grease, so I guess that equates to about a two tablespoons. You could also use canola oil or butter. Once your pan is hot, you are going to want to put the duck, fat side down, in your greased up pan. You should hear a very slight sizzle.

Season the non-fatty side of your duck with the same salt, seasoned salt and pepper. Keep the duck on the fatty side for about 6 minutes, I suggest setting a timer. Once the 6 minutes is up, flip it on the other side and cook for another 6 minutes. Then you are going to want to put your pan in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 12 minutes.

Once you take the pan out of the oven, let the meat sit for 5 minutes before cutting into it. If it seems too rare, be patient because it will cook more in the pan. Duck breast is not meant to be eaten well-done, so if this is the only way you like to eat meat, then get off our page because well-done meat eaters are not allowed here! (just kidding, but really why are you here?)

photo 2

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about this post, please feel free to let us know in the comment section below. Thanks for reading our blog and be sure to browse all of our recipes on our blog. If you have any recommendations about what you would like us to make next, just let us know!

Osso Bucco Meets Beef Bourguinon

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

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Beef, Beef Bourguinon, Beef Roast, Dinner, Meat, Osso Bucco, Pappardelle

You might have guessed that we like beef in our family.  I like to use an English beef roast for many recipes.  One of those is a combination of my version of Osso Bucco and Beef Bourguignon.  An English cut beef roast is economical and works well for braising.  Our local grocer often has them bogo, and when that happens I buy a few and pop them in the freezer.

  • 3 lb. English Cut Beef Roast – Cut this into 4 or 5 thick slices to resemble short ribs- Let sit out for 30 minutes and make sure it is dry (blot with a paper towel)
  • 3 T. Olive Oil
  • 1 T. Butter
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 2 Stalks celery-chopped
  • 4 whole carrots-peeled and chopped
  • 1 C  onion- chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves- minced
  • 1 C white mushrooms
  • 3/4 C red wine
  • 1/4 C sherry
  • 1 C beef broth
  • 1 C crushed canned tomatoes
  • 2 sprigs of thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Pappardelle Pasta
  • Fresh Parmesan Cheese

Using a dutch oven turn the heat up to med/high add olive oil and butter. Salt and pepper the beef and sear in the hot olive oil/butter on all sides.  When browned, remove to plate.

browned roast

Turn heat down a bit and add celery, carrots, onion.  Saute for 5 minutes.  Now add mushrooms, stir around until slightly browned.  Add garlic stir for one minute, do not burn.  Deglaze the pan with red wine and the sherry, let boil for a few minutes while scraping up all the browned bits.

ossoc bucco 2

Add beef broth, tomatoes, thyme, bay leave.  Bring to boil, add beef back to pan.  Cover and put in 325 degree oven for 2 ½ hours.  The sauce should almost cover the meat, if you do not have enough, add water. The beef will melt in your mouth and the sauce is silky and rich.

I serve this over Pappardelle with grated fresh parmesan cheese.  It was delicious!

Osso Bucco

Enjoy!

Grandma’s Deviled Eggs

27 Monday Oct 2014

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Deviled Eggs, Eggs, Grandma's Recipe, Hardboiled Eggs

I love deviled eggs.  I have changed my grandma’s recipe to give it some spice but I always use my grandma’s egg plate when I make them.  Even with the sad photo I took you can see the little chip out of the plate.  It made me think about how even though the plate is no longer perfect, it is useful and I love it.  I know I am not perfect but I am useful and loved…..

deviled eggs

  • 6 hardboiled eggs- cooled-shells removed
  • 2 T. Hellmann’s mayonnaise
  • 2 T. Dijon mustard
  • 1 chopped dill pickle (I use a baby kosher pickle)
  • ½ t. Cayenne Pepper
  • ½ t. dill weed
  • dill, curry powder, hot paprika

Cut the eggs in half and remove the yolk.  Put in a bowl; add the mayo, mustard, pickle, cayenne pepper and dill.  Mash with a fork until creamy and well combined.  With 2 spoons, fill the eggs with mixture. Sprinkle the filled eggs with more dill, curry powder and hot paprika. Cover and let them chill for a little while for the flavors to combine.

Enjoy!

BBQ Beef Sandwiches with Spicy Coleslaw

23 Thursday Oct 2014

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BBQ, Beef, Coleslaw, Recipe, Sandwich, Spicy

So you have half of a leftover beef roast in your fridge and no plans for dinner.  BBQ is always good for leftovers but I have to cook this meat first.  It took a bit of time on the stovetop but not much work.  Served with quick coleslaw (bag of broccoli slaw, homemade sauce) we were thrilled even if we ate a bit later than usual.

IMG_3706

BBQ Beef Sandwiches

  • 1 lb of an English beef roast
  • ½ bottle of Guy Fieri’s Root Beer BBQ Sauce
  • ½ sweet onion sliced
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper

Salt and Pepper the roast liberally.  Heat the oil in a pan with sides.  Brown the roast on both sides, add the sliced onion and sauté until tender.

Add the BBQ sauce, bring to a slight simmer, cover and cook until done.  This took 2 hours for me.

I flipped the roast over a few times in the sauce and stirred the sauce to make sure it was not sticking.

When it was tender I pulled the beef apart and mixed with the sauce.  I served this on a Cheddar Cheese roll from the grocery store bakery with the spicy slaw on top.

Spicy Coleslaw

  • 1 12oz bag of shredded broccoli slaw
  • 1 C Hellmann’s mayo
  • 1/4 C white sugar
  • 1/4 C white vinegar
  • 1T. dried cilantro
  • Crushed red pepper to taste ( I used about 1t.)
  • Salt and Pepper

Mix all ingredients except slaw in medium size bowl, add slaw, mix well and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

Expresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

21 Tuesday Oct 2014

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Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Cookie, Cookies, Expresso, Pecans

Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies?  I make cookies just about every weekend and usually chocolate chip.  This recipe is just a bit different – a grown up version of the time honored favorite.

Expresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Expresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • ½ C unsalted butter at room temperature
  • ½ C Crisco solid vegetable shortening
  • 1 C brown sugar
  • ½ C white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1T. Kahlua
  • 2 ¼ C all-purpose flour
  • 1 t. baking soda
  • 1 t. salt
  • 2 T. instant expresso
  • 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 C. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and if you have a fabulous little cookie scoop, find that.

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, Crisco, and both sugars.  Mix well.  Add eggs and Kahlua.  Mix again.

(I use the kitchen aid here for the easiest cookie mixing possible.)

Now  put all the dry ingredients on a large paper plate and then stir together with a whisk.  Then with the mixer on low I bend the plate to let the flour mixture fall into the mixing bowl slowly so I don’t have flour flying all over the kitchen.  As soon as this is mixed together add chocolate chips and pecans. Stir to combine.

Plop teaspoon size cookie dough on your parchment lined sheets.

Bake one sheet at a time for 9 minutes.  Take out and let cool for a few minutes and then move to wire rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!

Down Home Bacon Gravy

20 Monday Oct 2014

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Bacon, Bacon Gravy, down home, Gravy, Southern Cooking

Bacon Gravy is in no way considered a health food.  However every once in a while it is fun to have something down home and decadent.  Bacon gravy is prepared the same as sausage gravy, pretty easy.  A tasty addition to your weekend brunch.

Bacon Gravy

Bacon Gravy

  • ½ lb bacon cut into about 1 inch slices
  • 1 Can of evaporated milk
  • 1 Can of water
  • 3 Tbsp. Flour
  • 2 Tbsp. Butter
  • Salt and Pepper

Put bacon in 12 inch saute pan with sides.  Fry until almost crisp on medium heat.  Add butter, when melted add flour, salt and pepper.  Stir and cook for a few minutes, until the flour browns slightly.  In a bowl mix together the evaporate milk and water.  Pour a small amount into the pan and whisk to thicken.  Continue to add milk/water to pan while whisking carefully and cook and whisk until desired consistency.  If your gravy gets too thick add regular milk or water to thin.  This shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.  You want an easy simmer, not full boil to make the gravy.

I cheat and serve over baked frozen biscuits.  They are easy and not bad at all.

Enjoy!

Our Family’s Sunday Gravy

13 Monday Oct 2014

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  • 3 links of Italian sausage, casing removed
  • 1 link of pepperoni, sliced
  • 1 jar of prego mushroom sauce
  • 16 oz tomato puree
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 hot pepper diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Handful of white mushrooms chopped
  • ½ C red wine
  • ½ C water
  • 1T. sugar
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper

Sunday Gravy

Add olive oil to large saucepan, I use a dutch oven.

Over medium heat sauté onions and peppers until soft, salt and pepper.

Add garlic for a few seconds.

Add mushrooms.

Add Italian sausage and break up and brown.

Add pepperoni and stir around to lightly brown.

Now deglaze the pan with wine, bring to boil, and then reduce to simmer.

Add jar of sauce, tomato puree, water, bay leaf, and sugar. Simmer on low for one hour with lid.

We call in “spaghetti sauce” but I love how the Sopranos call it Sunday Gravy.

I think pasta sauce is so personal.  My family prefers this recipe but I will be honest to say I now like many varieties and I never tire of trying new ones.  However, if my family requests “spaghetti” this is what I make. Of course we use many types of pasta, I choose thin spaghetti, daughters choose penne or rigatoni.  Husband does not care.

A nice glass of red wine pairs well with this.  Lately we like 14 Hands Hot to Trot.

Enjoy!

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