My Mama's Cooking

So who taught you to cook? Your mother, your grandmother, a sister or a friend? Or perhaps you took cooking lessons; maybe you don't know how to cook. "Ridiculous", my Mama would say, "if you can read, you can cook." So listen to my Mama through me and we will cook together, explore some recipes from the past and some new ones I have added to my own collection of easy cooking.

My first experience with cooking was in my Mama's kitchen,where she showed me how to make scrambled eggs at the age of four. I have been making eggs the same way since. I learned to cook by watching my Mama chop, saute and assemble until the aroma filled the kitchen making my mouth water.I loved food as a child and would always ask for seconds or beg for the leftover mashed potatoes from my skinny sister's plate.( I guess that would explain my life long battle with weight.)

Mama prepared the evening meal in our tiny kitchen with flowered wallpaper, she always wore an apron tied at her waist and had a pot of boiling water simmering on the stove. When I was older and asked Mama why she always boiled water every night, she told me a secret passed down from her mother." A pot of boiling water always appears as if supper is in the works," she said. Little did my father know that Mama was still thinking about what she was going to throw together for the evening meal. This little secret passed down from my grandmother, to mother, to me, bailed me out quite a few times when I too, had no clue as to what I was going to make for dinner.

But my love for cooking is a tribute to my Mama who passed away when I was in my early thirties from breast cancer. I wanted to know everything about her recipes and many nights when sitting by her bedside in the final stages of her disease, I would pull out her recipe box and hand written cookbook and ask her questions. Where did the recipe come from? How do I get the yeast to rise? What about the German dishes, where did they come from? Talking with my mother about cooking was a way in which I could somehow get through those hours of emotional pain. "Why all these questions about food?" she asked, somewhat annoyed with me."Do you think I am going somewhere?" These are Mama's recipes and a tribute to her and her love for her family through food.

What This Mama is Cooking Tonight! Chili!

Okay, the snow has gotten to all of us and we need to fill our bellies with hot food to keep us warm through the long days of winter.Today,I decided to make chili.
Now when I was growing up chili was never made in my mama's house,my mama was not a fan of hot spicy foods, so chili was never served at out dinner table.
What a shame since I am such a fan of chili!
I cheat when I make chili cause this mama is sometimes just to busy to start from scratch, so today I went to Whole Foods and bought a pound of fresh ground beef and a jar of "Chili: All Natural Texas Two-Step Chili Mix" made by Cookwell and Company, a can of chili beans, a can of dice tomatoes,and an onion. I cooked the ground beef and onion, added the chili beans which are really just a mixture of kidney and black beans, the dice tomatoes(with the water drained) and the chili mixture. I let it simmer on the stove till it bubbled and then turned down the heat, I added some salt, garlic powder and ground pepper.
While the chili was cooking I made some "mini" corn breads,from the "Jiffy Mix" and within 20 minutes I had a complete dinner.
It smells and taste delicious! I am having a few friends over for dinner tonight and will serve the chili with tortilla chips, some shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream,along with a few bottles of red wine.Yummy!

Chicken Marsala

Love mushrooms? Well, it doesn't get any easier then making Chicken Marsala. Serve with angel hair pasta and a loaf of Rosemary and Olive Oil bread. So yummy!
You will need:
4 chicken breasts,pound with mallet to a thin breast
Marsala wine: you buy in grocery store
Flour, flour your cutlets or tenders
Butter and olive oil: saute your chicken in 2 tablespoons of butter and some olive oil then remove
Add mushrooms to butter mixture(I use fresh mushrooms)
Add 1 1/2 of Marsala wine and 1/2 cup of water
Simmer till chicken is tender and mosit.
Your done!

Chicken Pot Pie

While I was growing up "Swanson's" Chicken Pot Pies were always a treat in our house.I guess it was the individual pies that warmed my heart, and Mama always made extra for those who were really hungry. It's funny what we remember but those pies were always my favorite and required little effort of my Mama's part.
Once and awhile, I too, like to buy a pot pie in the grocery store. I buy "Willows", the big one, that only has white meat; and I buy a package of mixed vegetables. I cook the pie which is filled with delicious broth and thick pieces of white meat. I cook the vegetables and just before serving put the vegetables in a large individual bowl, and add the pie mixture making sure the delicious crust is on top. Give yourself a break and try this, it is so good.... and so easy for those hectic busy nights.
Small pie 5.99
Large 11.99
And they are all natural!

The Best Brownies Ever or Amy's Brownies

I love brownies! But often when making a quick batch for the gals I use a mix but today I discovered a brownie recipe that is so easy you will never use a mix again. Thanks to Amy for this recipe!

You will need;
3 of semi-sweet chocolate squares
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3/4 stick of butter

Add chocolate and butter to a double boiler,or use the microwave, add sugar when chocolate has melted.
Meanwhile, get out 3 eggs, 3/4 cup of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
Chocolate chips or chopped walnuts(optional)
Let the chocolate mixture cool
Mix in other ingredients
Butter a 8*8 inch pan
Mix all your ingredients and stir.
The secret is to stir for fifty strokes(something my mama taught me)
Put in pan and cook for about 40 minutes.
This recipe is fabulous, delicious and so easy. It is the best brownie I have ever had!!!!
I normally would make this in a glass pan but was bringing to a friend so excuse the tacky pan.

Sausage Fra Diablo

Want something hot and spicy? This dish is great! You can use chicken sausage and ground turkey if you are opposed to the fat in the two meats, or you can use spicy or mild Italian sausages and ground beef. Add some peppers and onions, some sauce and pasta and you have a fabulous meal.

What you will need:
Four sausages
1/2 pound of ground beef
A red and green pepper
An onion
Oregano
Red pepper flakes(if desired)
Salt and pepper
Some kind of pasta
1 jar of sauce
1 can of plum tomatoes
Some red wine

Boil your sausages for about five minutes
Meanwhile cut your peppers and onion(I like to cut mine in chunks)
In a large frying pan add some olive oil
Add your onion to the hot oil, follow with the peppers
Add your ground beef or turkey
While that is simmering cut your sausages into slices
Add your oregano and red pepper flakes and plum tomatoes
Simmer for about ten minutes
Add your red wine and simmer
Add your sauce and simmer for about 20 minutes or longer.Let it bubble and then turn down the heat. I simmer mine for a long time.
Cook your pasta
I like to use elbows or penne, put in a large bowl or large sauce pan and toss.
You can simmer it on low to reheat.
Serve with crusty bread and dip baby dip. Hmmmmm... so good!

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb or a Salmon

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Tonight I am making Salmon baked with vegetables.This dish cooks itself, all you have to do is put the ingredients together and you have an easy,low-fat meal.
You will need:
Carrots, onions, green beans, a red pepper,zucchini, summer squash,a tomato. You can pick any vegetable your little heart desires.
If you are using carrots you will have to cook those for about two minutes in boiling water.
Cut all your vegetables and put in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, a little olive oil, a squeeze of lemon or orange and toss.
Get out your aluminum foil.
Put your veggies on the foil, make sure you leave enough to fold up and leave a little vent for steam to escape.
Put the salmon or any kind of fish on top of the vegetables.Fold tightly.
Put in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
Be careful when opening, the steam is very hot!
Voila!
In the last photo the salmon is not cooked, it should be nice and pinkish when done!