romantic suppers and sweets

I failed to post this column on time as I became ill shortly before the holiday! Sorry to all my followers! Here it is, new and improved!

Valentine’s Day means expressing your love for your spouse, partner, family, and friends. What better way than to say it with food you lovingly prepare? Here are two suppers and two desserts to consider.

pasta with shrimp, tomatoes and feta cheese
Who said you can’t serve seafood with cheese? Ever have a tuna melt? Crab and swiss? Here’s delicious exception perfect for a Valentine Day supper.

ingredients

• 3 Tbs extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 lb raw large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 5 cloves garlic, sliced very thin
• 1 Tbs each white wine and balsamic vinegar
• ½ to 1 lb pasta (I usually make only half a pound since I like a higher shrimp-to-pasta ratio using linguine or bowties.)
• 15 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• ½ can of petite diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried basil
• 1 (6-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese

directions

1. In a skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook shrimp, garlic and white wine for 4-5 minutes or until shrimp is pink. Do NOT overcook!
2. Remove shrimp with slotted spoon and set aside. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente; drain and keep warm.
3. While pasta is cooking, place diced tomatoes and halved grape tomatoes with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, and basil over medium heat into wine mixture in skillet until tender—10 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, toss hot pasta with shrimp, tomato mixture, and feta. Feta will melt slightly. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and a crusty bread.

 

greek chicken tenders with veggies
Prefer chicken? This dish is packed with flavors sure to spark up any evening!

for the chicken

• 2 Tbs plus 1 tsp olive or avocado oil, divided
• 8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 lb fresh green beans
• 1.5 lb chicken tenders
• 2 Tbs honey
• 3­/4 Tbs balsamic vinegar (do not substitute)
• 1 cup grape/cherry tomatoes, halved

for the greek dressing

• 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1 fresh squeezed lemon
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp black pepper

directions

1. Sauté mushrooms in large frying pan with 1 tsp of the oil, until just browning. Remove from pan, set aside.
2. Heat 1 Tbsp oil over medium­-high, add green beans. Sauté until green beans are cooked, but still a bit crunchy. Remove from the pan, set aside.
3. Heat remaining 1 Tbs oil over medium-­high, add chicken, salt, and pepper.
4. Cook chicken 3­-4 minutes on both sides and remove once browned & cooked though. Remove from pan, set aside. Whisk all dressing ingredients together.
5. In the same skillet, lower heat to medium, add dressing, honey, and balsamic vinegar. Stir and heat until bubbling.
6. Toss in mushrooms, and green beans then the cooked chicken and tomatoes. Stir to heat through. Serve over rice or pasta.

 

easy chocolate bar fondue
This takes on a romantic hue when served with champagne. If made ahead, keep the chocolate warm in a double boiler till ready to serve.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup heavy cream
• 1 pound milk or dark chocolate bars, broken into pieces
• 1 pint fresh strawberries
• 1 store-bought angel food cake, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 8 ounces dried fruit, such as pineapple slices and figs

directions

1. In a small saucepan, over low heat, warm the cream and chocolate. Stir until the chocolate melts. Transfer the fondue to a warm serving bowl or fondue pot.
2. Serve immediately with forks for dipping strawberries, angel food cake, or whatever you like.

 

chocolate-cinnamon pudding with raspberries
So easy to put this together ahead of time. Kids will especially love the flavors.

ingredients

• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 2/3 cup plus 1 Tbs packed brown sugar
• 2 ½ cups whole milk
• 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups fresh raspberries, or frozen raspberries, thawed

directions

1. Combine the cocoa, cinnamon, cornstarch, and 2/3 cup of brown sugar in a heavy saucepan. Whisk in milk and 1/2 cup of cream.
2. Bring to a boil and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until pudding is thick and smooth.
3. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
4. Whip remaining cream in a separate bowl with the remaining sugar until soft peaks form.
5. Pour pudding into individual ramekins or a large bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Serve warm or chill for at least two hours. Top with raspberries and whipped cream.

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your turn
Hope you enjoy these romantic dishes! Here is a PDF you can print out for your recipe collection. Romantic Suppers and Sweets Blog 2-16

“them that works hard eats hearty!” (part 2)

The Pennsylvania Dutch are known for their hard-working lifestyle where almost everything is done by hand. Imagine doing the family laundry in a tub? And can you appreciate the work that goes into plowing fields while walking behind a team of horses?

The bright side is that once you’ve expended all that energy, you can eat pretty much anything you want! This is one of the reasons the Amish and Mennonites are famous for their amazing desserts and breads. Here are a few of my favorites.

shoo-fly pie
While working at a commercial blood bank in West Philadelphia, I would go on a weekly “blood delivery run” to a Pottstown hospital that sat right on the edge of Amish country. Roadside stands were a welcome site, and I always stopped to buy a shoo-fly pie. If you like molasses, you’ll love this, but I warn you, it is an unconventional way to make a pie!

Ingredients
9-inch unbaked pie shell (easy crust recipe follows)
½ tsp baking soda
¾ cup boiling water
¾ cup molasses
½ cup brown sugar
1½ cups flour
¼ cup butter, margarine, or lard, softened

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a medium bowl, dissolve soda in boiling water, then stir in molasses.
2. In another bowl, combine sugar, flour and butter, and use your fingers to rub together to make crumbs.
3. Place a third of the crumbs into the pie shell and gently ladle all the molasses mixture over it.
4. Place remaining crumbs on top to cover evenly. Do not stir. Bake 35 minutes or until nicely browned.

pat-a-pan pie crust
This amazing crust needs NO mixing bowls and rolling pins! You mix and pat it in your pie pan. So easy and so Amish! If dough is too “short” and crumbly, add more milk a teaspoon or two at a time till dough holds together well.

Ingredients
1½ cups of flour
1½ tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
½ cup vegetable oil
3 Tbs cold milk

Directions
1. Place the flour, sugar, and salt in the pie pan and mix with fingertips until evenly blended.
2. In a measuring cup combine the oil and milk and beat until creamy.
3. Pour all at once over the flour mixture. Mix with a fork until the flour mixture is completely moistened.
4. Pat the dough with your fingers, first at the sides of the plate and then across the bottom.
5. Flute the edges. Shell is now ready to be filled.
6. If you are preparing a shell to fill later or your recipe requires a prebaked crust, preheat oven to 425°.
7. Prick the surface of the pastry with a fork and bake 15 minutes. Use pie weights or check often and prick more if needed.

amish coffee cake
This is quick, delicious, and needs no eggs!

Ingredients
1¼ cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sour milk, buttermilk, or sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
For the Topping: ½ cup brown sugar mixed with 1 Tbs cinnamon

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Mix the sugar, oil, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Then add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
2. Pour into a greased 13×9 inch pan. Sprinkle topping on top of batter.
3. Bake 45-55 minutes till edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

amish half-a-pound cake
This starts out in a cold oven—no preheating needed—and so nice for warm weather baking. You just need to remember to set the eggs and milk out on the counter for a couple of hours to warm them up a tad.

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1½ cups sugar
4 eggs (room temperature)
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
½ cup milk (room temperature)
½ tsp mace or nutmeg

Directions
1. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 20 minutes.
2. Pour into a greased tube pan and place in a cold oven. Turn oven to 350° and bake for 1 hour till golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
3. Cool 20 minutes before removing from pan.
4. Run a knife around the perimeter and tube sides to loosen, then invert on a plate.
5. Dust top with powdered sugar.

jan hagels
These cookies are delicious as a treat year round. They are so easy to make and the almond flavor is wonderful.

Ingredients
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, separated
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups flour
1/2 cup blanched sliced almonds
1 Tbs sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add egg yolk and almond extract. Stir in flour.
3. Turn dough on to an ungreased 15 x 10 x 1 jelly roll pan or a similar size cookie sheet with raised sides. Spread evenly to edges.
4. Beat egg white till foamy with very soft peaks. Spread over dough, sprinkle nuts over entire top. Combine 1 Tbs sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over top.
5. Bake 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Cut into diamond shapes. Finish cooling in pan before removing to a plate to serve. Yummy! 

potluck supper apple cake
Most Amish farms include an apple orchard or at least a few trees, since apples are a staple in their diet. This makes a large size dessert and is great if you need to use up some fresh apples, and even if you don’t. Everyone will love it. Serves 15-18.

Ingredients
4 cups diced apples
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Prepare a 9 x 13 pan with grease and flour.
2. Do not use an electric mixer. In a mixing bowl, combine apples cinnamon, and sugar thoroughly. 
3. Add eggs, oil, vanilla, soda, and salt. Stir gently.
4. Add flour then nuts. Turn into prepared pan. Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes.
5. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

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