SNOW COOKIES

Good morning to all my friends and a Happy New Year to all and wish to all the best for this new year.  I woke up the after Christmas  and decided I need to make some traditional Greek Christmas cookies they all called kourabiedes ,but my younger son couldn't pronounce it ,so we called them snow cookies and he loves them ,and I can remember him saying snow cookies in his little boy voice .

I blanched the almonds first by boiling for a min. so that they can be slipped off, them roasting them till they have a bit of color .

I melted the butter in order to skim it out leaving the salt ,they don't have unsalted butter in the stores. So that was a bit of work, I used 2 cups of butter.

Then I used my vintage measuring cup that I have since I was very young , one cup of powder sugar.

Beat with the butter.

Added 3 egg yolks ,it looks like 4 because one popped.

Then a couple of tbsp. of whiskey , and a bit of vanilla.

Then we grind the almonds on an old mill that I had found at the flea market years ago, which I happen to use one just like it when I was very young when my mom made cookies.

I then mix with about 7 cups of flour or until not sticky ,but still moist, and then knead it on the counter top and flatten to about half and inch or more.,I  use a small glass and make moon shapes.

Lined up and ready to bake.

And here they are all baked  ,about 20 min. cookie temp.

And here they are with the powder sugar on then ready to eat, I started writing this post before new years day. I wish all of you a Happy New Year ,I am sorry  I haven't replied to comments yet, I will very soon I promise.

FLOUR TORTILLAS

Well Hello there ! I was visiting Marilyn's blog at Marilyn's Maze the other day and her post read national tortilla day ,had a link for a recipe ,I quickly clicked on it and the recipe read, buy some tortillas and cut them and put in the oven I think it was sort of how to make  tortillas chips well enyway I was in the mood to make some and believe it or not I had been flirting at the idea ,but then I think about making everything .

I went to youtube and got a recipe and it read ,4 cups of flour and mix in 1/8 tsp of baking powder ,add 1/2 cup of crisco and work it together untill it is crumbely,  then in 1 cup of warm water add 11/2 tsp. of salt and knead it well to form a ball ,and then cover for 20 min, cut in little balls and put some crisco on your fingers and form into a round flat shape and  roll them out adding a bit of flour if sticky .

And there they are !! so deliciouse and fresh ,I also had chilli going at the same time ,and quilting no just kidding!!

 I managed to find kidney beans at a health food store ,they don't have them in reg. super markets over here they do have tortillas though ,but from now on I will be making them.

I also made one heart shaped just by chance!! I ate it.

And this is the final product my chilli and my tortillas with all the fixings, I  reccomend to try them, and thanks Marilyn!!, wish all of you a nice day.

The Biscotti

Hello again you probably think this is a cooking blog more then quilting ,but I do allot of cooking in my home and I would like to share this recipe it is my grandmothers and as I was growing up my mom made them often . I remember dunking them in my milk.

I start by beating two cups of sugar with 2 cups of corn oil and add 5-6 eggs and beat well then I add about 5 tsp of Annis seeds . In a separate bowl I mix 8 cups of flour with about 4-5 tsp. of baking powder then add with the mixture . I then throw it on the counter and knead it adding flour until it isn't sticky anymore being care full not to add to much flour for it will become to hard. Notice the old corell dish I've had these forever. I then put them in the oven after I have divided it in 3 loafs and it looks like the photo below,I also score it with the tip of a knife to make it easier to slice after they have baked I also line the pan with wax paper ,but I used aluminum foil last night because I was out of the wax paper just a minor detail.

I bake until brown or when done ,I don't really time things I just look in the oven and I know that it is done. after slicing with a sawing motion I put flat on a pan and bake again again with the oven set on grill and be very car full not to grill to long just a couple of min. or until they get a nice brown color and then turn over and do the same and proceed until all are twice baked that is why they are called biscotti meaning twice baked.


Then let them cool, and then let the fun begin I quickly got out my milk and enjoyed they taste so good with milk ,coffee or tea I hope someone out there tries to make them they can be made with raisins,chocolate, dried fruits,almonds or any other types of nuts you can let your imagination go.



Try them you'll like them!!!

Don't they look delicious my husband kept coming in the kitchen and touching to see if they had cooled off LOL.

stuffed veggies

Hello everyone !! I had bought tons of veggies last Saturday from the farmers market , so as soon as I got home I rolled up my sleeves and started to make my favorite dish which is stuffed veggies . I chopped a small bunch of parsley,2 med.onions,about half a pound of ground beef and then I counted how many veggies I have to fill a Greek lady once told me you put in one level tbsp. of rice for each veggie so I counted and measured like a good girl and added my salt and pepper and stuck it in the fridge and then I washed the veggies I used ripe tomatoes,eggplant and bell peppers I put them in a big round pan and took it with me to the living room and hollowed them out while watching T.V.after hollowing out the tomatoes I put the insides of the tomatoes that I hallowed out in the processor and through it in the bowl with the other ingredients .And here they are I also put In the pan zucchini , but I didn't hollow them out it's to difficult ,but I choose small one's and place them between the others and I slice potatoes they taste so good.
I mix all the ingredients and fill the veggies using a tablespoon, not all the way cause the rice needs room to cook.

Then in a bowl I grate some tomatoes add about half a cup olive oil , salt and pepper about a cup of water and pour it over the the veggies , but first you should sprinkle salt and pepper on top of the veggies and the potatoes alone before putting them in the pan because they are sort of concealed. I have one of the bell peppers not covered so to see how much I fill them.

And I baked for over an hour and a half or so depending on your oven . I also place a piece of aluminum foil on top of it so the steam will go on top of the veggies and that way they will bake also on top It was yummy . I like this dish so much it can be also vegetarian you can increase the onions and parsley and use the inside of the eggplant a bit more rice etc. I normally don't use ground beef this time I did it's just as tasty without, some people put in raisins in the vegetarian way and it is yummy gives a nice twist ,but the men in my family don't like it . I should just make things for myself sometimes. let me know if anybody has made it before,tried it or has any questions. So long for now.