R.P.L.O.T.N. gets cookin'!!

as time permits, Smoky will include the metric measurements; a shortcut and index.
Strawberries in Balsamic Vinegar
(Fragole All'Aceto Balsamico)
 
This is a quick and delicious dessert for the summer time, actually all year round
1 1/2 pounds of strawberries, quartered (or really any fruit)
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
 
Place strawberries in a large bowl and sprinkle with the sugar.  Add the mint and vinegar and mix well.  Let the mixture rest for 1 hour before serving.
 
For sharper sweet and sour contrasts, cook 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and 3 tablespoons of sugar in small nonstick saucepan until reduced by one third.  Pour over strawberries, add the mint, mix well and enjoy.
 
Serve over Angel Food Cake or Lemon Sponge Cake or over Vanilla Ice Cream.

Purple Hugs
quiltDonalyn

Cucina Amore - Easy-to-prepare Italian Recipes - Author - Nick Stellino
Crown Jewel Cake.....    Another summer dessert
Prepare one 3 ounce package each Jell-O
 
Orange, Lime and Raspberry separately dissolving each package in 1 cup boiling water, add 1/2 cup cold water. Pour each flavor into separate pans.  Chill till form then cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
 
Dissolve 1 -  3 ounce package of lemon Jell-O and 1/4 cup of sugar in 1 cup of boiling water, add 1/2 cup of pineapple or orange juice. Chill till slight thickened.
 
Prepare 2 envelopes of Dream Whip per instructions on the package.
 
Blend Dream Whip, gelatin cubes and thickened Lemon Jell-O.  Spoon into 9" springform pan, chill overnight.  Run spatula around sides and invert onto cake plate.  Add a couple leafs of mint.
 
Really pretty and very light.

Purple Hugs
quiltDonalyn
Pasta with Shrimp and Capers
(Pasta Con Gamberi E Capperi)
 
Ingredients:
3 quarts of water (salt optional)
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves. sliced
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
1 pound raw shrimp, 21 - 25 count, shelled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup white wine
3 tablespoons capers
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 cup clam juice
1 cup Tomato sauce
1 pound pasta - linguine, spaghetti or spaghettini
 
In large stockpot, bring the water to boil with or without the optional salt.
 
Put olive oil, garlic, shallots and anchovy paste into a large sauté pan and cook over medium-high heat until the garlic starts to sizzle, about 2 - 3 minutes, stirring to mix well. Add the shrimp and red pepper flakes and cook until the shrimp turn pink, about 2 minutes.  Pour in the wine and cook for 1 minute.  Add all the remaining ingredients except the pasta, bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer 1 minute.  Turn off the heat.
 
Cook the pasta in the boiling water according to package directions until just tender.  Drain, place it back in the pot and add the sauce, tossing until well coated.  Cook 2 minutes over medium heat or until most of the sauce has been absorbed.
 
Enjoy and have a nice Italian bread with it to mop up the sauce. 

Purple Hugs
quiltDonalyn

Cucina Amore - Easy-to-prepare Italian Recipes - Author - Nick Stellino
Sundae Cake ~~  No bake!    

                    
Spray 9 x 13 pan with Pam.
 
l pkg oreo cookies (1# 2 oz)
1/2 gal vanilla or other ice cream ( I use butter pecan)
Hot Fudge Sauce*
Cool Whip thawed  (Thaw for 4 hours in refrig. Do not let sit out on shelf)
Chopped Nuts (I use pecans)

Crumble pkg of oreos (blender ok) on bottom of pan.  Spread softened ice cream on crumbs.  Heat Hot fudge in microwave to soften and drizzle over ice cream. Cover with cool whip.  Sprinkle with nuts. Freeze.  Keep frozen at all times.

* can substitute any kind of sundae sauce.


Jan Walther

Grandma Gregg's Rhubarb Pie 

                
3 cups Rhubarb cut up
1 1/2 C sugar
3 Tbsp  flour
2 eggs beaten

Mix and fill pie shell.  Dot with 2 Tbsp margarine or butter.
Seal with top crust cut with slits and bake 400F degrees for 50 minutes.

Another version if you don't like the sour take of rhubarb is as follows:

2 C cut up rhubarb
2 C cut up pears
1 C sugar
3 Tbsp flour
dash of salt

Mix and fill pie shell...dot with 2 Tbsp margarine or butter.  Seal with top crust cut with slits and bake 400F degrees for 50 minutes.

Here is the pie crust recipe I use...My local quilt group really loves it.

Pie Crust

 5 cups flour
1 Tbsp salt
2 cups shortening (Crisco) (original recipe calls for lard) - * Smoky notes - this is a 1 lb "box"
1 egg  -- break into a 1 C measuring cup, fill cup with milk to make 1 full cup egg/milk mixture

*Smoky's note - her mom has a similar recipe and fills the cup with 1 Tbsp vinegar and the rest cold water and beats with fork until blended. She also adds one Tbsp brown sugar to the dry ingredients.

Cut first 3 ingredients with pastry blender.  Add liquid, mix and kneed well.

Use lots of flour on board when rolling out crust.

*Smoky notes - divide the dough into about sixths and roll out one pie bottom or one pie top at a time.  Fit the crust into the pie shell and trim away excess and mix it back into the rest of the dough.

The dough can keep this crust in fridge for a week or so and in freezer even longer.  It makes enough crust for about 3 double crusted pies.  If in fridge or freezer, warm up in microwave before rolling out. 

*One last Smoky note - for a shiny finish on the baked crust, brush with milk or a beaten egg before cooking.

Betty/lostberrypicker