Stephanie says

 I stumbled across Lidia's Kitchen (Amazon Prime) during the pandemic.  This is a charming program filmed by Lidia's grandson with an occasional cameo of her mother.   I love, love Italian food. ”Adapted from Lidia’s Italian American Kitchen. Serves 12 This is a great way to use some of those winter share vegetables but it does take some time. Don’t let that or the list of ingredients deter you- this is an amazing soup, delicious, hearty and completely satisfying. The bean-based stock makes this a completely vegetarian soup- make sure to soak your beans and drain them thoroughly before cooking them. You should have plenty of soup to eat and to freeze.   You can use canned beans but I prefer using dried beans.   3 cups dried cannellini (white kidney) beans 8 cups cold water 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling over the soup 2 medium onions, chopped (about 2 cups) 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 pound kale, washed and cut into1/2-inch strips...

I've been making this recipe since Tyler was in high school, some 20 years ago.  She always hid it in the back of the fridge so her visiting friends wouldn't wolf it down!    It is delicious and so simple to make.   Ingredients: 1/3 cup sugar 2 TBL flour 2 TBL cornstarch Pinch salt Mix the above ingredient in a saucepan. Slowly add 2-1/4 cup milk - in 1/2 cup additions.  Stir to dissolve lumps.   Add 1 lightly beaten egg and 1 Tsp butter Cook and stir constantly over medium heat (6 minutes or so) to a boil.  Cook 1 more minute.  Remove from burner. Add 1/4 tsp almond extract and 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract Cover and chill.  This recipe can be doubled.

  I tried a new recipe for sweet dough, and it's delicious.  The dough recipe is from:  https://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/101/Grandmas-Sweet-Roll-Dough127195.shtml I tried a different method shaping the rolls, details follow. 350 degrees, 30 minutes.  Internal temperature 190 degrees.  Ready in 1 - 3 hours. Makes 18 rolls. dough ingredients 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons salt 2 packages dry yeast (I used Instant Yeast) 2/3 cup milk, scalded, cooled 2/3 cup lukewarm water 2 eggs, beaten 5 cups flour filling ingredients 1/2 cup softened butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 TBL cinnamon pinch of salt directions Soften yeast in half the water with a pinch of sugar added. Set aside.  Combine milk, oil, sugar, salt and remaining water. Stir in one cup of flour, then add the eggs and yeast mixture. Mix in the remaining 4 cups of flour; turn out onto floured counter and knead for about 2 minutes until smooth.  Grease a large bowl with oil, then pla...

 Adapted from Bon Appetit December 2022 issue. I've always been a bean fan.  During some lean times of my youth, Mom relied on big pots of red beans to feed our family.  Along with a big dolop of ketchup.  I still eat beans in this simple form-unless I have a bit pot of the following recipe on hand.  I've made this at least four times - to my family's delight.  There are a lot of spices in this recipe, but they mellow out in cooking and are not hot.  My 8-year grandson always asks for seconds. I use a deep skillet - so it's a one-pot dinner,  6 - 8 servings Ingredients: 1 TBL extra-virgin olive oil 6 oz cured Spanish chorizo, chopped 4 oz bacon (about 4 slices) chopped 1 medium green bell pepper, ribs removed, finely chopped 1 medium onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 bay leaf 1 TBL dried oregano 1 TBL ground coriander 1 TBL ground cumin 1 quart chicken broth 2 15 oz cans black beans (I usually cook up a couple cups of dried b...

Smitten Kitchen Keepers  new cookbook by Deb Perelman I've followed Smitten Kitchen for at least fifteen years and I love this new cookbook.  I bought it as a Christmas present to myself. So far I've made:  Pea feta and mint fritters: Peanut butter oat and jam bars; Skillet white bean "caesar'; Winter squash soup; Swiss chard enchiladas.   Each of these recipes was delicious.  I look forward to trying more recipes! I love beans in any form.  The  following recipe: Skillet white bean "caesar", is so tasty. Serves 1 or 2 Ingredients Olive oil 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs Kosher salt 2 garlic cloves 3 anchovy fillets 1 TBL drained capers Red-pepper flakes Grated zest and nice of 1/2 lemon One 15.5 ounce can white beans, (cannelloni, navy, etc.), drained and rinsed. I cooked up a pound of dried Great northern beans in the instant, for 35 minutes.  30 minutes would have sufficed - the beans were a tad mushy.) 1/4 tsp smooth Dijon mustard 1 TBL grated parm...

  A hearty loaf with a tight crumb and a hint of sweetness. Ingredients: 1 pkg yeast (2-1/4 tsp) 2-1/2 cup liquid (I use water) 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup molasses 1/2 cup butter 1 tsp salt 2 cups whole wheat flour 6 cups unbleached white flour - (save 6th cup to knead dough.) 1 cups raisins (optional) 1.  Dissolve yeast in small container with 1/2 cup water and a bit of the brown sugar.  Stir.  Let sit 10 minutes while you gather other ingredients.' 2.  In large bowl, add wheat flour and 5 cups white flour.  Stir in remaining brown sugar, molasses, butter and salt.  Add dissolved yeast.  Stir to mix. 3.  Pour out on counter.  Knead 10 minutes, adding sprinkles of flour as necessary.  Pour some olive oil into original mixing bowl.  Place kneaded dough in bowl.  Rub oil over top.  Place a tea towel over dough.  Let rise until dough I doubled in size, around two hours if your kitchen is warm.   4.  Prepa...

  Cowboy caviar. A delicious salad or tortilla dip. I whipped up this version tonight with sadly no ripe avocado available. Circle back to the name, cowboy caviar. Real Cowboys don’t eat avocados! Cowboy Caviar Prep Time:  25   mins Serves  8 This Cowboy Caviar recipe is adapted from  The Well Plated Cookbook  by Erin Clarke. Served with tortilla chips, it's a fantastic party appetizer, but it's also delicious as a salad. Toss it with greens, or enjoy it on its own. Ingredients 1 1/2   cups   cooked black beans ,  drained and rinsed 1 1/2   cups   cooked black-eyed peas ,  drained and rinsed 2   cups   cherry tomatoes ,  halved 1   cup   corn kernels 1   red bell pepper ,  stemmed, seeded and diced 1/2   cup   diced red onion 1   medium jalapeño pepper ,  finely chopped juice of 1 lime 2   large avocados ,  pitted and diced 1/4   cup   cilantro tortilla ...