Author Archives: Julia Ann

How-to Make Rolled Sugar Cookies:

How-to  Make Rolled Sugar Cookies

Ready for serving and eating.

St. Patrick’s Cookie Celebration Ready for eating.

 Frosted sugar cookies are popular at holiday time.  You see red hearts for St. Valentine’s Day, Christmas trees and candy canes at Christmas, chicks and bunnies for Easter, and green shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Cookie Celebration. The Sugar Cookie Recipe enclosed is from Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book, 1971. Here is a short How-To in photos for St. Patrick’s Shamrock Cookie Celebration, Rolled Sugar Cookies. 

 How-To for Rolled Sugar Cookies

Rolling out the sugar cookie dough

Rolling out the sugar cookie dough

Rolling the sugar cookie dough on a cloth prevent it from sticking as it would on a bread board.

Cutting the shamrocks.

Cutting the Shamrocks.

Keeping the cookie cutter in a bowl of sugar keeps it from collecting cookie dough.  This technique for making  shaped sugar cookies is the same for other rolled cookies.  Use this as a guide for those valentine hearts, candy cane or Easter bunnies.

A perfectly cut shamrock for coloring.

A perfectly cut shamrock, ready for baking.

Bake the rolled sugar cookie at 375°F for 7 to 8 minutes.

Using Easy Creamy Icing

Using Easy Creamy Icing

This is an easy confectioners’ sugar icing with green food coloring and flavored with vanilla.  Consider using red food coloring and cinnamon oil for valentines, or peppermint for red and white candy canes.

Ready for serving and eating.

Ready for serving and eating.

The recipe for Sugar Cookies, also called Mary’s Sugar Cookie Recipe and the Easy Creamy Icing is at link  http://wp.me/p38mXe-79.

 

Julia Ann, cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

 Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox®“ Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.”   All rights reserved.

Meatless navy Bean Soup

Meatless Navy Bean Soup

Meatless navy Bean Soup

Meatless Navy Bean Soup and Corn Bread”Back in the olden days”  it was said that Monday was wash day and  Meatless Navy Bean Soup was the day’s meal. 

Meatless Navy Bean Soup

Pressure cooker speeds up the cooking.

A pot of beans on a busy  day is a good day’s meal .  I like to cook the dried navy beans in the pressure cooker then store in pint jars ready for use in soups, stews, with vegetables or baked beans.  I do not put meat in bean soup, mainly for health reasons there is no ham.  Though wouldn’t ham, bacon, pork or even chicken be a good addition?  That gets to be your choice. 

Canned Navy Beans

Canned Navy Beans    

A good use for the pressure cooker:

Presto Pressure Cooker

Presto Pressure Cooker

This was 1 1/2 cups of dried navy beans, soaked in 4 cups of water for 4 to 8 hours.  After they are drained, I put them in the pressure cooker add enough water to cover about 1/2 inch, no salt or seasonings at this time.  They are cooked for 11 minutes under 15 lbs. of pressure.  I turn off the heat and let the pressure come down slowly before opening.  I like a softer bean for soup, the reasons for the longer cooking.  This  makes 2 pints of beans and the broth.  Best to follow your pressure cookers instructions.  OR  simply buy 2-3 cans of navy or great northern beans.  

I like to add onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, carrots, one small potato and fresh grated ginger to soup.  These I cook in a little water in the microwave on high until almost tender.  Now I am ready assemble the Meatless Navy Bean Soup. The final addition to the soup seasoning  is a natural mesquite liquid smoke.  

Meatless Navy Bean Soup

Julia Ann
A robust Meatless Navy Bean Soup and vegetables with a subtle flavor of mesquite smoke. Makes you think you are around an old chuck wagon out west.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups dried navy beans
  • 4 cups of water to soak beans
  • ---------------
  • soaked beans
  • 2 cups water
  • OR 2 cups canned beans and juice
  • 1/4 cup onion minced
  • 1/4 cup jalapeno pepper finely diced
  • 1/2 cup carrots finely diced
  • 1/2 cup potato finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger freshly grated
  • 1 cup chicken broth or more if thinner soup is preferred.
  • 2 teaspoons mesquite liquid smoke

Instructions
 

  • Soak the dried beans in the 4 cups of water 4-8 hours.
  • Drain beans, cook in pressure cooker with water to cover, 11 minutes.
  • Put 2 cups cooked beans and juice into a large pot.
  • Add all the vegetables together in a microwave proof bowl with 1/4-1/2 cup water.
  • Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the cooked vegetables and water to the beans.
  • Add the chicken or vegetable broth.
  • Add the mesquite liquid smoke.
  • Simmer 30 minutes.

Notes

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
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Meatless navy Bean Soup

Meatless Navy Bean Soup and Corn Bread

Benefits of making home-made Meatless Navy Bean Soup

 The great benefit of making any soup is the freedom to substitute or make changes as you prepare.  Now of course there are times when making a specific recipe is the goal. That is the fun and challenge of cooking. 

Suggestions for the the rest of the meal:

The Corn Bread and Chocolate Pudding with Maraschino Cherries are recipes to come in future blogs.  The recipes for the Wheat Flax Seed-Apple Muffins and the Orange Coconut Walnut Bowl are available.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinaboxJulia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®  bring you great recipes, outstanding herbs and spices for your cooking experience. ©2007-2021 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce: How-To

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Pears are a favorite fruit at our home.  We like the Red Anjou Pear used in salads or fresh slices, though rarely cook with them.  Cinnamon spiced apple sauce is a favorite too, so decided why not make Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce.  I have several old cookbooks, 1940s, and 50s, they did not have recipes for pear sauce.  There was pear jam, preserves,  jelly or pears mixed with other fruits for chutneys.  So, I made the pear sauce as I do  spicy apple sauce.

 How-to  for making Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Red Anjou Pears

Red Anjou Pears

The Anjou pears are sweet and juicy as well nutritious. One fresh medium size pear has 100 calories. They are fat-free, cholesterol-free and sodium-free and provides soluble fiber.  Pears are an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium.

These pears were from the local grocery, I don’t know where they are grown locally.   Wash them good to get any pesticides off the peel even before peeling them.

Peeled Anjou Pears

Peeled Anjou Pears

After peeling each, I put  them in a pan of water with a tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent the pears browning.  I find it easiest to use the vegetable peeler.  When all peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces before cooking.

While placing them in the sauce pan, water and seasons, a picture was forgotten.  I added enough water to cover and added another tablespoon of lemon juice to the water, again to prevent the browning, also adds a little extra flavor.  Recently made another 2 pints of the Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce and added about 2 tablespoons of orange juice when cooking.

After the pears were boiling for about 5 minutes, I added the ground cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.  They were on the hard side, needed to ripen a little more, so I simmered them about 30 minutes or more until tender and softened.  Cooking will vary to the ripeness and your preference.

Cooking Spicy Red Anjou Pears

Cooking Spicy Red Anjou Pears

When they were cooked tender, I added a teaspoon of vanilla.  They were cooked more than in the above photo.  While still hot, put 1/2 to 1 cup pears in the blender to puree.  I pureed them more than I had preferred for this first time.  Having some lumps of pear in the sauce is more to my liking.  Again that is your preference.

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Julia Ann
A cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice flavored sauce made from Red Anjou Pears. A tasty side dish to have with pork, chicken or vegetarian as salad or dessert. Serve with cottage cheese.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 5 cups

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Red Anjou pears
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups water to cover pears again more or less to your preference
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/8 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg or ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Wash and peel pears.
  • Core and cut into 1/2 inch pieces into a pan of water with 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
  • Drain the pears and put into 4 quart sauce pan.
  • Add water to cover pears, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
  • Add the sugars and salt.
  • Cook to boiling for 5 minutes.
  • Add the cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
  • Cook for 30 minutes, longer if preferred for a softer pear.
  • Remove from heat; add the vanilla.
  • Puree in small batches 1/2 cup to 1 cup of to the thickness preferred.</span>
  • Pour into bowl to store or pour into clean sterile pint jars.
  • Refrigerate until use.

Notes

Orange juice can be used in place of the lemon juice when cooking the pears...... Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® brings you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
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2 Pints of Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

2 Pints of Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

The 4 pears actually made about 2 1/2 pints or 5 cups of sauce.  The sauce had to be sampled to see if it was sweet, spicy, good and edible.   It was!   The jars were refrigerated until used. The sauce did not last long, it was more pears and another batch of Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce.

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Consider these dishes for the menu:

 

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Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® brings you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2021 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.”Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

 

– 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Stuffed Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce

Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce

Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce with Cheese on top.

 

Stuffed Salmon Shells

The large pasta shells were stuffed with canned salmon, a blend of vegetables topped with creamy lemon sauce and shredded mild cheddar cheese before putting into the oven. The lemon sauce adds a slight tart flavor to the stuffed salmon shells.

Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce

Stuffed Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce and Cheese

 

Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce

Julia Ann
Large pasta shells are stuffed with salmon patty mixture and topped with a creamy lemon sauce with shredded mild cheddar cheese on top.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Seafood
Cuisine American
Servings 5

Ingredients
  

  • STUFFING

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F. Grease a 9 x 13 oven proof casserole dish.
  • Cook 10 large pasta shells as instructions on the package. Rinse in water and set aside.
  • Add the drained, rinsed salmon into a large bowl.
  • Add the stuffing ingredients and blend well.
  • Fill each shell with the salmon mixture.
  • Set shells into the greased casserole.
  • MAKE THE LEMON SAUCE
  • Melt butter in a saucepan that will hold 2 cups.
  • Blend in the flour with a whisk until thickened.
  • Gradually whisk in the chicken broth and cream or evaporated milk.
  • Using a whisk, stir constantly while cooking to a smooth and medium thick sauce.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Add the lemon juice and nutmeg, blend.
  • Pour the sauce over the stuffed salmon shells.
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top.
  • Bake 350 F for 20 minutes, until browned and bubbly.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes before serving

Notes

The sauce is adapted from Claiborne, Craig, The New York Times Menu Cook Book, 1966. p.134........Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes, outstanding herbs and spices for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.”nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

The evolution of Stuffed Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce

I am sure we all have a menu to resort to at the end of  pay period. Mine was making tuna casserole, using noodles, peas and a can of tuna, maybe with a can of mushroom soup. After about 3 months of that recipe, my husband informed me he did not like tuna.  So I switched to salmon patties for awhile. Well,  50 year later, tried salmon patties again.  After a couple of meals, decided best to look for another recipe to use canned salmon.  It was the development of Stuffed Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce with cheese.

Stuffed Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce

Stuffed Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce

MENU SUGGESTIONS:

 

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipeso for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2021 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox®“Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.”Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

 

Brussels Sprouts with Pearl Onions

Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onions

Brussels Sprouts with Pearl Onions

Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onions with Sesame Seeds

Brussel Sprouts and Pearl Onions

Brussel Sprouts and Pearl Onions are not one of the first side dishes served, unless at winter holiday times  The Brussel sprouts are fresh as the growing time is autumn to early spring.  A good Brussel sprout has vivid green leaves and a solid firm head, much like cabbage, only smaller.  Leaves that have perforations in them are to be discarded as it indicates aphids within.

Brussel sprouts will keep 10 days in the refrigerator if kept unwashed and untrimmed in a plastic bag in the vegetable drawer.  To cook, steam Brussel sprouts between 3 to 5 minutes before freezing.  Frozen they will keep up to 1 year. Overcooked Brussel sprouts will lose their taste and nutrient value, and also emit an unpleasant smell of sulfur.  Overcooked crucierous vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli will also have an unpleasant smell.

Benefits of Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onions with Sesame Seed

The nutritional profile of Brussel sprouts is excellent for vitamins K and C.  Folate, manganese, vitamin B6, B1, copper are also very good nutrients in sprouts. They have important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits and cancer and cardiovascular health.

Pearl Onion 

The pearl onion is a relative to the leek.  They are used mostly for pickling, relishes or with other vegetables giving a sweeter taste than the common onion.  The nutrient benefits are in helping cardiovascular health, stablize blood sugar levels and acting as an antioxidant and anti-iflammatory.

Sesame Seed

The tiny sesame seed is chocked full of nutrients:  copper, manganese, calcium, iron magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber.  The special lignans fibers in the sesame seed have benefits of cholesterol-lowering effectn in human and prevent high blood pressure.

Enjoy a side dish which is rich in beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onions

Julia Ann
A vegetable dish made flavorful and healthy with a sprinkling of sesame seeds over steamed Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onions. These are a winter holiday favorite.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Vegetables
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts
  • 1 cup fresh pearl onions
  • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds toasted

Instructions
 

  • Toast sesame seeds by stirring in a hot skillet until lightly brown. Watch carefully to keep from burning.
  • Trim outer leaves and cut bottoms of Brussels sprouts, cut in half and wash.
  • Steam sprouts in vegetable steamer or parboil in boiling water for 5-7 minutes; drain.
  • Bring a saucepan of water to boil, drop in the whole unpeeled pearl onions. Boil for 3 minutes.
  • Drain onions.
  • Cut the end off the onions and squeeze the onion out of the outer skins.
  • Melt the butter in skillet, add Brussels sprouts and pearl onions, heat briefly to keep at serving temperature.
  • Add toasted sesame seeds prior to serving.

Notes

Microwave Brussels Spouts: Boil 3-4 cups water in microwave (10 seconds on high), add the Brussels spouts and boil for 6-7 minutes. Drain and put them into skillet of melted butter. Microwave Pearl Onions: Boil 2-3 cups water in microwave (3 minutes), add the onions and bring back to boil for 3 minutes. Drain and cut end of onions and squeeze the onion out of outer skins. Add to Brussels Sprouts, heat to serving temperature.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Brussels Sprouts with Pearl Onions

Brussels Sprouts and Pearl Onions with sesame seed

Another Menu Suggestion:

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2021 Netta  Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.