"NELLS"

I can’t remember when I first smelled the enticing aroma of anise. It’s always been a staple in our Italian family. Whenever there was a wedding, there were anise cookies.  When there was a funeral, there were anise cookies. Whenever there was a holiday, there were anise cookies. These cookies were not all the same.  My family knew how to bake, so there were an assortment of all kinds. And it didn’t matter if the recipe was the same, each relative made a version of that cookie that tasted unique to that person. My grandmother doused her Italian cookies with a whole bottle of anise extract. My aunt only added a few anise seeds to her favorite specialty, and my cousin measured her anise zest by the teaspoons. My own recipe calls for both extract and crushed seeds, because I like my flavor strong. 

If you have never tasted or smelled anise, it is very similar to black licorice. It is also the core ingredient in the liquor “anisette.” Some people are not fond of it at all, but my family lives by it. I don’t know how many bottles of anise extract my great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, aunts, sisters, cousins, and I have used over the years, but I bet we  have been keeping that company in business for a long time. There are so many uses for it, whether it’s alcoholic beverages, breads, icings, or cookies. 

My family favorite is a delicate thin cookie called “Nells.” It is an anise flavored treat that is intricately designed and baked by placing a spoonful of cookie dough onto a particular machine, which resembles a waffle maker, and then pressed flat. Most people call this cookie a “Pizzelle,” but for years my family called it by its own nickname. I’m not sure how it all came about; (Maybe someone misunderstood the actual name of the cookie, maybe there is a relative out there who was named Nells who discovered it.) but I do know that for the longest time, I searched the internet and local stores for a Nell machine and always came up empty handed. It wasn’t until I was much older, did a friend of mine interpret my family nickname and showed me how I could buy my own Pizzelle cookie maker. I was thrilled! 

Pizzelle machines are available to buy through many department stores that specialize in kitchenware or baking. They are also found on Amazon and other internet sites. I received mine as a Christmas present, but I also bought one at Goodwill. Be aware, there are two kinds of “Nell” machines. The old fashioned ones, which my great grandmother used, are used on the top of the stove. The cookies are pressed one at a time, and then cooked over the burner. The newer machines are electric, and can bake two to four pizzelles at a time. I highly recommend the electric ones, because baking one cookie at a time takes tooooooo  long! Most batters produce 2 to 3 dozen cookies, and I, personally, don’t want to stand over a stove for a whole day - no matter how good the cookie smells or tastes. 

If you don’t own a Pizzelle maker, or you would like to try the recipe first before buying one, there is a little trick that can be used. When I wanted “Nells” so bad and didn’t have a machine, I used a waffle maker. It was one of those machines  that made thin pretty waffles - definitely NOT a Belgian waffle maker. I greased both sides of the waffle plates, placed my spoonful of cookie dough on the center, and then pressed the sides together. I only let it cook for a minute or two, because these cookies brown fast. I opened the machine, and there they were - my two “Nells.” The first two batches were a bit overcooked, but after a bit of experimenting with the time, I finally succeeded. They were thicker than the original, and didn’t have the intricate design on them, but they were delicious! My sister even thought they tasted better because they were softer and bigger. If you decide to try  the waffle machine, please be careful with your cooking time. Do not depend on the light, because it is designed for waffles, not cookies. 

Once you decide that you are ready to make your own “Nells,” try this recipe. It is the same one my family has been using for decades. It has a double dose of anise, because I use both extract and seeds. For the best flavor, I always crush the whole seeds before adding to the batter. The aroma and texture it adds is incredible. Feel free to add as much extract as you like, depending on your taste buds. I always nibble  the batter to test how much anise I want for my cookies. As I once told my niece, “If the batter tastes good, the cookies will taste good.” 

“Nells” 
(Family name for Pizzelles)

Ingredients:

3 eggs
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ cup oil
1 Bottle Anise (1 fl. Oz)
2 TBL anise seed (crushed)

Directions:

Prepare Pizzelle machine according to manufacturer’s directions.

In large bowl, beat eggs lightly. Add oil, anise, and anise seeds. Stir in sugar.
In separate bowl, add baking powder and salt to flour. Mix thoroughly.

Add flour combination to egg mixture until dough is formed and can be dropped from a spoon onto the Pizzelle maker. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour.

Lightly grease Pizzelle plates.  Drop a tablespoon of dough unto plates and press down. Cook according to machine directions.


Carefully take cookie out of machine with spatula and place on a large cookie sheet to firm. Let cool and then stack.


While cookie is warm, it can be rolled to make an outside shell for cream or filling, if desired.

*Other flavors or extracts can be substituted for anise, such as lemon or almond. Omit anise seeds and add lemon zest or crushed almonds if preferred.*

Makes 2- 3 dozen depending on size.

Mom's Mud Pies

Mom's Mud Pies

I was nine years old when I first met Dwayne in the fifth grade. He was tall, with blondish hair, wearing the biggest smile; and I was short with bright red hair, and the new kid in class. My teacher introduced me to everyone and told me I could sit anywhere I liked. At the time, my school was very progressive. We had no official inside walls in the building, only movable dividers. We also didn’t have traditional desks. We sat in groups of 4 or 5 at a table. A girl with long dark hair and big glasses waved me over to sit beside her. Her name was Amy and we became instant best friends. She showed me all around the school, played with me at recess, and sat with me at lunch in the cafeteria.  Amy also introduced me to Dwayne, who also sat at our little table. Amy and Dwayne had been friends since first grade, so it was only natural that I should become friends with him too.

Dwayne had an infectious laugh and usually tried to make everyone else laugh too. He was good at it. No one ever felt sad or afraid whenever he was around. He was friendly and kind to all the kids in the school. He was a big brother to the younger grades and soon became like a brother to me. No one ever made fun of me when I was hanging out with Dwayne.

As the years rolled along from elementary school, to middle school, to high school, the friendship between Amy, Dwayne, and I remained strong. We would see each other on the weekends, go to parties together, and hang out at the pool as much as possible. We all knew each other’s families; and we called each other on the phone all the time. However, when Amy found her soul mate in an older boy named Tom, the dynamics of our friendship changed. It was only natural that Amy didn’t spend as much time with us anymore, but that didn’t stop Dwayne and I from having fun.

Dwayne had become a permanent fixture in my family. He was the older brother I never had. (He was actually a year older than me. I had started school very early.) Dwayne would come over to my house, eat dinner with us, tell funny stories, and make my family laugh and laugh. My mother, especially, loved Dwayne. He could always put a smile on her face; and she would make him happy whenever she made her famous whoopie pies.

Dwayne liked to call them “Mom’s Mud Pies,“ and they were delicious! It would take my mother hours to make them, but it was worth it. Dwayne loved the creamy homemade vanilla frosting sandwiched between two cookie rounds of rich, chocolate cake. His eyes would grow as big as saucers, and his grin would expand from ear to ear, whenever Mom served them. It became an inside joke that whenever Mom made whoopie pies, Dwayne would not be that far away.

As life would have it, Dwayne and I grew up and eventually went into two different directions.

After high school, Dwayne joined the service, moved far away, and got married. I, too, became married, had a son, and moved to another state. We tried not to lose touch with one another, but priorities change and soon Dwayne and I only spoke to one another on special occasions. It was years before we actually saw each other again.

But as it happened, one day I received a phone call from my friend by accident. It was just a regular Wednesday - no holiday, no special event happening. My phone rang and I noticed it was Dwayne. I answered it, but no one was there. I guess it was a pocket dial. I hung up, and was about to continue my day per usual. Then I decided to call Dwayne back. He sounded so surprised to hear my voice; and we laughed about his butt dialing his phone for me. We vowed to stay in touch more.

 The best surprise came when I was visiting my mom and dad. I found out that Dwayne would be in the area too at the same time. We made a date to actually see each other and have dinner.
Mom suggested that Dwayne should come over to their place, so we could all enjoy one another’s company again. The plans were set, and we waited for Dwayne to arrive.

My friend hadn’t changed at all.  Still as tall as ever, however with a little less hair,  Dwayne smiled at me with that great grin he always had. He laughed and gave me the greatest bear hug ever. Dwayne’s blue eyes twinkled even more, however, when he noticed the giant plate of Mom’s Mud Pies sitting on the counter. My oldest, and dearest friend looked at my mom, and she looked at him, and the whole family was back together again.

Mom’s recipe for Dwayne’s “Mud Pies” is here for the sharing. May it bring as much joy and happiness to you as it has to our family.


Mom’s Mud Pies 
(Whoopie Pies) 

Ingredients:

(Cake)

2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup oil
1 cup chocolate milk (or regular milk)
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp instant coffee mixed in 1 cup of hot water. (Set aside to cool.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets.

In large bowl, cream together sugar and eggs. Add vanilla, oil, and milk.  Mix well.
In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cocoa and salt.
Alternate adding dry ingredients and coffee water to the creamed mixture. Mix well.

Drop round teaspoonfuls on cooking sheets.
Bake for 7-10 minutes until cake springs up when touched.

Make cream while cakes cool.

(Cream)

2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 ½ cups confectionery sugar
4 TBL flour
2 TBL milk
1 ½ cup shortening

Beat egg whites until peaks form. Add vanilla and beat more. Add rest of ingredients and beat until smooth. Keep mixing until fluffy and not granular tasting, at least 5-10 minutes.

Sandwich the cream between two chocolate cakes.

Invite your best friend over, 

and together enjoy your Mud Pies with a big glass of milk!

More recipes may be found in my cookbook: 

Purchase cookbook here:

Out of the Box with Apple Angel Cake

Out of the Box Baking Collection

 Angel Apple Cake

My sister is a busy woman. She has 4 children, ages 11 to 18, one husband, two dogs, and a full time career. She also works part time on the weekend to help pay for college tuition; she is studying for a Master’s degree. Plus she still manages to attend her sons' sporting events and her daughters' school activities. Needless to say, free time for her is an impossible dream inside her minimal sleep. 

My sister also likes to bake, but she doesn’t have the time she would like to explore new recipes. She also doesn’t have open afternoons to measure ingredients, roll and knead pie crusts, break open and separate egg whites, or wait while a souffle bakes. When my younger sister craves a delicious dessert for herself and her family, she reaches for a box mix. Her goal is to provide a treat that everyone will enjoy so she can enjoy her precious time with her loved ones. 

In my endless endeavor to discover new ideas and goodies to bake, I have encountered several recipes that use typical box mixes as a base ingredient. I shared these special gems with my sister and she was elated with the results; one of those favorites being my pumpkin chocolate chip muffins which can be found on this website. My sister also told me emphatically that I need to  share my findings with other busy moms and dads. It was my baking duty!

Thus begins my collection of Out of the Box Baking Recipes. As I experiment, and hopefully, enjoy the results of my labors, I will share my work with you. Many of the items I have been baking are lower in sugar, because I have been trying to watch my calorie intake too. It is a twisted world when you’re addicted to baking, yet you can’t eat all your yummy concoctions. 

The recipe I include today is called Angel Apple Cake. Many men and women who attend Weight Watcher meetings are familiar with this special treasure. I have used two different pie fillings and have enjoyed both flavors, however I think I am partial to the apple. The baking texture resembles more of a coffee cake. When I tried blueberry pie filling, my result tasted more like cheesecake. Try them both and let me know what you think! 

Angel Apple Cake

Preheat oven to Box Mix Instructions. Lightly grease 9 x 13 inch pan with non stick cooking spray

1 box of angel food cake mix
1 (15 oz) can of Lite (or No sugar added) apple pie filling. **
1 - 2 Tablespoons ground Cinnamon (your preference)

In a large bowl, empty the angel food cake mix. Add your desired amount of cinnamon and stir. (I add enough to turn the mix a nice shade of light brown.) Open the can of pie filling. Add to the dry cake mix. Stir thoroughly.

Pour cake batter into prepared pan. Bake according to box directions for appropriate size pan.
(My best results came around 20 to 25 minutes, depending on your oven.)
Cake is done when golden brown and the smell of apples begins to fill your kitchen.

Let cool, if desired, and if you can wait that long. Cut into 12 pieces and enjoy.

**This recipe can be interchanged with different varieties of pie filling. Blueberry is delicious, as is cherry. My mom has even tried pineapple!  I personally would omit the cinnamon  for the pineapple, but that's your choice. Try your favorite filling and tell me your results. I’d love to know what you think.   **

(Calorie count  and sugar content is based on mix ingredients only and pie filling.)

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La, La. La, La, La Lasagna!!

People don’t always realize that I’m Italian. They see my red hair, blue eyes, and short stature and instantly recognize I’m Irish. After all, my maiden name is Maguire. What they don’t know is that my mother’s unmarried name was Dibiase and her whole family is rooted in Italy. As a girl who grew up in a household full of spaghetti, pasta fagioli, raviolis, cannolis, anise cookies, and garlic bread, it’s a wonder that my family wasn’t featured in the original Godfather.

In reality, however, I don’t actually like that much Italian food. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mother’s homemade spaghetti sauce with meatballs. No one compares or comes close to her level of cooking; but if given the choice, I would choose corned beef and cabbage over raviolis or pasta primavera.

Every once in a while I do get a craving for either a nice homemade spaghetti dinner or a pan of lasagna. It doesn’t happen often;  so when it does, I splurge and satisfy the desire.  This past time, I was sincerely wanting lasagna, but not your regular run of the mill lasagna. I didn’t want all the carbohydrates and calories of the regular pasta noodles. I wanted zucchini lasagna.

Zucchini lasagna happens when you substitute thin slices of zucchini for typical lasagna noodles.  I had heard of it before when I attended Weight Watchers and I had even tried my hand at it. It was good. It had much more flavor and was much lower in calories and fat. It was a win - win situation. I decided I would make the recipe again, only this time I wanted meat in my recipe. So I adapted the recipe again. My result was extraordinarily delicious and actually quite good for me and my family. Behold is the culmination of my creativity, hard work, and determination to eat healthy, scrumptious Italian food.


April’s  Zucchini Lasagna 

Ingredients:

3 large zucchini squash
salt
1 lb ground Italian turkey sausage **
½ package of Turkey pepperoni
15 oz (1 can) Hunts Garlic and Herb spaghetti sauce (or your own homemade sauce)
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1 TBL Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese ,shredded
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375º.

Lay out 4-6 sheets of thick paper towels. Cut the ends of the zucchini off and slice each zucchini lengthwise into thin slices.  Lay the slices out on the paper towels and salt them well. ( The more salt used, the less wet the lasagna will be.) Let stand for at least 10 minutes, until towels have absorbed most of the wetness of the zucchini.

In the meantime, brown and scramble the ground turkey sausage. (If using sausage links, remove casings and break up uncooked meat into small pieces. Mash with fork if necessary.) Cook meat thoroughly, breaking pieces into very small bites.

Add the spaghetti sauce and simmer for a few minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with the eggs, and Parmesan cheese. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and pepper. Stir until mixture is smooth with no lumps.

The zucchini will be covered in water now. Press as much of the water out with more paper towels as possible.

Spray an 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.

Place a layer of zucchini in the bottom of the dish. Cover the entire bottom. Top with 1/2 of the sauce, then layer with slices of pepperoni. Add  a layer of the ricotta mixture (approx. ½ the mixture.) Sprinkle on 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering process of zucchini, meat sauce, pepperoni, and the ricotta.  The top layer should be zucchini.

Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Take foil off and bake for 20 more minutes. After the 20 minutes are over, top the lasagna with the rest of the mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 more minutes.

When finished baking, let lasagna sit for at least 10 minutes, to allow some of the liquid to settle.

Enjoy!! Mangia!!

** Can also substitute ground turkey or ground beef for turkey sausage.**

Cold Winter Nights and Hot Pudding Cake

The day began with a gray coating of thin clouds and barely a slice of sunshine. Children donned their winter jackets and heavy boots. The temperature outside froze at 11 degrees. The streets were barren because no one wanted to leave the warmth of their homes for a silly trip to the grocery store. It was a day like no other. 

In the depth of each kitchen, hot steamy bowls of soup were shared by the family. The aroma of freshly baked bread enticed even the pickiest of eaters to come to the table for dinner. Little hands reached out for the golden goodness of a toasted cheese sandwich, melted to just the right amount of gooeyness. Bellies were filled, and hearts were warmed as the meal ended and dessert was served. 

As the crock pot was brought to the table, the children murmured in disbelief. What was this? No one wanted more soup or vegetables. They were ready for something sweet, something to make their tummies happy, and their mouths shout hooray. Each of them stood up to rebel against this travesty. 

They sat back down when the lid came off the slow cooker. A hot beacon of steam escaped from the round container. The deep, rich smell of chocolate enveloped the room. As mom reached her giant spoon into the dark cake, she brought forth a wondrous surprise. Ladled into the first dish came a moist cocoa brownie swimming in a puddle of warm chocolate pudding. Over and over, she served her dessert until the bottom of the pan was empty except for a few crumbs sprinkled in the dark liquid. Mom didn’t stop there. For each guilty pleasure, she delicately sprayed a mountain of whipped cream and topped the dollop off with  a maraschino cherry.  Her masterpiece was completed and the family was overwhelmed. The only sounds left for the evening were the humming noises of content children as they devoured their treats at the end of a winter’s day. 

Everyone loves dessert. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a cold winter’s night, or a hot summer evening, the thought of something sweet after a good meal completes the picture. (It can also be the redeeming factor if the food wasn’t that delicious.) One of the best desserts that I have found is this  Chocolate Pudding Cake which bakes inside my slow cooker. I like it because it’s easy, the ingredients are simple, and it cooks without my constant attention. I can prepare this cake and then leave it alone while I do something else. It’s also nice because I don’t have to turn on the oven, which is helpful when the weather outside is broiling my tootsies off. 

This gooey treat bakes a firm brownie like cake that rises to the top, while a molten load of chocolate pudding lava bubbles underneath. For anyone who enjoys warm chocolate oozing over a delicious brownie, this is perfect for you. I especially love it with whipped cream and cherries, but my son enjoyed it with a scoop of black cherry ice cream on top. Both were fantastic. Its your choice. Try it this evening and be prepared to forget about the weather. It won’t matter anymore. 

Crock Pot Pudding Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
½ cup sugar
2 ¼ TBL unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup milk
2 TBL oil
2 tsp vanilla extract

¾ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
1 ½ cups very hot water

Directions:

Spray inside of a 2-3 ½ quart crock pot/slow cooker with cooking spray. (If your crock pot is larger, double all ingredients.)

In large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, 2 ¼ TBL cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, oil and vanilla and stir until smooth.**  Batter will be very thick. Spread in crock pot evenly.

In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar and ¼ cup cocoa. Add hot water and stir until smooth.  Pour evenly over batter in crock pot. Let sit – do not stir!

Cover crock pot and cook on high for 2 hours or until center comes out clean.
Turn pot off. Let stand for 30 minutes so sauce underneath is a nice consistency.

Spoon into dishes, and serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream on top. I like to add a cherry too!

** If desired, add ¾ cup of chopped nuts or cherries here. **

Little Bitty Bites of Goodness

A few years ago, the big trend in baking was cake pops. Recipes were plastered all over the internet about how to make them, bake them, roll them, and decorate them. It was a simple product made from three ingredients - cake, frosting, and melted chocolate. People were obsessed with decorating them into animals, faces, sports equipment, and beautiful masterpieces. Books described in detail the different flavors that could be used, and the variety of colors available for your eating pleasure. I will admit, I was one of those crazy bakers who had to try this new phenomena. 

I found the basic recipe and bought all the ingredients to create my own cake pop. My kitchen was buried in cake mix, eggs, and oil. The first step was to make a 9x13inch cake according to the box mix. I chose a simple vanilla cake. I baked my cake and then let it cool until it was easy to touch. The next direction said to crumble my cake into tiny pieces, much like sand or small peas. I did that. There was a lot of cake! Now to add the frosting - a whole 16 oz container of vanilla frosting, and mix thoroughly. Once combined, it was time to roll the mixture into little balls. They were then chilled, and dunked into melted chocolate. The whole process took a long time, and honestly, I wasn’t thrilled with the outcome. The balls were so sweet that it hurt my teeth to eat just one. Plus I had all these vanilla balls with vanilla frosting. There was no variety whatsoever. I could have divided out the crumbled cake with different frostings, but that would have left lots of wasted leftover frosting. I didn’t need or want the aggravation. Needless to say, I never made this recipe again. 

A year or so later, a very smart engineer created a machine that baked your favorite cake mix into 12 individual small balls. The baking process only took 5 minutes. Being the small appliance queen that I am (I have at least 10 the last time I counted) I had to own this new little machine. Of course, once I decided I wanted one, there were none to find. My son, however, saved the day once more. He actually found one and bought it for me as a surprise. I couldn’t wait to try it out. 

JayRex and I bought our vanilla cake mix, but this time we tried something different. Instead of eggs, and oil and all the calories that went with it, we added diet soda to the mix. We then sorted the batter into 4 little bowls and added assorted flavorings and coordinating colors for each portion. With a tablespoon of batter into the little round compartments, the BabyCake Machine worked its miracle. The cake was perfectly formed and easy to remove. I then melted some white chocolate chips and dunked each ball into its sweet covering. Jay sprinkled each flavored ball with a particular color sugar so we would know the flavor inside. The whole process of baking and decorating more than 48 balls took us less than an hour.  So much easier than the first time I made cake pops, and these new treats were soft, moist, and extremely better tasting. 

I did poke lollipop sticks into a few of my new goodies to make a cute display. The rest never made it past the ball stage. I have to say  that all of them disappeared within 2 days. I proceeded to buy more cake mix again, only this time I melted dark chocolate for the topping. (Cherry cake with dark chocolate coating is like eating a chocolate covered cherry without dripping cordial on your shirt. I don’t know how many I have eaten so far.)

My recipe for these little bitty bites of goodness is as follows. If you can, find yourself a "BabyCakes" machine and get ready to fall in love with  cake again. I know I did! 

**You can find "BabyCakes" Cake Pop Machine at Amazon.com**

April and Jay’s Recipe for Cake Balls

Ingredients:

1 box of vanilla cake mix (or any other preferred flavor)
12 ounces of Diet Crème Soda (or any other preferred flavor that matches your cake.)
Assorted flavors such as almond, orange, raspberry, cherry, and coconut.
Food coloring to match your flavors
Assorted colored sugars for decoration

1 bag of white chocolate chips. (Can also use Wilton Candy Melts)
Lollipop sticks (Optional)

Directions:

Preheat machine.

Mix cake mix and soda in medium size bowl. Divide batter into 4 small bowls. Add favorite flavor and coordinating color to each portion. I used blue for almond, pink for raspberry, white for coconut, and orange for orange obviously.

With non stick spray, grease the machine’s top and bottom trays. Using a tablespoon, fill the cavities of the machine. Do not overfill because they will ooze out and have too much flash on the sides. Close lid and cook for 5 minutes. When finished, remove cake balls with toothpick. Careful - the machine is HOT!

Let the balls cool. When ready, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 second intervals. Stir completely after each interval. After 1 minute, it should be done.

Dunk each ball into the melted chocolate. Sprinkle with colored sugars while wet. Let dry on wax paper. If you are interested, you can poke each ball with a lollipop stick to make a treat on the go.

Store these goodies in an airtight container for best results. I guarantee they won’t last long once everyone has tried one. Enjoy with a glass of milk, a cup of tea, a mug of coffee or just by themselves. They are that good!

Cravings of April

I love cookbooks! I love browsing through the pages, collecting recipes, and drooling at the pictures. A good cookbook should always have pictures. Otherwise, how do you know if you’re following the recipe correctly? Pictures are a must. 

I don’t know how many cookbooks I actually own. There is a giant box filled with my secret pleasures sitting on the floor of my dining room. Like any dedicated reader, I can’t bear to throw any books away. I didn’t even discard any cookbooks when I moved across country to California. I stored the majority of them at my sister’s house, in her basement. I did bring along my own cookbook which was filled with those recipes I use all the time. That cookbook is my kitchen bible. (A sequel of this book is available at Amazon.com for your dining pleasure.)     April's Cookbook

Recently, I encountered another cookbook that I absolutely love. Originally, I discovered it on the shelf at Target. I couldn’t afford it at first; I was barely 

working enough hours to buy food, let alone buy a cookbook. So every time I shopped, I browsed through the book‘s pages. I even took a picture of one of the recipes to try it out at home sometime. I know it would have been easier to look up the recipes on the internet, but like I said, I love the cookbooks themselves. I enjoy flipping through the actual paper pages and being able to write on the recipe any changes I made or whether or not its worth making again. 

You can imagine how overjoyed I was when my son gave me this cookbook for a Christmas present this year.  I couldn’t wait to dive in and try out more dishes. The best part was that I already had many of the ingredients in my pantry or refrigerator! I only had to go to the store for a few essential items. I couldn’t wait to get into the kitchen and cook! 

By now, you’re probably wondering what the name of the cookbook is. I’ll be glad to tell you so you can enjoy these scrumptious and easy recipes too. The book is called Cravings, and it was created by one of America’s top models, Chrissy Teigen. At first, I wasn’t very familiar with her, but I grew to love this woman while watching her as the co- host of the show, Lip Sync Battles with L.L. Cool J.  Chrissy is also the wife of John Legend and recently gave birth to an adorable little boy. Let me just say, this woman can cook too. 

The recipe I tried first was Chrissy’s Spicy Italian Sausage Meatloaf. I had been craving meatloaf for some time, so now was my chance to dive in. I was a bit reluctant, however, because meatloaf has never been one of my best dishes.  My mom could make meatloaf and everyone raved about it. I made meatloaf and everyone ran away screaming. That’s why when I mentioned to my family that I wanted to try this entrée, there was a general moaning and groaning and negative consensus. But I was persistent and was finally granted permission to attempt my hand at meatloaf again, provided I followed the particular recipe. To some degree, I did; but there were some substitutions made due to  dietary restrictions. Our family does not eat pork,  nor does my son believe in combining two different kinds of meat in one serving. It freaks him out. So to make this recipe edible for him, I used ground turkey for the ground beef, and Italian turkey sausage for the sausage.  I also do not have a food processor, so instead of grinding up any day old bread, I used the Italian Panko bread crumbs I already had in the cupboard. The last substitution I made was because of sheer absentmindedness. I forgot to buy ketchup. I went down the aisle at the grocery store specifically to buy it, but I ran into a friend and we started talking. By the time we finished, I needed to get home to start dinner and I left the ketchup back on its shelf. I realized what I did when I arrived home; so I topped my meatloaf with the BBQ sauce I had already, and I skipped the ketchup/brown sugar mixture. The original recipe belongs to Ms. Teigen, but I have to admit that my substitutions were successful too. 

With baited breath, I waited for my family’s reaction. It was a total success! The blend of two kinds of meat, along with the red hot pepper flakes and other seasonings surprised our taste buds beyond compare. Meatloaf could now be put on the menu again! 

The recipe I enclose is my adaptation of Ms Teigen’s. If you would like to try the original recipe, please purchase her book, Cravings. Its well worth it! (You have to try her sweet and salty Coconut Rice too! Its amazing!!)

Spicy Italian Turkey Sausage Meat loaf

Ingredients: 

1 cup of Italian Panko Bread Crumbs

1/3 cup whole milk

1 lb of ground Italian turkey sausage

1 lb of ground turkey

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 cup finely grated carrots

1 large egg

1 TBL Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp red  pepper flakes 

2 tsp kosher salt

½ tsp ground pepper

¼ cup of Barbecue sauce

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a small bowl, pour the milk into the bread crumbs. Stir thoroughly and let sit. In a much larger bowl, combine the two meats until completely incorporated. Add egg and mix again. Get your hands into this; it’s the only way to insure your ingredients are combined well. Add breadcrumbs, onions, carrots, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. 

Form your meat into a mound and place in a lightly greased 9 x 5 loaf pan. Top with the barbecue sauce. Cook for approximately 50 - 60 minutes, depending on your oven.  Juices may form in bottom of pan, let meatloaf sit for 5 minutes to absorb them. This recipe makes a hearty dish to feed a family.  Enjoy your meatloaf with your favorite side dishes and/or  possibly in a sandwich the next day. 

Cravings by Chrissy Teigen