Making RAVIOLI this week!

Ciao Amici,

My mother is coming to stay for one week and she is planning on making some home-made, entirely from scratch RAVIOLI!! I've already got the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese purchased and grated in the food processor. And I've already got the semolina flour for the pasta. I need to get out my pasta maker and dust it off, since I only make pasta 3 times a year (Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) due to the lack of time.

I am going to introduce my mother to all of you through blogging and posting photos of the step-by-step process of making the ravioli.

Now, I'm not sure what else my mother is planning on making, because she usually makes enough food to feed an army of people and I just don't eat that fast to empty enough space in my two freezers. This is the way that I cook......large amounts and freeze. Because of my work and my extremely long commute to the city, this method of preparation really works for me.....otherwise, I'd give in to eating out all the time, which is WAY too expensive and fattening!

I bought my first upright freezer, that is STILL in use today, back in 1979!!!! Then my mother gave me one of those little halvsey, short freezer. That's where I keep frozen pizzas and other quick frozen stuff that we can pop into the oven/microwave.

So I'll be posting this special cooking blog this week. My parents arrive on Wednesday, so you know what I'll be doing until then? CLEANING!!! A woman that wears many hats!

Amore' and blessings to you,

~ Bella

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pin It

Apple Pudding Cake with Cinnamon Butter Sauce

.

It sure feels like fall around here after some record breaking 80's temperatures last week; it reached 65 degrees for the high today here on the acreage. We turned on the heat for the first time, and as usual the fire alarms protest in chorus for about 60 seconds while my husband and I frantically run around the house opening windows and turning on ceiling and exhaust fans to air the house out! The dogs and the cats freak out and run for any place outside to escape the shrieking alarm sounds.

This happens every fall when we first turn on our heat, so we've officially entered the fall season on the acreage despite fall starting in September. The gardens will be shriveling up very soon. I've seen roses bloom in the Carolina's late into November, so who knows!

Since it's feeling so nippy this evening, I'll share another comfort food recipe that is good for this time of year. I hope that you enjoy!

Apple Pudding Cake with Cinnamon Butter Sauce

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. butter, softened

1 large egg

1 cup unbleached flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

2 cups chopped apples

Cinnamon Butter Sauce:

1/3 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup half and half

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

(You may want to double the sauce)

.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. 

In large bowl, beat the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy; beat in the egg. 

Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level it off. 

Add flour, baking soda, 1 tsp. cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; mix well. 

Stir in the apples. 

Spread batter into a greased pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, combine all sauce ingredients in small saucepan. 

Heat over medium heat until butter melts and sauce is hot, stirring frequently. Serve warm sauce over the warm cake.

Pin It

Autumn in the Carolinas

Pin It