Ingredient: Milk

Calzone (a.k.a. Easter Pie)

Easter is a time for re-birth and new beginnings. Spring is here for the most part and life begins to move outdoors…finally. When I was growing up, Easter was a special time that was steeped in religious as well as food traditions. Lent ended and with it all the fasting, abstaining and giving things up. To say there was a food frenzy may be a bit of an overstatement, but it was definitely a time for enjoying eating.DIGITAL CAMERA

I loved the Calzone.  We sometimes called it Easter Pie and it was baked on Holy Saturday, not to be eaten until after Easter Sunday mass. It was filled with ricotta and sausage, with egg in every delicious bite. My mother and my aunt both made it and I couldn’t wait for Easter morning to have it. If I timed it right, I could have my mom’s and then go upstairs and have my aunt’s, too. They each had their own version, my aunt’s often having ham and hard-boiled eggs in it.

This is my mother’s recipe.  She would make it every Easter. If I was lucky, I’d have it again at Christmas when her side of the family served it as Egg Pie. Whenever it was made, it was one of the most satisfying dishes I’ve ever had.

Calzone (a.k.a. Easter Pie)
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Servings
8
Servings
8
Calzone (a.k.a. Easter Pie)
Print Recipe
Servings
8
Servings
8
Ingredients
Crust
Filling
Servings:
Instructions
  1. To make the Crust: Sift the dry ingredients together cut in shortening or butter, blending well.
  2. Beat the egg and 2 tablespoons of milk together and add to the dough mixture. Blend well. turn onto a floured surface and knead for one minute. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes or so.
  3. To make the filling: Cook the sausage and drain on paper towel. Allow to cool. Place the ricotta in a large bowl. Add the beaten eggs, cheese, parsley, and cooled sausage. Stir to gently blend.
  4. Divide dough in half. Roll one half out on floured surface. roll to an even thickness that will fit in a 9 inch pie pan with some overlap. Place in glass pie pan that has been lightly greased.
  5. Spoon the filling into the crust. Roll out the second half of the crust and fit it over the top. Crimp edges to seal well. cut several slashes in the crust.
  6. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes. Brush top with beaten egg yolk about 15 minutes before pie is done. crust should be golden brown. remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Serve for Easter breakfast or any time you'd like.
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Blushing Bechamel

Blushing Bechamel
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A colorful take on a classic Bechamel . Tomato sauce, onions, and garlic are added to the traditional cheese sauce. Great for lasagna or any casserole that needs a gentle blush of color.
Blushing Bechamel
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A colorful take on a classic Bechamel . Tomato sauce, onions, and garlic are added to the traditional cheese sauce. Great for lasagna or any casserole that needs a gentle blush of color.
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onion begins to soften and the garlic is fragrant 3 - 4 minutes. Add the flour and stir to combine. Continue to cook, stirring frequently for another minute or so.
  2. Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly to keep things smooth. Add the tomato sauce and continue to stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Turn the heat off and slowly add the cheese, stirring until each addition melts. If you make this ahead of time, cover the surface with wax paper so that a crust doesn't form.
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Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
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A classic comfort soup. Forget about getting it at a restaurant..A little time and a few ingredients and you've got rich and creamy love in a bowl.
Servings
6
Servings
6
Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
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A classic comfort soup. Forget about getting it at a restaurant..A little time and a few ingredients and you've got rich and creamy love in a bowl.
Servings
6
Servings
6
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the carrots, celery, onions, and garlic and sweat until the vegetables begin to soften about 5 minutes or so.
  2. Add the stock, water and the rice part of the rice mix to the pot. Bring to a full boil. Cover, remove from heat and let sit while you prepare the rest of the soup
  3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the seasoning packet of the rice mix and stir to blend completely. Slowly add the flour (about 1/4 cup at a time), stirring to blend each addition. Once all the flour is blended in, cook the roux over medium heat for 1-2 minutes stirring frequently.
  4. Slowly add the milk/cream mixture to the roux. Continue to stir so that the mixture remains smooth. Cook and stir the cream mixture for 5 minutes or so. It should be very thick. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
  5. Return the pot with the stock and rice to the heat and add the chicken. Heat to just below boiling. Add the cream mixture in three parts, stirring well after each addition. Continue to cook, stirring frequently until the mixture is thickened. This may take 10 minutes or so.
  6. Check the soup for needing salt and/or pepper. If it seems too thick, add a little more milk. If it seems a little thin, add some instant mashed potato flakes.
  7. Ladle into soup bowls and enjoy.
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Smothered Chicken

Smothered Chicken
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Decadent and creamy, chicken tenders become a satisfying weeknight dinner that would even impress company. Serve with sauteed green beans or a salad.
Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Smothered Chicken
Print Recipe
Decadent and creamy, chicken tenders become a satisfying weeknight dinner that would even impress company. Serve with sauteed green beans or a salad.
Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Place the potatoes and the smashed garlic in a pot. Add water to cover the potatoes by about an inch. Add salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer the potatoes while you prepare the chicken and gravy. These can take care of themselves save a stir every now and then.
  2. In a large skillet cook bacon until it is lightly browned and has rendered some fat. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.The bacon will cook more later when it is combined with the onions. Leave 2 Tablespoons of drippings in pan.
  3. In a shallow bowl, mix 1/2 cup flour with the Paprika and Bacon Salt. Dredge chicken tenders in flour and transfer to the hot frying pan. Do not crowd the tenders. Brown in batches if they can't brown without touching. Turn to brown on all sides. This should take 7 -10 minutes or so. Remove from pan when browned and set aside.
  4. Return bacon to hot pan and add the onions. Toss to combine and coat with drippings. If the pan seems a little dry, add 1 - 2 tablespoons butter. Cook until onions are golden brown. Add remaining flour to pan and stir to incorporate the flour. Continue to cook 3 minutes or so stirrring often.
  5. Add the Chicken Broth and stir constantly until mixture begins to thicken and bubble. Reduce heat to low and stir in 3/4 cup of the Savory Garlic Cooking Cream. Return the chicken tenders to the pan along with any juices that have accumulated, stirring and turning the chcken until it is evenly coated with the gravy. Continue to cook over medium/low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  6. When potatoes are cooked, drain and return to pan. Combine remaining cooking cream and milk and add to potatoes. Smash, leaving more than a few lumps . Keep warm until ready to plate.
  7. Spoon the potatoes onto four plates. Divede the tenders evenly on top of the potatoes. Spoon the rest of the gravy over everything. Garnish with parsely if desired.
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