This will be my second time typing out this absolutely enormous post which will hopefully make it to the internet this time. My first blog died/imploded/ceased to exist in webspace. I can see the page itself, but according to all Google land settings, it doesn't exist. This blog is now cassilove2.
OK, so on with my story...
Mario and I are engaged but we don't live together. He is working on his Bachelor's in Communication, I am working on my Master's in Psychology. We go to different schools, live about an hour away from each other with our friends, and long story short, do a semi long distance thing that makes our roommates feel awkward. So, with him living in a house of college aged boys, I occasionally cook for them, and since I didn't have class or work on Wednesday I drove down Tuesday night to feed my boys and spend some time with my boy in particular.
As per request, I made Chicken Parmesan, but I also made Stuffed Manicotti and a few desserts. However, good news travels fast in a tiny college town, and I went from cooking for a few of the boys, to friends, neighbors and girlfriends. Twelve hungry guests in total.
First I made with a sauce that I usually make for lasagna but instead decided use for both the chicken parmesan and stuffed manicotti. I started with onions, garlic, shallots, and green bell pepper. Sidenote: I don't believe in measurements of anything, other than baking which requires precise measurements. I throw shit in a pot until it seems right. It's just how I roll. So anyway, once that all starts looking good, I added a little white whine and some ground beef. I normally prefer the less fatty, but in the case of sauces, fat equals flavor! Then I added a few cans of tomato sauce and tomato paste and all my seasonings and left it on the back burner to simmer while I worked on other stuff.
Manicotti: While my giganto noodles were boiling, I sauteed some onions, garlic and shallots in butter and I made a stuffing using eggs, ricotta cheese, cream cheese, parmesan, romano, and seasonings, and it was nice and brown, my buttery onion/garlic/shallot mixture (which is a great addition for pretty much everything, by the way). Next time I make this, I need to remember to bring my piping bag to Mario's house (my previous job was in a bakery and his kitchen just isn't as well equipped as mine). Ziploc bags do not work nearly as well as I expected. Ultimate fail. Anyway, once the manicotti were stuffed I drenched them in sauce and then topped with a variety of shredded cheeses: mozzarella, parmesan, romano, fontina etc. Threw that bad boy in the oven and onto the next!
The Chicken: which Mario so graciously beat to perfect thinness and dredged for me too! (in bread crumbs, flour, crushed cornflakes, parmesan and romano cheese, and seasonings) Pan fried in olive oil for a few minutes on each side, topped with some sauce and my mix of cheeses. Put this in the oven as well, along with some pieces of french bread toasted with garlic butter. All in all, dinner was a smash hit. And then came dessert!
Apple Crisp: gigantic honey crisp apples, plus butter, sugar, and ridiculous amounts of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, etc. Not exactly sure what "pumpkin pie spice" entails but it made the house smell like thanksgiving, so I'm calling it a win. Made a topping with more butter, brown sugar, chopped nuts, a little bit of oatmeal, and more crushed cornflakes. This was, unfortunately, not as crispy as I had intended, I don't know if there was too much butter, or I should have added flour while the apples were cooking in the liquid on the stove, or I didn't bake it long enough for it to absorb the liquid. Regardless, too much apple soup resulted in a tasty, but not so crispy apple crisp. I was a touch disappointed. But onto bigger and better things.
Bananas Foster(!!!): I had never made this before, and for some stupid reason, was under the impression it might be difficult. I was so wrong!! This is the easiest thing ever to make. Bananas, butter, and brown sugar simmered on the stove then served over ice cream I even got a bit of dark rum and did the flambe! I was so impressed with myself that I even made more (sans rum though) for pancakes the next morning while Mario was in class. It was epic breakfast!
Then Mario went to work and I went home and blah blah blah ate boring food until the next time I blog about food and love and Google's entirely circular logic when it comes to troubleshooting blogs.
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