Day: March 17, 2014

Happy St.Patrick’s Day!! Wow Your Family With A Traditional Irish Meal! Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie!!

Happy St.Patrick’s Day!!

Surprise your family with a Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie!

 

I married Irish!! XOXO Kevin! Happy St.Patrick's Day!
I married Irish!! XOXO Kevin! Happy St.Patrick’s Day!

In crockpot:

1lb. Ground beef

1 small onion

2cloves of garlic chopped

4strips bacon chopped

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

Salt and pepper

 

Let this cook 4-6 hours

 

30 mins before dinner,

51/2 cups Mashed potatoes (without milk and butter)

2 eggs

Pinch of Salt

 

Spread mashed potatoes in a greased pie plate bottom and sides.

Layer with the drained beef mixture and then top with more potatoes.

Brush pie with melted butter

Bake at. 375 for 20 mins!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

 

Super Sweet Sunday! Dessert Ricotta Ravioli With Strawberry Sauce!

A great dessert is an essential, and the best part, of Sunday dinners. You know, everyone falls asleep on the couch with full bellies of spaghetti and meatballs and wake up to round 2!! Ding, ding, ding! If you are my brothers, it means another round of spaghetti and meatballs. But, for everyone else, it is coffee and a decadent dessert! I made this one today!

Amazing! Sweet ricotta filling!!
Amazing! Sweet ricotta filling!!

Dessert Ravioli With Ricotta Filling in a Strawberry Sauce

Ingredients:

Filling:
3 cups ricotta cheese
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp.vanilla extract

Strawberry Sauce:
4 cups fresh strawberries diced
1/2 cup rum
1/2 cup sugar

Dough:
31/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
3/4 cup water

Directions:
Start with the filling:
Stir together the ingredients in a mixing bowl and refrigerate

The Strawberry Sauce:
Combine strawberries, rum and sugar in a saucepan on medium heat. Let cook 15- 20 minutes. It will bubble and simmer. Shut of heat and let it sit until ready!

Strawberries will cook down! Have kids? The rum cooks off! No worries!
Strawberries will cook down! Have kids? The rum cooks off! No worries!

The dough:
In a mixing bowl combine the flour, eggs, and 3/4 cup of water. Gradually add the water until the mixture is forming a solid ball.

 

Using a KitchenAid mixer? Switch to the dough hook before adding flour!
Using a KitchenAid mixer? Switch to the dough hook before adding flour!

Powdered sugar rolling surface. Make 2 inch round balls and roll them in powdered sugar. With a rolling pin, roll out ball into a circle. Spoon filling onto circle. Close the ravioli by folding circle in half. Pressing dough edges together and securing with a fork press! Make sure they are closed all the way around!

Be careful not to overfill! It will ooze out and will open while cooking !
Be careful not to overfill! It will ooze out and will open while cooking ! Press firmly around the edges. The dough will adhere together securing the filling inside! Press firmly around the edges. The dough will adhere together securing the filling inside!  Yes, I’m totally old school. A simple fork gets it done…every time!

Drop no more than 4 ravioli at a time into a pot of boiling water. After they float back to the surface, allow them to cook another 4 minutes. Remove very gently with a slotted spoon and place on a cooling rack to drain and cool.

Ravioli 101! When they float they are nearly done! Give it another minute!
Ravioli 101! When they float they are nearly done! Give it another minute!

Serve the ravioli with a spoon of strawberry sauce, a drizzle of chocolate, a scoop of ice cream and don’t forget a dollop of whipped cream!!!

Get creative!! My mind is racing- mascarpone cheese, Caramel sauce…Enjoy!

Ciao!