EDIBLES
Mouthwatering ways to create Italian dishes


(Family Features) While activities and events seem to rule most people’s schedules, time spent sharing a home-cooked meal is an important way to keep up with loved ones.
Busy calendars may pull families in different directions during the day, but making time to come together over dinner can help keep everyone connected. Exploring cuisines from around the world can make for delicious mealtimes, but it can also be time-consuming. However, there still are ways to serve up quality, satisfying, Italian-inspired dishes made with wholesome ingredients without spending hours over a hot stove.
Whether you fancy yourself a wunderkind of all things Italian or are a novice in the kitchen, you can make your family meals memorable with these tips from Chef Stjepan Kadic of Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods.

Rely on fresh ingredients. Garden-fresh veggies are perfect for savory sauces and lighter dishes, too. The flavors of a classic Italian tomato sauce are created best with tomatoes fresh out of the garden. A sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes crushed with peels provides lycopene for added health benefits and pectin for natural thickening.
Pay attention to the pasta. Quality pasta is the foundation of many favorite Italian dishes. For example, Michael Angelo’s Three Cheese Baked Ziti relies on a simple two-ingredient pasta (grade A semolina and water). The special extrusion process through bronze inserts and a low and slow drying process create a one-of-a-kind, robust bronze-cut pasta with rough texture that, when cooked al dente, enables the pasta to stick to the sauce. The ziti pasta is smothered in a delicate cream sauce with a hint of garlic, Parmesan and white wine, topped with mozzarella and Romano.
Experiment with cheeses. Mozzarella and Parmesan are two of the more popular Italian cheeses, but there are plenty of other options to create classic Italian flavors and textures. One choice to consider is traditional Italian-style whole milk ricotta cheese. Typically, artisan-made with just three simple ingredients (milk, vinegar and salt), it has a creamy texture that’s just right for both savory meals and desserts. Lasagna is a popular dish featuring ricotta; a recipe like lasagna with meat sauce features layers of homestyle meat sauce and creamy ricotta cheese smothered between layers of pasta then topped with mozzarella cheese can be a fan-favorite for gatherings – small and large.
Grow your own herbs. A healthy garden is even better when you add herbs to pair with the bounty of veggies you have grown. Herbs are a natural way to infuse flavors and even layer different kinds of flavors in a single dish. When it comes to Italian cooking, basil is one of the basics. Adding fresh basil to a sauce and letting it seep in delivers a traditional elevated flavor commonly found in many favorite Italian dishes.
Elevate meals with good spirits. If you’re entertaining or simply want to step up your menu, make an easy upgrade by adding vodka. The alcohol evaporates when heated, leaving behind a hint of sharp flavor that complements the other ingredients. One popular preparation is a blend of tomato sauce, cream, Calabrese peppers and vodka over pasta, often penne rigate.
Introduce kids to new flavors. The familiar taste of Italian sauces and rich, creamy cheese can provide a non-threatening context for trying new dishes. A classic Italian dish like Michael Angelo’s Eggplant Parmigiana features freshly sliced eggplant that is lightly breaded then smothered in vine-ripened tomato sauce and three cheeses. The dish is available in family and large family portions so you can quickly prepare and serve a family meal with next to no preparation time.
If you’re looking to dish up an authentic Italian feast tonight, visit michaelangelos.com for more tips and a store locator.
SOURCE:
Michael Angelo’s
EDIBLES
Green onions welcome the spring season

By Suzanne Storey
Do you have an abundance of green onions this time of year? If you’re fortunate enough to experience this, consider yourself lucky! First, let’s clarify a few terms.
Essentially, green onions and scallions refer to the same vegetable; however, the terminology often depends on cultural context. I often call them spring onions, and my parents referred to them the same way. On the other hand, fancy chefs and culinary experts typically use the term “scallions.”
I wasn’t even aware of what a scallion was until about 10 years ago, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re in the same boat.
Read the full story on spring onions, along with definitions of onions and the efforts to grow a community garden in Nocona in your Thursday Bowie News.
EDIBLES
Celebrate Easter with creative cakes

(Family Features) Sweet, delicious treats make Easter celebrations magical, putting the final touch on brunch, lunch or dinner gatherings. Whether your crowd enjoys the sweet-tart combination of fruit-infused cakes, mini bundts with personalized decorations or rich, creamy cheesecake, the dessert table is sure to be popular.
Blueberry Lemon Bundt Cake and Carrot Cheesecake from “Cookin’ Savvy” are perfect desserts for sharing with loved ones, made with little effort and a lot of love. You can even let little ones help in the kitchen with Fun Mini Easter Bundts by allowing their creativity to run wild – just hand over the icing and chocolate toppers then watch the artistry unfold.
To ensure your feast goes off without a hitch, create these tempting cakes the day before for a no-hassle Easter.
Find more ways to elevate Easter celebrations with food by visiting Culinary.net.

Blueberry Lemon Bundt Cake
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Yield: 1 cake
- 1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed
- 1 box lemon cake mix
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup milk
Glaze:
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Grease bundt pan and place rinsed blueberries in bottom. Mix cake mix, butter, eggs and milk; pour on top of blueberries. Bake 35 minutes. Let cool and remove from pan.
- To make glaze: Mix butter, sugar and milk then pour over cake.

Fun Mini Easter Bundts
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Yield: 24 mini bundts
- 1 box confetti cake mix
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup milk
Chocolate Toppers:
- 1 cup each color melting chips of desired colors
- silicone Easter candy molds of desired shapes
- 1 pouch ready-made green icing
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Mix cake mix, butter, eggs and milk. Pour into greased mini bundt pan and bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool and remove from pan.
- To make chocolate toppers: In bowl for each color, melt melting chips in 1-minute intervals in microwave until thoroughly melted. Pour into baggies and snip corner. Pipe melted chips into molds and freeze 15-20 minutes. Pipe green icing onto mini bundt cakes for “grass” then place chocolate mold pieces on top.
Substitution: Save time on toppers by replacing with store-bought chocolate bunnies, eggs, crosses or marshmallow bunnies.

Carrot Cheesecake
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Yield: 1 cake
Cake:
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 cup grated carrot
- 1 cup coconut
- 4 eggs
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 2/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
Cheesecake:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Topping:
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped white chocolate chips
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- To make cake: Mix cake mix with carrot and coconut. Using hand mixer, blend in eggs, butter and yogurt. Pour mixture into greased springform pan and bake 30 minutes. Let completely cool in pan.
- To make cheesecake: Using hand mixer, whip whipping cream and sugar to form whipped cream and set aside.
- Using hand mixer, whip cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar. Add in whipped cream and mix. Pour onto completely cooled carrot cake in springform pan. Let set in refrigerator at least 4 hours or overnight before unspringing pan.
- For topping: Sprinkle chopped nuts and chocolate chips on cake before serving.
Tip: For extra festive appearance, add desired Easter candy on top.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
EDIBLES
Street tacos from the slow cooker

(Family Features) If your idea of street tacos includes standing over a hot skillet, wipe that sweat off your brow and give these Savory Street Tacos a try. They put the slow cooker and oven to work for you, providing that delicious street taco taste without the hassle. For more ways to simplify cooking at home, visit Culinary.net.

Savory Street Tacos
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6
- 1 chuck roast (2-3 pounds)
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 1 can (10 ounces) beef consommé
- 16-20 street taco tortillas
- 1 package (8 ounces) shredded cheese
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
- salsa, for serving
- guacamole, for serving
- queso, for serving
- Cover chuck roast with taco seasoning then place in slow cooker. Pour beef consommé over roast and cook on low 6 hours to braise.
- Heat oven to 425 F.
- Use fork to shred roast.
- Brush outside of tortillas with avocado oil and fill with meat and shredded cheese. Place in casserole dish and bake 10-15 minutes until tacos reach desired crispiness.
- Place on tray and serve with salsa, guacamole and queso.
Tip: Recipe can be doubled for large crowds.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
-
NEWS2 years ago
2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS1 year ago
Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS2 years ago
SO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years ago
Wreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS2 years ago
Murder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS2 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years ago
Bowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint