Week 10 Sunday October 18, 2009

Gnocci Pancetta, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

This week was a lesson in flexibility. It started when JJ took Isabel and Laney for a hike before dinner and they came back too late to start the planned Bolognese Red Sauce. Scrambling to figure out a speedier recplacement, we bent the rules a bit and JJ created his own sauce which he named Gnocci a la Pancetta e Zuccini. It sounds much more impressive in Italian. It means Gnocci with Bacon and Zuccini.

While the Girls were on their Daddy Daughter Hike...


This is what Jordan was doing

Jordan had the Stomch flu and spent the day like this. That morning when he bacame sick fortunately and unfortunately all he had in his stomach was a red vine found from last night's movie night. If you are a mom reading this you know what the unfortunate part means. All I can say is thank goodness for my carpet steam cleaner.

Also unfortunately, he had spent the night spreading his sick germs climbing over each and every blanket we owned during our debut backyard movie and campout under the stars. Which meant laundry time for me.

Our Movie Night and Campout

While the weather is nice maybe we'll invite our friends and neighbors next time if they are interested.

So while Jordan spent the night passed out on the couch, we hurridly raced to finish dinner.

Isabel quickly, perhaps a little too quickly, measured out the ingrediants for the cookies. When I came around to check the butter and sugar we realized she put in the amount for the recipe below the one we were making. So instead of chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips we had peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips. No harm, no foul.

The mixed up recipes

I went to quickly measure the peanut butter and found it was the kind you have to mix. Darn Fresh and Easy-- why do you have to be so fresh? :)

Gnocci's Ready

I found some pre-made Gnocci at Safeway for the lazy cook. Also for the lazy cook....


My Self Stirring Pot



Here it is, the videographic evidenece you have been waiting for. My pot in stirring action.

With a lid that allows steam to escape, this is perfect for making Sauces, Risotto, Stir Fry's, steamed veggies, soups, etc. Most anything that would need to be cooked in a frying or sauce pan can would be a candidate for this wonderful creation. It has a little arm that rotates around the bottom of the pot where the built in heating unit is so it doesn't burn. This is a key feature for the distracted cook such as myself. I tend to get busy doing other things and often forget the food cooking with only the smell of dinner burning to act as a reminder to pay attention. With my handy dandy pot I can busy myself and rest assured my food is well cared for. I have become so dependant on this little thing. A couple of months ago, to my horror, I pulled the little arm piece out of the garbage disposal freshly mangled and too warped to work anymore. It was a long week or two while I waited for a new pot to come in the mail. It scares me to be so codependant on a kitchen appliance, what if it becomes discontinued someday? What would I do then?.....ooh I shudder the thought.

Laney, Laney

I think this face means she's enjoying herself.

Everyone enjoyed dinner and dessert despite the change in plans. As long as there is Dinner and Dessert, actually I can leave out the dinner part, everyone is happy.

MMMM ....Cookies:)




JJ doesn't really remember what he put in as I can recall there are varying amounts of ...

Bacon

Chopped onion

Zuccini

Half and Half
Peccarino Romano Cheese

and after that I can't be sure.

I'll make sure I pay closer attention when JJ gets creative.

Peanut Butter Cookies- Herman Style

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup peanut butter

3 cups flour (use a little less)

2 tsp. baking soda

We added Chocolate chips because I'm a chocoholic.

Blend ingrediants & form into balls. Roll in sugar. Press with fork. The recipe said to bake @ 325 for 10-15 minutes but I just baked @ 350 for about 8 min. Don't overbake. These were yummy especially dunked in milk! I would use a little less flour next time.

For the record we have since made the Chocolate Peanut Butter recipe and has become our favorite chocolate cookie recipe so here is the recipe so I don't lose it.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

1 Cup Butter

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 4oz. box instant chocolate pudding

1 bag peanut butter chips

Blend ingrediants. Add peanut butter chips. roll into balls and press flat. Bake 350 for about 9 minutes. Cool before removing from the pan. They come out like warm dough -- let them cool and then they melt in your mouth. Yummy Yummy!

Both these are great Halloween recipes. Easy and they have the black and orange motiff going for them :)