Pasta with asparagus and Bacon

You will need a pot to boil water, a fry pan, a ladle, and a small 1 1/2 cup bowl.

ingredients:
Chuck eye steaks marinaded and grilled. Cut into small pieces.
6 ounces pancetta or bacon diced.
12 ounces pasta

1/2 lbs Asparagus cut each piece into 3 pieces diagonal lines with the ends cut off and discarded.  The end is usually harder the the tip and has a rough texture.
Fresh Parmigiana-Reggiano Cheese.

Boil enough water to cook pasta. Add pasta and boil for 2 minutes and add cut asparagus. Cook both till the pasta is cooked. Remove with ladle about 1 cup of the pasta water in the 1 1/2 cup bowl. Drain pasta now.

Cook bacon or pancetta till done. (I like mine crispy) Remove meat from the fry pan and reserve 2-3 TBSPs grease. (I know this sounds awesome!)

Now in the pasta pot add your pasta, asparagus, bacon or pancetta, grease, chuck eye and 1/2 cup of reserved water. Mix all together till hot. If mixture seems dry or sticking to pan add more water. You will most likely need more water. Once hot add some fresh grated parmigiana-Reggina cheese. Mix and serve hot!
Once on plate add more fresh cheese! Eat!

Microwave Mug Cake

Tools:
2 2-3 cups bowls
mixing spoon
2-3 microwave mugs
Ingredients:
3TBSP Soft butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg (large or extra large only)
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
put all wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry in another. Make a well in the dry bowl and add the wet ingredients. Mix dry into wet until all is combine and looks choclately. You will see butter pieces. Pour batter into 2 or 3 mugs. (Equal amounts in mugs). Bake in microwave for 1 minute on high.  When baking 2 mugs microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Above is before microwaving.

After microwaving. I added chocolate syrup to the middle after 30 seconds. Put back in the microwave for 1 minute and it was done.
Add ice cream or whipped cream and enjoy.

Red Beans N Rice Nancy style

Tools:

1 Fry pan, 1 spoon, measuring cup, and 1 tsp
1 medium cooking pot for stew
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rice n 2 1/2 cups water
cook your rice. I use a rice cooker.
When cooking rice on your stove top  you will need to cook with equal parts rice to water and  dash of salt.
1 medium onion sliced to chopped
1 tsp oil
1 pat of butter
3 cans of any type of red beans
1 TBSP cumin
1 tsp salt n pepper
1/2 TBSP paprika
2 tsp beef bullion
1 1/2 cups water
2 lbs sausage.
Cook your onion in oil n butter for about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Cook for 15-20 minutes while you cook your Keilbasa or smoked sausage. Cook sausage until it Browns but no burns.

Add cooked sausage to bean mixture and cook for 5 more minutes on low while you set table.

It is  not this dark but it is very good.  Enjoy!

Pizza!

We made this in our cooking class at the library. The kids had so much fun rolling out the dough. This is a great activity for your kids and gets the in the kitchen. Who knows, maybe they will eat something new.
1 TBSP yeast & 1 cup warm water
Heat oven to 425.
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1-2 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP honey
Combine warm water to yeast and mix. Let stand while you get together the other ingredients.
In a medium bowl add the rest of the ingredients. Add yeast water to flour and mix until it becomes a ball. If dough seems wet add flour. If dough seems dry add a little water. The dough should not stick to your fingers.  Let dough sit for 15 minutes.
Sprinkle flour on a baking sheet. Handle dough with floured hands and roll dough to fill your baking sheet. Once it is rolled out place in heated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Check it at 10 minutes. It should be ALMOST done.
You are now ready to put your toppings on: sauce, cheese, pepperoni, sausage, green peppers and/or whatever you choose. Bake for another 10 minutes or until you feel it is done.

Enjoy!

Cooking Classes at the Fort Walton Beach Library

I will be doing a series of cooking classes for ages 3-8. Children will learn about kitchen gadgets, fresh food and recipes. They will start on September 6 at 4:00. Registration is required and all classes are free. Please call the library (850)833-9590 for information or leave a comment here. Space limited so sign up quickly.