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http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/

New Puppy

I got my precious new puppy on saturday. I'm so excited, he is the sweetest thing in the world. His name is Logan, here are some pictures.

Pictures from Union Sq

Baked Tomatoes

4 tomatoes, cut lengthwise in half
1/2 cup of Italian bread crumbs
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
2-3 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
Salt, pepper & garlic powder to taste
1 tbsp dried basil (sprinkled on top)
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a small baking sheet with tin foil & spray with cooking spray. In a bowl, combine bread crumbs, olive oil, parmesan cheese, seasonings (except basil) and mix thoroughly. Scoop crumb mixture on top of tomato halves and place on baking sheet, sprinkle dried basil over each tomato then spray them with cooking spray. Bake for 45 minutes until tomatoes are softened & crumbs are golden brown. Enjoy!

Potatoes Au Gratin

4-5 large Idaho russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8 th inch thick
1/4 cup butter
1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
1 tbsp flour
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
2 cups of non fat milk
2 cups of extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)----I used Mozzerella
1/4 dry Italian bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Scrub potatoes and peel. Cut into 1/8-inch slices to measure about 4 cups. If you have a mandolin slicer, use it.

Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion in butter about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until bubbly; remove from heat.

Slowly stir in milk and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute until the cheese is completely melted.

Spread potatoes in casserole dish. Pour cheese sauce over potatoes. Bake uncovered for 1 hour. Mix remaining cheese and the bread crumbs; sprinkle over potatoes; add a bit more salt and pepper. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes longer or until top is brown and bubbly.

Apple Brown Crisps - Sweet, Light, & Yummy

This is what happened to some of my apples after apple picking on saturday

3 apples, preferably Granny Smith
7 slices wheat bread
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) regular/salted butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons water

Peel apples and slice them. Slice bread into a small dice, or tear into very small pieces. Coat baking dish with butter, then add 1/3 of the brown sugar, 1/3 of the apple slices, and 1/3 of the breadcrumbs. Repeat twice more, ending with breadcrumbs. Slice butter and lay slices all over the top of the bread crumbs. Sprinkle dish with water and a little more brown sugar, and bake in a 375-degree oven, covered in foil, until done—about 45 minutes. Remove foil in last few minutes of baking to brown the top.

Rice

Brown Rice or white rice (4 servings), prepared per instructions
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 sweet yellow onion, diced
1 1/2 cups of button or cremini mushrooms, sliced thinly
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp soy sauce
Salt & pepper to taste


Prepare rice per instructions. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions until soft then add mushrooms, continue to sauté until golden brown. Once rice is finished cooking, add mushrooms, onions, peas, butter & soy sauce. Enjoy.

Salmon with lemon, garlic, basil

3 fillets of Salmon
2 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp fresh basil or 1-2 tsp dried basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Salt & pepper to taste
Combine the above ingredients in a large zip lock bag making sure to mix them thoroughly. Marinate for 2-4 hours. Only add the zest for marinating...don't add lemon juice until you are cooking the meal because the acid in the lemon will start to cook the fish.

2 lemons juiced
2 tsp butter
1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
1/2 tsp lemon zest


Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a glass baking dish with cooking spray. Add the lemon juice to the fish in the bag. Combine ingredients well then pour into baking dish; add bits of butter to the top of the fish. Cover with lid or tinfoil and cook for 10-12 minutes per 1 inch thickness. Garnish with chopped parsley, lemon zest & lemon slices.

Vote---DO IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olpCyDA4kYA


Leonardo Dicaprio is amazing :)

Cookies!!

I made these cookies last night and I brought half of them into work, I put them out at 8:15 and its 8:36 and they are all gone...Two things could be going on here.
1. My work people are pigs
2. There really good cookies

I'm hoping its two but you make them and be the judge of that.

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold – cut into chunks
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs- I realized 2 isnt enough so I mixed 2 & the egg white of a third one
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 ¼ cups all purpose flour (13 ½ oz)
¾ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
12 ounces (2 cups) good quality semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
1 cup nuts (pecans or walnuts)

If using dough right away, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars just until creamy. Don’t overbeat. Add the egg and vanilla and beat just until incorporated.

Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. When thoroughly mixed, add to batter and stir just until blended. Stir in chips and nuts. Dough should be neither too sticky, nor too dry.

Divide dough into 12 big 4 oz lumps. Bake on ungreased cookies sheets (one sheet at a time).
Bake times:

Put the cookies in a 375 degree oven and set timer for 8 minutes. When timer rings, without opening oven or removing cookies, reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for another 8-10 minutes or until cookies appear set.

Otherwise, you can bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes or until done