Cavolfiore con Uovo-{Cauliflower in Egg Batter}

Hi Friends,
I've been wanting to do a blog post and go around commenting for the past two weeks now. I'm feeling much better now, no sciatica pain...battled a bad flu since that time as well. Your thoughtful comments have meant so much to me to know I have you as my friends...and not just 'readers' as quite a few bloggers refer to other bloggers, and I have actually discovered the reason 'why'!

 While I was checking sources for recipes on Pinterest, I have bookmarked several sights with the most amazing photos and recipes but unfortunately these bloggers have only a few commenters for their lovely posts...and it really is sad. Maybe they're not reaching out for more viewers or have their blog in the research engines or RSS feeds. Don't know and...just wondering!

Until now, I just haven't had the strength emotionally and spiritually; even though I made two amazing appetizer dishes in the one month anniversary of Rosario's passing.These two appetizers were his all time favorites which he made throughout the years and even for this last Christmas...which we are all still wondering how in the world he made it when he was so gravely ill.

I have missed you all, SO very much! Thank you for all your loving and caring condolences, your thoughts and prayers which helped tremendously. As far as my blog, all I have been doing all these weeks lately, is pinning on Pinterest for hours at a time (guilty!) Just can't resist finding beautiful fashions, colors, and of course FOODS! Especially now, with Valentine's day in a couple days.

Today is President Abraham Lincoln's Birthday...what a GREAT man HE was!  Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and Thursday is VALENTINE'S DAY! Oh, and I did forget...which you all know by now, Pope Benedict resigned?!

Our world sure is changing...hopefully for the better, although not so sure about our crazy weather in the north east with the famous NEMO snow blizzard. Hope that some of you that are living in the north east have been safe and been able to climb out of all the snow piles.

I am so happy to be back after near month break and promise to stay in touch and visit...visit...visit all you sweet, dear friends! Thank you for all you caring support from me and my children, Lora and Joe! xoxo

Cauliflower is one of my all-time favorite vegetables...even more than, broccoli. Love the mild flavor all it's own. Love the crunchy flavor raw, roasted, steamed, in soups especially. Also is so good 'pickled' and dipped in egg batter and fried in fresh canola oil...just can't resist eating only one. This recipe which is totally 'handed down' for years, and will stay a 'staple' holiday, or special occasion appetizer in our family.

Cavolfiore con Uovo
Cauliflower with Egg Batter
recipe; handed down from the Pregadio family, 
(with slight adaptation)

1 large cauliflower
2 cups flour
1 cup canola oil (for frying, or more if needed)
3 eggs well beaten
salt and pepper to taste
paprika, to sprinkle on (optional)
Cut cauliflower in half, and then in large chunks.
Boil until al dente...do not overcook.

When cooked strain in colander, rinse with cold water in kitchen sink.

Cut in portion size pieces...as shown in photo.

In a large bowl, add the flower and the seasoning and add the cauliflower pieces. Incorporate the pieces real well so that they are all coated well.

With a tong, dip no more than three pieces at at time in the eggs. (if you need more eggs beat a couple more, just do not add water to the egg batter)

In a large cast iron, or heavy skillet, fry until golden...just do not crowd the pieces, or they will not fry properly.

Fry in hot oil until they're golden brown...

Drain on double folded paper towel, and assemble them unto a pretty serving platter.

You can serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, which I did not include in this recipe; there are so many amazing ones out there.

This is the most favorite appetizer of all...next to the Eggplant appetizer (sneak preview) for next post! The Eggplant appetizer is a roasted eggplant cut up in chunks and scooped pieces with fresh garlic, crushed red pepperrs, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and capers. A re-created recipe by me from the original Caponata...minus the tomatoes, olives, and the celery.

As for my Pinterest mania...this is where the FUN comes in! You collect your favorite things on your pin board, and if you're lucky enough to find the source where it came from, you will also get the recipe. For Valentine's I have a special board called 'my funny Valentine' which really is a name of a song I love so much.

Have you ever seen such a gorgeous festive cake for Valentine?. Well, this tops them all!

I did not see this pinned on Pinterest...but the Valentine's wish was on Pinterest. Checked the source, and it came from; splenderosa.blogspot.com

Isn't Pinterest the greatest? You can get so hooked on it, and get lost for hours at a time! Hugs,

Sweet Potato Bread with Chocolate Chips

If you love sweet potatoes like I do, you would certainly love this moist and delicious bread...more like cake texture. This would probably fall into the category of 'eat your veggies'...as in dessert? First it was carrot, then zucchini, so why not sweet potatoes in a sweet bread...but not too sweet, so you will enjoy the outstanding natural flavor of the grated sweet potatoes in the bread.

Linking to: Hearth and Soul Blog Hop @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen
                Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop @ Katherines Corner
 

With all my cookbooks, magazines, Internet, and favorite food blog recipes, I could not resist this recipe that inspired me from the October 2012 issue of Cooking Light. This is how it happens for me with certain recipes. As long as I don't have to go out of my way to get the ingredients I'm ready to get started. I don't like to make a huge project of it most of the time, so it's a lot more enjoyable to make something. I, of course changed this a little, simply because I had to substitute a couple ingredients...other than that I followed the recipe quite close.

Since this was my daughter's magazine, I copied the page, and photographed it to upload the actual recipe, with my adaptation to follow.

Sweet Potato Bread with Chocolate Chips
recipe adapted from Cooking Light

I followed the ingredients on the above list, the change I made was (1 cup of grated sweet potato)

I used 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt, and 1/2 cup sour cream

omitted the nuts and raisins, and used 1 cup Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips. Folded in 3/4 of it, and sprinkled 1/4 on the top before baking.

For the Spread on top: did not use the cream cheese and the powdered sugar. I added the grated lemon rind in the batter

Combine the flour and your dry ingredients

Combine the wet ingredients...stir, just until smooth (do not use and electric mixer)

Add your wet ingredients to the flour mixture...then add the grated potatoes

Fold in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the chocolate chips on the top (you still have another cup left over from the large bag of chocolate chips...save for another use) Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 25 minutes...lower the temperature to 325 degrees, and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes...and remove

I waited another 10 minutes and started to slice it while still warm. Use a serrated knife, and be sure to clean after each slice.

I tried a slice while it still was warm...you cannot imagine the intense flavor of the sweet potato; just the right amount of sweetness from the 1/2 cup of sugar...the lovely flavor and aroma of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and the moistness of the sour cream and yogurt...and only 1/4 cup of canola oil. Super moist, delicate in indescribably delicious!

Silent Sunday in my city... West Palm Beach, Florida

Saturday, October 14, 2012...a visit to City Place, West Palm Beach, Florida, and to the vicinity of the Green Market, which has opened for the season on Saturdays!

Easy Chicken Salad Sandwich...and more

I have so much stuff to share with you...but first things, first. Yesterday, as I was commenting back on some of the comments (yes, I know I owe a lot more)...I came across a comment from Cathleen @ A Taste of...Madness
and as soon as I saw her yummy, and simple chicken salad sandwich, I immediately decided to use of the large roasted leftover chicken breast, from the whole roasted chicken, I made the other day.
For the recipe, just click on the link, but I also combined half of the portion for the mayo, with my homemade tartar sauce, or you can use a bottled purchase tartar sauce if you would like!

Roasted chicken is so versatile, but most of the time I purchase it ready made, fresh  rotisserie style, from my local supermarket. Just can't resist the aroma and the freshness of a roasted chicken.

The leftovers can be utilized so many different ways...if you haven't devoured all of it in one sitting, with family or company. In my case, I always have some leftovers which happen to be one of the large breast which I use for chicken sandwiches, but have not made chicken salad in a long time!

How could you not enjoy this delicious sandwich on your favorite sandwich bread or bun (I chose 100% whole wheat)

On the bottom slice of the bread, pile on the yummy chicken salad, and on the other
slice a generous chunk of your favorite lettuce, a slice of perfectly ripe tomato, and a thin slice of red onion (optional)...cut it half diagonally, and enjoy your sandwich with homemade ice tea...can't get better than that!

A 'sitting duck'...this isn't...but more like a 'squatting chicken'...which it is; 'hunch back', and all!...yikes! This image of a well roasted chicken, right out of the oven is NOT very attractive, but the chicken is perfectly roasted...except for the two bottom legs...which are squatted, and did not get golden brown, but it did get tender.

So why am I showing you this funny looking squatting chicken?...well, because of the cast iron roasting pan, and how clever and useful it is.

So, this is the famous cast iron skillet by Chef Emeril...I did not find this as a 'thrift find'...as a matter of fact, I ordered it online from HSN Home shopping...the cost was not cheap...close to $40. I must admit it really is an unusual, and different kind of roasting pan, but I am not crazy about it, and therefore,

I will want to get rid of it....probably donating it to Goodwill, or offering someone in the U.S. who will not mind paying for the shipping charge...that's all; just let me know if you're interested!

This was the original plan...roasted chicken, and baked sweet potatoes!

I'm gonna share my homemade tartar sauce recipe with you, to add to the chicken salad recipe!

So, I made my own delicious tartar sauce...which was not difficult, at all!



My homemade tartar sauce, which I featured in my previous post.

Here are the ingredients that I used...

OK...so here you have all the ingredients to process for the tartar sauce...sweet pickle slices, caper berries, and and scallions.Give it a whirl or two, and you can add this to your favorite mayonnaise.

So, that's all to making a simple homemade tartar sauce...here's my personal recipe concoction!

Tartar Sauce

! 1/2 cups really good mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. sweet diced pickles for the relish
1 Tbsp. caper berries
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. chopped onion
1 teaspoon brown mustard
about 1/2 teaspoon of pickle juice

Mix all ingredients together, and use it for side dish, or for sandwich spreads, and dips!