Joshua's Lasagna (plus a recipe for great bread)

Can't find the cable to download pics from my camera, so I'll add pics when I can.

Here's how Joshua's lasagna making experience went down.

Everything started off great: We had the recipe, Joshua washed his hands and put on an apron - which he modeled appropriately for the camera. Now, just let me say that Joshua gets queasy quite easily. All you have to do is mention the words "extra cheesy cheez-its" and he gags as he runs to the nearest receptacle. Sooo...when he pulled the ground beef out of the fridge I could tell by the look on his face that this might be one of those moments.

Joshua: "What animal is THIS from, Mom?"
(He has just in the last few months began to realize that meat comes from some animal, so we get asked this question ALOT.)
Me: "A cow."
Joshua: "Well, it looks like worms!!!"
(Now I KNOW this is going to be one of these moments.)
Joshua: "I'm not touching it!!!"
Me: "You don't have to touch it. I'll put it in the pan and you can stir it around with the wooden spoon."
Joshua: "Uh, okay..." (at this point his skin is quite pale and he has that "extra cheesy cheez-it" look)

He stirs for a minute or so, then it happens.
Joshua (with his hands on his stomach): "I don't feel well. Do I have to finish?"
Me: "What's wrong. Does the meat gross you out?"
Joshua: "Noooo...that's not it. Just don't feel good."
Me: "Okay. Go lay down on the sofa. I'll check on you in a minute."

So, I figure his cooking experience is over and I finish browning the meat myself. Just as I finish up the meat, guess who pops back into the kitchen...my little chef is back and ready to finish the lasagna. He follows the rest of the recipe and puts together a fantastic looking lasagna (which I don't have a picture of because the batteries died and we didn't have any others in the house. I have real issues with cameras!!)

The lasagna ends up being fantastic. Joshua is one proud chef and I'm one proud sous chef. He still vehemently denies that the meat grossed him out...we'll see what happens when he has to handle raw chicken!!!

Moving on to that promised recipe. Hannah and I made spaghetti and meatballs last night and had this fantastic bread to go with it - lots of herbs and garlic. Thanks to Ina Garten.
Garlic Bread

Who's Cookin' Dinner Tonight???

My Joshua LOVES to cook. He REALLY loves to cook anything he can "flip" - pancakes, hamburger patties, grilled cheese, pork chops, fried eggs, etc. I really enjoy having him in the kitchen with me. He approaches cooking like he does skating, boarding, and jumping ramps - on a bike, roller blades, skateboard, scooter, anything with wheels - with a let me in there, gung ho, no fear attitude!!

Yesterday he asked if he could cook dinner one night. I said "Absolutely!!" and pointed him to allrecipes.com (my favorite site to get ideas for recipes) to find something he would like to cook. After searching the site for about 10 minutes he found a recipe for lasagna. So...Joshua is cooking tonight and he is making lasagna. He chose a recipe that is cooked in the microwave (not my favorite way to cook lasagna) so we'll make a few adjustments to the recipe and bake it in the oven. I'll report on how it turns out and hopefully have some pictures to post.

Who's cooking at your house tonight???

Joshua's Sous Chef
Becky

Did you know...?

Did you know that at Kroger and Publix when they have a buy one get one free sale that if you buy just one of the items you get it for 1/2 price. For example, Cheerios are on sale for buy one get one free and the original price is $4.00 a box. You can buy just one box for $2.00. This comes in handy if you don't need two, don't want two or just want to stay within your food budget and can only spend $2.00. Same thing goes for the 3 for $6 or 10 for $10, etc. sales. You don't have to buy 3, you can buy 1 and pay $2. This can really help save money if you're on a tight budget. Love that they do this and that you can pay less for a product even if you only get 1.

Have fun saving!!

Becky

Blackberry Cobbler

I attribute my love of cooking to my mother and my grandma (on my father's side). I grew up in the kitchen watching them and helping out when they would let me. I loved watching my grandmother make cornbread for her cornbread dressing. I was almost always allowed to crumble the warm cornbread in a large bowl and then use my hands to mix in the chopped onion and celery and the sage. The warmth from the cornbread made the scent of the onion, celery, and sage come out and fill the kitchen. I have that same experience today each time I make cornbread dressing.

One of my favorite things that my grandma made was blackberry cobbler. Fresh blackberries cooked with sugar and butter to make a sweet, thick sauce. Strips of dough mingled in the sauce with a lightly browned lattice pastry topping. Warm bowls of cobbler topped with cream. YUMMY!!! Unfortunately no one captured grandma's recipe on paper before she passed away - she didn't use written recipes when she cooked.

The recipe below is nothing like my grandma's, but is very good. I've made it several times and it always turns out good. Top the hot cobbler with ice cream or heavy cream - or just enjoy it by itself. YUMMY!!

BTW - Fresh blackberries are in season right now and you can find places to go pick them fresh!! Go here to find out about Boyd Mill Farm .

Blackberry Cobbler

This is the original recipe. I don't make the dough as stated in step 3. I use Bisquick and milk instead of the flour, butter, and milk. I use 1 1/2 cups of bisquick and 1/3 cup milk. Mix the two together to form a dough and then continue with step 4. If dough is too dry, add a little milk, if too wet, add a little more Bisquick. Also, it is easier to roll if you let the frozen blackberries defrost before using them, if you are using the frozen blackberries.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter or margarine, divided
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
1/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. In a 10-in. round or oval baking dish, melt 1/2 cup butter; set aside.
2. In a saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar melts; set aside.
3. Place flour in a mixing bowl; cut in remaining butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk, stirring with a fork until dough leaves sides of bowl.
4. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead three or four times. Roll out to an 11-in. x 9-in. rectangle 1/4 in. thick.
5. Spread berries over dough; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into 1/4-in. thick slices. Carefully lay slices in baking dish over butter.
6. Pour sugar syrup around slices (The syrup will thicken when cooking, don't worry that it looks really soupy right now).
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Sprinkle sugar over top and bake 15 minutes more.

(*If self-rising flour is not available, use 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder.)

Welcome to my blog. As stated in my about me, I love to cook. Cooking is my passion and my business. It's absolutely fabulous having a job that is also my passion!! I highly recommend it.

Hopefully I can use this blog to share my love of cooking with you. I plan on posting at least one recipe weekly as well as posting cooking hints and tips and ways to make the most of your money when buying groceries. Have a cooking or money saving question or suggestion? Just leave a comment and I'll try to answer or share it in one of my posts.

I'll also let you know what's going on with my catering company - Southern Comfort Catering. My dear friend Lynn and I started the company in January of this year and God has truly blessed it and us. Can't think of anything better than working with one of your best friends doing the thing that is truly your passion and serving the Lord at the same time. We really see our business as a ministry and have totally put it in the hands of God. He has completely amazed us time after time in the opportunities He has given us. Be looking for a Southern Comfort Catering blog site to be up and running soon. I'll let you know when it's ready.

Got to get back to living and loving life - which right now means folding clothes!!

Until next time.

Becky