Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

I know like I sound like I’m writing from war, but how’s the home front? Dad, how is Nonna doing? Is she okay? How about Liana & John? I know how Ryan is (thank you Facebook.) How about the rest of the family? Mom, how’s Grandma and Grandpa? What about the McDowell clan, how are they? Just to let both of you know I need the following people’s addresses: The Blinn’s & Grandma and Grampa’s. If you could give those to me, that would be great.


Luciana (:

Soup Nazi Chicken Chili

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast fillet (4 fillets)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cups water
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1 potato, peeled & chopped
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 carrot, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 cup canned diced tomato
• 1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, plus liquid
• 1/4 cup diced canned pimiento
• 1 jalapeno, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• 1 dash basil
• 1 dash oregano

On the side

• sour cream
• 1 pinch chopped Italian parsley
• grated cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Sauté the chicken breasts in the olive oil in a large pot over medium/high heat.
   
2. Cook the chicken on both side until done-- about 7-10 minutes per side.
   
3. Cool the chicken until it can be handled.
   
4. Do not rinse the pot.
   
5. Shred the chicken by hand into bite-sizes pieces and place the pieces back into the pot.
   
6. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and turn heat to high.
   
7. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 4-5 hours.
   
8. Stir mixture often so that many of the chicken pieces shred into much smaller bits.
   
9. Chili should reduce substantially to thicken and darken (less orange, more brown) when done.
   
10. Combine some chopped Italian parsley with sour cream and serve it on the side for topping the chili, if desired.
    

Neiman Marcus Cookies

1/2 c unslated butter softened
1 c brown sugar
3 tbsp granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp instant expresso powder , slightly crushed
8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

Cream Butter and sugars until fluffy
Beat in egg and vanilla
Combine dry ingredients and beat into butter mixture
Drop large spoonfools onto greased cookie sheet Bake at 375 for 8 - 10 minutes
Makes 12-15 large cookies

Mrs Fields Cookies

Divide into two equal bowls with half in each

2 cups butter softened
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
5 cups oatmeal, (put small amounts in a blender until it turns to powder)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
24 oz chocolate chips
1 8z Hershey Bar, grated
3 cups chopped nuts

Combine dry ingredients and add butter and eggs and mix slowly with paddle until combined and make gold ball sized cookies places 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degress for 6 - 10 minutes
Makes 9 dozen cookies

Mama Morellos Olives

1. Smash Olives with a Piece of Wood and Pit
2. Put Pitted Olives in a Big Pot and Filled with Hot Water for 5 Minutes. The fill pot with cold water and changed twice daily for 6 - 10 days, until olives are no longer bitter
3. In a large mason jar, put 1/2 tbsp sea salt,  2- 3 garlic cloves ( cut in quarters)  in the bottom and top of the jar and stuff pitted olives into jar ( really stuff them in)
   
4. Add 3 oz vingar and 9oz vegetable oil.  ( 3:1 Ratio and fill jar to top,
   
5. Put cap on mason jar and turn upside down for one day
6. Turn olives right side up and store in a cool dark place
7. Olive should be ready on 30 days

Makes 6 Quart and 6 pint jars

Is it the$12,000 Expresso Machine?

Sorry to disappoint you dad. I mean the new library/ cafe....

The New Cafeteria / Library ( No Books and It Serves Food!)

Parental Units

After discussion with my fellow classmates, I am told that usually the maximum amount of people that attend Parents Weekend is two. So, thay being said, would it be possible if it could just be you and nonna Dad? And for you Mom, it could be you and Laura, or Grandma? I know we're the big loving, everyone in everyone's business Italian family and we would be fitting our stereotype perfectly by bringing the whole clan HOWEVER it would be a lot easier, and much LESS STRESS for me if we just did the four family members (:

Love,
Luciana

P.S. The new cafeteria is amazing. And THANK YOU to the parent that gave me a boost on my penguin points! (I was a victim of marketing for a sweatshirt)

Thanks for a Great Weekend

Luciana,

It was really great to see you this weekend. I'm glad we got to spend some time together and thrilled that the Apple Crisp was such a hit!
Next time we go shopping, I'll make sure to call forward the home phone to my cell to save on stress....;-0


Love

Dad

Luciana's Weekend Home

Sunday, we all got together for dinner. I made a whole batch of Nonna's sauce with meatballs and Nonna brought a board filled with beautiful home made pasta.

Luciana and John went to the store to buy magazines. I gave her $20 and she came home with a stack of magazines for school.  I asked her what did you buy John?  " I got him a couple of cookies"  Which ones ?  " The free ones from the bakery"

Anna came, even with her broken ankle. We waited on her hand and foot ( no pun intended) for a change. She is always waiting on us and we really appreciated her coming.

We had a cake for Ryan and shared some limoncello.  It was a great family evening.

Dave's Apple Crisp

Preheat over to 350 degrees
Peel and Core 10 Cups Apples
Sprinkle with Juice of 1/4 Lemon to Avoid Browning
Put in 9 x 12 Pan
Combine 1 cup white sugar, 1 tbsp flour 1 tsp ground cinnamon and sprinkle generously over apples
Take 2 cups old fashioned oats, sprinkle with water and microwave 2 minutes
In a bowl combine oats, 2 cups flour, 2 cups packed brown sugar, 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp baking soda with a wire wisk until all wet
Melt 2 sticks (1 cup) butter and pour over dry mixture. Combine until crumbly
Pour mixture over apples and bake for 45 minutes until edges bubble
Serve with fresh whipped cream with vanilla and sugar added.

Nonna Meatballs

2 lb Ground Beef and Pork
Add  1 1/2 Cups Breadcrumbs
Add 1/2 Cup Cheese
4 tbsp Chopped Parsley
1 Medium Onion Chopped Fine
2 Cloves Garlic Finely Chopped
3 Eggs
3 Tbsp ketchup

Combine and Roll into Meatball
Roll in Breadcrumbs
Drop Meatballs in Sauce

Cook for One Hour

Sore Feet?

Only sore feet? I have my own thanks. I’m taking moleskin when I get home.

Luciana

Looking Forward to this Weekend

Luciana

Of course I am excited to see you when you get home....

and of course I will shower you with love.......

Dad

The only thing I brought back from New Orleans was sore feet from all of the walking we did......you're more than welcome to help yourself.... ;-)

Is it Christmas Already?

Parental Units,

What are you guys up to? Are you excited to see me when I get home? If you guys wanna talk to me, e-mail me at my Yahoo.

So, I know it's October, but Cushing has taught me to stay organized and keep on top of things: so I've already started making my Christmas List (;

Haha: just kidding... or am I?

Anyways: I hope you guys are dong well, and I love you both so much! I'll see you in a few days where you can shower me with love (and presents from New Orleans... TOTALLY KIDDING DAD!)

Love, Love, Love: xoxox

Luciana

Nonna's Eggplant Parmesan

3 Large Eggplants

Frying
6 Eggs
Italian Flavored Breadcrumbs
3 TBSP Grated Parmesan Cheese
Zest of ½ Lemon
1 cup vegetable oil

For the Sauce
½ Onion Small Dice
½ cup Olive Oil
15 Basil Leaves
1 Bunch Curly Parsley
1 sprig of Thyme
1 Clove Garlic
Salt and Pepper
2 Cans Kitchen Ready Tomatoes
Sale and Pepper
Pinch of Baking Soda
Dash Oregano

Assembly
4 TBS Melted Butter
Romano / Parmegiano Cheese
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Peel and Fry Eggplants
Slice on Diagonal ¼” thick
In a Large Bowl Arrange in Layers with Paper Towels
Cover with an Upside Down Plate and Press with a Heavy Object
Let stand for a couple of hours
Combine all Ingredients
Add Bread Crumbs to a Plate
Preheat Skillet to 350 and Add Cup of Oil
Dip Each Side of Eggplant in Egg Mixture and Lightly coat with Breadcrumbs
Cook Each Eggplant a minute or two on each side, until Golden Brown
Shake off Excess Oil as you remove them and drain on Paper Plates

Make the Sauce
Heat Sauce Pan on High
Add Oil, Onion, Parsley and Basil, Garlic and Thyme and Saute for 2 – 3 Minutes until Fragrant
Remove Garlic Clove, Reduce to Medium High and Add Tomatoes, Rinsing Can with 2 tbs Water
Add Salt and Dash Oregano
Cook for 1-0 – 15 Minutes
Add End, Add Dash of Baking Soda

Assemble
Coat Bottom of Aluminum Pan with Melted Butter
Add Thin Layer of Sauce
Add This Sprinkle of Grated Parmesan
Fill all spaces with Eggplant, Cut if Needed
Add this Layer of Sauce with a Small Spoon
Add Mozzarella, and then Parmesan Cheese
Repeat with second and third layers, depending on size of pan
Press Eggplant in on Last Layer
Final Layer, Add Sauce Mozzarella and Grated Cheese
Bake at 350 for about an hour until middle is bubbly
Enjoy!