Thursday, August 17, 2023

Stuffed Artichokes

   



These Italian Stuffed Artichokes are a classic appetizer recipe, especially in the Spring, and are bursting with lemon and herb flavors. In addition, we're going to look at how to put together an artichoke. They can be tricky! In a nutshell, the perfect Stuffed Artichoke is mind-blowing. Every crevice is filled with the buttery-lemony-garlic bread crumb filling. And the artichoke leaves are the ideal vehicle for it. And this is how the Italians do things.

They become a tender and fun snack with a smooth and slightly nutty flavor once you know how to put them together and cook them.

The flower bud of the artichoke plant is the part we eat.

What appears to be 'leaves' on the bud are bracts. The outer bracts are green or dark purple, while the inner bracts are smaller and purple or white.

The choke is a swarm of pointy fibers at the base of the inner bracts that would become the artichoke flower if the bud was left on the plant.

The valued heart is located at the base of the choke, just above the stem.

That is the purpose of all the planning. When selecting artichokes, they should feel dense and heavy.

The leaves should be firm, bright, and packed tightly.

Remember that this is a flower bud, and the younger buds will be more tender.

A loosely backed artichoke, on the other hand, indicates that it is more mature, and your result will be tougher. You need to get past the spiny ends of the bracts before we start the artichokes.

Using a serrated knife, cut off the top quarter of the artichoke. This eliminates a large number of them. Cut the tips of each remaining leaf with kitchen scissors.

Then, remove the stem. Some individuals prefer to leave the stem on because it is edible. Yet, there is a level base for the stuffed version, which means you will cut the stem close to the bottom of the artichoke. Artichokes can be prepared at this point, softening the insides and making them simpler to remove, however, because we're going to be stuffing them, it's necessary to get inside and cut out the inner bracts and choke.

With a pairing knife or kitchen scissors, gently loosen the bracts and carefully remove the inner bracts. You'll notice a lot of fine fibers after removing the inner bracts. This is the choke, and it's necessary to remove as many of those tiny fibers as possible with a spoon. If there are a few survivors, it is not the end of the universe. The choke is edible, and it is simple to remove while eating your artichoke.

To keep the artichoke from turning grey, rub it with a lemon slice after cutting it.

This artichoke is now prepared for the stuffing.



Ingredients

Preparing the Artichokes

4 artichokes, firm and bright in color

1 lemon, juiced and zested, divided



For the Filling

1 ½ c breadcrumbs

¼ c + 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

¼ c + 2 Tbsp Asiago cheese, finely grated

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp oregano

2 tsp basil

1 tsp ground black pepper

½ tsp salt

4 tsp olive oil

For the Bath

2 c water

1 c Pinot Grigio wine

Set the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

To make a level base, cut the top quarter of the artichoke and the stem off with a serrated knife. Snip the tips of each leaf to remove the sharp points. Open the bracts and slice out the innermost bracts with a sharp paring knife or scissors from the kitchen to reveal the fibrous choke. Scrape as much of the choke fibers out of the artichoke as you can with a spoon. Apply a little lemon juice on the cleaned artichokes to keep them from transforming grey while you get ready for the filling.

In a small mixing vessel, combine all of the filling components and 2 teaspoons of lemon zest until completely moistened. Spoon the mixture into the prepared artichokes' centers. Loosen the bracts and spoon a little filling between them. Set up the artichokes in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil after adding the water, wine, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

For 1 hour, bake the artichokes. Remove the aluminum foil after one hour and set your oven to broil. Broil the artichokes for 3-5 minutes, or until golden on top.

Remove from the oven and set aside for 5-10 minutes before serving.

 

 

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Loaded Cheesy Pocket Tacos




Loaded Cheesy Pocket Tacos is a delectable fusion of traditional Mexican and American flavors, bringing the best of both worlds together in a delicious handheld delight. These tacos are an irresistible take on the classic taco, with each ingredient carefully chosen to create a perfect balance of both taste and texture. Ingredients:

1 packet of Taco Seasoning

1 pound ground beef

½ cup salsa

8 ounces of cream cheese, softened

2 tbsp melted butter

1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded

12 6-inch tortillas

Sour cream, salsa, green onions all toppings

 

Instructions:

Cook the ground beef in a skillet until it is thoroughly cooked.

Remove the skillet's grease.

Follow the package directions when adding the packet of Taco seasoning mix.

In a medium mixing bowl, smooth out the cream cheese.

Mix in the cup of salsa thoroughly.

Place a spoonful of cheese mixture in the center of a tortilla while holding it.

Cover the salsa and cheese mix with a spoonful of taco-flavored beef. Top with shredded cheese.

Gently fold the tortilla and filling in the same way you would a burrito.

Spray a baking sheet lightly with cooking spray.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Set the rolled tortilla on a greased baking sheet.

Melted butter should be brushed over the tops of the tortilla rolls.

15 minutes in the oven.

Take away from the oven and top with your preferred toppings, such as lettuce, salsa, sour cream, olives, and more cheese.

 

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Italian Pasta Salad


Italian pasta salad is a must-have summertime dish that is flavorful, nourishing, and simple to prepare. This pasta salad is nutritious, and tasty, and provides the energy you need to get through the day. It has pasta, vibrant vegetables, salami, mozzarella balls, olives, and fresh herbs. It's exactly what your summer picnics and cookouts require this year. What's the best part? It's effortless to make in advance and tastes better the next day!

 

 ½ lb. pasta, uncooked

3 oz. salami  

1 + ½ cup grape tomatoes  halved

½ green bell pepper chopped

½ red bell pepper chopped

¼ cup red onion, chopped

½ cup kalamata black olives, halved

4 oz. bocconcini mozzarella balls, halved

1 + ½ tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

½ cup Italian dressing, homemade or store-bought

Parmesan cheese

 

A medium pot of salted water should be brought to a boil. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8-10 minutes, or according to package directions. To stop the cooking process and cool the pasta, drain, and rinse it under cold water. Place the pasta in a large mixing bowl or serving dish. If you are not assembling the salad right away, drizzle with olive oil and toss to keep the pasta from sticking together. Alternatively, combine the remaining ingredients. Toss the salad with the Italian salad dressing to incorporate. Serve immediately with Parmesan on top, or cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. This will allow all of the flavors to blend. When ready to serve, toss the salad with a little more dressing, if aspired

 

 

Oregon Trail Bakery Review




I received some special shortbread cookies today, from the Oregon Trail Bakery. Located, in Salem, Oregon. The company is a great success story, starting from a cornerstone confectionery to now a wholesale baking company.




The cookies come in a box with a cover on them, that features sites from the beautiful state of Oregon. On the side is a wonderful story about the site, that you can read before you open your gift box of cookies.  




On the site of the Oregon Trail Bakery, you can find, an array of goodies they create. From cookies to pastries, they do it all.




Looking for a fresh start in 2018, Oregon Trail Bakery, turned to their forefathers who made the perilous journey along the Oregon Trail. They became motivated by their history and made some difficult choices. With a fresh new look at their products, they decided to start fresh with new ideas. Items that did not work for them were replaced with ones that would. And from there they carried out their new journey, with fresh delicious confectionaries.




The box that the cookies come in is just stunning with the sleeve around display of the stunning landscape of Oregon. It allows you to see the state, as you enjoy the confections inside.




All of Oregon Trail Bakery's confections are made only using local ingredients, that assure a tasty and fresh confection. From hazelnuts to other ingredients, they all come from Oregon local vendors.





My first box of cookies was Oregon Trail Bakery, a gift box of 36 yummy brown sugar shortbread cookies, everyone in their wrapper. This is a traditional shortbread cookie, that in every bite is a delicious butter flavor, and is so moist. You also get a hint of caramel flavor from the brown sugar. The sleeve of the box features the Crater Lake, with information about the lake as well. Cookies make a wonderful gift or take them out to display for a get-together. These delicious brown sugar shortbread cookies were made with pride, and you taste that in each bite you take. This is the first time I have ever tasted brown sugar shortbread cookies, and I was so happy I was given the chance. The Oregon Trail Bakery, brown sugar shortbread cookies are moist and very delicious. My family and I truly enjoyed them.





The second box from Oregon Trail Bakery, was their gift box, containing 36 Hazelnut shortbread cookies. The stunning sleeve on the gift box is of Multnomah Falls in Oregon. And knowing the fact that Oregon produces nearly all the hazelnuts grown in the United States, made the shortbread cookies even more special. The roasted, earthy notes of hazelnuts are added to the Hazelnut Shortbread, along with other ingredients making it a moist and delicious shortbread delight. It is a buttery confection with plenty of Hazelnuts to enjoy. The box from Oregon Trail Bakery, of Hazelnut shortbread cookies also makes a wonderful gift, or just to enjoy with your family and friends. Each box of these shortbread delights was tender, crumbly, and just melted in your mouth.




If you are searching for a confection of shortbread cookies or other delicious confections, you must try Oregon Trail Bakery. Their buttery, delicately sweet shortbread cookies are a dreamy treat.




You can find Oregon Trail Bakery online but also on Amazon.




www.oregontrailbakery.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Momzdailyscoops has personally reviewed the product listed above. Momzdailyscoops has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Momzdailyscoops did receive a free product to try out so Momzdailyscoops could evaluate and use it for her review. Momzdailyscoops thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. Camera and lighting might affect the appearance of product/products.