Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Amanda Major's Recipes


Gorgonzola Pasta
1 lb. Gorgonzola cheese (2 cups)
¼ cup butter
2 cups heavy cream
½ tsp. white pepper
½ tsp. nutmeg
1 package Ziti or Penne pasta

On very low heat, melt butter with cheese. Using a wooden spoon, press the cheese to melt it quickly. DO NOT BOIL. Add cream and spices. Keep warm and add cooked pasta and toss together. Serve hot with parmesan cheese.



No-Knead Bread
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ tsp. instant yeast
1 ¾ tsp. salt
Cornmeal as needed

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast, and salt. Add 1 ½ to 1 5/8 cups water (here in Wisconsin, I usually need to use close to 2 cups), and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 72 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a thin cotton towel or cheesecloth (not terry cloth) with cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 2 ½ quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex, or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Lift the bread with the towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is ok. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes. Then remove lid and bake another 5-8 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack. Yields one 1 ½ pound loaf.



Spaghetti Sauce
1 lb. Jimmy Dean’s ground sausage
1 lb. ground chuck
4 cloves crushed garlic
1 medium yellow onion, chopped

Brown meat and drain excess fat. Add chopped onions and minced garlic, then add:

1 – 2 lb. can tomatoes (either diced or stewed and blend in a blender)
1 – 12 oz. can tomato paste
1 – 12 oz. can water
1 Bay leaf
¼ tsp. thyme
1 tsp. salt
¼ pepper
1 ½ tsp. basil
1 ½ tsp. oregano
4 T. sugar
½ cup Red cooking wine

It’s best if you can let it simmer after adding all the ingredients for about an hour.



Tortilla Soup
4 chicken breasts cooked and cubed (I like to BBQ)
1 onion diced
2 cloves garlic
1 – 10 oz. can stewed tomatoes
1 – 10 oz. can tomatoes with chilies
1 – 4 oz. can diced green chilies
1 – 2 cups frozen corn
1 can chicken broth and 1 can of water
2 cans beef broth

To add:
5 oz.-roasted red peppers
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
½ tsp. chili powder
1 – 2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. Worchester sauce
Dash of hot sauce (Tabasco or Tapatillo)

Toppings:
Cubed avocado
Monterey Jack cheese
Limes
Sour Cream
Tortilla Chips - crushed
Finely chopped cilantro


Monday, April 27, 2009

Free Rummage!!!!!!!!

Saturaday May 9th between 10am -12pm at our church house, we will have a free rummage.

Things to bring-anything you would see at a rummage. Toys, clothes housewares,furniture etc. This a great opportunity for those who are moving to dejunk. ;)

1st- We need things to go through. Clean out closets and basements, and storage. Please separate the clothing into size categories (infant, toddler, child boy/girl adult mens/womens/maternity) and write on the bag what it is. The more you separate the more it helps us to separate for the rummage! Bring them to the talent show the night before or contact persons below for other drop off options.

2nd- we need help sorting through the items night of talent show and or the morning of. The more helpers we have the easier it will be to find things.

3rd- spread the word and show up. People wishing to bring items the morning of, may, as long as it is brought early enough to be sorted.

Items remaining after 12 will go to Teen Challenge and the Meta House

Thanks for all the support in making this beneficial to all. And remember one lady's junk is another lady's treasure.

Any questions or persons willing to help please contact:
Sarah Lythgoe 414-257-1968 home 414-339-5515 cell or
Maureen Hoenigman 262-844-4460

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Sewing Machine Serger

Hey all, Jessica Yan is looking to borrow a sewing machine with a serger. Her mother is coming to town and wants to make curtains for their home. If anyone has one that could let Jessica borrow it by Friday May 24th, please get in contact with her. Thanks! And keep sewing!

Friday, April 17, 2009

House for Sale- "Although we are sad to be leaving all of you and wish we could take it with us, it is time for us to leave our home here for another adventure in West Virginia. It is in a convenient location for shopping, parks, the Medical College, and Froedtert Hospital. We have put a lot of time and effort into updating it and will miss our wonderful neighbors, but we know that it will be a great home for the next owners. If you happen to be contacted by incoming students, residents, co-workers, or anyone looking for a home in Milwaukee County, please feel free to mention our blog for more information at http://welcome2yournewhome.blogspot.com. Thanks! Andrea Larson

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

In need of items

My little sister, Kara, is moving to WI and as a recent college grad who has lived in student housing is in need of everything to furnish an apartment. If you are getting rid of items while preparing to move and/or while doing spring cleaning please let me know as Kara is in need of any and all furniture, housewares (utensils, small appliances, etc). Anything cheap or free would be much appreciated. I'd be happy to pick up items at your convenience! My email is ljcurrey@hotmail.com and phone is 414-447-9260. Also, she'll be looking for work upon moving here - so please pass on any job opportunities that you might hear of! THANKS!!! - Laura Currey

Monday, April 6, 2009

Did you know that there is an election on Tuesday?

Did you know there is an election on Tuesday? I hate going to the polls and being surprised by the names I've never seen before and not knowing which candidate would best represent my values. I recently discovered www.vpa.wi.gov. If you are a registered voter, enter your info. It will tell you your polling place and let you see a sample ballot. I just went through the couple of contested races in my district. I look up the candidates websites and then look for their endorsements. I look for names of people in the community I respect or other elected officials with whom I agree. I hope you will use this site and pass along the information to others. It has been a real blessing to me as I've tried to be an informed voter.

Kendra McMullin