Blackberry Winter Encourages Strength.

 All day long we experienced periods of snow, rain, sunshine, snow, rain, sunshine, repeat until the darkness of night finally said, “Hey, enough is enough!”.  According to the calendar, we are in the season of spring, but anyone residing here knows better than to rely on a calendar.

There is a folklore tradition in south and midwest North America, Europe, Sinosphere Vietnam and East Asia which refers to a period of late-season cold weather that can occur in late spring or early summer.  The name of this occurrence is called "Blackberry Winter", and it has significant meaning in Appalachian and Tennessee folklore.  Tales about Blackberry Winter are used to convey feelings of resilience and adaptability which prompts the coming together, within the community, during what can be perceived as a difficult time. 

Remember, many people, during the winter season, come down with “the winter blues”; sadness, feeling drained, claustrophobia can develop from being “locked in the home” during extreme wintery weather, anxiety, and this all can lead to depression.  Spring is supposed to give us more daylight, sunshine, more opportunities for outdoor activities.  When winter decides to not let go though, those winter blues may still remain as well.

So, let us talk about blackberries, and how these tiny fruits can bring some happiness into our winter blues.   Blackberries are native to temperate regions north of the equator, including Asia, Europe, and North and South America.  They are not a berry in the sense that they grow on tendrils, from the main plant, along the ground.  They are part of the genus, Rubus, or Rose Family, and grow on thorny stalks of a bush, as roses tend to do.

Blackberries have been used for culinary, medicinal, and protective purposes for thousands of years.  The health benefits of blackberries are:   

Rich in antioxidants, which protect cells from damage.

High in fiber, promoting digestive health and reducing cholesterol levels.

Contain anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

A good source of vitamin C, essential for immune function and collagen production.

Low in calories and fat, making them a healthy snack option.

Recently I became very interested in blackberry recipes, that piqued my curiosity, while reading, what else, another British mystery.   Castle Magic, by Morgan Brice, contains four separate stories centering around Caynham Castle.  In each story, while trying to solve a mystery at the castle, the couples would visit tea shops; well, they did need to eat, right?  The teas, sandwiches and desserts offered were described in good detail. While every menu item sounded delicious,

Blackberry Tarts and Blackberry Coconut Cake simply tickled my fancy.

Unfortunately for me, whenever I have tried to make pie crust, it has been an epic failure.  I tend to be too heavy handed with the rolling out of the dough, and the adding of flour when it sticks to the board.  If you can make a wicked pie crust of your own, then go for it!  However, I will stick with the refrigerated version from the supermarket.  With the Blackberry Tarts recipe, it will make nine tarts, or six tarts and one hand pie; and use a muffin tin that is ½-inch deep for the tarts.

 

Blackberry Tarts

Ingredients:

2 pie crusts rolled out to a 9-inch diameter

Blackberry Filling

4 – 6 oz. containers fresh blackberries  

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. ground ginger

1 and ½ tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

 

Preparation:

Blackberry filling:  In a medium sized bowl, mix together all blackberry filling ingredients.  Lightly mash larger berries with a fork, but keep mostly intact.  Place a colander over a bowl; place filling inside colander, so juices can be caught in the bowl.  The extra juice will make the pie crust too soggy, and the juice can be frozen for another baking project, like cheesecake.

 

 

 Preheat oven to 350F, lightly spray muffin pan(s) with nonstick baking spray.

Cut 6 to 9, 4-inch, circles, depending on how many tarts desired; reform excess dough into circle form to get extra circles.  Carefully press circles into muffin pan(s), and work dough up the sides. Prick the sides and bottoms of the dough to release steam while baking.  Place pan(s) in oven and bake for 10 minutes; remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes.

 

Fill each crust with filling to top of the crust sides.  If desired, and there is any remaining dough, cut out little designs and place on top center of the filling.  If a lattice design is desired, use another 9-inch diameter pie crust to cut strips for each tart.

 

Place pan(s) on center rack of oven, bake 40-50 minutes until filling is bubbling, and crust design, if any, is browned.  Allow to cool to the touch before removing from tins. Serve as is, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream.

 

 

 

Makes 9 tarts.   However, six tarts can be made, and with the remaining dough, roll out to 6-inch diameter.  Place remaining blackberries, in center.  Lightly brush water on edges of dough; carefully fold one side of dough towards the other edge; crimp edges together to make a curl-like pattern.  Lightly brush top of “hand pie” with water and sprinkle sugar on top.  It will bake the same amount of time as the tarts.

 

Blackberry Hand Pie

 

 

 

Oh bother, I have reached my word limit for this article.  Ho hum, that means that the Blackberry Coconut Cake will have to be for another time.  Do not fret darlings, this is a mystery you will enjoy drooling over.

Mary Cokenour

 

An Italian Influence on New Orleans.

When it comes to the cuisines of New Orleans, most are familiar with those of French Creole or Cajun descent.  However, between 1880s and 1920s, a wave of Italian immigrants made their way down to Louisiana, primarily New Orleans.  At first, they were the major traders and providers of fruit, opening stalls in the French Market and the Poydras Market.  The majority of these Italian immigrants came from Sicily, and with fishing being a primary industry, they eventually began to run the docks and wharves.

So, it was not a surprise that shops and stalls began to open that provided a look-see into Sicilian cuisine.  Within the Central Market area was a little community named “Little Palermo” which offered many foods, condiments, spices, and other ingredients associated with Sicily’s food culture.  In 1906, Salvatore Lupo opened his shop, Central Grocery with breads, meats cheeses and an olive-vegetable spread.  But he decided to go one better than offering items separately; he decided to create a sandwich that would one up any other meat and cheese simple sandwich.  Taking a round loaf of “muffuletto” bread, oh, wait, I better explain what this bread is. 

Alright, remember in the March 12, 2025 edition of the San Juan Record, the article on Irish Soda Bread, and I mentioned other types of round crusty breads?  Muffuletto is, again, a round loaf, but the exterior and interior are both soft, it is covered in sesame seeds, and of Sicilian origin.  Though it is round, it does not rise to the point of being dome-like, so thinner, and makes it easier to compress down when making a “loaded” sandwich.  The word muffuletto loosely translates, in Sicilian, as “soft and spongy bread”, while “muffe” means “mold or mushroom” as the bread loaf resembles a mushroom cap.

Now to the sandwich that Lupo created; cutting the bread in half lengthwise, the cut sides had an olive-vegetable spread generously spread to the ends.  Then layers of various meats and provolone cheese were built up atop one side of the bread, and topped with the other side.  The sandwich was then compressed, allowing the liquid of the spread to seep, not just into the bread, but the meats and cheese as well.  Basically a 6-inch-thick sandwich became a 3-inch thinner sandwich, after compression, and having the cheese melt during the process helped keeping it all together.  The sandwich was wrapped tightly in parchment paper to hold it together, as well, until ready to be eaten.

A traditional muffaletta sandwich features a combination of Genoa salami, mortadella, and a sliced ham, plus provolone cheese.  However, other meats can be substituted or added to give a greater taste explosion. 

Genoa salami - dry-cured sausage made from coarsely ground pork and seasoned with garlic, salt, and black pepper.

Mortadella - cured pork sausage containing chopped pistachios

Capicola - Italian dry-cured ham aged for several months.

Soppressata - Italian dry-cured salami, seasoned with spices of chili peppers, garlic, and cracked black pepper.

Prosciutto - dry-cured ham made from the hind legs of the pig; the flavor is sweet and salty.

Other meats that can also be used - sopressa, pepperoni, coppa, or speck.

After making this sandwich, my hubby shared it with one of his friends, and they were both blown away by the flavors and textures.  The recipe I will be sharing lists all the meats I used for this creation.

If muffuletto bread cannot be found in any bakery or market, there is many a recipe out there for making at home.  Careful though, I have seen many recipes do the “bake at high temperature, then reduce to a lower, but still high temperature” instruction, then “bake till golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped”.  Those instructions are fine if the intention is a high-dome bread that is crusty on the outside.  Otherwise, when shopping, try to find a round loaf that is soft on the outside and not as high-dome, as say, a French Boule.

 

Here is a recipe for making a Muffaletta, also written as Muffuletta, Sandwich which happens to be one of the most beloved and iconic sandwiches, along with the Po’boy, of New Orleans.  Why?  It was invented in the “Big Easy” of course!

 

 Muffaletta Sandwich

Ingredients:

Olive-Vegetable Spread

3/4 cup pitted mixed oil-packed olives, do not drain

1/2 cup giardiniera (Italian-style pickled vegetable salad), do not drain

1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers

2 Tbsp.  dried, crushed parsley leaves

1 tsp. minced garlic  

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

 

 

1 large muffaletta-style roll (round Italian bread or ciabatta, soft exterior, 9-inch diameter)

 

 

 

 

 

Divide meats and cheese into thirds.

1/3 lb. thinly sliced soppressata  

1/3 lb. thinly sliced mortadella  

1/3 lb. thinly sliced capicola  

1/3 lb. thinly sliced prosciutto

¾ lb. thinly sliced provolone cheese  

 

 

 

Preparation:

Combine olives, giardiniera, peppers, parsley and garlic into food processor or blender; chop until no pieces larger than 1/4-inch remain. Transfer to bowl; add olive oil and vinegar; stir to combine.  Place in refrigerator for two hours to allow absorption of oil and vinegar into vegetables.

Split bread in half lengthwise; spread each cut surface generously with vegetable spread.  Begin layering one-third of meats and cheese, ending with cheese. Carefully place top half of bread on top; press down gently to compress.  Wrap tightly in plastic, place in refrigerator, place heavy weight on top to keep compressing the sandwich for one hour.  Cut into triangular wedges to serve.

 

 

Olive Vegetable Spread on Open Sides of Bread.

 

 

Begin Layering - Cheese, Meats.

 

Continue Layering, Ending with Cheese

 

Place Top Half of Bread on top.

 

 

Compress Down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wrap and Place Weight on top to continue compressing.

 

Sandwich After Compression.

 

Muffaletta Cut in Half.

 

 Serves 4-6.

Mary-letta Sandwich.

 

Italian not your style, and prefer something more “American”?  Instead of the meats listed, use a combination of thinly sliced roast beef, oven roasted turkey or chicken, and Black Forest or honey ham.  For the cheese, use thinly sliced baby Swiss cheese.  The olive-vegetable spread will still work well, or spread a light layer of horseradish sauce and pickle relish on both cut sides of the bread.  Remember to still do the compression and resting stages, so all the flavors can mesh together.

My husband, Roy, named this sandwich the "Mary-letta Sandwich".

Mary Cokenour

 

Relishing the Ploughman’s Lunch.

Ah, the English countryside with rolling hills of green grasses, wildflowers, and forests; valleys with villages nestled deep within; cattle grazing and sheep blocking the roadways.  Driving into one of these quaint villages, parking outside the pub, walking in and being greeted by the publican and his smiling wife.

“What it’ll be yer having?”, he asked, and you answer with, “A pint of bitter and ploughman’s lunch will do me fine.”  “Right then, let me get to pouring while the wife puts together yer food.  Sit anywhere yer like, oh oy, don’t be minding that body at the far table.  Constable will be coming soon to clean that all up.”

….and welcome to Midsomer, where murder is as frequent as a leaky roof on the local church.

All this past week I have been enjoying another marathon of watching “Midsomer Murders” using a free streaming service, Tubi.  Twenty-three, of its twenty-five, seasons are available, the ads are few, and short in duration.   “Midsomer” began in 1997 and is still as popular in 2025 as when it first began, with DCI Tom Barnaby, or his cousin, DCI John Barnaby, a new DC every few years, and a variety of quirky characters, and villains of child age to senior; vicious, logical, insane or senile following typical motives of greed, lust, envy, and “just for the fun or it”.

One episode is from season 10 called “Sauce for the Goose” which starts with an unusual murder at the world renown Plummers Relish Factory. Tom Barnaby remarks to his wife, Joyce, “My father would put Plummers relish on his sandwiches every day.”  Plummers Piquant Relish was based upon the authentic and world renown English relish, Branston, but could not use the name due to copyright infringement.  When Barnaby read the ingredient label, “scotch bonnet”, a very hot pepper, was named, as this slight change would ensure, again, no copyright infringement of Branston’s.  

What is English relish?  A very flavorful mix of vegetables, apples, dates, raisins, vinegar, spices and flavorings.  It is actually a type of chutney which has its culinary roots in India, but there the product is definitely more on the hotter side of the Scoville scale. 

…and before you have to wonder, yes, we have Branston’s in our pantry, or, once opened, refrigerator, both original and small chunk varieties.  Roy likes to spread it on his sandwiches, both hot and cold, but not on a daily basis as with Tom Barnaby’s father.  Personally, I find the mixture of sweet, salty, tangy and savory to be too strong for my taste buds; while Roy can eat it by the spoonful.

 

The Ploughman's Lunch

Now to the second item which is the Ploughman’s Lunch.  Dating back to 14^th century England, a meal of bread, cheese, onions, sliced meat (if any was to be had) and fruit (apples or wild berries) was simple to gather up into a pouch, and carry out to work.  In the 1950s, the Cheese Bureau created the name, “Ploughman’s Lunch” to get the populace more interested in eating cheese after World War 2.  The Milk Marketing Board began using the name, in the 1960s, to push the idea of a simple, wholesome and delicious meal.  Of course, any pub, worth its salt, would have it on the menu alongside Shepherd’s Pie, Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, Toad in the Hole and Steak and Kidney Pie.

Ah, the Charcuterie board, which the French began creating in the 15^th century, but for the rich and royal.  It consisted of a variety of richer and finer cheeses, breads, meats, condiments, fruits, nuts and paired with the finest wines.  It seems to have become all the rage in the USA, since the end of the pandemic, when folks could socialize once more, and actually share foods from the same platter.

But, when it comes to “Who did it first?”, that goes to Italy, when in ancient Rome, the antipasto platter was served at the start of a banquet.  Its main goal was to stimulate the appetite, so the main meal could be eaten with gusto. 

 

Branston Pickle Relish

While Branston’s is available for purchase via Amazon, I was able to find an English food blogger who has a copycat recipe of the product.  The difference is, she does not use all the preservatives needed for the jars to sit on store shelves, or in warehouses, indefinitely.

 

English Pickle Relish

(Culinary Ginger - https://culinaryginger.com/english-pickle-relish/ )

For cube size, original or regular relish uses large dice, while small chunk uses small dice when cutting the fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients:

1 cup carrots, peeled and cut into small cubes

1/2 cup rutabaga, peeled and cut into small cubes (turnips or parsnips are good substitutes)

1/2 cup red apples, peeled and cut into small cubes

1 cup dates, chopped

1 cup raisins

1 cup white onions, finely chopped

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 and 3/4 cups malt vinegar

1/4 teaspoon mustard powder

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a large saucepan (2-quart); bring to a simmer (low heat) and cook for 1 hour until the rutabaga is tender and the liquid is reduced and syrupy, allow to cool.

The blogger’s method of sterilizing jars and lids:  Preheat oven to 225°F.

Wash the jars and lids in hot soapy water and rinse well. Place them on a baking sheet and allow them to dry in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn off the oven and leave them in there until you are ready to use them.

 Fill the jars with the pickle and seal. Refrigerate for 2 weeks, then the pickle is ready to eat. For long term-preservation, will keep for up to 6 weeks when refrigerated

Yield: 8 - 16-ounce mason jars with a screw top lid.

Mary Cokenour

A Round and Crusty Old Soul.

Many a time I have written about a world renown comfort food called bread.  Every culture, every country, has a version that dates back historically to when grains were grown, ground and used to feed the community.  So, yes, it is a foundation for the continuance of a society, as is water, but why is it so comforting as well?

Scientifically, bread has a high carbohydrate content which contributes to the release of serotonin.  Serotonin is nicknamed the “feel good hormone” due its ability to regulate mood; namely feelings of happiness, well-being, and contentment.  It also promotes relaxation to induce sleepiness; interacts with cortisol and estrogen for hormonal balance, and influences cognitive functions for better learning and memory.

Remember when, at dinner time, a bread basket was always at the table.  Or, a basket of bread, crackers and butter was served at the table in restaurants.  Serotonin signals, to the body, when it is full, and helps to regulate digestion.  If you indulged the contents of that basket, now you know why you never did finish a complete dinner, and no room for dessert.

Serotonin, and the act of eating, is not all that makes bread comforting.   Baking bread can be therapeutic with its repetitive motions (kneading) which can relieve stress. Baking engages multiple senses of sight, smell, and touch. The aroma is associated with familiarity, tradition, gives a sense of security, and makes you feel pretty darned proud of yourself for creating something so tasty.

The focus of this article will be on Irish Soda Bread, but first a little information about round and crusty breads in general.  A "round, crusty bread" refers to a loaf shaped like a ball with a thick, crispy outer crust achieved through high baking temperatures and steam during the initial baking phase. While the crust of the bread has a firm crunch, the interior is an intricate webbing of ingredients that have been interwoven to create a softer and tender texture.

 

Types of rounds are the French Boule, Italian Ciabatta, Egyptian Sourdough (sorry San Francisco, but sourdough bread originated, in Egypt, around 1500 BCE), Irish Soda Bread and Basque (Spain) Sheepherder Bread (see San Juan Record, November 20, 2019, for full article).

…and now to my focus, Irish Soda Bread.

 

Irish soda bread is a quick bread made with baking soda, flour, salt, and buttermilk; no eggs needed. It is a traditional part of Irish cuisine that is often baked in skillets over coals.  Preparation is a one bowl mix, shaping the wet dough into a ball, placed in baking pan, and first baked at a high temperature, then finished off at a lower, yet still high, temperature.  This bread was created out of necessity due to the Irish Potato Famine of the 1800s.  Now here is a very interesting historical tidbit, this bread did not originate in Ireland, but from the Native Americans of the United States of America.  The natives used pearl ash which is a naturally formed “soda” from wood ashes, and acted as the leavening agent.  Their technique and recipe made it back to the Old-World countries, with actual sodium bicarbonate used instead of wood ash.  Sour milk was the liquid ingredient, but was later changed to buttermilk. Buttermilk reacts better with the soda to give an even rise, soft interior texture, and a tangy flavor to the bread.

Eaten plain, Irish soda bread is just that.  However, warmed up, smeared with butter and drizzled with honey, it becomes a perfect light breakfast, or snack for during the day.  It is best used for sopping up gravy and sauce from various dishes, such as stews, chili, and soups.  We even used it to sop up excess sauce from a stuffed shells meal, delicioso!

So, with St. Patrick’s Day coming soon, perhaps a round, crusty Irish soda bread to go along with the Irish stew, or corned beef and cabbage?

 

Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:

3 and ½ cups flour

1 and 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 and 3/4 cups buttermilk

 

 

 

 

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450F. 

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Gradually add the buttermilk, stirring with rubber spatula.  If dough is too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour.

When dough is still wet, but not sticky, turn out onto a floured workspace. Shape dough into a ball.  Pat the ball in a round loaf to fit into a nonstick 9-inch baking pan. Place dough inside pan, but make sure it does not touch the sides of the pan.  Score an X on top of the loaf, approximately 1/4 inch deep.

   

Bake on center rack of oven for 20 minutes.  Do not remove pan from oven, but turn oven temperature down to 400F.  Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.  Cool on wire rack before slicing and serving.

Makes one round loaf.

Mary Cokenour

 

Blast from the Past Cooking Tips and Recipes.

Now and again, I will write about recipes that originate back to the pioneers that followed Brigham Young in their 1847 trek.  Finding recipes that deal with the Hole in the Rock pioneers has been more of a challenge.  So, while attempting to find more recipes associated to San Juan County only, a reference came up about the San Juan Record. 

Now the articles I found did not relate to the pioneers, but was a blast to the past, the 1940s past to be exact.   San Juan Record, May 23, 1940, Page 12 contained two articles; “Hints for the Housewife” and “Additional Recipes”.

Hints for the Housewife

To boil eggs so that whites will be tender, put them over moderate heat in cold water. When they reach boiling point simmer slowly for 15 minutes.

Dishes containing large amounts of milk and eggs, as custard and souffles, should always be set in a pan of water while baking so they will not curdle.

Try baking apples in a double roaster with one cup of water for a half dozen peeled apples. They are much more juicy than when baked in a pan without a cover.

A little lemon juice rubbed well over your hands will help keep them soft and white.

Additional Recipes

 MAGIC FRUITED MACAROONS

2- 3 cup sweetened condensed milk

2 cups shredded coconut

1 cup dates, uncooked prunes, or apricots

Blend sweetened condensed milk and shredded coconut thoroughly.

Add either dates, prunes or apricots which have been finely chopped,

Drop by spoonfuls on buttered baking sheet, about one inch apart.

Bake in moderate oven10 minutes or until a delicate brown.

Remove from pan at once.

Makes about 24.

 

WAFFLE WEDGES

Waffle sandwiches are something different.

Bake four waffles, then spread a thick layer of ham relish, cheese or any other

popular sandwich filling over each,

Stack them, cut them into wedges and serve them for luncheon or supper.

 

LUCKY’S SHAMROCK CANDIES

 ¼ cup condensed mil

½ teaspoon vanilla

Green vegetable coloring

2-3 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

Blend condensed milk, vanilla and small amount of green vegetable coloring.

Add sifted confectioners’ sugar gradually and continue mixing until smooth and creamy.

Sprinkle waxed paper lightly with confectioners’ sugar.

Roll fondant out on waxed paper to about ¼ inch thickness.

Cut with sharp shamrock cutter or by a stiff paper pattern.

 

FEATHER CAKE

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon fat (I used butter)

 

 

 

Light oven and set at 350 degrees F.

Beat eggs until light. Beat in sugar gradually.

Sift dry ingredients and add to above.

Heat milk and fat to a boil in a saucepan and add at once to above mixture (a thin batter).

 

 

 

 

Pour into greased shallow pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. 

 

While hot you may spread with broiled frosting recipe and broil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BREAD CRUMB HASH

Bread crumbs well toasted, greatly improve the texture, flavor and appearance of hash.

Use one-part crumbs to two parts boiled and chopped potatoes and whatever leftover meat and gravy you have on hand.

 

As you read the recipes, a few of the directions are vague, but still, they are an interesting look see of what types of dishes were being made by San Juan County housewives.  The Feather Cake was one I decided to try out, but the “broiled frosting recipe” was not included.  Doing a little research, I found it was a simple frosting recipe containing butter, sugar and milk which was poured over the baked cake, then placed under a broiler for 2-3 minutes.  Many other recipes used brown sugar instead of white, and added ingredients like chopped walnuts, pecans or flaked coconut.

Here is an easy recipe, for the broiled frosting, that I decided to use on the Feather Cake; coconut plus nuts, sounded perfect.

 

Broiled Coconut-Nut Frosting

Ingredients:

1⁄4 cup butter, softened

2⁄3 cup brown sugar

1 cup flaked coconut (sweetened or unsweetened, either works)

1⁄2 cup chopped nuts

3 tablespoons milk

¼ tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preparation:

Set your oven to broil.

Mix all ingredients well.  Spread mixture over warm cake.

Place cake approximately 5 inches from flame and broil until topping bubbles and browns slightly.

Broil for 2-3 minutes, but watch to make sure it does not burn.

 

For my baking experience, I used a 9” x 13” baking pan for the “shallow pan” required.  This created a half-inch thick yellow sheet cake.  For the broiler setting, on high, it will take 2-3 minutes; on low, it will take 4-5 minutes, for the frosting to brown and become bubbly.  As the cake cooled, the broiled frosting turned into a crunchy candy-like coating.  Since this is a San Juan County recipe, I did not add any additional flour for high altitude baking.  I sort of presumed it was created in either Monticello (7021’) or Blanding (6099’), and the higher altitude was already accounted for in the recipe. The cake did come out moist, yet fully baked, so it was a good presumption.

So, hope this blast from the past brought back some good memories for many of you.  Or, at least got you interested in trying out some old-time recipes.

Mary Cokenour

 

 

 

National Italian Food Day - February 13, 2025

 “When the moon hits your eye,

Like a big pizza pie, that's amore.

When the world seems to shine,

Like you've had too much wine, that's amore.”

That’s Amore, sung by Dean Martin (sigh, oh Dino!), 1953.

According to another national food holiday calendar, February 7^th is Fettuccine Alfredo Day; 9^th is Pizza Pie Day; 13^th is Tortellini, and Italian Food Day; 18^th is Drink Wine Day.  While I would love to regale you in the art of pizza making once again (yes, I can be quite obsessive about pizza), let’s just focus on Italian food.

In Italy, the most commonly used salad dressing is a simple mixture of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper, referred to as "olio e aceto" which translates to "oil and vinegar".  This simplistic dressing is used to compliment the ingredients within the salad itself, so the flavor of each item can actually be tasted.  Typically, fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and parsley are served, at the table, in small bowls, so they may be added to a salad, if desired.

More complex dressings such as ranch, bleu cheese and thousand island overwhelm and mask the flavors of meats and vegetables.  So, when ordering salad, at many a restaurant, one option offered, usually, is “oil and vinegar” which comes in separate bottles, and you add as much as you like, plus salt and pepper of course.

At any food store, Italian dressing is always on the shelf, along with the other dressings I have mentioned.  Many years ago, a commercial pushed the use of bottled Italian salad dressing as a marinade; and it was posted on many food sites as well.  Remember the shaker bottle that you added oil, water, vinegar and a packet of dressing mix to; I still have mine and it still comes in handy.  Time to burst a bubble and take a look at what is in a typical brand name Italian salad dressing: VINEGAR, WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, CANOLA OIL, SUGAR, SALT, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF GARLIC*, GARLIC, RED BELL PEPPERS*, ONIONS*, XANTHAN GUM, SPICE, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA, POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT FRESHNESS). *DRIED.   Oh, that looks simply yummy, right?  Not!

Now to compare the bottled brand to homemade.  First ingredient is vinegar, but what type?  I use balsamic which has a deep, rich flavor and scent.  Soybean and canola oils?  This is Italian dressing, so use extra virgin olive oil.  Dried garlic?  Nope, use minced garlic that has been preserved in, what else, olive oil; or mince your own. Where are the herbs?  While I use crushed rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme and parsley; the bottled brand uses...none?   While the manufacturer is using paprika to make the dressing "zesty", use a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (aka cayenne pepper flakes).  The onions and red bell peppers, oh mine are coming later on darlings, and you will so love it.  Notice the manufacturer uses water; even when using that dressing packet mix, it asks for water.  Well now, how else are you going to rehydrate all those dried ingredients?

Let’s get to a recipe that will be most enjoyable on February 13^th while we all celebrate National Italian Food Day.  Oh wait, the next day is Valentine’s Day; maybe serve it on the 14^th instead, and savor the food, and much amore later on?

 

Italian Dressing Chicken

 

Ingredients:

4 (1/2 lb. each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves; or 8 (1/4 lb. each chicken cutlets)

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

2 cups olive oil

2 Tbsp. dried, crushed Italian herb mixture (basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme and parsley)

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 each medium sized yellow, red and orange bell peppers; seeded and julienned

1 large red onion; peeled and julienned

 

Preparation:

 

If you are purchasing the chicken breasts halves, make sure they are partially frozen before slicing them.  Place your hand on top of the chicken and carefully draw your knife lengthwise throughout the piece to form two 1/4 lb. cutlets.  Place the chicken cutlets into a large plastic, sealable bag.  Chicken cutlets?  Yeah, it is an Italian thing, so just go with the flow.

 

To make the dressing, simply pour the vinegar, oil, herbs, garlic and red pepper flakes into your shaker bottle, or a medium sized bowl; shake the bottle to mix or whisk in the bowl.  Set 1/4 cup of the mixture aside and pour the remainder into the plastic bag.  Work the dressing throughout the chicken, seal the bag and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours, but no more than four hours.

 

Preheat the oven to 350F; have a nonstick jellyroll pan ready (baking sheet with a 1/4-inch lip on all sides).   Heat a nonstick large skillet on medium-high heat; place 4 pieces of chicken into the skillet and sear for two minutes on each side; transfer the chicken to the jellyroll pan.  Repeat with the next 4 pieces; wipe any residue out of the skillet.  Place the pan into the oven and finish cooking the chicken off for seven minutes.

 

Sear Chicken.

 

Finish Cooking Chicken In Oven.

 

Take the reserved 1/4 cup of marinade, place it in the skillet, medium-high heat again; and toss to coat the julienned bell peppers and onions.  This will continue to cook in the skillet during the seven minutes the chicken is finishing up in the oven.  Occasionally move the vegetables around as you are using minced garlic and you do not want to allow it to brown or burn.

 

 

 

Here comes the real fun for serving this dish; the first choice is a piece of chicken with a side of the peppers and onions; do not forget to serve crusty bread on the side.  Second choice, slice up the chicken into strips, place on a sub roll with peppers and onions for a new take on the old favorite of sausage with peppers and onions.  This is a great substitute for people who do not eat pork or red meat, but do eat poultry.  The chicken itself is so full of flavor from the marinade, fork tender and dripping with juiciness.  The balsamic vinegar truly brings out the sweetness of the bell peppers and red onion, so no need to add any sugar as they do in manufactured bottled dressings.

 

This recipe makes 8 servings, but can be easily cut down for lesser portions, but why would you want to?  Can the chicken be cooked on an outdoor grill?  Of course, but make extra marinade, for basting, as the chicken grills.  So, welcome February, celebrate National Italian Food Day, and enjoy the homemade!

Mary Cokenour