Homemade Pasta

This is my next adventure in  making homemade since Ohio has been placed under a "shelter in place" order by the governor.

Oh my gosh!!  Homemade pasta is so easy.  Depending on the recipe, it only requires two or three ingredients (well, maybe 4), eggs, flour, salt and some recipes call for olive oil.    I used a recipe I found in The Classic Pasta Cookbook by Guilano Hazen.  He also has a class on Bluprint.com.

There are tons of videos on Youtube.com showing how to make pasta.  Go to Google and do a search on homemade pasta, you will find enough links to keep you occupied for days!

As always, homemade is always better than store bought!!

Stay home and learn something new PLUS have fun! But stay safe!

Homemade Yogurt in an Instant Pot

Instant Pots are the latest rage and, in my opinion, the best thing that has come on the market in a long time.  I use mine almost everyday.

Since Ohio Governor DeWine has issued a "Stay at Home" order, I am trying to make as much of my needs as possible.  I love yogurt and eat it several times a day.  So my Instant Pot has become a blessing! 

It is so easy to make yogurt in an Instant Pot, though it won't work if you have an Instant Pot Lux (sorry), you must have a "Yogurt" setting.

I use a half gallon of milk.  I have tried it with both whole and low fat.  And for my yogurt culture, I have used Chobani, Dannon and Stonefield yogurt, either plain or vanilla works.  Just make sure the ingredients say "active cultures."

Pour your milk into the Instant Pot container, secure the lid and press the yogurt button until it reads "boil."  It will beep after about 5 minutes and will display "yogt."  Remove the container (WARNING!! this will be hot!!).  I let this sit for about 15 to 30 minutes to cool the milk down to 110.  Add 2 T of yogurt culture, stir to completely incorporate, put the container back into your Instant Pot.  Press the Yogurt button on your Instant Pot twice so it says "normal" and let it do its thing for 8 hours.

I usually remove this and set the container in my refrigerator overnight - Viola!! you have yogurt.  You can strain this if you want a thicker, greek type yogurt!!

Corona Virus

Scary, isn't this?  So what I am doing about the Corona Virus?  Well, first of all, my Doctor has told me that I need to "self-quarantine."  I have asthma and some other lung issues, so here I sit.  Trust me I have enough to do in the house to keep me occupied for years!

The main thing I am doing is not watching the news.  For some reason, the news programs seem to concentrate on the negative and like to stir up fear.  Yes, it is very scary times, empty shelves in grocery stores, stores closing right and left, can't get your hair done.  I went to Tire Discounters last week to get the oil changed in my car.  Was told I could not wait for it.  No one is allowed in their waiting room. 

How to weather this storm?  Learn something new.  There are so many on-line classes you can take.  MyBluprint.com, has tons of craft and baking classes, Udemy  and Skillshare are other on-line websites with various classes.  Read a book, finally I have time to read books that I have been meaning to read.  Tackle that project that you have been meaning to do for a long time.  I am FINALLY painting my living room which I have been promising myself to do for the last 22 years.  It is actually happening. 

We will get through this. 

FINALLY Goat's Milk Yogurt!!!

I finally found an EASY way to make goat's milk yogurt and you can make it in your Instant Pot!!  My Instant Pot has a "yogurt" button which makes incredibly easy to make yogurt.

Hammock Haven Farm has a video on YouTube which shows you exactly how to make goat's milk yogurt using your Instant Pot.  Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqqIMSWiorI&list=PLvBPLCQaCTLpQ9vfFDcnhSCQTOWnzygYo&index=9&t=2s

The only thing I did different from her is that I refrigerated the yogurt in the Instant Pot container overnight before I strained it.  Not that big of a deal, either way would work.

Using the Siggi's Yogurt is the magic ingredient.  

I found it my local Kroger's.  According to their website, Target and Walmart are supposed to carry it.  I did not find it at my local Walmart and didn't feel like driving over to Target.  

This couldn't be any easier!!!

Enjoy!!

Dijon Mustard Chicken

This is a recipe my Mom used to make and it is super, super easy.  Takes just a few minutes to whip up.

I used chicken thighs because they were on sale at Krogers, but any chicken part would work, breasts, legs or a combination.  I always remove the skins.

Preheat your oven to 375.

Spread generously your favorite Dijon Mustard brand on each piece.  I sprinkle Italian Herb on top of each piece (you can omit this if you like or use a different herb combination - this recipe is very versatile.)

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

That's it!!  Isn't that easy!!!

I had a tossed salad with my dinner but any vegetable would work perfectly with this.

Enjoy!!!

Stroganoff Chicken

I found this recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens Big Book of Healthy Family Dinners.  It is super easy dinner to make and you can whip this in a matter of minutes.  And it should be a hit with your family.  I am sure my late husband would have loved this.

Unfortunately, when I went to the store to buy the ingredients, I forgot noodles.  Oh well, it still tasted great.

Ingredients

12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (** I just used 2 cans of sliced mushrooms, drained)
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 t cooking oil (I used olive oil)
1 8 oz. carton light dairy sour cream
2 T all purpose flour
1 t paprika
1/2 c chicken broth
3 1/2 cups hot cook noodles

Directions

1.  Cut the chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces.

2.  Heat your skillet with the oil, add your mushrooms and onions.  Cook until the onion is tender.

3.  If needed, add more oil.  Add the chicken pieces and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the chicken is no pink.

4.  In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, paprika and flour.  Mix together.  Add the chicken broth and mix into the skillet.  Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly.

5.  Serve over hot cooked noodles. (**I forget the noodles, well duh!!, so I had a salad with instead)

Comments:

I have made this recipe several times for my son and his girlfriend, they both loved it.  As I said before, this is a super easy recipe to do.  It is a different on the traditional stroganoff recipe.  

Enjoy!

Still here, promise more recipes!

I have been on here for a while.  Just getting my life back in order.  I promise I will start posting more recipes.  I recently bought one of those Instant Pot cookers and have been experimenting with.  So far, I have had pretty good success with it.  So I thought I might post some recipes using the Instant Pot.