Gnocchi

Ciao!  This week's recipe is Gnocchi.  I've never made or eaten Gnocchi personally, but maybe I'll try it this week.  Grandma's recipe card on this doesn't include sauce of any kind - so you're on your own.  I'm sure your favorite red sauce would work well. 

I was surprised to see it called for instant mashed potatoes, but it seems like they'd be a lot easier to make.

Gnocchi

3 C Instant Mashed Potatoes              5 or 6 C flour
3 C Hot water                                    1 or 2 eggs
2 Tbls Oil                                           1 Tsp. salt

Make a well with 5 or 6 C Flour - add eggs, potatoes, hot water & oil.  Mix well & knead dough until smooth.  Shape into small ropes around 3/4" thick.  Cut in small pieces (1 inch).  Make indentation with thumb.  Boil in simmering water around 15 min.

The salt seems to be missing from the instructions and there is also no mention of how to tell when they're done, but I'd think you'd want to cook them al-dente, like any other pasta. 

Until next time - buona notte & felice cucinare!

Made Chewy Oatmeal Cookies Today

I made a batch of Grandma's Chewy Oatmeal Cookies today - it made about 5 doz. cookies - a nice sized batch.  It was a bit tricky figuring out when they were done just right.  In my oven it took 10 minutes at 375 (regular bake, I didn't use my convection setting).  Then are just right when the cracks that appear in the cookies as they bake are no longer wet looking, but the cookies are still pale on top - one minute longer and they are thick & crunchy, but no longer very chewy.  They will be a uniform golden brown on the bottom too, but don't check them that way or they will fall and be crunchy.  

They are very tasty cookies, indeed and they were very easy to make.  I'm usually a stickler for putting nuts in cookies, I just like the way nuts offset the sweetness and I like the texture, but the oatmeal in these provides a nice texture so they're a good option for those who don't like nuts in their cookies.

Note:  If you do have a convection oven, I'd start by following the manufacturers instructions for adjusting recipes for convection baking as I remember that Grandma's convection oven was a toaster oven combo or microwave combo and it was a very small counter top version.  I can't imagine the cookies coming out of my oven on convection at 300 degrees and taking only 8-10 minutes, although I'm sure if I used same at 350, they'd be done in 6-8 minutes. 

Now to pick the next recipe to post...

Happy baking!

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Ok folks!  Here is the first recipe.  I decided to post Grandma's recipe for Chewy Oatmeal Cookies.  It has her name on it, so I think this is her personal recipe.  Who doesn't like a chewy, warm oatmeal cookie on a soggy winter day?

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

1 1/2 C Flour              1/2 tsp Soda

1 C Shortening           1/4 tsp. Baking Powder

2 C Brown Sugar       1/2 tsp. Salt

2 Eggs, beaten            2 tsp. Vanilla

3 C Oatmeal

375 degrees 8-10 min.

Roll in a ball & flatten.  

Note:  Grandma says "I bake mine in my Convection oven at 300 degrees."

That's all she wrote.  I'm sure, like most cookie recipes you would cream the shortening with the sugar & add the eggs.  Stir to combine.  Most recipes then have you sift all dry ingredients together but I usually add my vanilla, soda, baking powder & salt to the sugar/shortening mixture & stir to combine.  Then add flour & other dry ingredients and I've never had any negative result.  

I know Dad (Gary Carbone) has always liked oatmeal cookies - I wonder if these are the ones he liked so well?   The recipe for Oatmeal Cookies on the Quaker Oats container are generally not chewy enough for my taste so I'm looking forward to trying these.  I think it's interesting that there is no cinnamon, raisins, etc. in this version.  I'm planning on baking some later this week - I'll post the results!  If anyone else tries them, please let us know what you think.

Until next time - Happy Cooking!

Ciao Carbone famiglia!

My name is Chris Johnson.  I am the daughter of Gary & Suzanne Carbone, granddaughter of Albert & Josephine Carbone.  After Grandma & Grandpa passed away, Gary & Suzanne took home a large file box full of recipes & cookbooks Josephine (Jo) had accumulated over the years.  Several years ago, Mom & Dad stayed with my husband, Steven, & I while their new house was being built and set up and they brought the carton with them to our home, where it currently resides.

I have been wanting to share the recipes contained in that carton for some time now - eventually I hope to compile them into a family cookbook for all to enjoy.  After my niece, Jennifer Nerio (granddaughter of Gary & Suzanne) and her partner, Butch, set up our wonderful Carbone Family website, I came up with the idea to start a blog of Jo's recipe files.  Jennifer & Butch were kind enough to set it up on the family website so you could all enjoy it.  

I hope family members will share their recipes here as well along with results & comments on the recipes posted.  I'll start with posting one recipe a week and we'll see how it goes.  

Fina alla prossima volta, felice cucinare!  (Until next time, happy cooking!)

Recipe One

Cookie dough....  ummmmm cookie dough