The Smells in My Kitchen

[Jayelle]

Om nom nom.

My mom's lasagne is the best (like your mom's), and it's illogically delicious. Cottage cheese, cheap mozzarella, 99c sauce, etc. Yet somehow when she waves her magic wooden spoon, it becomes the most delicious thing ever. (Other people have even agreed - I think their moms never made lasagne or something?)

I've tried messing with it to "improve" it, but it never works. You just can't beat mom's.

SERIOUSLY?

cottage cheese is what made my grandma's lasagna so iconic, I've never even heard of anyone else doing that. wow. that's awesome.

I hadn't heard of it any other way until I left home and found out about this fancy ricotta stuff...

[Petra456]

Almost every other lasagna that someone else has cooked me has included cottage cheese. I'm not a big fan of it though : (

[Young Val]

With deepest respect to moms and grandmothers everywhere, I cannot abide cottage cheese in my lasagne. Ricotta or death.


ETA: I actually enjoy cottage cheese quite a bit on its own. But it has no place in lasagne. None, I say.

[Eddie Pinz]

With deepest respect to moms and grandmothers everywhere, I cannot abide cottage cheese in my lasagne. Ricotta or death.


ETA: I actually enjoy cottage cheese quite a bit on its own. But it has no place in lasagne. None, I say.

Quoted for the most truth.

Cottage cheese, stay the eff out of my lasagna.

[powerfulcheese04]

I have to agree on the cottage cheese, yes; cottage cheese + lasagna, absolutely not.

[Eaquae Legit]

I'm actually the exact opposite. I really don't like cottage cheese on its own, or anywhere except lasagne. To you haters, I say: you haven't tried my mom's yet!

[steph]

Everyone I know (except me) uses cottage cheese in their lasagne. If you want ricotta, but you have cottage cheese on hand, you can blend your cottage cheese and it's pretty much the same as ricotta.

I make mine the method that Brian was taught by an old woman when was on his mission in Italy. It is amazingly yummy.

btw, I make a better lasagna than my mom. In fact, my mom won't make lasagna anymore, since she deems mine superior. I'm also blessed to have a husband that recognizes that my cooking is infinitely better than his mother's.

I say that we have a lasagna night included in pwebcon. That way we can all try everyone's lasgane!! YUM!

Also, I'm dehydrating cantaloupe in my kitchen right now. It smells yummy. Dehydrating is the next (and hopefully last) attempt to concentrate cantaloupe for some seriously yummy ice cream. The gelato shop at the Bellagio in Las Vegas has the most amazing melon gelato (every other melon gelato I've tasted doesn't live up) and I'm trying to recreate the flavor. I have learned through my experimentation that melons end up tasting like bitter squash if you heat it too long. Bitter squash ice cream is NOT good eats. Cantaloupe ice cream is.

[Petrie]

I say that we have a lasagna night included in pwebcon. That way we can all try everyone's lasgane!!

I'll just be needing a microwave, then.

I don't know if we have any sort of recipe that we stick to in my family but it's also been years since my mom made it and I never venture into the kitchen for long enough to know this sort of thing anyway. I do know, however, that she uses ricotta and while I may have had cottage cheese at some point, but seriously doubt it, I don't think I would like it on its own.

[locke]

With deepest respect to moms and grandmothers everywhere, I cannot abide cottage cheese in my lasagne. Ricotta or death.


ETA: I actually enjoy cottage cheese quite a bit on its own. But it has no place in lasagne. None, I say.

I'm going to half agree. I don't really like the ricotta in lasagna, the flavor is all wrong with tomato sauce and pasta, clashes badly on the tongue. On the other hand, that is how Grandma made it, and it was famous within our family. My mom now makes it with Ricotta.

I do understand why cottage cheese was used, until the combination of Wal-Mart and Food Network brought understanding and accessibility to the rest of the world, Ricotta simply did not exist in the midwest, unless you were somewhere with a strong Italian neighborhood like St Louis. It should be pointed out that St Louis also has its own distinct kind of pizza cheese, provel, and it wouldn't surprise me if that came about because mozzarella was once difficult to find.

and in general I'm opposed to the flavor and texture of cottage cheese.

Ricotta, on the other hand, especially GOOD fresh delicious ricotta like I find at the italian markets out here is mindboggling. Especially in lasagna, in stuffed crust pizza or any stuffed pasta. I can't buy cartons of ricotta any sooner than the day I prepare a recipe, because even the cheap trader joes stuff will result with me eating a good portion of it with a spoon, plain.

[Young Val]

Now that we're talking lasagne I am desperate to make some immediately. Unfortunately, I can't as I'm leaving (FOR BOSTON!) at 5am tomorrow morning.

If you want to get truly crazy and authentic with your lasagne, you just haven't lived unless you've added a bechamel sauce to the mix. Seriously.

When I get back in town next week--I don't care how hot it is--I'm MAKING THIS.

[steph]

If you want to get truly crazy and authentic with your lasagne, you just haven't lived unless you've added a bechamel sauce to the mix. Seriously.

This is how Brian was taught. None of this "make a ricotta cheese mixture with egg and blah blah blah." It's very simple and it makes the most amazing lasagna.

[ValentineNicole]

On the topic of lasagna, I'm a weird Italian. I HATE ricotta cheese... LOL

In my kitchen, there are cupcakes. Yummy chocolate ones. I had 2 and called them lunch!

[Luet]

I made pancakes for the first time today. How have I never made pancakes before? I don't know. But I made them with fresh blueberries that I picked yesterday and they were soooo good. I'm making some again tomorrow.

[Jayelle]

I made pancakes for the first time today. How have I never made pancakes before? I don't know. But I made them with fresh blueberries that I picked yesterday and they were soooo good. I'm making some again tomorrow.

Mmm! I made pancakes today too (but definitely not for the first time - they are one of my go-to foods). Pancakes, bananas, peaches, bacon... yummy breakfast-for-supper.

[Eaquae Legit]

Today we just had sausages/hotdogs, but it's surprising how amazing a bit of sriracha can be on 'em.

[steph]

Peach Jam. I just made 14 pints.

I hope all the jars seal. This is my fist time making it by myself. I forgot the lemon juice in one batch, so I may have to use it soon as syrup or for chicken in the crockpot.

Since I bought 25 lbs of peaches (Yay for $0.47/lb!!), with the rest of my peaches, I'll be making peaches and cream, peach milk shakes and 2 peach pie. I'm also getting blackberry pulp for $0.49/lb, so blackberry jam is also on the list.

[Rei]

Ooooh that does sound good!

I can't wait for the blackberries to ripen at the end of the street.

[buckshot]

We got huckleberrys! and the smell of a pie in the oven may just do me in!

[Young Val]

Since Nomi mentioned it upthread, I have been subtly but constantly craving blueberry pancakes. I'd gotten so used to the craving that I practically forgot about it, so luckily on Sunday David mentioned he didn't want any of our usual go-to brunch dishes, but something different. We had half a tub of ricotta sitting in the fridge and had JUST bought a gorgeous pint of blueberries and inspiration hit me. We had gorgeously fluffy ricotta pancakes with meyer lemon zest and fresh blueberries. Oh my goodness, so delicious.

David also bought me a blender for my birthday and I have been making smoothies NON STOP. Does anyone have any delicious smoothie recipes? I'm looking for things slightly on the healthy side, but I wouldn't mind a more decadent milkshake now and again. I'm just sort of eyeballing things right now: greek yogurt, a splash of juice, occasionally a bit of honey, and various frozen fruits. As a result, my portion sizes are all over the place and very unpredicatable. I'm tempted to experiment with other things, too. If you have a favorite recipe or ingredient, please share!

[Luet]

I haven't been making them lately but I used to make "green" smoothies all the time. A large handful of baby spinach, a tbs of ground flaxseed, a cut up apple, a few baby carrots, and some berries (frozen or fresh), and either water or some juice (or yogurt) to liquefy. It's not the most appetizing color but I really liked the taste of it.

[Wil]

On Sunday I made an Italian Sausage Soup with home made bread sticks. Monday I made a chicken pot pie. Tuesday I made Pork Chops with a Balsamic Vinegar sauce along with roasted vegetable orzo. Tonight I am making BBQ Pork Sammiches (BBQ home made as well) with home made french fries. Tomorrow I'll be making grilled fish taco's. On Friday I'll be using the rest of my home made BBQ to make some pork ribs with roasted potatoes. I didn't mean to use so much pork this week...

I usually don't cook this much, and I don't always use meat (though it is by far a majority). A few weeks ago I made a garlic, tomato and four cheese pizza which didn't contain meat and it was just as delicious.

As for smoothies: I've taken to making these lately. I only found this because I had to do a demonstration speech for my summer communication class and I decided to bribe the teacher with a smoothie. I use a bag of frozen mixed fruits instead of just strawberries though. Quite good.

[Young Val]

Awesome!

Nomi, I've been meaning to try "green" smoothies all week! I've heard spinach can be great in smoothies; I never thought of adding carrots!

[elfprince13]

Courtney and I made some bread with beet-water. Yummy

[Rei]

It's not in my kitchen, but it is beside me, and it is tea. Which is lovely.

[buckshot]

I've never been able to go green with smoothies, but am out of control with fresh fruit , tonight Raineer cherries with ripe banana. I'm mad with the power of the magic bullet.

[Young Val]

I'm on a kick regarding things mentioned in this thread that I have been DYING to make ever since.

Made lasagne last night! A long, long process as I made my own sauces (bechamel and a tomato sauce that had to simmer foreeeeeeeeeever) and garlic bread. YUM. SO EXCITED FOR LEFTOVERS.

[Satya]

Having a BLT with pepper-jack cheese and homemade guacamole.

[Eaquae Legit]

homemade guacamole.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. There's nothing in the world like it.

[ValentineNicole]

homemade guacamole.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. There's nothing in the world like it.

I don't like avocado!!

[Caspian]

I don't like avocado!!

?!?!?!?!

[ender1]

homemade guacamole.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. There's nothing in the world like it.

I don't like avocado!!

Same here.

[ValentineNicole]

I don't like avocado!!

?!?!?!?!

*shrugs* It's icky and mushy. LOL

[Petra456]

I absolutely hate avocado! Everyone things i'm crazy, but it's just disgusting.

[Satya]

I was never really that into guac, but my tastes have changed. I love to add it to burgers, BLT's, salsas, etc.

[Rei]

I used to hate guacamole, until I found out that it didn't have to be utterly bland and tasteless. Now I enjoy it well enough (assuming that whoever made it did not make it utterly bland and tasteless).