The Original Italian Pizza

I moved to Hamilton, Ontario two years ago.  I had never even visited Hamilton prior to meeting my husband (still feels funny when I say husband - we just got married last August).  I am becoming more familiar with my surroundings, but, for example, one of the best places to eat around here is one block away and I only just dined there last week! You never know where your next great meal is going to come from.
I came home one day with a Roma Pizza.  I had never seen this in any of the grocery stores where I used to live.  G was thrilled.  So, I was thrilled.   I grated some cheese for the top as this pizza is just a bread crust and sauce (there are other flavours I have seen, but this is the only way we go).  Anyway, I thought that is what you were supposed to do.  I was WRONG.  Do not add cheese to Roma, The Original Italian Pizza!.  I wrecked it!
The bread crust is so light and airy and the sauce is nothing less than brilliant - highlighting olive oil with a sweet tomato sauce.
I texted my son, who studies in Oklahoma City, a picture of tonight's dinner.  His response, "Jealous".
My advice for you is if you are in the Hamilton, Stoney Creek area, near a Fortinos or the Metro on King Street, treat you and your family to one of these pizzas.  They won't know what hit them. Heat it up in the oven for about 10 minutes at 325.  You just want to warm it not COOK it.   In the immortal words of my husband, " my taste buds were dancing".

Remember, when someone cooks for you, it's with love.

Roma Pizza
233 Barton Street E.,
Stoney Creek, Ontario
www.romabakery.ca

Another First

Too Tired To Go To The Grocery Store

I couldn't wait to get home today!  This cold is really dragging on.  Anyway, I didn't want to stop at the grocery store to get ingredients, so I hoped there would be enough in the fridge and pantry to whip something up. 
I browned up some ground beef with my four favourite spices - garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and celery seed.  Celery seed adds such a wonderful flavour to the meat.  I always use it in ground beef no matter what I'm going to use the beef for. 
There were some great cheeses in the fridge, so I decided to make a smoky gouda cheeseburger macaroni casserole. I made a cheese sauce with low fat old cheddar, low fat fruilano, parmesan, and smoky gouda.  What an rich flavour the smoky gouda added - it sort of tasted like bacon was in the sauce.  My cheese sauce has Kuhne's hot mustard in it - just put it in and don't ask why! This mustard is not hot, but the flavour is necessary.
So, I cooked up some Molisano small size rigatonis and mixed the sauce and ground beef together in a pot. I poured it into the casserole dish that was sprayed with cooking spray.  All the ingredients were hot so I only baked it in the oven, uncovered for about 20 minutes at 375 using the convection oven setting.
As usual, I had never made this before, so I tasted during the preparation and was not hungry when it finally came out of the oven.  G was starving - it was approaching 7pm, which is sort of late for us to eat! I tried to make a video, but I learned that I need someone else with me to film while I do the cooking. 
When I put the serving spoon into the middle of the casserole and scooped out a spoonful, it made that cool pasta saucy sound and the cheese stretched across to G's plate. WAY TO GO CHEESE!
G loved this dish and I suggested he add some ketchup - it worked!
Mac & Cheese doesn't have to be so rich with high fat cheeses.  I even used 1 % milk when making the sauce.  Also, the spices are important when you are using low fat ingredients.  They really punch up the flavour - don't forget the celery seed in the meat and the mustard in the cheese sauce - drop in some hot sauce too!  Oh, and sprinkle a little paprika on the top before baking - it makes the top of the casserole that pretty orangey colour!
Remember, when someone cooks for you, it's with love.

Homemade is The Only Way To Go

 

 

G's taste buds are spoiled.  A few years ago, when were first dating, I drove a homemade pizza over to his house.  After the first bite, he told me, "his taste buds were dancing!" I was relieved - you know the whole, " a way to a man's heart is through his stomach" thing.  We never order take out on pizza nights!

Who Doesn't Like Ice Cream Cakes?

I think I'll make this for G's(husband) and Devon's birthday.   I don't know anyone who doesn't like ice cream sandwiches.  My oldest friend and I used to eat them for lunch in high school...DEEELICIOUS!!!  Have you noticed how small they are now?  Nevertheless, this is a great recipe - one of those great recipes where you just slap the ingredients together and TA DA - VOILA - an ice cream cake...ENJOY.  Happy Birthday guys. xo
 http://www.bestyummyrecipes.com/no-bake-oreo-ice-cream-cake