Spaghetti!

To make Spaghetti, you will need:

1.  Box or bag of Spaghetti (I like whole wheat)
2.  Water
3.  1 spoon of virgin olive oil
4.  Spices:  salt, garlic, oregano,
5.  1 pound of hamburger (90/10 has less fat)
6.  A bottle of pasta sauce
7.  A pot big enough for the pasta.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
Peel and gently press the garlic and add garlic to the skillet
Add the hamburger, and brown it.
Pour the fat in a container (not on the sink) that you can throw in the garbage.
Add spices and pasta sauce to the meat.  Discard garlic cloves.

Simultaneously, bring a large pot of water to a boil
Add salt and a teaspoon of oil to the water
When it starts to boil put the pasta in.
Let it cook uncovered for 9 minutes.
Check the pasta, and turn off the heat when the pasta is "al dente"
(not too soft, not too hard).

Drain the pasta, and rinse in hot water.  (For salads rise in cold water).
Drain again and toss with the beef.

Serve with parmesan cheese and "buon appetito"

If you would like to know where Spaghetti comes from, check:
http://www.teleticino.ch/video/chilometro-zero/219113/chilometro-zero-best-of

Rice!

Well, let's move on to White Rice.  Rice is so versatil!

It is very simple to make rice, but there are a few tricks:

1. You will need:
     1 cup of rice
     2 cups of water
     1/4 spoon of oil
     1 pinch of salt 
     1 squeeze of lemon
     1 pan

2. Put the oil in the pan and let it warm up a bit.
3. Add the water, the rice and salt.
4. Set the heat to medium high
5. After the water boils, you will see small holes where the water is evaporating.
6. Squeeze a bit of lemon on the rice (to make it even more white)
7. Turn down the heat to low, and cover the pan with a lid.
8. Let it cook for 20 minutes.
9. Check the rice, it should be done.

Disfrutalo!

Aunt Cookieeeeee!

Breakfast :)

Picture by: Glenn McCoy

If all your Life you have been having cereal for breakfast, and you realize that there is too much sugar in those corn flakes, or cheerios, here is a very healthy alternative which is no secret to anyone:
Oatmeal!!
Just pour 1/4 cup of oatmeal on a bowl, and pour some milk or water and put on the microwave for 1 minute.  Add anything you'd like:  sweetner, honey, or berries, or raisins.
The fiber in oatmeal is so healthy!

Have a great day!

Aunt Cookie.

Scrambled Eggs

You can do eggs in so many ways, so today we are scrambling them.  In Spanish you call them "Huevos Pericos".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vDqlKMbrk

Check this video to see how to make them.

You can add a bit of shredded cheese from a bag to make them even better.

Let me know how did your Pericos turned out!

From your loving,

Aunt Cookie!

Cooking with water - Tea

Well, this is lesson numero 1:  There are so many things you can cook with water.  You can make Tea, Cocoa, Soup, and you can even boil an egg.  Be patient as I will start real basic, but will get to more fun stuff down the road.

HOT TEA:

If you have a kettle or just a regular pot, put a cup of water (I use bottled water) and turn on the heat for 2  minutes.

Then put a bag of tea and sweetner (if you like) in a cup and pour your boiled water on the cup.

If it is too hot, I have learned a trick:
Keep cut frozen lemons in a plastic bag in the freezer and put a piece of lemon in your hot tea.
It will taste great, and will cool down your tea.

Enjoy a nice cup of tea with a book or some happy thoughts!

With my love,

Aunt Cookie

PS: I've heard that it is not too safe to boil water in the microwave, which takes about 3 minutes.

I will survive!

When I left the "nest" and moved to the University in Florida with my brother I had no idea about how to cook.  So, after many mistakes that ended up in the trash can, I taught myself a few recipes, and would like to share them with my dear nieces as they embark in this wonderful adventure which it seems about survival at first, but that could land you in the world of the Gourmet!

Well, my first advice is practice, practice, practice.  And don't get burned (literally).

With my love for C, A, J, AM, S, A, J, J and M you know who you are.

My favorite cartoon:  Mafalda from Argentina.  She says in Italian: "An optimist is a person who puts a foot forward and two back.  Doesn't worry if you made a mess, but keeps on dancing cha cha cha."