Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe ~ Ciambellone recipe

Hello Everyone!!!

I noticed it has been a while since I have shared a recipe on this blog. I cook a lot everyday, of course I need to feed my five children and husband, but I mostly do it because I love it. Yes, I cook lunch and dinner....and "merenda" everyday. Merenda is the Italian word for "snack-time", you know, the little snack children need after school. I usually bake a cake. The one I want to share with you is from a recipe I learned last year from a very good friend. It's called "ciambellone" {pron. CHAM-BELL-OH-NAY}...meaning "big donut". It's absolutely not a donut, it just has the same shape. :) Here it is:

CIAMBELLONE recipe {or LEMON BUNDT CAKE}

Ingredients:

• 1 -1/4 cup of SUGAR
• 3 EGGS
• 1/2 cup of VEGETABLE OIL
• 1 cup MILK
• 1-1/4 cup of  FLOUR
• 1 LEMON (zest + juice)
• 1 tsp BAKING POWDER

1. Mix well the eggs with the sugar until fluffy.
2. Add slowly the oil, the flour, baking powder and milk.
3. Grate the zest of the lemon, then add its juice.
4. Pour the batter in a greased bundt cake mold.
5. Cook in oven at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. 

Please enjoy!!! My family loves it, it's usually all gone quickly. Let me know if you make it and how it comes out!! 

xoxo,

~Banana chocolate-chip muffins~

Hello everyone!!!

today is Sunday and that's when we usually have a little extra time to make something special for our kids, or just for ourselves.. ;) One of the things of everyday life I really enjoy is cooking. I recently found a delicious recipe that is perfect for an afternoon snack or even breakfast. I'm talking about Banana Chocolate-chip muffins! They are perfect especially when you have a couple of bananas getting darker and darker on your kitchen counter... how many times that happens in my house....... well, if that's the case, look for a couple extra ingredients and make these!! You won't be disappointed.

BANANA CHOCOLATE-CHIP MUFFINS 

(ingredients for 12 medium muffins)

• 3 ripe BANANAS, mashed
• 3/4 cup SUGAR
• 1 EGG
• 1/3 cup BUTTER, melted
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising FLOUR
• 1 cup of CHOCOLATE-CHIPS

Mix sugar and egg to the mashed bananas. Add melted butter (you can use margarine if you prefer). Add the flour (if you don't have the self-rising kind, just use the regular flour + 1 tsp of baking powder) and mix well. Add chocolate-chips at last folding them in the batter.

Pour the batter into muffin molds and bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. I check if they are cooked inserting a tooth-pick in one of the muffins, if it comes out clean it means they are ready!!

I hope you like them!! Enjoy them with a cup of coffee or tea! Let me know what you think.

xoxo,

Best Summer Drink ~ Lemon Italian-Ice Recipe

What can I say.. summer heat is on and it's time to get refreshed with a delicious drink!

Today I want to share with you a secret recipe of the most delicious "Italian-ice"... in Italian it's actually called GRANITA {probably because it's as hard as granite??}, it's a very popular homemade summer treat. You can eat it by itself in a cup or enjoy it in a drink. It's really good mixed in a glass of ice-tea... but my favorite way to eat it is in a big glass of Coke! {did you know I'm addicted to Coca-Cola?}.. just add a few big chunks to your drink, they will replace the ice-cubes and will slowly give a lemony flavor... :)

Ok, here is the recipe:

Lemon Italian-Ice  { a.k.a. ~ Granita di Limone ~}

• 4 big lemons
• 4 cups of water
• 1 cup sugar

Boil the water with the sugar, until dissolved. Let it cool down.

Squeeze the lemons and add their juice to the sweet water.

Pour the mix in a container (preferably with lid) and put it in the freezer until completely frozen (it should take a couple of hours).

Take it out of the freezer 20 minutes before trying to serve it... it will be very hard! Use a strong spoon to scrape the ice.

Serve it in bowls or in your favorite drink.

 

Enjoy!!!

 

 

xoxo,

 

 

Zucchine Ripiene ~ Stuffed Zucchini

There is a lot going on in this little life of mine. But right now, what I want to share with you is a suuuuper delicious recipe! It's time to use Zucchini.. they are so cheap in every store!! And I have to say it's one of my favorite vegetables... I use them in everything: with pasta, as a side dish, in a parmigiana or.. as in this recipe... STUFFED!! You're going to love them!!

ZUCCHINE RIPIENE  {or STUFFED ZUCCHINI}

What you need:

• 4 large zucchini
• 1cup of bread crumbs
• 1 cup of shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 1 handful of minced Parsley
• 1 egg
• salt & pepper
• extra vergin olive oil
• tomato sauce

Cut the zucchinis in half longways. 

Let them boil in hot water and salt for 4-5 minutes, until barely tender (don't over-cook them!). Drain them, let them cool down and take the pulp out with a spoon (don't throw it away, let it drain in a colander or squeeze the water out). 

Prepare the filling in a bowl. Mix together the egg, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, the zucchini pulp with a little salt and pepper. 

Grease a pyrex with olive oil, fill the half zucchinis with the filling and set them in the dish. Cover each of them with a little tomato sauce (previously seasoned). Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and olive oil.

Cook in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until golden brownish. :)

Serve hot as a side dish or main dish with a nice piece of bread!

~Buon Appetito!!

Hugs to all,