Tried, Tested and True - The Roundup

Thank you everyone for participating in our Tried, Tested and True event. Not only have you helped to make this a successful event, you've also helped me to win a free dinner. Giz figured our event would get 7-8 submissions. I bet her that we would get 15 or more. In the end, we got 30 submissions! This definitely exceeded our expectations. Mind you, I wonder if Giz is throwing her guesses to convince me to go and visit her.

The premise of this event was to gather recipes that are tried, tested and true. Recipes that are true crowd-pleasers that never fail to get good reviews from your guests or family. Enjoy the round up. I've organized it according to groupings (appetizers/soups/salads, bread, mains and desserts).

Appetizer, Soups and Salads

Núria from Spanish Recipes shares a very attractive-looking Tapa, Stuffed Piquillo Peppers . Following Bellini Valli's suggestion...if anyone is looking for me, I'll be on my way to Spain to join in on the Spanish wine, music, people and tapas.



Teresa of I'm Running to Eat shares Teresa's Toscana Soup. I'm sure this zuppa would be a hit at my place. Teresa is a new blogger who is in search of new and different recipes to encourage her family to eat a more healthy diet. This is her first blogging event. Way to hit the ground running (no pun intended) with this submission!



Kittie of Kittens in the Kitchen is wisely on a mini-mission to clean up the food in her cupboards and freezer. Since I'm my mother's daughter, I become very anxious when I notice empty space in my cupboards or freezer. But, this is a challenge I would like to take on myself in the near future. Kittie brings her Tomato and Rice Soup with Asparagus that she has been making and adapting for the seasons for years now. Kittie says that this soup costs about 20p/person. So, in Canadian dollars, that should be about 50 dollars/person. I kid...but I do wish the Canadian dollar were more on par with the pound.



Lori from Recipe Girl brings us this Avocado-Pine Nut Salad, which has lasted the test of time and has actually been published in a cookbook containing refreshing recipes that reflect the casual, surf's-up lifestyle of San Diego. Wanna make a bet that Giz will soon be posting an avocado-pine nut salad?



Breads

Neen of Post Collegiate Cooking has taken the work out of finding a good recipe for Challah. Neen generously makes this recipe for her partner in crime, Do, on a regular basis. Can you tell that it's right out of the oven? Imagine tearing off a piece of warm challah (unless...I am the only one who eats challah like I haven't seen food in a week).



Bellini Valli from More Than Burnt Toast submits her English Muffin Loaves, a recipe that she's been making since she was a teenager. So, although she's only had the recipe for a year or two ;), I trust that this recipe will not disappoint!



Mains

Deborah of Taste and Tell shares the Best Spaghetti Sauce Ever
with us. Deborah's post helps to demonstrate the power of comfort food and how food brings people (family, strangers, etc.) together.



Nikki from Canary Girl shares her (and Elle's) Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Broccoli and Fusilli. When I look at the picture, it makes me want to be eating this for dinner, out on my balcony, on a warm summer evening.



Peter from Kalofogas submitted his Baby Back Ribs. His secret dry rub recipe can be yours, by following this link. If the picture, below, doesn't convince you to try this recipe...well...then you must be a vegetarian.



Mimi from Mimi on the Move serves Linguine with Fresh Clams, a recipe I am determined to try making some time this summer. This dish is fast, flavourful, fresh, filling and fabulous!



Pixie of You Say Tomahto, I say Tomayto is always making delicious recipes coupled with heartwarming stories. Her Maltese Squid Stew looks very flavourful and, I'm sure, would make her mom proud.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out Pixie and Rosie's (of scone fame, below) Putting Up event.



Ohio Mom from Cooking in Cleveland shares her Spinach Rolled Lasagne. I am quickly learning that rolled lasagne is taking over the layered lasagne world and I plan to "get with the program" and try this out sometime soon.



Lori Lynn from Taste with the Eyes submits an "inexplicably delicious" recipe for Tomato Onion Beef Brisket. Since I didn't see a picture of the final product, I thought I would share their enviable Passover Seder photo. Giz, I think we have a long way to go to obtain this level of Pesach class.

Also, if you're so inclined, check out the their Passover blogging event. I'm sure we'll have at least one submission for it.



Mansi Desai from Fun and Food shares her Fettucini Alfredo with Basil and Rosemary. This recipe looks like a good, relatively quick, option when you've got some hungry mouths to feed (even if it's just your own).



Ben of What's Cooking fame (and his Food for Plastic Challenges) submits an "I can't believe it's not fried" Ohio Baked Chicken recipe. According to Ben, this recipe is "spicy, crunchy and more healthy than the fried version". Sounds good to me!



Amy of We Are Never Full enters her Roasted Pork Shoulder with Salsa Verde and Creamy Risotto. Not only does this dish look delicious, she was able to make six portions of it for under $5. Now that's some mad shopping skills.



Elle from Elle's New England Kitchen posts her Spaghetti and Meatballs. This recipe was passed through several family members and friends in order to get to Elle. But, perhaps most importantly, it stems from a little old Italian woman. This recipe sounds like a sure-fire hit and freezes well for leftovers.



Kate of Paved with Good Intentions almost didn't submit her Beer Roasted Pork recipe because she thought it was too simple. Thankfully, she changed her mind. Some of the best recipes are the simple ones. This also reminds me that I need to try cooking with beer.



Cakelaw's, from Laws of the Kitchen, adoration for this Hotch Potch has me almost convinced that "the little something" I am missing from my stew is vegemite. Cakelaw is working on perfecting her mother's recipe. I'm sure the secret ingredient is love (Giz, is that cheesy enough for you?)



Camilla from Enlightened Cooking shared her Creamy Polenta with Balsamic Glazed Mushrooms, Blue Cheese and Arugula. This recipe looks tasty, whether you've just had a root-canal or are looking for a lighter flavourful meal.



Michelle from Big Black Dogs submitted the Ultimate Shrimp Pasta. Apparently, the secret ingredient is anchovies...but you didn't hear it from me.



Dessert

Our adopted mother, Ann of Redacted Recipes, submits what Jack (the other half of Redacted Recipes) likes to call "crack cake". But, it you want to get technical, it's actually called Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake. This "easy and pretty much foolproof" cake is exactly the type of recipe we had in mind for this event.



Cathy of Aficionado submits her take on an Apple Crunch. Instead of cooked, soft apples, she adds dehydrated apple slices to the mix along with a crunchy-textured crumble. Sounds creative and delicious to me!



Grace of A Southern Grace shares her Bewitching Black-Bottomed Cupcakes. I think we should all endeavour to use the adjective "bewitching" to describe food at least once in a post over the next month. Grace is making the dessert for her cousin's wedding this summer. I would suggest that these cupcakes make the cut! I would also suggest that Grace invite me and Giz to the reception. We'll ensure that all the food is edible.



ruthEbabes from Ruth's Kitchen Experiment joins us from Northern Ireland, or as I am told it's called, "Norn Iron". I must say that my trip to Northern Ireland in 2003 was one of the most interesting places I've visited. Ruth's Basic Chocolate Cake was almost fully devoured by a youth group she leads. She's still pefecting the chocolate glaze, but all systems are a go for the cake.



Deeba of Passionate about Baking presents her beautiful Mango Ice-cream Swiss Roll. This recipe is so good, her son has to guard the freezer to make sure it isn't eaten too quickly. Brilliant!



Nicisme at Cherrapeño submits her Eccles Cake recipe. Really, these cakes look like a ball of heaven rolled together and topped with sugar. This recipe has been passed down through generations and gives you the power to request anything from those who have eaten your dessert.



Rosie from Rosie Bakes a Piece of Cake also bakes scones. From the looks of her Scones with Devonshire Clotted Cream & Strawberries they're damn good ones at that. Sorry to stick you in with the desserts Rosie, I know afternoon tea items should be a category on its own. The last time I had scones and clotted cream was when I took Giz out for High Tea a couple of summers ago (proof that I am not always mean to Giz).

R and I were debating whether scones were always flavourless or whether it was just his mother's scones. So, I may have to use this recipe as evidence of the world of scones he is missing out on.



Lastly, here is my submission for the roundup: Trifle. This recipe is simple and always a hit. You can make it low cal by using low fat pudding and nutriwhip. Make sure to let it sit over night before serving so that the lady fingers have a chance to soften. Warning: Leftovers of this dish may lead to sticking your head in a trifle bowl in order to lick the remnants clean.



Lemonpi used to make a variation of these Friands on a daily basis. This friand recipe seems to be the definition of "Tried, Tested and True".



That concludes our first roundup. Again, thank you everyone for the awesome support of our first roundup.