Hello friends! It’s so good to be back writing to you. We’ve not been communicating too much since quarantine 2020 started. Truthfully, I’m pretty overwhelmed by the anxieties and stresses both in my life and out in the world. Between being furloughed, traveling to Philadelphia and Chicago for a new job, and now being back home I’ve experienced a ton of change. I know I’m not alone in that. Even if you’ve been in total home isolation and you’re one of those people that are loving it, my bet is that there has been at least one major change in your life.
When my life is in flux, I find comfort in some quick, easy recipes. The methodical nature of baking has always been therapeutic for me, and I want to share that joy and peace with all of you. Whether it’s watching butter and sugar cream in a mixing bowl or the hands-on kneading of bread, baking provides a lovely distraction from my anxiety. (Don’t even get me started on how much my OCD loves the precise measurements required for a successful recipe.) It’s also a really quick way to divert from the monotony of quarantine.
So sit back, relax, and take in these super easy recipes that make tasty food and happy hearts.
Lavender Cookies
Lavender is amazing when it comes to calming down anxiety. Why not take that delightful calming effect and let it fill your kitchen? I’ve written about these before if you want the full recipe, but I made them last week with an addition of lemon extract and I don’t think I’ll ever go back! The lemon adds an extra layer of flavor that I seriously recommend. These are extremely easy cookies as is, but you can also start with a sugar cookie box mix to make the recipe even simpler!
Manicotti
What screams comfort food more than Italian? Manicotti is a large, tube-shaped pasta filled with ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, garlic, and onions. Traditionally, the recipe calls for egg in the filling, but I’m here to tell you that’s not necessary.
First, you’ll want to cook the manicotti per the package directions. For the filling, sauté the garlic and onion until translucent and then add the spinach. When the spinach starts to wilt, add 1c of ricotta cheese and as much mozzarella as you want. By leaving the filling on the heat for a little while longer, the melted mozzarella becomes the binder usually created by the egg. After that, you simply fill the manicotti with the ricotta mixture. I use a piping bag to get all the way through the noodle. Place the filled manicotti in a greased baking dish with a layer of sauce on the bottom. Cover the manicotti in more sauce and then grate parmesan and mozzarella over the top. Bake until the cheese starts to brown and the sauce is bubbly!
Focaccia
This one is not my recipe, but it deserves the share. As with most bread recipes it requires a few hours to rise, but that means there’s plenty of time for other quarantine activities in the interim. Or maybe you can prep that yummy manicotti to go with it. Sounds fun, right? This skillet focaccia is incredibly tasty, uses very few ingredients, and cooks in a cast iron skillet which makes clean up a breeze. Check out the full recipe here!
Snickerdoodles
In case the lavender cookies don’t sound like you’re jam, this snickerdoodle recipe is equally easy and filled with cinnamon-sugary goodness! Using my favorite egg hack for egg yolk substitution makes these cookies light and super fluffy. Regardless of what cookie you’re attempting, I recommend that substitution for an additional egg yolk to add extra texture and richness to your recipe!
Well that’s it for me this week! I hope to hear all about your experiences with these recipes. If you ever have any questions about what I do, please feel free to contact me. Until next time, happy eating!