If you read the Freschetta website, it will tell you that Pizzamore pizzas will transform your kitchen into your favorite pizzeria by taking one of these pizzas from the freezer to the oven. The claim to fame is a one-step bake and serve tray that takes all the fuss out of cooking. The tray was created to make a perfect pizza that is crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and that is evenly cooked. These are some lofty goals. When it comes to frozen pizza, I am incredibly picky. There are only one or two brands that I will bother to eat. I’d rather have homemade pizza, if I have the time to make it, instead.

I find that most frozen pizzas either have too much or too little sauce and they are overly bland. Add in the fact that they are either greasy or the toppings are unappetizing and it makes sense to not waste your money and to just call Hungry Howie’s instead. However, when I saw this large pre-sliced pizza in the frozen food section I decided to give it a whirl.

Feeding anyone in my house can be a battle. My mother rarely wants to eat anything, Dominick is a little easier to please when I am cooking, but when it comes to frozen or takeout he is a food snob (I can relate), and then our son is incredibly picky and resists new foods and brands like the plague. I figured this was set to be an interesting adventure!

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Holiday food staples are those traditional items distinct to an individual family. Not everybody makes them, but those that do appreciate the tradition. Everyone tends to have that one item (or more) that always seem to make it to the holiday table, no matter what the family decides to make. One of those items for me was called “Pink Stuff” when I was growing up. This salad made from such simple ingredients as cottage cheese and Cool Whip is delicious enough to be a must have on my holiday dining table.

I have not really heard of anyone else making this salad that my mom makes, but I am sure that it is made by others. If you have never heard of it, I’ve included a recipe below for those who wish to give it a try.

If you try it, let me know if you like it! Either way – we here at Ashtyn’s Home Cookin’ hope that you have a happy holiday season!

Cottage Cheese Fruit Salad

1 pkg. Dry Jell-o (we use Strawberry or Cherry but you can use what you like)
1 Small tub of Cool Whip
1 Small carton of Cottage Cheese (small curd recommended)
1 Can Chopped Pineapple (you could use other fruit, if you prefer)
Maraschino Cherries

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Hendrick’s Gin is not a name I was familiar with before receiving some for review. Come to find out, this is nothing new because most people have no clue who or what Hendrick’s is. Unfortunately, these sad people have no clue what they are missing. One of the newer gins on the market, Hendrick’s has only been around for a short time. However, it has made quite an impression since it came on the market.

One of the first things anyone notices about Hendrick’s is the bottle. The squat bottle is almost black in color. It’s dark enough that you won’t notice the liquor floating around on the inside of the bottle. The apothecary style bottle is hard to pass up because it’s the sign of something good. When it came time to open things up, I was immediately impressed. The cork top was a nice touch and so much better than the average screw top that is found on most liquor bottles.

As clear liquor, one expects something smooth and subtler than your average option in the brown liquors, which tend to offer a sharper taste and more burn for your buck. Hendrick’s is 88 proof and it’s certainly smooth. The smell offers the distinctive, unique flavors of a fine mix of roses, cucumbers, and a burst of juniper. While roses and cucumbers are certainly not the typical Gin flavor, the essence of these items helps to create a flavor in gin that allows Hendrick’s to be known as the best gin that is currently on the market.

I have had gin in the past and find it to be generally pleasing for the most part. However, Hendrick’s blows all previous gin experiences out of the water. The mellow cucumber flavor mixed with the standout flavors of the roses and the light juniper taste is absolutely remarkable. While Hendrick’s may not be well known, fans of this premium liquor are loyal to the brand and the taste of Hendrick’s.

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 17, 2007 – Food Network and Rachael Ray have agreed to a two-year deal for a new primetime series, Rachael’s Vacation launching in January 2008, as well as 60 new episodes per year of popular daytime series 30 Minute Meals, it was announced today by Brooke Johnson, President, Food Network. Additional terms of the arrangement were not disclosed. Food Network is a part of Scripps Networks, owned by the Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP).

“Rachael is the quintessential example of the homegrown stars we create at Food Network,” said Johnson. “She has been with us since 2001 and we have built a strong partnership that will continue for years to come and bring more new and exciting projects.”

Rachael’s Vacation, premiering January 12 at 9 PM ET/PT, follows Rachael as she takes time to sneak away and have a vacation. Viewers will follow as she discovers the distant cities, countries, foods, and lifestyles that continue to amaze and excite her. On this international odyssey, Rachael’s motto is “can do” travel. From pubs in Dublin to markets in Bordeaux, from a fairy tale carriage ride in Lisbon to a marathon of tapas in Barcelona, Rachael charts her course for exciting finds near and far. In every episode, viewers will experience the hip, fun, and funky places she loves; with her ideas, info and tips on where to holiday whether for globe trotting or weekending. She will also visit bookstores, house-ware haunts, shoe shops, and boutiques; plus street festivals, museums, and farmers’ markets.

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I’ve come to find that cooking often has its own language. Naturally, there are some terms that just need to be avoided. Most of these terms are made up and some are just ones that get on my nerves. All of these offending words come courtesy of Food Network.

While I love the Network and watch it regularly, there are words that just grate on my nerves. The offenders here are Rachel Ray (I love her food and her personality, but sometimes her words make me want to put her on mute), Sandra Lee (I will get into her later), and Amy Finley (has she been canceled yet?).

Here is my list of the four terms I hope I never hear again in the kitchen:

Nummy – Sandra Lee has mentioned that she was in culinary school, but didn’t like that there were easier ways to do what they were teaching her to do. The reason for this is because they were doing it the right way. Nevertheless, Sandra offers the Food Network and their viewers, little. Her food knowledge is reduced to Knorr packages and McCormick mixes, and while I have no problem saving time when possible, I do realize there is more to life then seasoning packets and cocktails.

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To celebrate Jamie Oliver’s new Food Network cooking show, Oliver will appear for the first time on Iron Chef on the night his show debuts. The show Jamie at Home will debut in the new year on January 6, 2008. The show starts at 10pm. Just prior to the start of his new show, at 9pm Iron Chef will offer a new episode with Oliver as the challenger.

Oliver, who is new to Iron Chef, will be challenging Mario Batali who is rumored to be on his way out. When his other Food Network shows were canceled earlier this year, it was said that Batali would not be renewing any Iron Chef contracts in the future. As to who will win, it’s anyone’s game. Both Oliver and Batali have their own unique styles and it will be interesting to see them battle on the stage for Iron Chef.

To find out more about Jamie Oliver’s new show, Jamie at Home check out the Food Network Sunday, January 6, at 10pm. You can also visit the Food Network website for additional information.

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Schneider Associates and BNP Media’s New Products Magazine have compiled a list of the top 10 new products in 2007. With the help of comScore, 1,000 consumers were polled concerning the new product lines of the year and what they purchased and remembered the most. There were quite a few food items on the list this year and I have to say that I am shocked by the items that made it. They certainly aren’t the items I would have picked out, but I suppose the items say plenty about what marketing works and what consumers are taking from the marketing buzz that is out there.

Nabisco and Oreo made the list twice with Domino’s Oreo Dessert Pizza at number 4 and Oreo Cakesters at number 6. While I haven’t tried the Dessert Pizza (I am not a huge Domino’s fan when it comes to pizza) I have checked out the Cakesters. The whole cookie transformed into a cake thing just didn’t work for me so the one box I bought was about all I could commit to purchasing. Come to think of it, I think I ate one and pawned them off on someone else or tossed them out because I knew I wouldn’t eat any more of them.

Diet Coke Plus hit the countdown at number seven. While I love Coke’s Zero line I haven’t tried their Diet Coke Plus. I drink Coke Zero (since they don’t make Mello Yello Zero) and Dominick favors the Sprite Zero. Considering I don’t know many DCP drinkers, I will have to assume that it’s at least halfway decent to make the list.

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Christmas is fast approaching and if you haven’t located something perfect for the foodie on your Christmas list then you might be scrambling to find something good. If you’re in the market for a new cookbook, here are some of the best when it comes to Food Network. These are all books that I own or have on my wish list. Maybe if I am lucky, Santa will note my good behavior and send me some new foodie fare this year.

Tyler’s Ultimate -
Tyler Florence is an innovative and creative chef. His show, The Ultimate is not only fun to watch, but it inspires numerous ideas for recipes of my own and new things for dinner. Tyler offers everything from breakfast delicacies to Mexican dishes that are simply delicious. Everything on his list is the ultimate to him and those he cooks for and from the things of his that I have tried, I have to agree with his assessment.

Paula Deen’s Best Dishes & Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life -
Paula Deen is a Southern Goddess. While it’s true she isn’t about to win any awards with a doctor, if you want something good to eat she can whip you up something fierce! Paula’s Southern flavors will have you licking your fingers as you sit, shocked and in disbelief that your home cooked meal was so easy to make.

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Over the holidays, I usually am in charge of desserts for the family. I normally make a cheesecake or a pie. It is usually something traditional and that I know the family will love. This year I wanted to do something a little bit different. By a twist of fate, I ended up creating my own spin on a pumpkin layered pie.

Dominick wanted French Silk Pie, so I thought we could do that with Pumpkin, making a pumpkin silk. Mom wanted pumpkin cheesecake. So, I did the only thing I could. I experimented.

The resulting pie had a bottom layer of pumpkin cheesecake, the middle was pumpkin silk, and the top was whipped cream. The pie was all held together in an Oreo crust. It was absolutely delicious. I wish I had taken a picture. Come to find out, everyone liked it so much by the time I was ready to take one, the whole pie was gone.

I have no doubt this is something we will be making again, so next time around I will make sure to take some pictures!

Here is the recipe for anyone that wants to try it out:

Ashtyn’s Pumpkin Cheese-Silk Pie

1 pkg. (8 oz) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 - 1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar (more or less to taste)
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 3/4 cups White Milk
1 tub (16 oz) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
1 Graham Cracker or Oreo Pie Crust (6 oz)
1 pkg. Jell-O Pumpkin Spice Pudding

Begin by beating softened cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gently stir in 1-1/2 cups of the whipped topping.

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Everyone in my house is big into pizza, so making pizza is always an easy choice if I just don’t have much time. As today is one of those days (I really shouldn’t even be writing this right now), I decided to go with pizza and salad. We have been knocking around the idea of wheat crust. I have yet to make any on my own. I usually make my crust and sauce from scratch and lately I have been grating cheese rather than buying it grated. It’s a personal preference thing as I have this deep dislike for fancy shredded cheese (the real thin grate they sell in the store).

Tonight, on the pizza menu we opted for brown sugar ham, peppered bacon, banana peppers and three cheeses. I wanted pepperoni but Dom was hip on the items listed so I let it go this time. Normally, I have to have pepperoni, but I really like this combination on pizza so I knew I could manage.

Pizza Recipe

1 Store Prepared Wheat Crust (Recommended: Boboli) – If you can make your own crust, by all means do it. I normally do, but was skimping on time tonight.
½ Cup Pizza Sauce (Again, if you have to buy it, choose the best brand, otherwise make it from scratch – I will be adding recipes for homemade sauce shortly)*
¼ Cup Feta Cheese
¼ Cup Monterey Jack
½ Cup Mozzarella
1/4 Cup Julienne Brown Sugar Ham
1/4 Cup Crumbled Cooked Peppered Bacon
¼ Cup Banana Peppers
Cracked Black Pepper to taste

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