Pumpkin Jello Shots

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray

12 maraschino cherries

Rolled fondant, optional

Six 3-ounce boxes orange flavored gelatin

1 1/2 cups vodka, optional

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

Lightly spray a 12 shot glasses. Place a cherry in the center of each glass.

Add the gelatin to a bowl. Whisk in 2 cups boiling water and mix until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Add the vodka, (if you do not want to use vodka then substitute with 1 1/2 cups cool water) brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice to the gelatin mixture and whisk until well to incorporate. Pour into the prepared muffin tins, candy mold and sheet tray and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

Gelatin shots can be stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve. They can be made up to a week in advance and stored in a sealed container or cover with plastic wrap.

 Recipe By The Gourmet Mom

Lisa Montalva

Halloween Spider Web Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 package cupcake or cake mix

1 container Ready-made Vanilla Frosting

1 tube black or dark brown cake decorating gel

Directions:

Make cupcakes according to instructions on package. Use vanilla frosting and frost cupcakes. Decorate cupcakes with decorating gel to make spiders, webs, etc.

Makes 24 cupcakes.

 Recipe By The Gourmet Mom

Lisa Montalva

Fall Lamb And Vegetable Stew

Ingredients:

2 pounds Lamb stew meat

2 Tomatoes

1 Summer squash

1 Zucchini

1 Potatoes

1 can Mushrooms, sliced

12 cup Bell peppers, chopped

1 cup Onions, chopped

2 teaspoons Salt

1 each Garlic cloves, crushed

12 teaspoon Thyme leaves

1 each Bay leaves

2 cups Stock, chicken

2 tablespoons Butter

2 tablespoons Flour

Directions:

Peel, seed, and chop tomatoes. Slice summer squash and zucchini. Dice potatoes. Place lamb and vegetables in crock-pot. Mix salt, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf into stock; pour over lamb and vegetables. Cover and cook on low 8 hours. (Don't peek. Lifting the lid prolongs cooking time.) Turn to high. Blend flour and butter, then shape into small balls. Drop into stew and cook, stirring several times, until thickened. Serve over hot noodles or rice.

   Recipe By The Gourmet Mom

Lisa Montalva

Easy Orange Cupcakes

Ingredients:

A box of white cake mix (follow instructions on box)

Orange food coloring

White packaged frosting

Directions:

      Prepare mix as indicated on box. Add 2-4 drops off orange food coloring to batter. Pour into cupcake tin and bake as indicated on box. Empty white frosting into bowl and add 1-2 drops of food coloring, blend well. Spread frosting evenly.Place a few pieces of candy corn on each cupcake.

 Recipe By The Gourmet Mom

Lisa Montalva

Halloween Pasta: Black Pasta with Orange Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

Orange food coloring

½ cup of butter

8 oz. of cream cheese (block)

1 cup of half and half
1/2 lb cooked shrimp

1 tablespoon of garlic powder

Pinch of black pepper

½ cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Bring pot of water to boil for pasta. Melt butter in sauce pan. Add in cream cheese. Once blended add in parmesan cheese, half and half, garlic powder and black pepper. Add in 1-3 drops of orange food coloring. Heat until thickened. Add in shrimp, heat for 3 minutes. Once pasta is cooked, pour mixture over pasta and serve.

 Recipe By The Gourmet Mom

Lisa Montalva

Caffe Amici, Selden, NY 11784

 The Gourmet Mom Food Review:Caffe Amici, Selden, NY

I wanted to let you in on one of my favorite Italian restaurants on Long Island, Caffe Amici. The food is fantastic whether it be sit down or take out. Its not often that I rave about anyone's sauce, but the Chef there is just phenomenal as well as the serving staff. The only time I ever had a problem was with a grouchy hostess, but the waiters and waitresses are very accommodating and sweet. There are 3 things that I alternate when I go there and they are Gnocchi Bolognese, Pollo Mona Lisa and the Penne Alla Vodka. All so delicious that I wish I could go there right now. Their portions are so big that I always have leftovers for lunch the next day! Your dinner comes with a salad; which I have to say is always so cold and fresh as well as their salad dressings. My daughters favorite part of the meal are the garlic knots. They are a meal in themselves. Oh and wait the olives they serve with parmesan cheese....oh so yummy. I have also had their pizza many, many times and just outrageous. So I highly recommend that you go here and have a great meal by yourself, your date or with your family. Its extremely affordable. Its very versatile to fill your table needs. Their website is below.

They are located in Selden on Middle Country Road in the Home Depot shopping center. 

Happy eating!

APPLE PIE ENGLISH MUFFINS

Ingredients:

English muffins

Melted margarine

Apple, peeled and thinly sliced

Brown sugar

Apple pie spice

American cheese slices

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Split muffins. Brush each muffin with melted margarine. Top each half with about

6 slices of apple. Brush with butter and sprinkle 3 teaspoons brown sugar and dash of apple pie spice on each muffin slice. Bake for 15 minutes. Put cheese slice on for the last 3 minutes of baking.

 Recipe By The Gourmet Mom

Lisa Montalva