Flavored Cream Cheese - Making Your Own

We are big whole wheat bagel fans around here, and the flavored cream cheese is a favorite, especially the strawberry kind. One of the issues I find, though, is that the stores don't sell non-fat strawberry cream cheese, and it is more expensive to buy the flavored kinds. I can make it for less, and I can custom the fat content according to what I want it to be!

Place non-fat cream cheese (1-2 blocks), 2-3 strawberries, and powdered sugar in a food processor. I would begin with only 1-2 tbsp. of powdered sugar, and add to taste. Some like it sweeter, some like it more on the tart side. Puree until smooth.

Place in a jar and use it for weeks!

Russet Potato Fries - Everyone's Favorite

I make Russet Potato Fries often, as they are one of my kids' favorites, and they go with many dishes. They are easy to make and so much healthier than the fried version! Make them for your family and watch them disappear....

Scrub potatoes clean with a brush.

Cut up 4 large potatoes (or more if you want), slicing into "fries"

Toss with 2-4 tbsp. olive oil

Sprinkle with kosher or sea salt & freshly ground pepper

Bake at 425 degrees until crisp on the ends and soft in the middle.

A delicious, family-friendly, salmon recipe -- get those Omega 3s!

Asian Honey Glazed Salmon

1/4 c. packed cilantro leaves

2 scallions

2 tsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. grated ginger

Kosher salt and pepper

4 salmon fillets, about 6 oz. each

2 tsp. fresh lime juice

2 tsp. soy sauce

2 tsp. honey

2 tsp. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. sesame seeds

Preheat the grill over medium high. Oil the grates. Finely chop the cilantro and scallion and mix in the oil and ginger. Season with salt and pepper.

Cut two 3-inch slits in the fillets, going about 1/2 way through the salmon. Evenly stuff the slits with the herb mixture. Season the fish with salt and pepper.

Stir together the lime juice, soy, brown sugar, and honey until smooth. Place the salmon on the grill until well marked, 3 min. Turn the salmon and continue to cook, brushing the tops with the sauce, another 3 min. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle the tops with sesame seeds. Serve with edamame and lime wedges.

Broiler Directions:

Position an oven rack so that a baking sheet set on the rack is about 4 inches below the heat source. Preheat the broiler. Place the filets on a foil lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Broil, basting 3-4 times with the sauce, about 7 min.

Champagne Chicken with Rosemary Tuscan Beans

This isn't your ordinary chik chik! Very flavorful and a great recipe to freeze for those that are doing the make-ahead thing!

Champagne Chicken

1 cup champagne

12 sprigs fresh thyme, minced

3 Tbsp. lime juice, fresh

4 cloves garlic

2 large sprigs rosemary, minced

2 boneless chicken breasts

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine champagne, thyme, lime juice, and rosemary in a bowl or ziplock bag. Add chicken breasts and refrigerate (season with salt and pepper before adding).

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove breasts from the marinade and place in a small roasting pan. Reserve marinade.

Roast chicken 20-30 min. basting occasionally with the marinade. Place chicken a platter and cover to keep warm. Pour pan juices and remaining marinade in a saucepan. Cook over med. heat until boiling and reduced. Spoon over chicken and garnish with rosemary.

With this recipe, I sometimes grill the breasts instead of roasting. Both are good!

Rosemary Tuscan Beans

2 cans white northern beans, rinsed.

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2-3 sprigs rosemary, chopped

olive oil

sea salt

Saute minced garlic in a tbsp. of olive oil. Add the chopped rosemary until fragrant. Add the beans and cook over medium heat until flavors are combined. Add a bit of kosher or sea salt.

Scones - not just for the Brits!

Looking for an easy, whip-it-up breakfast, brunch, or snack idea? Look no further than my FAVORITE dried cherry scones! They are simple to make and simply de-lish!!!!!

The scone process is easier than you think. Watch.....

Mix the dry ingredients together.

Cut in the butter. I do this with two knives, slicing back and forth.

Add the wet ingredients.

Stir in the dried fruit or nuts.

Shape into a ball on a floured surface, or on a Silpat.

Flatten the dough into a disc and cut into wedges.

Place the wedges on a cookie sheet.

Brush with egg whites, cinnamon-sugar, or whatever the recipe says to put on top.

Bake and Voila! Fresh and easy~

I even freeze half of them on a cookie sheet before baking

and save them in a ziplock for another day.

Here's the recipe!

Cherry Scones

• ¾ cup dried sweet cherries
• 1 cup boiling water
• 3 cups all purpose flour (I often substitute half whole wheat flour, but if you do this, add a bit more liquid.
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 egg, separated
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup half and half

Soak cherries in boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cream of tartar in a large bowl.

Cut in butter with a pastry blender or knife.

Combine egg yolk, sour cream, half and half, and almond extract.

Add to flour mixture and stir until soft dough forms.

Turn out dough onto a well-floured surface and knead gently 6-8 times.

Knead in cherries until evenly distributed.

Divide dough in half and shape into two balls.

Put each ball into a 6-inch circle.

Cut each into 6 wedges with a sharp knife.

Place scones on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Beat egg white until foamy.

Brush the top of the scones with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Serves 12

Death by Tiramisu

If you've been looking for a TO-DIE-FOR-HEAVEN-ON-A-PLATE dessert for Valentine's Day, you've come to the right place! Behold (drumroll please).......

TIRAMISU!!

There is an Italian chef in our town who I like to take cooking classes from whenever I can. He is simply fabulous and his restaurant is, in my opinion, hands down the best around. This version of tiramisu is my own adaptation of his original recipe. My husband actually goes down to Angelo's restaurant and picks up this lusciousness every year on my birthday (isn't that so sweet)? They expect him now-- same time same place -- I love it!

Death by Tiramisu

Coffee mixture

2 cups Strong coffee

1 1/2 tbsp. instant espresso powder

1/4 cup Brandy or Rum

¼ cup sugar

Stir coffee, espresso, and alcohol in a dish until espresso dissolves. Set aside.

Zablione Mixture

15 egg yolks

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup Marsala or Rum

1/4 tsp. table salt

Beat eggs at low speed until just combined. Place the mixture over a pot of boiling water, making sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water (you don't want to scramble the eggs). Whip the mixture until thickened. Do not let the mixture "sit" in the bowl over the steam. The eggs will cook if not stirred continuously. Cover with plastic and set aside to cool down in the fridge.

Whipped Cream Mascarpone Mixture

6 cups of whipping cream

4 tbsp. vanilla

1 1/2-2 lb. mascarpone cheese

Pour the cold cream into a bowl. Start beating the cream slowly. If the cream is whipped too quickly, it will deflate. After 1-2 min., increase the speed to medium high until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined. Turn down to low and add the mascarpone in increments.

When zablione mixture is cool, place whipped cream mixture in a big bowl and carefully add ¾ cup of the zablione at a time. Fold in from the outside gently.

Final Ingredients

2 Ladyfinger Packages

(buy the hard ones --do not buy the soft kind sometimes found in bakeries.

I like the kind that are sugar coated on one side).

chocolate chips or chocolate, chopped finely in a processor

cocoa powder

To Assemble:

In a shallow dish, dip the flat edge of the ladyfinger into the coffee mixture for 1 second, flipping quickly to coat the other side, and immediately remove and place in the bottom of a 9x13 dish. DO NOT SUBMERGE THE LADYFINGER. They will fall apart if they are dipped completely into the liquid, even if you do it quickly. Repeat until the bottom of the dish is covered. Spread 1/2 of the zablione cream mixture over the top. Top this layer with ground chocolate and cocoa powder; repeat the process again with the lady fingers going the opposite direction as the bottom layer, followed by the zablione, and topped with the chocolate and cocoa powder. Refrigerate and let set until the next day.

How to Roast Chicken for any Recipe

I try to protein-pack my family's diet, so I often add chicken to whatever I'm making. This is the easiest way I've found to roast chicken quickly and easily. It is also very moist and tasty. My kids love it just as it is right out of the oven!

Before I start making dinner, or earlier in the day, I place frozen chicken in a 8x13. Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees on the roasting feature if you have it. If not, just regular 425 will do!

I then drizzle the top of the chicken with olive oil.

I then sprinkle the chicken liberally with kosher salt (the only salt I use), and freshly ground pepper.Cover the chicken with foil and put it in the oven for 40-50 min.

Check the chicken to see if the middle is done and the juices run clear (not pink). Cool and slice or shred.