Soy-Braised Short Ribs

Last night I discovered the Netflix series:

and I can't wait to try this recipe, but also others in the book I ordered!

https://www.saltfatacidheat.com/salt/soy-braised-short-ribs/

Soy-Braised Short Ribs

Serves 6 to 8

5 pounds meaty short ribs on the bone, 2-3 inches thick

Salt

Neutral tasting oil, such as canola or grapeseed

¼ cup (60 grams) soy sauce

¼ cup (55 grams) dark brown sugar

¼ cup (58 grams) mirin (rice wine)

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger

4 garlic cloves, finely grated or pounded with a pinch of salt

¼ teaspoon cayenne

About 1 cup (228 grams) dashi

1⁄4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems

4 scallions, green and white parts slivered

Prep the ribs the day before you want to cook. Season the meat lightly with salt and let it sit for 30 minutes. Keep in mind that the marinade consists mostly of soy sauce, which is salty, so use only about half as much salt as you otherwise would.

In the meantime, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and cayenne. Place the meat in a resealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Seal the bag and squish the marinade around so all the meat is evenly coated. Refrigerate overnight.

A few hours before you want to cook the ribs, pull them out of the fridge to come up to room temperature. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 400°F.

Set a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat to preheat. When pan is hot, drop the temperature to medium-low, add just enough oil to coat the bottom. Working in batches so as not to crowd pan, brown a few short ribs at a time on all three meaty sides, adding more oil if necessary before each batch. Reduce heat as necessary to achieve browning gradually; it may take 4 to 5 minutes per side for well-browned ribs.

Transfer the ribs, bone-side down, to a large Dutch oven or a large, deep ceramic or pyrex roasting dish, then pour the marinade over the meat.  It’s fine if the ribs are snug, but they should all fit in a single layer. Add enough dashi to go about ¾-inch up the sides of the ribs, then cover with lid or parchment and aluminum foil. Slide into the oven and cook until the liquid simmers, about 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 325°F and cook until meat is very tender and falling off the bone, 3 to 4 hours more.

Uncover pot or dish and crank oven to 450°F. Brush ribs with the braising juices and cook for about until shiny and brown, about 8 to 12 minutes.

Serve warm, garnished with cilantro and slivered scallions.

Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

This is a great dip to make for a party. It was gobbled up! I can’t wait to make it again, made it for one of my friend's outdoor concerts. The recipe is found on the back of a packet of Knorr vegetable recipe mix I purchased at Shaw’s.

4 cups | Prep time: 10min | Cook time: 35 minutes

1 box (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 package vegetable recipe mix
1 1/2 shredded Monterey Jack, cheddar or Swiss cheese, divided
1 jar marinated artichokes (Trader Joe’s), chopped
1 can (8oz) water chestnuts, drained and chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Combine spinach, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Knorr vegetable recipe mix, 1 cup cheese, artichokes, water chestnuts and garlic.

Spoon into a 2-quart casserole, then top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. I added shredded Parmesan. Bake for 35 minutes or until dip is hot.
*oven at 350. I think a mini crock pot would also work well here.
Serve with pita chips or tortilla chips. Or even crackers!

Smoked Fish and Potato Soup with Chorizo

NY Times, 12/9/15 by David Tanis

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
• Salt and pepper
• 6 ounces chorizo, diced
• 1 pound yellow-fleshed potatoes, peeled and cut in 1-inch cubes
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 cups chicken broth or water
• 2 medium leeks, white and tender green parts, diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 pound smoked sablefish or smoked mackerel, in 1-inch chunks (any kind of smoked fish can be used: whitefish, sturgeon, haddock, even eel or smoked mussels)
• 8 ounces piquillo peppers from a jar, cut in 1/2-inch strips (Spanish)            
• 1 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
• Lime wedges, for serving

(6 servings)

                   

Preparation

1. Put olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
2. Add chorizo and potatoes and stir to coat, then cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Add bay leaf and broth and bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. When potatoes are nearly tender, about 10 minutes, add leeks and cook for 5 minutes more. Taste broth and add salt as necessary.
3. Add smoked sable and piquillo peppers and simmer for 10 minutes, then turn off heat to let flavors mingle.
4. Reheat soup to serve, adding chopped cilantro at the last minute. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing into bowls at the table.

Tip

• Since the soup is made from smoked fish, it will keep refrigerated, and actually improves in flavor upon reheating.

Baked Pita Chips

For some reason I hesitate to make these but when I do, they are so good, far better than store-bought chips! Tonight I added cheese to them in the last couple of minutes. 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Cut each pita bread into bite size pieces. Place on foil lined cookie sheet.
3. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, pepper, salt, and minced up garlic: 2-3 cloves. 
4. Generously brush onto both sides. 
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 7 minutes, or until lightly browned and crispy.

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad

Photo by James Ransom 

Serves 2 to 3

The dressing

• 3tablespoons fish sauce
• 3tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 to 3tablespoons light brown sugar
• 6 to 8tablespoons water, to taste
• 1 medium clove garlic, minced
• 1 fresh Thai (also sold as "bird's eye") chile, minced

The salad

• 8ounces thin rice noodles (roughly the width of linguine)
• 3 or 4 napa cabbage leaves, thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 medium carrot, shredded or cut into matchsticks
• 1/2 cucumber, halved, seeded, and thinly sliced
• 1handful chopped fresh herbs, preferably a combination of basil, cilantro, and mint
• 8ounces cooked meat or shrimp, cut or torn into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1. To prepare the dressing, combine the fish sauce, lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, 6 tablespoons of the water, the garlic, and the chile. Whisk well. Taste: if it's too pungent, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. If you'd like more sweetness, add more brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon at a time. Remember that you're going to be putting this dressing on unsalted vegetables and noodles: you want the dressing to have a lot of flavor, but it shouldn't knock you over. Pour into a serving bowl. (Covered and chilled, the dressing will keep for 3 days to a week.)
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the rice noodles, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender but not mushy. Immediately drain the noodles into a colander, and rinse them well with cold water. Lay out a clean kitchen towel on the countertop, shake the colander to drain away excess water, and then spread the cooked noodles on the towel to drain further.
3. Divide the noodles between two or three good-sized bowls, depending on the number of diners, and top with the vegetables, herbs, and meat. Scatter the peanuts on top. Allow each person to spoon on dressing to taste. Toss well, and eat. (Alternatively, you can present this salad family-style: Toss the vegetables, herbs, and noodles in a mixing bowl and then mound them on a serving platter. Arrange the meat over the noodles, and top with peanuts. Each diner can scoop their own portion from the platter and dress it as they see fit.)

Creamy Mussel Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds mussels
• 2 shallots, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2 small white onions, peeled and quartered
• 2 sprigs parsley, plus chopped parsley for garnish
•  Kosher salt
•  Pepper, to taste
•  Pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 cup dry white wine, like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter,cubed
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

• 
  

PREPARATION

1. Scrub mussels well to remove dirt and, if necessary, remove beards.
2. Place mussels in large saucepan or Dutch oven and add shallots, onions, parsley, salt, pepper, cayenne, wine, butter, bay leaf and thyme. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until mussels have opened. Discard any that have not opened.
3. Strain liquid through a colander lined with cheesecloth and reserve; this is the base for the soup.
4. When cool enough to handle, remove mussels from shells and reserve. Discard shells and aromatics.
5. Bring reserved liquid to a low boil in a small saucepan. Add cream and return mixture almost to a boil, then remove from heat. Let cool slightly then add egg yolk and stir to combine. Return saucepan to heat and let thicken slightly. (Do not boil.)
6. Taste and adjust seasoning. To serve, arrange mussels in center of large soup dishes and spoon liquid over them. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Bacon, Chicken and Avocado Salad

Servings: Approx. 4
Ingredients:

• 1/4 pound bacon, or 4-5 slices, cut into 1/2 inch bits
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped into 2 inch pieces, seasoned with salt and pepper
• 1 avocado – peeled, pitted and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped walnut
• 1 apple – cut into 1 inch chunks (optional)

Instructions:
In a pan over medium heat, cook the bacon “bits” until crisp.





Remove and set aside, but save the bacon grease in the pan. Next, add the chopped and seasoned chicken thighs to the pan and sauté in the bacon grease. Cook the chicken and turn so that every side is browned.


Allow it to simmer over low heat while you prepare the rest of the salad.
Toss the chopped romaine, avocado, chicken and bacon together. Top with red onion, walnuts and apple. Dress with your favorite vinaigrette, or use Lauren’s:
Balsamic Apple Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoon apple cider
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• pinch salt
• pinch black pepper
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Mix all ingredients except olive oil (using a whisk, food processor, or blender). Slowly add in olive oil drop by drop to make an emulsion (like you would when making mayo) until it is all incorporated.

Smoky Pork Burgers with Fennel and Red Cabbage Slaw

Serves 4 burgers, plus 2 cups of slaw 

• 1 pound ground pork sirloin
• 1 cup finely chopped bacon, from about 2-3 rashers
• 1/2 cup finely diced onion
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fennel seed
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
• 2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
• 4 soft burger rolls or sandwich buns
• Optional: 4 slices of cheese, manchego suggested

1. Gently toast the fennel seeds in a small dry skillet until aromatic, remove them from the pan and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion, garlic, fennel seeds, salt and smoked paprika, stirring to combine.
3. Add the pork and bacon, tossing gently until the seasonings are well incorporated, but taking care not to overwork the meat.
4. Divide the seasoned pork into four portions and shape into patties.
5. Place the patties onto a plate or platter and chill for at least one hour.
6. Light a grill and cook the burgers: 6 minutes over the hot side of the grill, rotating them after the first 3 minutes, then flipping them and cooking them for another 3 minutes on the hot side before moving them to the cool side of the grill for the final 3 minutes.
7. Remove the burgers from the grill and allow them to rest briefly, tented with foil, before serving.
8. Place the burgers on toasted or lightly grilled buns and top each one with a little of the fennel and cabbage slaw.

Fennel and Red Cabbage Slaw:

• 2 tablespoons Sherry vinegar
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup shredded fennel bulb
• 1 cup shredded red cabbage
• 1 tablespoon chopped fennel fronds

1. Combine the vinegars, dijon and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk until the salt is dissolved.
2. Add the oil and whisk until the dressing is emulsified.
3. Place the shredded fennel and cabbage in the bowl on top of the dressing, and toss to combine.
4. Add the fennel fronds and toss again just before serving.

Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp with Bola Topping

Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine:
3/4c brown sugar
3/4c white sugar
1/2c flour
Pinch of coarse salt
1 t. cinnamon
½ t. fresh grated nutmeg
Peel and slice 4# tart apples into 8 pieces.
Toss with the mixed dry ingredients and sprinkle in
¼ t almond flavor
½ t grated lemon rind

Combine in a food processor:
1 c. flour
2/3 c sugar
1 t cinnamon
Pulse in:
1 c butter
Then pulse in:
2 c BOLA granola

Place apple mixture in a buttered casserole 14 by 9 and cover with topping. Bake for an hour or until a knife pierces the apples easily. Cool and serve with vanilla ice cream or whatever strikes your fancy.

Apple Cranberry and Brussels Sprout Salad

(Alton Brown on fb)
Apple Cranberry and Brussels Sprout Salad

Slice one pound of Brussels sprouts using the thinnest slicing disc of a food processor (you can also slice thinly with a knife or a mandoline).



...Heat a large sauté pan over medium high. Toast 3 ounces coarsely chopped pecans, stirring continually, until they darken in color and begin to give off a toasted aroma, about 2 minutes. Add 3 tablespoon unsalted butter to the pan and stir to combine. Once the butter has melted, add the Brussels sprouts, season with kosher salt and pepper and cook, stirring continually, until the color brightens and the sprouts are just tender, approximately 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, add 4 ounces cranberries, toss and cool slightly while preparing the apples.



Chop 2 large Fuji apples into fine matchsticks using either a knife or the julienne blade on a mandoline. Toss the apples with 2 tablespoons apple cider and a teaspoon of nutmeg. Add the apple mixture to the Brussels sprouts, toss to combine well and serve

Chocolate Ganache Tart with Coconut Macaroon Crust

Chocolate Ganache Tart with Coconut Macaroon Crust

For the crust:

1 ½ cups shredded unsweetened coconut

¼ cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

For the ganache:

6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped

4 oz unsalted butter

8 oz heavy cream

½ tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350° F

Combine all crust ingredients in a large bowl, tossing with a fork until incorporated. Press firmly into a 9” fluted tart pan. Place on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 15-18 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, unmold crust onto a wire rack.

Place chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream just barely to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate and butter. Add vanilla and salt and let stand for 5 minutes.  Whisk or stir with a spatula until chocolate and butter have completely melted and mixture is smooth.

Pour ganache into the cooled tart shell and let it set, either overnight at room temperature or for 2 hours in the fridge. Slice into wedges and serve.

Spinach-Artichoke Chicken

Adapted from a recent Home Chef recipe that was a total hit for Andrew! I’m changing a few things that I believe will make it better. Also I rediscovered how good roasted broccoli is and that I can get great results in the oven (I am in the habit of grilling it along with steak). The Home Chef kit included radishes to roast which I felt was odd only because I’m only familiar with eating them raw. They were ok but I’m not a big radish lover anyhow so skip them! Maybe toss in some carrots for starch and do away with my rice suggestion. Be creative!

For two:

Preheat the oven to 400.

Cut up a head of broccoli into bite size pieces, rough chop 2 or more cloves of garlic, toss with olive oil, salt & pepper, maybe other spice you’d like and bake for 20 min. When it comes out it is so good you’ll be snacking on it right away while finishing the rest. Cue: let hungry kid also start here. 

2 nice chicken breasts (on the smaller side, some can be huge plus you are putting topping on)

Cook them per your usual method in an oven proof skillet but don’t cook thoroughly through since they go in the oven to finish with the topping. Think hot, quick brown on both sides then top with cheese mixture.

2 oz or small bag of baby spinach (you could use frozen, thawed, squeezed dry)

Cook the spinach in a splash of olive oil, salt & pepper, to wilt. Combine with:

1 oz softened cream cheese (if from a bar you can measure it) light is optional, you won’t notice 

2 oz shredded mozzarella or I would try feta! 

2 oz artichoke hearts, marinated optional, chopped 

Put mix on chicken and bake until nice and melted. Careful not to overcook the chicken. 

Optionally have a small amount of brown rice on the side. I discovered recently that it’s so easy to make and freeze. Or make it and refrigerate a few days. Use quality rice that takes a long time to cook and you will be so happy to pull it from the freezer, microwave and viola! 

Tender and Tasty Pie Pastry / Blueberry Pie

I originally printed this after seeing Tyler Florence make it on a Food TV show back in November 2002. I made the pie the following summer using blueberries and actually brought it all the way to Long Beach Island, NJ for a beach vacation with my sister. It was memorable and delicious! 

I noted on the recipe “crust is very buttery -ooze factor- oozed over sides and sugar burned -careful- but TASTY!!!”

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, bleached

3/4 cup cake flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tb sugar 

2 sticks (1/2lb) butter, cubed and chilled 

3 Tb vegetable shortening or vegetable oil

1/4 cup sour cream

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 egg yolk, beaten slightly 

Combine dry ingredients in a chilled large stainless steel bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives and incorporate the fat thoroughly into the flour to resemble coarse meal. Add shortening, sour cream and lemon juice, mix well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. I’m thinking you could more easily do this in a food processor, pulsing minimally. 

Grease and flour a 9-inch pie pan. Remove dough from refrigerator, divide mixture into 2 disks. Keep 1 disk in the refrigerator until ready for top crust. Roll dough out on a floured surface between waxed paper. Carefully transfer the bottom crust to the pie pan and trim the overhanging excess. Chill for 15 minutes to help set the dough in the pan. Brush the bottom with egg yolk to seal. Fill with your favorite fruit filling. (I chose blueberry.) Roll out remaining disk as you did for the bottom crust. Cover the pie with remaining dough (I cut into strips and made a lattice.) Seal and crimp the edge. Cut vents in the top crust. 

Place pie on preheated baking sheet in bottom half of preheated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. 

Reduce oven to 350 degrees and continue to bake until juices bubble and crust is deep golden brown, 30 minutes longer.

Cool thoroughly on a rack, at least 4 hours.

I’m not sure this was the filling I used, nonetheless it looks good. 

Blueberry Filling 

6 cups (30 oz) fresh blueberries or frozen 

1 granny smith apple peeled and grated on large holes of box grater

2 tsp grated zest and 2 tsp lemon juice

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tb instant tapioca, ground to a powder. If using tapioca pearls, measure 5 tsp. before grinding.  

Pinch salt

2 Tb unsalted butter, cut into 1/4” pieces

Place 3 cups berries in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Using a potato masher, mash berries several times to reduce juices. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and mashing occasionally, until about half of berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly. 

If berries are frozen, cook half over medium high heat without mashing, until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, 12-15 minutes.

Place grated apple in cheesecloth or towel to wring dry. Transfer to a large bowl, add cooked berries, remaining uncooked berries, lemon zest, juice, sugar, tapioca and salt; toss to combine. 

Transfer mixture to dough-lined pie plate and scatter butter pieces over filling. 

Jamaican Jerk Pork Tenderloin

This is a delicious, fiery marinade. Now that the weather is warming up, time to fire up the grill! I originally made this in November of 2004: almost 14 years ago! I’m going through some recipe binders now and pulling out some old favorites.

Process in a blender or food processor until smooth:

2 cups coarsely chopped green onions
1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion
2 Tb white vinegar
1 Tb soy sauce
1 Tb vegetable oil
pinch of kosher salt
2 tsp fresh thyme
2 tsp brown sugar
2 tsp peeled chopped ginger
1 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp cinnamon
2 minced garlic cloves
1-4 scotch bonnet or habanero peppers, seeded and chopped

1 1/2lb pork tenderloin, trimmed
Slice pork lengthwise, cutting to but not through the other side. Open flat and marinate in a dish or bag refrigerated 3-24 hours. Discard remaining marinade, grill 8 minutes on each side or until meat thermometer reaches 160 (slightly pink).

Try serving with Trader Joe’s chimichurri rice.

Cilantro Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce and Cucumber Slaw

I made these to have with other apps/for lunch with family in Maine. 
These are fresh and yummy but messy like eating a taco. A "deconstructed" version was served to dad. 

Ingredients: 
3/4 cup sushi rice 

small bunch of cilantro
1/2 english cucumber 
1 shallot 
1 Thai chili
1 head Boston lettuce 

Buy a premade slaw mix?
1/4 cup shredded green cabbage
1/4 cup shredded red cabbage

1 TB fish sauce 
12 oz ground chicken
3 TB rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium) 
canola oil 
salt & pepper
small covered pot to cook rice 
nonstick skillet to cook chicken patties
small bowl to make peanut sauce
medium bowl to make slaw 
serving platter or plates

Cook the rice: bring 1 1/4 cups water and 1/4 tsp salt to a boil, add rice, bring to a boil, stir once and lower heat to low, covered, 12 minutes. Leave covered another 10 minutes, off the heat. Fluff rice with a fork then cover again to keep warm. 

Cilantro: separate leaves from stems and chop both. 

Cucumber: quarter lengthwise then thinly slice crosswise. 

Shallot: peel and mince, divide in two. 

Thai chili: thinly slice and chop, removing seeds, divide in two.  

Separate the Boston lettuce and place large leaves on serving platter. 

Mix and form patties: 

In a medium bowl, combine fish sauce, cilantro stems, half of shallot, half of Thai chili, 1/2 tsp salt, and dash of pepper. Add chicken, mix and form into small patties. This part is messy so I found it good to put them right in the pan greased with Tb oil to cook right away. Brown on both sides, 6-8 minutes total. 

Mix the slaw: remaining shallot, Thai chili, half of rice wine vinegar, 1 Tb canola oil, and 1/4 tsp salt to combine. Add cabages. 

Make sauce: in a small bowl or cup, mix peanut butter, soy sauce and remaining rice wine vinegar to combine. 

Finish rice: Wet hands and scoop up rice, forming into patties and place on lettuce leaves. The rice is very sticky so you will need to rinse your hands often (do this next to the sink). 

Plate lettuce wraps: 

Layer lettuce wraps with sticky rice, chicken patties, drizzle over peanut sauce. Top with desired amount of slaw, a little more peanut sauce and garnish with cilantro leaves. 

 

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Bake 2 sweet potatoes at 425 for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile in a small saucepan bring to a boil
2 Tb butter
2 Tb maple syrup
1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
Optionally add 1/2 tsp orange zest.
When the potatoes are done, carefully peel them while hot and put them through a potato ricer into the syrup, stir, salt & lightly pepper. They’re delicious!

Taster approved with roast chicken dinner. Roast the bird while you bake the potatoes!

Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberries

These are a pop-in-your-mouth incredible treat!

Start with the best strawberries you can find. I actually started out with a 2lb container that I bought because they smelled so fragrant and looked so good, I later found a recipe for strawberries.
Never before have I dipped them in chocolate and it was so easy! I used Ghiradelli milk chocolate, the small bowl over a small simmering pot method.

First, wash the strawberries so they can dry on paper towels and make the cheesecake filling:

8 oz softened cream cheese
1 Tb sour cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

I mixed with the whisk attachment in the stand mixer. Put filling into a piping bag fitted with a fancy tip or in a zip baggy you can snip the corner off.
Hollow out strawberries and squeeze filling into them, covering your cut edges.

Sprinkle crushed graham crackers over. Try to just get the cream cheese part. Do this over wax paper or the sink for easy cleanup. During this process you’ll find working near the sink handy or a wet towel because your hands will need to be rinsed every so often.
Next, pop a blueberry in the top for a little extra flavor boost. I microwaved a scoop of seedless black raspberry jam for 30 seconds (becomes liquid) and mixed the berries into that.

Finally, have a sheet ready, lined with wax paper, that will fit into the fridge for chilling.

Dip the strawberries in chocolate. This part is tedious, I tried a few different ways and truly the best was to just dunk them in. A small spatula helps take off excess.

Chill in the fridge for an hour to set before party time!

Lemon Bread

Dense and delicious, the perfect bread to have with tea! Very lemony. Don’t go overboard on the glazed topping, a light drizzle is all you need. 

In a medium bowl combine: 

1 1/2 cup flour

1 3.4oz package vanilla instant pudding 

1/2 tsp each baking powder, baking soda and salt

In a mixer, blend: 

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 Tb softened butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp lemon extract

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup oil

3/4 cup Greek yogurt (plain, vanilla or lemon)

Zest of one lemon

Once blended, gradually add the dry ingredients. Pour into a 5x9 loaf pan lined with parchment (it will stick to the sides whatever you use) or 3 smaller pans.

Bake at 350 for 55 minutes. 

Let cool slightly then frost:

Mix 3 Tbs soft butter

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tb lemon juice

1 tsp lemon extract 

Refrigerate to set frosting and enjoy!

Apple Pie Bars

These are, dare I say, better than apple pie! Very simple to make and easy to eat. All you need is:

400 degree oven, 9x13 dish (I lined mine with foil for easy cleanup)

Roll out pie dough using flour so it doesn’t stick and line the pan. I cut off the sides and added to the ends to go from circle to rectangle. Crimp the sides. Basically this shell will bake as is.
For filling:
3 large apples, peeled and chopped. Put these in a large bowl and toss with 1/2 squeezed lemon (optional). Add 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour and apple pie spice. I just used a large dash of cinnamon, some ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Pour over crust and top with 2 tablespoons of bits of butter. Bake for 40 minutes until nice and brown, checking after 30 to make sure it’s not burning.

Taster approved!