Almond Cream Pie

Almonds. Yummy.  Enough said.  

Almond Cream Pie

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 Baked 8-inch Pie Shell

1/2 Cup Sugar

3 Tablespoons Cornstarch

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Milk

3 Egg Yolks, Beaten

1 Tablespoon Butter (Room Temp)

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 and 1/2 Tablespoons Almond Extract

3/4 Cup Toasted Sliced Almonds

Whip Cream (for serving)

Step 1:  in a heavy saucepan, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and salt.  Stir together until blended.

Step 2:  In a bowl, combine the egg yolks and milk.  Stir together until blended.

Step 3:  Gradually pour the egg/milk mixture into the pan with the dry ingredients.  Stirring well to combine.

Step 4:  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Bring to a boil and let boil for 1 minute - all the while stirring!

Step 5:  Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla and almond extract.  Stir until the butter is melted and all is combined.

Step 6:  Pour into pie shell and decorate/sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds.

Step 7:  Cover tightly with saran wrap and let chill in fridge for 2 hours before serving.  Serve with whipped cream.

Jo-Jo Potatoes

This is my all-time most favorite ways to have potatoes.  No fooling.  I absolutely love, love, love these. These delicious potatoes have many monikers:  jo-jos, oven fries, baked rounds etc etc.  Personally, I call them delicious :)  They are my favorite way to eat potatoes and despite a few steps for prep, they are pretty easy to make.  They are tender yet a little crispy and flavorful, but not overpowering.  Serve these instead of your standard french fries or tator tots.  Your loved ones will eat them right up and beg for more!

Jo-Jo Potatoes

Serves 2-3

Prep + Bake Time = 1 Hour

Ingredients:

1 lb Potatoes

1/2 Cup Flour

1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese

1 TB Seasoned Salt

Oil of Choice (olive, canola or vegetable)

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet by greasing it with cooking oil or spray.

Step 2:  Gather your potatoes, about 3 or 4 and wash them - roughly a pound.  Be sure to remove any of those ugly eyes!

Step 3:  Then, slice them into 1/4-inch rounds.  Mmmmmmmmmm starchy.

Step 4:  Grab and empty bread bag or paper bag.  Pour the flour, seasoned salt and Parmesan cheese into the bag.  Close the top and give it a good couple shakes to combine.  You can change up the seasoning to what you like . . .if you love garlic, add garlic!  Love paprika?  Add paprika!

Step 5:  You will now begin to coat the potatoes!  Place a 3 or 4 slices of potato into the bag and then give it a few shakes.

Retrieve with tongs and place on a greased baking sheet.

Repeat until all the potatoes are coated and laying in a single layer on the baking sheet.  Discard any leftover flour mixture.

Step 6:  Drizzle some cooking oil over the potatoes.  They don't need to be coated, but just a drizzle is good.

Step 7:  Place in oven to bake.  After 25 minutes, pull them out and flip the slices.  Aren't they looking yummy??  I really love, love, love those ones that turn a little more brown than the others.  Like that one in the upper left corner.  Yeah . . .you see the one.  That one. MINE!!!

Step 8:  Return to the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until tender. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Pesto Bread

I came across this recipe and I was instantly captivated by it.  I just knew I had to make it.  So I did.  And it did not disappoint me.  The entire loaf was gone within 2 days at our house.  And let me tell you . . .I am not a bread baker.  So, please do not be scared to make this incredible bread.  I made a few tweeks to the original version to fit my family.  I used a jarred pesto instead of making my own as well I used regular white flour.  I'm telling you:  A.MAZ.ING!  My family has already asked me to make again :)

Pesto Bread
Ingredients:

1 and 1/4 Cup Warm Water
1 Packet of Yeast
1 Teaspoon Sugar
2 and 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
1/2 Cup - 2/3 Cup Pesto

Step 1:  Place yeast and sugar in bowl and add the very warm water.  Stir to combine and then walk away and let the yeast/sugar dissolve into the water.  After about 15 to minutes, your yeast should be bubbly and ready to go for the next step.

Step 2:  Fit your large stand mixer with the dough hook.  Add the flour and salt to the bowl of the mixer. With mixer running on low, slowly add the yeast mixture. Increase the speed to medium high and mix until the dough comes together into a nice ball of dough. It shouldn't be too sticky or super dry either.

Step 3:  Prep a large bowl by lightly greasing it.  Take the dough from the mixer and shape it into a nice smooth ball.  Place into the greased bowl.  Cover it and allow it to rise until doubled (about an hour).  It helps if you can put the bowl in a nice warm spot without drafts.

Step 4:  Next, we are going to roll out the dough.  I like to use wax paper when I roll out anything.  You don't have to, but it makes this task a little easier and cleanup a little easier too.   Regardless, sprinkle a little flour onto a clean surface and place the dough on top.  Roll out the dough with a rolling pin into approximately a 10x20 inch rectangle.

Step 5:  Starting with a 1/2 cup of pesto, spread it out on the dough - but stay about 1/2 inch away from the edges.  If it doesn't seem like enough pesto, add a little more.

Step 6.  Time to roll-up the dough!  Starting at one of the shorter sides, tightly roll up dough and be sure to pinch the edges as you go so that pesto stays in the middle.

Step 7:  Lightly grease a bread loaf pan.  Now, if you want a pesto-swirl bread, you can skip this twisting  part of this step.  However, if you want more of a braided loaf, use a sharp knife and very carefully slice through the dough lengthwise.

You will now have two pieces.

  Twist the two pieces together and place into your bread pan.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Lightly cover and let rest/rise for about 30 minutes.

Step 8:  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 9:  Now that bread has rested for 30 minutes, bake it for about 40 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 190°F and it is slightly golden brown on the top.

Step 10:  Let cool and remove from pan.  Enjoy!

Be sure to store any leftovers in a tightly sealed container.

Troubleshooting dough tips: If dough is too sticky, add a spoonful more flour until ball forms. If dough is too dry, add a spoonful of olive oil at a time until a ball forms.

Coconut Topped Brownies

Here is an easy recipe that is reminiscent of a Mounds bar + brownie.  If you love coconut and you love brownies . .. this is for you.  Besides the flavor, I love the stark contrast of the colors.  Please excuse me while I go stuff my face with another one of these.

Coconut Topped Brownies

Ingredients:

1 Box Brownie Mix + Ingredients to Bake

2 Cups Coconut

2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup

Step1:  Prepare brownies as directed on the box.  In order to support the coconut later, you may want to go for either the smaller pan option or the 'cakey' version of the brownie.  I baked mine in a bar pan, which is approximately 11x7 inches.  Bake according to package instructions.

Step 2:  Allow the brownies to cool completely.  Meanwhile, in a medium bowl - add your coconut.  Then, add the corn syrup.  Stir together until the syrup is incorporated with the coconut thoroughly.  Please note, this will be very sticky!

Step 3:  Once the brownies are cool, spread out the coconut on top of the brownies.  This will be very sticky . . .be gentle.  You likely won't get a 'smooth' spread on top.  Be careful not to tear the brownies!  Just gently dab the coconut to spread it out.

For storing, please be sure to cover tightly otherwise the coconut will dry out and become hard.

Enjoy!

Please Note:  If you are making a 9x13 pan of brownies, you may want to double the coconut/corn syrup topping part of the recipe.

Marinated Vegetable Salad

Need a new salad to go with your dinner?  Tired of the same ol', same ol' green salad?  I certainly was . . which is why I came up with delicious creation.  The crisp/tender vegetables marry perfectly with a homemade vinaigrette dressing.  I'm sure you could swap out some of the vegetables for whatever you have in your fridge or garden.  Asparagus was on special at the store this week and it was beautiful . .nice and thin stalks that were very tender.  Yum!  Serve the salad alongside your favorite hunk of grilled meat for an easy summer supper.

Marinated Vegetable Salad

Serves 4-6

Salad Ingredients:

1 LB Asparagus, trimmed

1 Carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks

1/2 Cup Sugar Snap Peas or Peapods

1/2 Cup Mushrooms, sliced

1 Cup Fresh Broccoli Florets

Vinaigrette Dressing Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

1/4 Cup + 2 TB Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon Chopped Garlic

1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1 Teaspoon Sugar

Step 1:  Blanche the veggies. Haven't done this before?  It's pretty easy - bring a pot of water to boiling, add the veggies and boil for about 3 minutes . . until desired tenderness.  Why blanche?  This partially cooks the vegetables so that they are somewhat crisp yet tender . . .but not fully cooked.  And, they retain their color.  For a great tutorial - check out this site.

Step 2:  Once your vegetables are blanched and well drained, place them in a large bowl.  It's now time to prepare dressing.

Step 3:  In a small bowl, add all ingredients for the dressing.  Whisk together until well combined.  Let stand for 15 minutes or so to let the dried seasonings rehydrate.  

Step 4:  Pour the dressing over the vegetables and using tongs, gently toss the vegetables to coat them with the dressing.  Cover and chill for a minimum of two hours to combine all the flavors.    

No-Bake Coconut Quickie

No-Bake Quickie - what's that you ask?  Well, it's a quick dessert that doesn't require baking!  It's layers of cookies, pudding, coconut and whipped topping.  What's not love?

No-Bake Coconut Quickie

Serves 9

Ingredients:

1/2 Bag of Tea Cookies/Biscuits (or a couple sleeves of graham crackers)

1 Box of Coconut Cream Instant Pudding 

3/4 Cup Milk

1 Cup Shredded Coconut (optional)

8 oz Whipped Topping (small tub)

Step 1:  Prepare the pudding by pouring the powder in a bowl and adding the milk.  Whisk for 2 minutes. Set aside.

Step 2:  In a 9x9 square pan, line it with cookies.  I used tea biscuits.

Step 3:  Fold in a generous 1/2 cup of whipped topping into the pudding.  Then, spread about 1/2 that mixture over the cookies.

Step 4:  Sprinkle the pudding layer with coconut.  I toasted mine, but you don't need to.  Heck, you can even omit the coconut all together and this would still be yummy!

Step 5:  Now, create another layer of cookies.

Step 6:  Spread the remaining pudding over that layer.

Step 7:  Sprinkle 1/3 of your coconut over the pudding.

Step 8:  Create yet another layer of cookies.

Step 9:  Spread the remaining whipped topping over the cookies.

Step 10:  Sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

Step 11:  Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let set for 4-6 hours before serving.

Don't let all these steps deter you!  It's a very simple, yummy dessert.  The layers will go:  cookie, pudding, coconut, cookie, pudding, coconut, cookie, whipped topping, coconut.  Super simps!  Here is a quick visual for you:

As well, these are the tea biscuits I like to use.  They are not super-flavorful, but just a enough sweet.  They are sturdy too.  I find them in the dollar section at the grocery store and use about half for this recipe.

Healthier Sweet and Sour Chicken

Chinese / Asian food is by far my most favorite gendre of food.  However, I really don't care for the sweet, gooey pink sauce that is so commonly used for sweet and sour dishes.  Truth be told, what's in that sauce??  This recipe rids itself of that sauce and is packed full of veggies and pineapple.  Then, it's simmered down and the sauce forms itself.  And it tastes amazing.

Healthier Sweet and Sour Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 lb Chicken Breast, diced into bite size pieces

2 TB Vegetable Oil

1 Green Bell Pepper, washed and sliced

2 Bunches of Green Onions, washed and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 and 1/2 Cups Pineapple Tidbits, drained

1/2 Cup Apricot Jam

5 Cloves of Garlic, minced

1 Three-Inch Piece of Ginger, peeled and sliced into matchsticks

3 Tablespoons White Vinegar

1/4 Teaspoon Sriracha Sauce (optional)

Salt

Step 1:  Heat a large frying pan over medium high heat with oil.  Once shimmering, add the chicken and season with salt.  Cook for 5 minutes until beginning to brown.

Step 2:  Add the green bell pepper, green onions, pineapple, apricot jam, sriracha, garlic and ginger.  Continue to cook until  chicken is cooked through, approximately 3-4 minutes.

Step 3:  Add the vinegar and stir to coat.

Serve with rice and enjoy!