Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Chocolate Cannoli Filling




12 oz whole milk Ricotta cheese, strained
8 oz Mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa

In a mixing bowl, using a rubber or silicone spatula, blend together Ricotta and Mascarpone cheese while running and pressing mixture along bottom of bowl to remove any lumps. Fold in powdered sugar and cocoa. Cover and chill 30 minutes (or until ready to use).

Chocolate Cannoli Filling

Chocolate Cannoli Filling*
12 oz whole milk Ricotta cheese, strained
8 oz Mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa

In a mixing bowl, using a rubber or silicone spatula, blend together Ricotta and Mascarpone cheese while running and pressing mixture along bottom of bowl to remove any lumps. Fold in powdered sugar and cocoa. Cover and chill 30 minutes (or until ready to use).

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Classic Crab Cakes





                                                       
1 pound fresh lump crabmeat, picked over for cartilage
1 egg, whisked
1/2 cup chopped scallions (optional)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs, preferably whole-grain (use more as needed)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Cherry Tomato and Corn Salad




1. Combine crab meat, egg, scallions (if using), mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add enough breadcrumbs to bind mixture enough to form into cakes. Refrigerate the mixture until you're ready to cook.

2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes; add oil, and heat until it shimmers. Shape crab mixture into 8 (1-inch-thick) cakes, using 1/3 cup mixture for each; cook, adjusting heat as necessary and gently turning once, until golden brown on both sides (about 5 minutes per side). Serve 2 crab cakes per plate with lemon wedges and Cherry Tomato and Corn Salad.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Slow Cooker Peach Cobbler

~Ingredients

4 cups fresh or frozen sliced peeled peaches

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup Original Bisquick® mix

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup milk

Ice cream or whipped cream
~Directions

1. Spray 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In large bowl, gently toss peaches and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Turn into slow cooker.
2. In medium bowl, gently beat Bisquick mix, sugar and milk with whisk until blended. Pour over peaches in slow cooker.
3. Cover; cook on low heat setting 3 hours or until cobbler is set in center.
4. Serve cobbler with ice cream.
Prep Time 20 min
Total Time 3 hr 20 min
Servings 8

The Most Tender Country Style Honey BBQ Ribs






3 lbs country-style pork ribs, thawed (without the bones)
honey barbecue sauce (your choice of sause)
2 teaspoons minced onion flakes
2 -3 tablespoons Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1 tablespoon garlic salt
salt and pepper

 
                                                                ~Directions:

1. In a dish sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic salt and seasoning salt all over, then take each slice of rib and rub both sides with the seasoning mixture. Make sure each rib is well coated.

2. Line a baking dish with heavy duty foil and spray with Pam, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Place ribs inside the baking dish and inside the oven for 20minutes until meat is browned on both sides. You can flip them over halfway.

4. Take ribs out and brush on honey BBQ sauce on top of ribs generously and put back in oven for another 20minutes until sauce is caramelized. Once sauce is caramelized add more sauce to the top of the ribs.

5. Cover the baking dish with foil well to make sure no steam can come out but try not to touch the top of the ribs. Make sure all sides are well sealed and put back into the oven.

6. Turn oven down to 250 degrees so sauce wont burn and let them bake for 2-3 hours. After two hours have passed, pull back a corner of the foil and poke one of the ribs with a fork to check tenderness of the meat, if you desire them to be even more tender put the tinfoil back over tightly and let them sit for another hour.

7. After ribs are done peel back foil carefully as steam will come out, take out ribs cover with sauce again and they are ready to be served!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Brown Rice Salad

                                                               
                                                                      ~For the salad
  • 1 1/2 cups brown rice
  • 1 red capsicum, chopped (red bell pepper)
  • 1 green capsicum, chopped
  • 3 spring onions, chopped
  • 1/2 cup raisins or 1/2 cup sultana
  • 1/2 cup cashews or 1/2 cup peanuts   
                                                                       ~For the dressing
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons soya sauce
  • 1 crushed garlic clove
  • black pepper

                                                                    ~Directions:

1. Cook brown rice until tender, allow to cool.
2. To prepare the dressing put the ingredients into a large jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well. Put aside.
3. In a large bowl add the rice and all other salad ingredients.
4. Pour over the dressing and mix through. The flavours improve on standing as the rice soaks in the dressing. Enjoy!


Even Sluttier Slutty Brownies




I was at my son's school today and this is what the lady in the office told me that someone made her for her birthday today. So Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jett (lol)

                             Even Sluttier Slutty Brownies

~For the brownie layer

1 (18 ounce) box brownie mix, prepared and unbaked OR
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

~For the Oreo layer

1 (15 1/2 ounce) package Oreo cookies (my pan fit 16)

~For the caramel layer

1 (6 ounce) jar dulce de leche
1 teaspoon fleur de sel

~For the chocolate chip cookie layer

1 (18 ounce) roll ready-made refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough, OR
1/2 cup unsalted butter (at room temp)
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

~Directions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line the bottom of an 8x8 baking pan (I used a Pyrex pan) with tin foil and then spray the foil liberally with baking spray.
3. Make the brownie layer per box instructions (without baking) OR: In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the sugar and cocoa powder. Stir to combine and remove from the heat. Add the salt, vanilla and eggs to the batter and then whisk until combined. In a separate bowl, sift the flour and then slowly incorporate the flour into the batter until it's all mixed. Set the batter aside.
4. If making your own cookie dough: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with a hand mixer. Add the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl as you go. Add the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder and mix on low until incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips and then set aside.
5. Assemble!
6. Start by gently pressing the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan, making sure to create an even layer. (I found it helpful to use the back of a 1-cup measure cup.).
7. Then add a layer of Oreos on top of the cookie dough. Nudge them as close together as possible without overlapping.
8. Get ready for the gluttony: Remove the lid on the caramel sauce/dulce de leche and microwave for 35 seconds (until it becomes slightly warm and spreadable). Use a spoon to drizzle the caramel over the Oreos.
9. Lastly: Pour the brownie batter on top of the caramel-Oreo layer. Use a spatula to make sure it's even.
10. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Test with a knife to see if the center is done. It's OK if the knife has some brownie on it. It's easy to over-bake the cookie layer if left in the oven too long.
11. Once out of the oven, heat up the caramel again as in step 5. With a spoon, lightly drizzle the caramel over the brownies. Sprinkle with the salt.
12. *Note: Although you can scarf these right away (they'll be crumbly but delicious and gooey!), they actually get better with age. Let them rest for several hours for easier handling and serving.
13. *Note: Prep time is reduced if using boxed/ready-made mixes.