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Stuffed French Toast

 

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Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 slices brioche bread
  • strawberries
  • bananas
  • 8 oz whipped cream cheese
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cip milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp organic ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp organic ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp organic nutmeg, ground
  • maple syrup
  • confectioners' sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.

  2. Spread desired amount of the cream cheese on 4 of the bread slices. Top each slice with a layer of strawberries and bananas.

  3. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on the remaining 4 slices. Place these bread slices on top of the fruit-loaded slices to form a sandwich. Press around the edges to seal.

  4. Melt butter in a nonstick sauté pan (or flat griddle top) over medium-low heat. 

  5. Dip sandwiches in egg mixture for a few seconds on each side, allowing any excess to drain off, and then place in the pan.

  6. Cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

  7. Slice in half and plate. Top with a dusting of confectioners' sugar. Drizzle with the maple syrup.

  8. Give a big thank you to Caitlin for this decadent breakfast recipe!

Kimmie’s Radish Dip

 

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Ingredients

  • 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
  • 1/4 tsp Organic Dill Weed
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 cup shredded radishes
  • assortment of veggies for dipping
  • 1 bag Bugles (original General Mills)

Instructions

  1. Thoroughly mix cream cheese, garlic, dill weed, salt and radishes.

  2. Serve with your favorite crudités, and... Bugles!

Baked Penne with Sausage, Fennel and Basil

 

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This had been one of my family dinner favorites for some years, but when I replaced the store bought ricotta with Maria Helm Sinskey's Creamy Ricotta recipe (page 126 of Food & Wine November 2008 issue), it raised the rating from delicious to divine. The fresh and fluffy ricotta, together with the fresh herbs, perfectly balances the hearty sausage and tomato sauce.
Course Main
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves smashed
  • 1 pound spicy and or sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon fennel
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 28- ounce cans of plum tomatoes blended in food processor or blender
  • 1 bunch fresh basil chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsely chopped
  • 1/2 pound mozzerella cut into small cubes, plus about 1/2 cup shredded for topping
  • 3 cups Homemade Creamy Ricotta or store bought ricotta recommended!
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus extra to sprinkle on top
  • 1 pound penne

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375.
  2. Saute sausage and smashed garlic in olive oil, breaking up sausage as it browns.
  3. Add tomatoes, fennel, basil, salt and pepper and simmer about 30 minutes.
  4. In the meantime, boil water and cook the penne until al dente, and drain but do not rinse, saving about 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Pour the pasta water into the tomato sauce and stir in. {This will help the sauce cling to the pasta.)
  5. In large bowl, mix ricotta, mozzerella, parmesan, fresh basil and fresh parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Combine penne, sauce and cheese mixture.
  7. Spoon into glass casserole or ceramic pie pans. Sprinkle extra mozzerella and paremesan on top.
  8. Bake for 20 minutes, turning up to broil for last few minutes until top is golden and bubbly.

Spiced Mexican Chocolate with Sea Salt

 

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Spiced Mexican Chocolate with Sea Salt

Course Dessert
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 oz dark chocolate
  • 3 oz semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1/2 teaspoon organic ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon organic ground cayenne
  • 1/4 teaspoon course sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons dry roasted peanuts

Instructions

  1. Prepare a 7"x11" baking pan, by lining it with parchment paper or wax paper. (Taping the paper to the pan will make your life easier when you go to spread chocolate!)

  2. Coarsely chop the chocolate.

  3. Chop/crush peanuts. (I put the peanuts in a bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.)

  4. Melt chocolate in a double boiler, stirring until completely smooth. Stir in cinnamon and cayenne until completely mixed.

  5. Using a spatula, spread chocolate mixture evenly on the parchment paper.

  6. Sprinkle with sea salt, and then crushed peanuts.

  7. Allow to set for 1-2 hours. For best results, place them in the refrigerator.

  8. Cut into pieces, and store in a sealed container in the fridge.

French Apple Pie with Custard

 

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French Apple Pie with Custard Recipe

Prep time:  30 mins Cook time:  35-40 mins Serves: 8
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 2 9-inch pie crusts prepared, or your own recipe
  • 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar divided
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 egg yolks divided
  • 3 tablespoons butter divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 pounds tart cooking apples I use Cortland apples
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon organic ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon organic ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup apricot preserves

Instructions

  1. Prepare pie pastry. Set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 425°.

Custard Filling

  1. Combine 1/3 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons flour in a saucepan and mix well. Turn heat to medium and stir in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat 3 of the egg yolks. Then, beat in a few tablespoons of the hot mixture in to the egg yolks to temper. Then pour egg yolks into saucepan, stirring continuously. Cook about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the vanilla. Turn off heat and turn in to a bowl to cool.
  3. Core, pare, and slice the apples. Sprinkle with lemon juice. In a skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and the spices. Add apples and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
  4. Heat 1/2 cup of apricot preserves in a saucepan on medium heat until warmed, about 2 minutes. This will thin the mixture and make it easier to spread.

Assemble the Pie

  1. Roll out half of the pie crust and place in pie pan. Spread custard filling evenly over the bottom, then top with apples, and then the warmed apricot preserves.
  2. Roll out the 2nd half of the pie crust and cut into 12 strips, approx. 1/2” wide. Slightly moisten rim of pie shell with cold water. Arrange six strips across the pie and press to rim of shell. Then arrange the remaining strips in the opposite direction to form a lattice. Tuck and trim edges and then crimp edges.

  3. Mix remaining egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water. Brush lightly on lattice strips, but NOT the edge of the pie crust.

  4. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown – check at 35 minutes.
  5. Serve warm and enjoy!