Category Archives: Recipes

Tiramisu

Tiramisu

A most requested recipe that will drive the most dubious to the most “Romantic”.  I’ve even had non-coffee drinkers totally embrace this dessert and WILL NOT pass on this Tiramisu.  To optimize the flavors of Tiramisu it is best that it is prepared 24 hours in advance.

tiramisu by chocolate monster mel.

Ingredients

Begin with a cookie sheet and a 9×13 size pan.
36 salviardi or Lady Finger cookies.
1 1/4 cup espresso coffee (When preparing coffee, use 1/2 c. ground turkish cut coffee grounds to 1 1/3 c. water.)
1/4 Marsala (secco) /Rum Liquer
4 Medium eggs room temperature.
3/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
Mascarpone 750 grams (When removing seal from Mascarpone container there should be a thin layer of fluid on top of Mascarpone. If there is not ADD 1 more egg for a total of 5 Medium eggs.)
Whipping Cream (Optional)
Bitter Chocolate Powdered

On a cookies sheet place the salviardi cookies.
Make coffee. Add rum and coffee together and drizzle liquid all over the cookies.

Using two mixing bowls, open raw eggs and seperate yolk from egg white placing each into it’s own bowl.
Beat egg whites for about two minutes.  (May add a pinch of salt or a pinch of cream of tarter before beting egg whites in order  to stiffen egg white peaks.)
Beat egg yolks and sugar together for about 5 minutes until egg yolks are a light colored yellow.  Next, add mascarpone and beat into egg yolk mixture.

Gently fold egg whites into egg/mascarpone mixture, until no egg white is showing.  Using a half circular motion, place  spatula at bottom of bowl gently bring mascarpone to top of egg white, allowing for mascarpone  to lightly fall onto beaten egg whites.

Take pre-soaked cookies and layer the bottom of the 9×13 pan.  Then add a layer of mascarpone mixture.  Add another layer of pre-soaked cookies.  Spread on a second layer of mascarpone mixture.  Gently layer with whip cream.  With a sieve over the cookie sheet add powdered chocolate to sieve.  Tap seive over Tiramisu so that the powdered chocolate completely covers whip cream.

Place Tiramisu in refrigerator and allow to cure for 12-24 hours. Or place into Freezer for 3 hours and allow to thaw on counter top for 1 hour before serving.

Cut into squares and serve on dessert plate .
May decorate with shavings of white or Dark chocolate; or a chocolate covered coffee bean on top; or mint leaves and raspberries on the side.

Holiday Kid Friendly Appetizers

Kids are hungry by design, because they are constantly moving and therefore are burning the calories from meals in just a couple hours. We can help our children this holiday season to not fall into poor dietary habits, by instead having, healthy snacks readily available to offer them.

A few families have provided some of their holiday fun food ideas:

·         Sliced carrots and celery in cups or flower vases as a centerpiece

·         Apple, Pears and Cheese slices. 

·         Fruit or vegetables dipped in Yogurt

·         Oranges, washed and sliced (leave on the skin as most kids like to play with the sliced circles.)

·         Olives and sundried tomatoes

·         Meat slices set on sliced Kiwi

·         Platters with varied dried fruits (Nuts, Dried Apricots/banana’s, Pumpkin seeds and Popcorn) set on kitchen and living room tables.

·         Yogurt or a glass of milk slows down a child’s hunger pains.

·         Wheat grisini with cream cheese and honey dip (3 Tablespoons cheese to 1 tablespoon honey)

·         Wheat crostini with slice of cheese (pecorino) and honey drizzled on top

·         Wheat crostini with pesto or truffle cream or cream cheese

It is important to have healthy snacks available for kids that are not always made up of empty calories. Teaching kids the benefits of making smart eating choices when they are young can lead to a lifetime of healthy eating habits. This holiday show your kids how snacks can add to their nutritional requirements for the day.

Nutritional snacks should be kept in an area that is easy for children to reach, while unhealthy choices kept in less accessible areas. This will encourages children to reach for the healthy options first. By encouraging healthy snacking, parents can give their children the nutrients and know-how needed for healthy living.

Fast Food on your clock!

7 Tips, 7 Recipes under 7 minutes!

 

Operating under the daily stress of working outside or within the home or trying to get a decent meal to the table in minutes can seem impossible!   You can prepare a meal in less time than what it takes to call “Take Out” drive back and forth picking up the meal. 

Cooking a meal in less than 10 minutes requires having a few staples on your shopping list and placed into your pantry on a weekly basis: Olive oil, garlic, a couple of onions, capers, olives, canned legumes, pepper flakes, hummus. Dried fruits and Nuts. Dried or Fresh herbs: rosemary, parsley, cilantro, arugula, and basil.

Always begin by washing fruits and vegetables. Place produce into a large bowl filled with water and 2 tbsp baking soda.  Rotate them in the water and take them out as needed. 

 

  1. Vanilla yogurt with flaxseed, nuts or diced fruits make a quick snack or a great dip for fruits and vegetables.
  2. For sandwiches buy a multi gain baguette and switch things up by drizzling oil, pepper, oregano onto bread, then add arugula or cilantro in addition to your other toppings. 
  3. Keep boiled eggs in the refrigerator to combine with salads, sandwiches or as a snack.
  4. Fresh fruits add taste to your meals: cherries, grapes, apples, and apricots. Washed lemons and limes for water.
  5. Vegetables cook fast:  Asparagus, cherry / grape tomatoes, Olives, Mushrooms, sliced carrots, fresh beans.  Bag of lettuce, Cucumbers, Sliced fennel or Celery.
  6. Cheese favorites:  Parmesan or feta cheese
  7. Thinly sliced: Chicken, Sirloin Tip Fish fillet all can cook within 5 minutes!

 

Here are some great recipes that can be quickly brought together in less than 7 minutes. 

7 Easy Recipes under 7 minutes!  https://eatknowhow.wordpress.com/recipes/

7 Easy Recipes under 7 minutes!

Tuna Delight

 

1 6 oz can or bag of Tuna Fish

2 tbsp Hummus

1 tbsp Chopped Walnuts (optional)

5-8 diced Grapes

Drizzle Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients.  May be served on pita bread, baguette slices, or on side of salad.  Serves 2.

 

Mediterranean Salad

4 cups Pre-washed bag of Lettuce Chopped

1/2 can of Chick Peas rinsed and dried

8-10 Olives of choice

½ Cucumber diced

¼ c Arugula 

1 tbsp Feta Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Drizzle Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

 

Place all ingredients into bowl.  Gently toss ingredients together to combine. Serves 2-4 people.

 

 

Stuffed Tomato

Stuffed tomato's. Serve fresh or baked.

Minute Rice. Follow instructions on box  per serving.

1-4 large round Tomato  (Heirloom or Beefsteak)

Salad mix of choice (Egg, Tuna, Crab, Turkey, Ham)

Lettuce leaf or basil for presentation

 

Boil water for minute rice and follow box instructions. Meanwhile, Slice cap off top of tomato.  With a teaspoon remove pulp. Combine salad mix of choice with 1/4 cup of cooked rice. Spoon mixture into tomato. Serve on top of lettuce leaf.    

OPTIONAL: Heat oven to 400F.  For oven roasted tomato’s, follow instructions for stuffing. Place tomato’s in baking dish with 1 cup water and drizzle olive oil on tomato’s. Cover dish with aluminum foil, slit inch into the center of the foil with a knife, place in oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven. Serve with favorite meat or salad.

Cherry tomato's with Angel Hair Spaghetti

Angel Hair Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes

Serves 2-4.   To table in 7 minutes.

 

1 large pot 2-3 quarts boiling water

½ box Angel Hair Pasta

¼ cup Olive Oil

1 Garlic Clove (minced)

1Tbsp Capers (optional)

10 Olives (optional)

1 pint Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

Salt, Pepper to taste

Parsley fresh or dried

 

Fill pan with water and place on stove on high to start boiling water.

Saute` olive oil, garlic, tomato's for 7 minute's.

Meanwhile, place skillet on medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, tomatoes, (capers and olives) salt and sepper.  Allow to simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

When water boils add 1 tbsp salt to boiling water and pasta.  Allow pasta to cook 1 minute. Remove 1 ladle of boiling water and add to tomatoes in skillet.  Drain water from pasta.  Add pasta to skillet and combine with tomatoes.  Top off with fresh or dried parsley and serve.

 

Angel Hair Pasta with Pesto

Serves 2-4.  To table in 7 minutes.

 

1 large pot 2-3 quarts boiling water

½ box Angel Hair Pasta

¼ cup Pesto

Olive Oil

Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

 

Fill pan with water and place on stove on high to start boiling water.

When water boils add 1 tbsp salt to boiling water and pasta.  Drain water from pasta.  In a clean bowl, add pesto and drizzle olive oil, gently combine together.  Serve and top off with cheese.

 

 

Sirloin Tip Steak

Sirloin Tip

Serves 2.  

 

¼ cup Olive oil

Peeled and Sliced ½  Onion

Sliced Portabella Mushroom

Salt and Pepper to taste

¼ cup  Red Wine (optional)

1tsp Soy Sauce

2-4 slices of 1/4 inch sliced Sirloin Tip Steak

 

Salt and pepper meat on both sides. Place skillet on medium-high

Sirloin and Mushroom's

heat. Add olive oil, sliced onion and sliced portabella mushroom. 1/4 tsp salt to taste. Allow to cook covered for 2 minutes.  Add wine, soy sauce and meat. Cover, allow to cook for 2 minutes, with fork turn meat to other side and cook another 2 minutes.  Serve meat with mushrooms and onions

 

 

Asparagus Sautee`

Asparagus spears washed and lower part of stick cut and removed.

1/4 cup Olive Oil

Garlic Clove sliced

Sesame Seeds

Salt and Pepper to taste

 

Place skillet on medium heat and add all ingredients.  Allow to cook with skillet covered for 5 minutes.  Serve on side of pasta dish or with Sirloin Tip.

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Vegetable Salad

A trick that adds diversity to your salads:  Choose 2-4 vegetables and 1-2 fruits.  Dice them to bite size.  Maybe added to a green leaf salad or served as combined fruits and veggies.

Maybe prepared one day in advance.
Choose 2 or more.  Thinly slice vegetables
Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Olives
Peppers (red, yellow, orange)
Tomatoes

Fresh champagne mushrooms (white) 
No slicing needed: Peas, Corn, Beans

Fresh Fruit
Choose 1 or 2 fruits. Remove pits or cores then slice and dice.
Apples
Apricots
Cherries
Pear
No slicing: Craisins or Raisins

Add 1/8 c. thinly sliced red onion, Feta or blue cheese, herb of choice (Arugula, Basil, Cilantro, Parsely, 1 ounce of chopped nuts, sprinkled flaxseed. Drizzle with vinaigrette dressing, or olive oil and balsamic vinegar. (salt and pepper to taste)