Cucumber Bites with Herb Cream Cheese and Cherry Tomatoes

Cucumber Bites with Herb Cream Cheese and Cherry Tomatoes

Needed:

4 Ounces (1 Brick) Cream Cheese, Softened to room temperature
1/4 Cup Ranch Dressing (Yes, good old Hidden Valley)
2 TBS Dill (can use other spices... Thyme is excellent also)
3-4 Long Cucumbers. skinned and Slice into thirty 1 inch slices
15 Cherry Tomatoes, sliced in half
Additional Sprinkle of Salt (to Taste, Careful, little goes a long way)
Additional Sprinkle of Spice (same as used in Cream Cheese) for Garnish
Additional Sprinkle of Paprika OR a Cajun Spice Mix (optional) for Garnish (and an extra kick if you use the Cajun Mix)

Directions:

1) First, Make up the HERB CREAM CHEESE, in a stand mixer, mix the softened Cream Cheese with the Ranch dressing and herbs. Mix until well combined. Spoon into a piping bag with a star tip.
2) Prepare the Cucumber, remove peel, Using a fork, score the sides. Slice into 1 inch pieces. Using a melon Baller, remove a portion of the center of one side of the piece of cucumber, leaving a half moon crater.
3) Pipe the Herb Cream Cheese into the crater. Enough to stick out of the top about 1/2 inch.
4) Add a half Cherry Tomato partially buried into the Herb Cream Cheese
5) Sprinkle additional salt, herbs and spice mix for additional color. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

NO-FUSS SKILLET LASAGNA

NO-FUSS SKILLET LASAGNA

When you want to make a homemade lasagna, we all know what is involved.  Prepare the meat sauce, boil the noodles, mix the ricotta with eggs and cheese, layer and bake.  Lots of dishes to clean and waiting for the lasagna to settle before slicing. It's well worth it for a delicious lasagna, but this is the next best thing!  Everything in cooked in a large skillet.  No mess, no fuss and the best tasting lasagna ever! I used brand names for this dish.  I haven't been compensated at all from these companies.  I find these to be the best for authentic Italian flavors.

1 (35-ounce) can Tuttoroso peeled plum tomatoes, blended 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes Salt and pepper 1/2 to 1 tsp. dried oregano 1-1/2 lbs. meatloaf mix ( a mixture of ground beef, pork and veal) 10 curly-edged lasagna noodles, broken into 2-inch lengths 1-1/2 cups Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara sauce 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 cup whole or part-skim ricotta cheese 2 cups 4-cheese blend mozzarella cheese Fresh or dried basil Place tomatoes in blender and puree until smooth making sure you have 4 cups of tomato puree.  Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion and 1/2 tsp. salt and cook until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes.  Stir in garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add meat and cook,breaking up meat until it is no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Scatter pasta over meat but do not stir. No need for exact Martha Stewart measurements, just break them up into about 6 pieces.  You'll have half a box left for the next time you make this...and you will make this again!

Pour tomato mixture and marinara sauce over pasta, cover and bring to a simmer, stirring after 10 minutes, until pasta is tender, about 20-25 minutes.  Add oregano.

Off heat, stir in Parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Dollop heaping tablespoons of ricotta over the top, cover and let sit for 5 minutes.

While lasagna is resting preheat broiler. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and and oregano and broil until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

Protein-Rich Chickpea Salad

One of the healthiest foods you can ever incorporate into your cooking is also one of the most versatile. Behold, the protein-rich chickpea.


Ingredients:
•2 cans of chickpeas, rinse off the chickpeas and drain them
•1 small green onion
•1 red and 1 green bell pepper, both small
•1/2 cucumber
•1 clove garlic, minced then ground into a paste with salt
•2 tablespoons basil and cilantro
•2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
•3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
•1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes
•Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Rose Victoria's Pantry Website

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Homemade Turtles

Homemade Turtles

The Turtles are no-bake, easy, ready in under a half hour, and you only need 4 ingredients. Save the recipe for holiday candy-making, birthdays, or for a last-minute hostess gift. Take your time melting the caramels, stopping and stirring frequently so they don't burn. I coated half the batch with dark chocolate and half with milk chocolate. On some I sprinkled sea salt to play up the salty-and-sweet aspect and on others I drizzled milk chocolate over a dark chocolate-coated Turtle and vice versa. Between the salty-and-sweet component, the crunchy pecans, chewy and gooey caramel, and the rich chocolate, they're hard to resist.

INGREDIENTS:

8 ounces pecan halves (I used roasted, lightly salted)
25 caramel squares, unwrapped (about 1 heaping cup)
1/4 cup cream or half-and-half, divided
about 16 ounces roughly chopped chocolate, melted (I used 8 ounces dark and 8 ounces milk, both our gourmet amazing chocolates)
sea salt, optional for sprinkling (I used our salt)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Line two baking sheets or large platters with parchment paper. It's helpful if they will fit in either fridge or freezer.
2. Make small piles of pecans, using 5 to 6 pieces per pile. Overlap the pecans some to reduce gaps so the caramel doesn't seep through.
3. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the caramels, half of the cream (reserve the remainder), and heat on high power to melt. It will probably take about 3 to 4 minutes total, but you must stop and stir the mixture every 30 seconds so you don't burn it. The first few times, stirring is almost futile but eventually the caramels soften enough to be stirred smooth. Take your time, don't overheat or heat too quickly, and keep stirring; it will come together. If the mixture seems thick and needs more cream, add the remaining amount. I used 1/4 cup total and have made the recipe with both Kraft brand caramels and Werther's Baking Caramels, but caramels vary and you may need less cream than I did. The caramel is runny and loose when it first comes together, but firms up quite a bit as it cools. Alternatively, you can melt caramels on the stove over low heat, using caution and stirring frequently.
4. Add about 1 tablespoon caramel to the top of each pecan pile; set aside.
5. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 8 ounces chocolate and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power. Heat in 15-second increments until chocolate can be stirred smooth. I prefer working in smaller batches with chocolate and recommend doing the same and not heating all 16 ounces at once; melt additional chocolate as necessary.
6. Add about 2 tablespoons chocolate to the top of each pecan cluster by dolloping it on top and letting it fall down the sides.
7. Optionally add a pinch of sea salt to each Turtle.
8. Allow Turtles to firm up at room temp (will take many hours) or in the fridge or freezer (about 15 minutes) before serving. Turtles will keep airtight at room temperature for weeks, or in the fridge or freezer for many months.

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EASY 3 INGREDIENT NO BAKE PUDDING CAKE!

Pudding Cake is a great way to have your cake and not heat up the house!!!! This is my go to recipe for pot luck gatherings. It’s quick and easy to make and transports well. People are amazed at how simple it is to complete the recipe. Everyone always asks for the recipe, so be prepared.

Not only is the pudding cake easy to make, the ingredients aren’t costly.  The 3 ingredients are easy to keep on hand and you can add chocolate syrup or sprinkles for added color, too. I also love that I can easily turn this into a Weight Watcher recipe by using low fat and sugar free items! Be sure to try it with chocolate pudding, too. YUM!

5.0 from 2 reviews

EASY 3 INGREDIENT NO BAKE PUDDING CAKE!

 

I used the 4 serving size boxes of pudding. I know they make 6 serving size, too. Those would also work, you would just have LOTS of pudding and need to put less cool whip on top. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 small (4 serving size) packages instant pudding Prepared as directed (6 cups)
• 8 oz cool whip thawed
• 1 Box graham crackers

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Lay out graham crackers in a 9 x 13 pan
2. Cover graham crackers with half of pudding
3. Layer graham crackers over the pudding layer
4. Cover graham cracker layer with remaining pudding
5. Top with cool whip
6. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours
7. Cut & serve like cake

MAGIC CUSTARD CAKE

I finally found the recipe everyone has been asking me for, so here it is again, nice & naughty so eat in moderation...............

MAGIC CUSTARD CAKE

Ingredients:

4 eggs (whites separated from yolks), room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter, melted/125g
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk lukewarm
powdered sugar for dusting cake

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 F degrees. Grease and Line 8 inch x 8 inch baking dish with parchment.
Separate eggs and add the egg whites to a mixer and beat egg whites stiff. Place egg whites in a bowl and set aside.
Beat the egg yolks & sugar until light. Add butter and vanilla. Beat for two mins. Add the flour and mix it in until fully incorporated.
Slowly start adding the milk and beat until everything is well mixed together. Add the egg whites, a third at a time and gently fold them in using a spatula, repeat until all egg whites are folded in. Pour batter into baking dish and bake for approx 60 minutes or until the top is lightly golden. Cool and dust heavily with powdered sugar.