Blueberry Dumplings

This is the first recipe I wish I never tried. I say this because it is yummy to the 10th power. When I have blueberries in the fridge it's all I want to make... but alas, like all (most) Paul Deen recipes, it's no where near healthy. Try it over vanilla bean ice cream, and you'll regret it... You'll be addicted and want it all the time. Great for entertaining or a quiet evening at home. Happy eating!

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar, plus 1 1/2 cups
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 quart fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2 cups water
• Vanilla ice cream or fresh cream, for serving

Directions

Stir flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl. Cut butter into dry ingredients, using a pastry cutter or fork. Add milk to form dough. Set dumpling dough aside.

In a large saucepan, combine berries, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and water and bring to a boil. Drop dumplings into hot boiling berries by the tablespoonful. Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and cook slowly for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not remove the lid before 20 minutes has passed, and do not stir dumplings. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh cream.

Turkey and Wild Mushroom Meatloaf Patties with Pan Gravy

This recipe is sooo delicious. I made it one night for my hunny and we both devoured it! I tend to like meatloaf with brown gravy, he goes for the red... This was an amazing alternative!!! The mushrooms and the sage especially give it an amazing taste! Serve with smashed taters and a veggie and you're good to go! Happy eating!

• Note: clean mushrooms with a damp cloth. Do not run directly under water.
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan for the mushrooms, 1 turn for the patties
• 8 cremini mushrooms, (baby portobellos), chopped
• 8 shiitake mushrooms, chopped
• 1 shallot, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1 1/3 pounds ground turkey, the average weight of 1 package
• 3 or 4 sprigs fresh sage, leaves chopped, about 2 tablespoons
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

Directions

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add chopped mushrooms and shallots and season with salt and pepper. Saute mushrooms 5 or 6 minutes until dark and tender. Remove from heat. Transfer mushrooms to a bowl and return pan to stove top to preheat to cook patties.

Add turkey to the mushroom mixture. Make a well in the center of the meat. Add sage, Worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs and beaten egg and season with salt and pepper. Mix turkey meat loaf and make a small 1-inch patty. Place meat in the hot pan and cook 1 minute on each side. Taste the mini patty to help you adjust seasonings. Divide meat loaf mixture into 4 equal parts by scoring the meat before you form patties. Form 4 equal oval patties 1 inch thick. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, and arrange patties in the skillet. Cook 6 minutes on each side and transfer to a serving plate or individual dinner plates. Return pan to heat and add butter. When butter melts, whisk in flour and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in stock and season gravy with poultry seasoning, salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer gravy until it reaches desired thickness, and pour over patties, reserving a little to pass at the table.

Honest Kids pouch drinks

Growing up I did drink my share of diet soda, but never kool aid type drinks. Mom wouldn't have it, and she was right! (see mom, only took 28 years to say that) Sometimes when I hear people go on about organic this and that I ignore them. But, when it comes to our children, I think there's something there. A professor of mine never gave his daughter products with high fructose corn syrup, and believe it or not, she didn't know what she was missing out on. I thought that was great idea! Now that I'm a teacher I see what kids pack for lunch and I'm disgusted! First and foremost by the beverage. If you want a healthy alternative, and don't want your child to be "deprived," check out Honest Kids! The flavor is great with only 40 calories, and 10g of sugar!!! All organic, nothing artificial. Try it!

Tres Leche

So if you're like me, every time you pass the bakery at Whole Foods, your mouth just waters! Well, I always see the tres leche and wonder if I can make it at home. YUP! I can, and so can you! I made this in cupcake form for a bible study and it was a hit! Well, good luck and happy eating!

Ingredients

For the cake:
• Vegetable oil
• 6 3/4 ounces cake flour, plus extra for pan
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
• 8 ounces sugar
• 5 whole eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the glaze:
• 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup half-and-half

For the topping:
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 8 ounces sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

For the cake:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour a 13 by 9-inch metal pan and set aside.
• Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder and salt in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
• Place the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium speed until fluffy, approximately 1 minute. Decrease the speed to low and with the mixer still running, gradually add the sugar over 1 minute. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl, if necessary. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix to thoroughly combine. Add the vanilla extract and mix to combine. Add the flour mixture to the batter in 3 batches and mix just until combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly. This will appear to be a very small amount of batter. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cake is lightly golden and reaches an internal temperature of 200 degrees F.
• Remove the cake pan to a cooling rack and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Poke the top of the cake all over with a skewer or fork. Allow the cake to cool completely and then prepare the glaze. For the glaze:
• Whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and the half-and-half in a 1-quart measuring cup. Once combined, pour the glaze over the cake. Refrigerate the cake overnight. Topping:
• Place the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, whisk together on low until stiff peaks are formed. Change to medium speed and whisk until thick. Spread the topping over the cake and allow to chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Lasanga Rolls

Want lasagna, but something a little different!? These lasagna rolls are easy and delicious! This recipe includes prosciutto, but I'm certain you can substitute ground beef or ground turkey. The bechamel is amazing too! I could eat the stuff straight!

Ingredients:

Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Pinch ground nutmeg

Lasagna:

• 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese.
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for salting water
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 12 uncooked lasagna noodles
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 4 ounces)

Directions:

• To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk the sauce until it comes to a simmer and is thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk the salt, pepper, and nutmeg into the bechamel sauce.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Whisk the ricotta, spinach, 1 cup Parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.
• Add a tablespoon or 2 of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water. Boil the noodles until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Arrange the noodles in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent them from sticking.
• Butter a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish. Pour the bechamel sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Lay out 4 lasagna noodles on a work surface, then spread about 3 tablespoons of ricotta mixture evenly over each noodle. Starting at 1 end, roll each noodle like a jelly roll. Lay the lasagna rolls seam side down, without touching, atop the bechamel sauce in the dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon 1 cup of marinara sauce over the lasagna rolls. Sprinkle the mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan over the lasagna rolls. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through and the sauce bubbles, about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until the cheese on top becomes golden, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining marinara sauce in a heavy small saucepan over medium heat until hot, and serve alongside.

Cauliflower Au Gratin

Once again, I am duplicating a recipe from my Maw Maw. Well, her twin told me this one, but it's both of their recipes. I never knew you could do so much with a basic butter/flour white gravy. This dish is not healthy - but oh so yummy, you'll be going back for more!!! Happy Eating!!!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 c. whole milk
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bag of frozen cauliflower
• 1 cup of shredded cheese (your choice)
• Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a microwave safe bowl, empty the bag of frozen cauliflower and cover cauliflower half way with water. Place in microwave for 5 minutes. Strain and set to the side. (omit if thawed)
• In a separate pot, melt butter and add garlic. Using a whisk, add flour a little at a time, constantly stirring. The consistency will be thick. Keep stirring a couple minutes until color changes just slightly. (like a roux) Still using the whisk add milk a little at a time. Mixture will be thin at first, then will thicken as you stir. After mixture has thickened, add salt and pepper.
• Place cauliflower in a casserole dish and fully cover with white sauce. You may want to toss it around a bit to cover cauliflower. Finally, cover with cheese. Bake for 30 minutes on 350.

Adding bread crumbs would prob be a delicious idea... I'm just not that great with bread crumbs.

Strawberry Cheesecake (Light)

So after I made the triple chocolate cheesecake the other day, and I wanted to make something a little lighter. The triple chocolate one is very rich, and the friend I was baking for is a health conscience eater. I really just tweaked the chocolate recipe and made a strawberry cheesecake, but with less fat and with fresh fruit. Although there is less fat, there is still a good bit of sugar due to the condensed milk. You will have a lot of batter for this recipe. I ended up making several individual cheesecakes in a muffin pan as well as a full size cheesecake. This recipe was very delicious, less fattening than my previous cheesecake, and a real winner for summertime. Try it, and use different fruits - be creative! Happy eating!

Ingredients:
Filling:

• 1 1/3 packs of plain grahams crackers
• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 4 (8 ounce) packages low fat Neufchâtel cheese
• 1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 4 large eggs
• 1/3 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4/5 a small container of strawberries, stem taken off and pureed

White Chocolate Glaze:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 (1 ounce) squares premium white chocolate
• 1/4 small container of strawberries, cut as you see fit.

Note: The glaze is a little thinner than a chocolate ganache, but chills to be thicker.

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press firmly on bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add eggs, flour and vanilla; mix well. Divide batter in half. Add
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until center is set Cool. Top with white chocolate glaze and add left over strawberries to the top. (be creative) Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator.
• White Chocolate Glaze: In small saucepan over low heat, melt 2 (1-ounce) squares semi-sweet chocolate with 1/4 cup whipping cream. Cook and stir until thickened and smooth. Remove from heat; spread over cheesecake. Makes about 1/3 cup

I never add my own pic... But just so you can see. (I took this with my iphone, just as my colleagues were about to devour the cheesecake!)