Teacher Appreciation Cupcakes

My daughter wanted to make special cupcakes for the teachers and staff at her school. So we decided to make these easy Apple style cupcakes for the staff at her elementary school. So much fun for the kids and easy to make and a great hit on teacher appreciation day!

Caprese Pizza Toast

This is an open-faced sandwich version of the famous Italian Caprese salad with sliced tomatoes, bocconcini and fresh basil.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• pinches of salt and pepper
• 1 thick focaccia loaf
• 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella
• 6 large balls bocconcini
• 5 plum tomatoes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Place basil, garlic, oil, salt and pepper in a blender. Whirl to a saucy consistency. Add more oil to make it more saucy, if needed. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Cut bread in half horizontally, then cut each half into quarters. Place cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread half of basil mixture over bread, then evenly sprinkle with mozzarella. Thickly slice bocconcini and tomatoes into rounds, then arrange in overlapping slices on top of bread. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper.
2. Bake in centre of preheated oven until cheese starts to melt, 7 to 10 minutes, then turn broiler to high. Broil until cheese begins to turn golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with remaining basil mixture. Cut each piece in half diagonally. Best served warm.

Forgotten Kiss Cookies

Recipe Description

These cookies are bite-size bits of heaven! They call for mini chocolate chips in the dough, but I was out of mini chocolate chips.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Softened Margarine
• 1/3 Cup Sugar
• 1/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar (packed)
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips Or Mini M&ms
• 1 9oz. Bag Hershey Kisses
• FOR CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE (optional):
• ¼ cups Mini Chocolate Chips
• 1 teaspoon Shortening

Preparation Instructions

Directions:
1. Preheat over to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter/margarine, sugars, and vanilla until well blended.
3. Add the flour and blend until smooth.
4. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
5. Mold a scant tablespoon of cookie dough around each unwrapped kiss, covering completely. Shape into balls.
6. Place into un-greased cookie sheet.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set.
8. Cool slightly, move from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
9. Prepare chocolate drizzle, if desired, and drizzle over each cooled cookie.
10. Enjoy!

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
*Yes, you read it right: there are NO EGGS in this recipe.
To make chocolate drizzle: In a small microwavable bowl, place 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening. Microwave for 30 seconds to melt. stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies.

Zucchini & Herb Fettucine

 

Serves: 4
Hands-on time: 35 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 10 oz whole-wheat fettuccine
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 shallots, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 zucchini (preferably 1 green and 1 gold), halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 lb tomatoes, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 4 1/2 cups)
• 3/4 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 1/2 tbsp chèvre (spreadable goat cheese)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions; drain.
2. Meanwhile, prepare sauce: In a large skillet or sauté pan on medium-high, heat oil. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots and garlic are tender, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Reduce heat to medium and add tomatoes, salt and pepper, stirring until tomatoes are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in basil and chèvre.
4. Divide fettuccine among 4 serving bowls. Top with sauce, dividing evenly, and serve.

Avocado Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe avocados, in thick slices
• 1 red onion, sliced in half moons
• A generous handful of cilantro
• Cherry tomatoes, sliecd in half
• Salt and pepper to season

Dressing

• Juice and zest of 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and set aside. Assemble the ingredients for the salad on a serving platter, start with the slices of avocado then top with the red onion slices and then the cherry tomatoes.  Sprinkle cilantro all over the top of the salad.
Drizzle over the dressing and then season with sea salt and a good grinding of black pepper. Serve straight away. Makes 4 Servings.

Raspberry Lemonade Dessert

Dessert style

A winning combination..

RASPBERRY LEMONADE (Adapted from The Improv Kitchen)


Crust:

9 tbsp butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla essence
pinch of salt

Filling:

2 1/2 cups frozen raspberries, thawed
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup lemon juice (about 3-4 medium lemons)
zest of 3 lemons
3 egg whites
1 egg
2/3 cup flour
pinch of salt, extra

Preheat the oven to 180C. Line and grease a 8x8 inch square baking dish.
To make the crust, cream together butter and sugar until light. Add the flour and mix until combined well. Do not over mix as this can make the base tough. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until just golden brown. Remove from oven and cool.

To make the filling, place all thawed raspberries in a fine sieve and press them into a large bowl with the back of a spoon. Discard the caught seeds and skin. Add the sugar, juice, zest, whites, egg, flour and salt and combine, until well incorporated.
Pour the raspberry mixture onto the base and place in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool on the bench before placing in the refrigerator to set completely (about 3-4 hours) Cut and decorate as desired.

NOTES: This slice freezes well and makes a great dessert or afternoon tea to have handy for unexpected guests or dinner parties.

Cinnamon Puffs with Caramel Creme

CINNAMON PUFFS

1/2 cup caster sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup milk
90g unsalted butter
1 1/3 cup plain flour
2 eggs
3 cups vegetable oil

Put sugar and cinnamon in a baking tray and combine. Put milk and butter in a medium pan and cook, stirring over a low heat until the butter has melted (do not boil). Add flour and stir until mixture forms a ball. Transfer to a large bowl. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until completely combined. Put mixture into a large piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Heat the oil over a high heat. Pipe blops of mixture into the oil and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the balls float to the top and are golden. Immediately transfer with a slotted spoon to the sugar and roll until well covered.

CARAMEL CUSTARD FILLING:

2 cups milk

4 large egg yolks

6 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp corn flour

40g butter

1 tsp caramel essence

To make the custard, bring milk to the boil. At the same time, in a separate saucepan, combine yolks, corn flour and sugar together and whisk over a low heat until the milk boils. Add a splash of boiled milk to the yolk mixture and begin to whisk vigorously. Gradually add the rest of the milk, continuing to whisk constantly, until thick and smooth. Remove from heat and immediately scrape the custard into a bowl and place in a basin containing a few inches of cold water. Add the butter in 3-4 installments. Add caramel essence to flavour. Cool.
Peirce each cinnamon ball with a knife. You will notice one side of each ball has an air pocket. This is the side to pierce. Fill a piping bag with the custard and pipe into each hole. Serve.

Raspberries and Chocolate

 

It's so simple, it's silly. Everyone has probably seen it or done it already, but this is just a sweet idea. Stuff your raspberries with dark chocolate and white chocolate chips. As if the raspberries aren't sweet enough.

They're cute on their own or they'd be even cuter on ice cream. What about making a white chocolate raspberry ice cream and garnishing it with some of these?

Creamy Lemon Pasta with Spinach & Tomatoes

This delicious dish is full of plump pasta, juicy tomatoes and sweet spinach, tossed with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a white sauce made from a little olive oil, sauteed garlic, heavy cream, and lemon zest and juice. Served alongside grilled chicken breasts, it made for a light but mouthwatering meal, but this pasta can also be served on its own, or with a salad and garlic bread. You can also swap the pasta for whatever else is in your cabinet, such as farfalle, fusili, rigatoni or penne. Or, you could even add some cut-up cooked chicken or shrimp and toss it together for a whole meal in one pot!

However you dress up this simple dish, it's sure to be delicious. I know you'll just love the bright lemon flavor combined with the pasta, creamy Parmesan and tender, colorful summer produce as much as me.

Now put down those packets of rice, print this recipe and get cookin'!

Creamy Lemon Pasta with Spinach & Tomatoes
Serves 4

Ingredients
1-1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
2 lemons, zested and juice reserved
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 pound rotini pasta
3 ounces baby spinach
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

Directions
Set a large pot of water to boil.

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add the garlic and cook for a minute. Add the cream, the lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until it starts to thicken.

Meanwhile, add some salt to the boiling water and add the pasta; cook according to the directions on the package, stirring occasionally.

Drain the pasta and place it back into the pot. Immediately add the cream mixture and cook it over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes, until most of the sauce has been absorbed in the pasta.

Take the pot off heat and add the spinach, Parmesan, and tomatoes. Toss well until the spinach has wilted. Season to taste, and serve hot.

Enjoy!

Lemon Truffles

Lemon sings of spring and sunshine, reminding me of the new life around the corner and making it the perfect Easter accompaniment. These lemony truffles are a cinch to make and have such a wonderful velvety texture. Packaging them into pretty boxes turns them into the perfect hostess gift. Kids can: roll into balls and coat in icing sugar.

White Chocolate Lemon Truffles

• 1 cup white chocolate
• 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 Tbsp. heavy cream
• pinch salt
• 1 tsp. lemon extract
• icing sugar, for dusting

1. Melt chocolate, butter and cream over a double boiler or in a microwave. Stir until smooth.
2. Stir in salt and extract. Allow to cool slightly before covering with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm enough to handle.
3. With a melon baller or small spoon scoop out mixture and form into 1 inch balls. Toss with icing sugar to coat.
4. Store covered in the fridge for up to one week. Freeze for longer storage.

Makes: 24

* Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salty flavour of these truffles. The pinch of salt helps to cut through the sweetness of the white chocolate. If you decide to use salted butter make sure to omit the pinch of salt called for in the recipe or they will be far too salty.

* If you want to amp up the yellow color, stir in some yellow food coloring along with the extract and salt.

Marzipan Cherries

 

 We covered dried sour cherries in marzipan and luster dust, then added faux leaves on top for a touch of gold. For the stems and leaves of these cherries, we dismantled gold plastic foliage.

Martha Stewart Weddings, Winter 2010

• Yield Makes 12

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 ounces marzipan
• 12 dried cherries
• Luster dust, in tan opal (Sugarcraft)

Directions

Divide marzipan into 12 pieces. Flatten, and wrap around dried cherries, covering completely and rolling into a ball. Using a toothpick, make a hole at the top of each and an indent along one side. Brush with luster dust. Insert stems into top holes.

Zucchini Fritters with Mozzarella and Stewed Grape Tomatoes

1 pound (about 2 medium sized) zucchini, coarsely grated
5 scallions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
2 eggs
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper
Vegetable or olive oil for frying

Fresh mozzarella (preferably buffalo), and
Fresh basil for garnish

Stewed Grape Tomatoes

2 pint grape tomatoes, rinsed
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Additional Italian seasonings of your choice - I used the Ariosto seasoning for tomato-based sauces which contains salt, so I deleted any additional salt. Dried oregano and basil would also taste good.

To prepare the zucchini fritters, mix the first 10 ingredients together in a large bowl until blended.

Heat oil in a very large skillet over medium heat and cook fritters in two batches. Drop 2 tablespoons of batter into mounds in the skillet. Do not crowd. Flatten slightly. Cook until browned, for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, turning over once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining batter.

To prepare the stewed grape tomatoes, place olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking and continuously stirring tomatoes until the skins begin to break open (approximately 8 to 10 minutes). Add the sugar and vinegar and continue cooking for approximately 5 more minutes. Note: I found this process took longer than stated to thicken the tomatoes.

To assemble, place zucchini fritter on an appetizer plate and top with one slice of fresh buffalo mozzarella, 1 tablespoon of stewed grape tomatoes and fresh basil.

Grilled Artichoke with Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 4 large artichokes
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette, recipe follows

Directions

Place artichokes, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and fill pot with enough cold water to cover the artichokes in a large pot. Boil for 30 to 35 minutes or until tender. Remove artichokes from pot and let cool.

Preheat grill. When artichokes have cooled, slice in 1/2 lengthwise and remove the choke. Brush each half with the remaining oil, season with salt and pepper and grill cut-side down for 1 to 2 minutes. Turn over and grill an additional minute.

Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette:

• 5 plum tomatoes, smoked and chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Place tomatoes, salt and pepper, vinegar, garlic and basil and olive oil in a blender and blend until smooth.

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

Yummm, I came across this recipe from Lisa Allen on the Just a Pinch website today, thought I'd share it for the holidays with everyone...enjoy!!!

Ingredients 1-1/3c peanut butter 1-1/3c graham crackers, crushed 2 stk margarine,melted 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 bx powdered sugar (1 pound box) 1/3 block paraffin (it is not very much, just makes the chocolate set better, candy bars have wax in them) 12 oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips Directions 1 - Mix peanut butter, margarine, vanilla in large bowl. Mix in graham crackers and powdered sugar with hands until stiff. Form into bite size balls. 2 - Melt chocolate chips and paraffin in top pot of a double boiler. (with simmering water in lowest pot) Dip peanut butter balls into melted chocolate with toothpick and put on wax paper to dry.