7-Layer Greek Dip

7-Layer Greek Dip

Adapted by Our Best Bites from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. dill weed or Greek seasoning (salt free–go for a mix that just has herbs)
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 c. hummus
1 c. seeded, diced cucumbers
1 c. seeded, diced tomatoes
1/2 c. chopped Kalamata olives
1/3 c. chopped green onions (about 3 green onions completely chopped)
1/2 c. crumbled Feta cheese
1/8-1/4 c. minced fresh parsley

With an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, seasoning, garlic, and lemon juice until light and fluffy. Spread in the bottom of a pie plate or a small, shallow baking dish. Then spread a layer of hummus. In order, create layers by sprinkling the cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, onions, Feta cheese, and parsley. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours. Serve with pita chips, fresh vegetables, and/or flatbread

Asian BBQ Chicken

Asian BBQ Chicken
Our Best Bites
Adapted from Cooking Light

1/4 C packed brown sugar
1/4 C soy sauce
2 T lime juice (about 1 lime)
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t curry powder
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1 t grated fresh ginger
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Combine everything but the chicken in a small bowl. Whisk to dissolve brown sugar. Place marinade and chicken in a zip-lock bag. Pop that bag in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours, or longer if you have it (even overnight)

Preheat a grill (or an indoor grill pan or broiler). Spray cooking surface with cooking spray and place chicken on it to cook. Cook for 5-10 minutes on each side depending on the thickness. Optional: garnish with sliced green onions

*Tip: When I make this I usually make 1 1/2 times the marinade. I reserve some of the marinade before adding the chicken and then use it in the last few minutes of grilling, or just brush it on after for extra flavor.

Banana Coconut Pecan Pancakes

Banana Coconut Pecan Pancakes:

Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net

Adapted from Cooking Light August 2009

• 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup of flour- I use straight whole wheat
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup vanilla fat free yogurt
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp fresh nutmeg, grated
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2-3 tbsp pecans, crushed
• 3 tbsp sweetened coconut flakes
• 1 large banana, smashed

Combine the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, stirring well to combine. Combine yogurt butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, coconut, pecans, and mashed banana in a small bowl, mix thoroughly. Add the flour mixture to the yogurt mixture, stirring until smooth.

Pour about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto a hot nonstick griddle or skillet. Cook 2 minutes or until the tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked. Carefully turn pancakes over; cook 2 more minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Top with freshly sliced banana, coconut, and maple syrup. Enjoy.

Blueberry Scones

Blueberry Scones:

Adapted recipe by For the Love of Cooking.net

Original recipe by Tyler Florence

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 5 tbsp unsalted butter, cold, cut into chunks
• 1 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing on top of scones
• 1 1/2 cups of fresh blueberries

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Sift together the dry ingredients into a bowl. Using 2 forks, cut in the butter to coat the pieces with the flour. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the heavy cream. Fold everything together until just mixed; do not over work the dough. Fold the blueberries into the dough, taking care not to mash the berries.

Press the dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into a rectangle. Cut the rectangle in half then cut the pieces into half again, giving you 4 squares. Cut the squares in half on a diagonal to give you a triangle shape.

Place the scones on a baking sheet lined with a silpat mat then brush the top with a bit of heavy cream. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let the scones cool a bit before you apply the lemon glaze.

Lemon Glaze:

• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 lemon, zest finely grated
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Place all the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Place in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Whisk the glaze to smooth out any lumps then drizzle on top of each scone. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Carrot- Ginger Rice

Loved this rice- we served it with homemade potstickers- but it would be great with anything Asian- Teriyaki chicken etc.

Carrot-Ginger Rice:

Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net

• 1 cup of basmati rice- I used Jasmine rice
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 2 tsp of olive oil
• 1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled & grated
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled & minced
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• Dash of cayenne pepper (or more if desired)- I omitted
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 
  
• Combine the rice and chicken broth together in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and steam for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
  
  
  While the rice is cooking, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until tender. Add the carrot, ginger, and garlic to the onions and cook, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes. Add the rice to the mixture along with the cilantro, sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and dash of cayenne pepper. Stir gently so all ingredients are well combined. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

Tortellini Spinach Bake in Creamy Lemon Sauce

Tortellini Spinach Bake in Creamy Lemon Sauce
Recipe by Our Best Bites

12 oz bag Barilla Cheese & Spinach Tortelini (find them in the dry pasta isle) (I used Sam's refrigerator brand)
4 oz bacon or pancetta, (about 4 strips bacon)* (I omitted the bacon and used 2 Tbl butter to make the rue)
3 cloves garlic, pressed in garlic press or finely minced
2 Tbs flour
2 C milk
¾ tsp kosher salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp dry basil (I used Herbs de Province)
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (1/2 tsp or more if you like spicy)
1 medium lemon
2 C loosely packed fresh spinach, roughly chopped
¾ C grated mozzarella cheese, divided
¾ C grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Fill a large stock pot with water and bring to a boil.  Add tortellini and cook according to package instructions.

Place bacon in a medium sized skillet on the stove-top at medium-high heat.  Cook until crisp.  Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon and set on paper towels to drain.  Reserve two tablespoons bacon drippings in pan and discard the rest.  Add garlic to pan and cook until fragrant and tender, about 1 minute.  Add flour to pan and stir with a whisk for about 1 minute. Slowly add milk and continue to stir with whisk until smooth.  Add salt, pepper, basil, and red pepper flakes and bring sauce to a simmer.

While sauce is heating, use a microplane grater or a fine-holed cheese grater to zest lemon.  Then cut lemon in half and remove juice.  Add 2 teaspoons zest and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to sauce.  Continue to stir until thickened, 2-3 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Drain tortellini and place back in stock pot.  Reserve 1 tablespoon of the cooked bacon and add the rest to the pasta mixture.  Add spinach, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.  Add sauce and gently stir to combine.  Place pasta mixture in an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish and top with remaining 1/4 cup mozarella and 1/4 cup parmesan and also crumbled bacon.

Cover pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until cheese on top is melted and pasta is bubbly throughout.  Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 4-6

Blumenkohlsuppe (Cauliflower Soup)- Mylinda

• ½ head cauliflower
• ¾ L water/ meat broth
• 3T butter
• 2T flour
• ¼ L heavy cream
• 2 egg yolks
• salt and pepper 
  
  
  • cut the cauliflower in little pieces and boil for 5 min in broth. Melt the butter, add flour and immediately add the broth. Mix well and let boil for 1 min. Take pot off the stove and add the egg yolks and cream. Heat again for one min. then season with salt and pepper. Serve with fresh Baguette.

Tortellini Soup- Mylinda

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1T butter
• 2 (13 ¾ oz) cans chicken or beef broth (I use 4C chicken broth)
• 1 8oz pkg. fresh or frozen cheese tortellini thawed
• 1 10oz pkg. fresh or frozen spinach thawed
• 1 16oz can stewed tomatoes undrained coarsely chopped
• fresh grated parmesan cheese 
  
  
  • In large saucepan over med-high heat, cook and stir garlic in butter for 2-3 min. Add broth and tortellini; heat to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 min. Add spinach and tomatoes; simmer an additional 5 min. Serve topped with cheese.

Hot Fudge Sauce

Hot Fudge Sauce
This makes a really yummy sauce.  It is kind of chewy when put on ice cream.  I have tried a few versions and this is my favorite so far.

*Makes about 4 cups of sauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon distilled white vinegar (weird- but it turned out great)
4 ounces (about 2/3 cup) semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped and divided- (I just used semisweet chips)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in a large, heavy saucepan. Whisk in the water until well blended. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cream, corn syrup, vinegar and 2 ounces (about 1/3 cup) of the chopped chocolate.
Return to medium-high heat and boil. Whisk frequently until the bubbles become small and the syrup is thick and sticky, 5-7 minutes (or 225 degrees on a candy thermometer). Remove from the heat and add the rest of the chopped chocolate, butter, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Serve at once, or let cool. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 weeks. Reheat over low heat or in the microwave on 50% power.
Recipe Source: from Joy of Cooking

Vegetable Soup- Mylinda's all time favorite soup on earth

VEGETABLE SOUP-Mylinda's all time favorite soup on earth

• 2qt water
• 8 beef bullion cubes
• 5 med potatoes cut into bite size pieces
• 2C chopped carrots
• 1C chopped celery
• 1C chopped onion
• 2t Worcestershire sauce
• 2t Soy sauce
• 1t garlic salt
• ¼ t oregano
• ¼ C flour dissolved in 1C water 
  
  • Cook for about 30 min.
  • I also like to brown some beef chunks and use a bit more thickening to turn this into beef stew but by favorite is just exactly like it is with a nice loaf of fresh baked bread and some butter. MMMMM!!!!!