Bye Bye Berries

This little, 6 inch cheesecake is the perfect size for a small gathering, but it was surprisingly hard to find a recipe with portions I needed for my new pan, so I made one myself!

Lining with parchment paper is an important step!

By not opening the oven, and filling the pan up just enough, I got a perfect, crack free surface!

But I overfilled the second one, and the top of it cracked from boiling over, so be careful!

 But regardless of the blemishes, it really was immensely delicious! 

 

If you want, you can put some raspberry near the edge halfway through pouring batter, for stronger berry flavor. I changed up this recipe a little to write mine.

Pink Lemonade Macarons

          There certainly is an art to making Macarons, but I firmly believe anyone can do it as long as a kitchen scale, and timer are used to keep things exact. I am certainly no expert myself, but have gotten some swell cookies in the past!
          This recipe, stuffed with this to die for lemon curd recipe, made some pretty divine tasting treats. When actually making the recipe though, I would highly recommend this walkthough.

Here's a little video I made of exactly how I use my kitchen aid(or mixer) to make a great, "lava" textured Macaron batter.

I brought some to my old French teacher, and he loved them, which of course made me all too happy!!

Berry Delicious Cupcakes

So, to make these I used this cake recipe, with the cream cheese frosting and cooking time from this recipe. Martha Stewart recipes rock, but I wanted a really moist cake, that I never seem to get with cupcake recipes. These are so delicious, I cannot even put it into words.

Cat Cookies

I was feeling limited by my sad lack of cookie cutters, but decided to get creative. I used a circle cookie cutter, then cut out a piece of each cookie to create the cat shape. Still getting used to royal icing but I use this recipe  to decorate these simple sugar cookies. Leo and Einstein got portraits, but not Pendleton, simply because I can't make black frosting! Yum Yum and Meow! 

(almost feel bad eating the cute little kitties)

Because I love Anything French

This recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu is a little more on the lighter side, and just divine.

Lean Lasagnas

I was craving lasagna, but I've been trying my damnedest to avoid pasta, and bread, so I decided to rework the mini lasagnas I made a while ago!! Here's my recipe:

Preheat oven to 350

               2 cups fat free cottage cheese
               1 pound 94% lean ground turkey
               1 can crushed tomatoes
               1 tablespoon reduced fat butter spread
               1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
               Salt, Pepper, Basil, Oregano to taste
               Banyan Brand Wonton Wrappers (this brand is fat free)

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan then add and bring the can of crushed tomatoes to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes with whatever amount of spices you would like.
2. Brown the meat, drain the juice, then add your tomato sauce!
3. Simmer meat with sauce for 5 minutes
4. Line a cupcake pan with two wontons for the bottom layer, then add a bit of meat sauce.
5. Top the meat with cottage cheese, then a sprinkle of Parmesan, leaving room for another layer.
6. Add one more wonton wrapper, pressing it down around the edges.
7. Add meat and the cheeses on more time, or as many layers as you think you can fit, and pop these bad boys in the oven for 10-15 minutes!!

Potluck Pâtisserie

For our apartment complexes informal potluck my neighbor planned, Rachelle and I made Petit Croque Monsieurs and Mini Mixed Berry Cheesecakes! They were divine.

Cozy Asian Lettuce Tacos

Or wraps! 

          Lately, I've been trying to lose some weight, so my blog might reflect sometimes. Here is a great, and super simple low fat, low carb meal.

          First, I Sauteed 95% fat free ground turkey till it was brown on all sides, then added the Panda Brand lettuce wrap sauce, along with a few tablespoons of soy sauce, and a squirt or two of Sriracha. Threw in some shredded carrots(add whatever you want), and Voila! Fill up your lettuce, I used organic hearts of romaine leaves, and steam up some edamame on the side, and you're one step closer to a full tummy, and a healthy you!

A Grinch Feast

"He brought everything back, all the food for the feast. And he, he himself, the Grinch - carved the roast beast." Dr. Seuss 

        I made some Twice Baked Potatoes using a recipe from Kraft Fresh Take seasonings. Then popped in some, always delicious, reduced fat Pillsbury Croissant rolls, all to accompany the delicious, simply seasoned, Oven Roast Beef with brown gravy!  

Pot Pies and Presents

For Christmas Rachelle got me this awesome pie making set, with perfect sized mini crust cutters, and this pretty nifty silicone pie baking tray.

So I made these Lower-fat Chicken Pot Pies!