My Site » I love food, travel, and being creative in the kitchen. I keep my recipes simple and fresh so you can make them around your table too.

Sun Dried Tomato and Feta Cream Crostinis

You will always be invited to a dinner party if you bring this delicious appetizer! It was a winner on Saturday night and I’m thinking perfect for 4th of July weekend if you can wait that long! 8 oz Crumbled Feta 8 oz Chive Cream Cheese Splash or three of milk Dash of ground pepper In a blender combine feta, cream cheese, and milk. For smooth feta cream you’ll need all ingredients to be room temperature. Sun Dried Tomato Jam 8 oz jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drain 1/2 of oil 1 TB EVOO 1/2 onion, grated or sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 2 TB sugar 1/4 C red wine vinegar 1 1/2 C water Dash of thyme S&P Sauté sun dried tomatoes, EVOO, onion, and garlic for 5-10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover for one hour. Take lid off and continue cooking for 1-2 hours or until you have jam consistency (no liquid). Add julienned basil to finish. ETC. Add feta and tomato jam on top of pork…

ETC.

Finding this picture taken by my 3 year old today made me laugh. I’ve been working on so many fun projects and was right in the midst of “working” when I realized she’d been snapping for awhile. One project I’m in the midst of includes different variations for the recipes I’m creating. I have so many ideas that stem off of my initial recipe I thought I’d start a new “ETC” segment with you. Let me know what you think! For instance yesterday’s pancakes (which you have to make btw, they were amazing.) ETC~ Crepes with Lemon Ricotta filling, Pasta with lemon, ricotta, and basil. Top a scoop of Ricotta with strawberries and honey or blackberries and brown sugar. Add leftover ricotta to your vinaigrette or scrambled eggs. Spread ricotta and lemon over toast. And of course, lemon zest can go on everything and anything especially sauces, pastas, veggies, and dressings. We go through lemons like crazy at our house.

Burrata y Melone

Pretending I’m in Tuscany for lunch today! Burrata with EVOO and cracked pepper Melon slices (TJ’s Tuscan Cantaloupe is so good) Prosciutto (I’m loving thicker slices) Basil leaves ETC. On skewers Over lettuce with balsamic and EVOO Served over asparagus Use honeydew or mozzarella instead Layer cheese, thin slice of melon and prosciutto over slice of bread Layer mozzarella ball, piece of melon, basil, and prosciutto on toothpick. Drizzle balsamic glaze.

Greek Yogurt and Berry Popsicles

My kids ask for Popsicles ten times a day in the summer so Popsicles for breakfast are a big hit around here. And if you can’t tell, we’re in full 4th of July swing over here. Mix: 0% Greek vanilla yogurt Plain Greek yogurt A swirl of lemon curd Raspberries and blueberries Freeze and surprise your kids with Popsicles tomorrow morning! ETC. This is my favorite way to eat yogurt without the Popsicle Add granola in your mold Use any berries or yogurt you have on hand.

Chicken and Corn lettuce wraps

Light and refreshing lettuce wraps for lunch or dinner. Who wants to be slaving behind a hot stove? Butter lettuce cups Cojita cream- 1 part Cojita cheese to 2 parts sour cream Grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken, cut up (I put the TJ grilled chicken strips on the BBQ for 2 min) Grilled corn Radishes, thinly sliced Cilantro, roughly chopped Squeeze of lime juice Assemble and EAT! ETC. Use steak, shrimp or fish instead of chicken Use feta cream (from earlier post) instead of Cojita Add avocado and tomatoes Put in a tortilla or on a tostada Assemble on a Tortilla chip without the chicken for an appetizer.

S’mores Popsicles

And the winner is! Melt vanilla ice cream in a big bowl. Add Hershey chocolate chunks mini dark chocolate chips crushed up graham crackers mini marshmallows Pour in Popsicle mold and fend everyone off for at least 8-10 hours. ETC Add marshmallows to melted ice cream and re-freeze. Place scoop of vanilla ice cream on graham cracker with chocolate bar and top with graham cracker. Mash everything up in a bowl for a S’mores sundae.

Cooking Classes

I love teaching cooking classes in my home. Tonight was so much fun and delicious! (If I do say so myself)!

Saturday Bagel Run

Don’t skip the Saturday morning bagel run. (And you don’t have to run 10 miles to work this off) 1/2 Whole Wheat bagel with the insides scooped out Small amount of cream cheese (or leave it off, you won’t miss it) Smoked Salmon Avocado slices Lemon Zest Tomato slices Purple onion ring Poached egg Capers Lots of S&P

Farmers Market Shoot

A fun shoot at the Farmers Market this morning!

PB & J Waffles

Oh my yum! Kodiak Power Cakes mix to package directions Add a heaping spoonful of Peanut Butter to the mix Once cooked add bananas, a little more peanut butter, and Raspberry syrup. Syrup- 1 part jam to 1 part maple syrup ETC. Make extra so you have some for tomorrow or to stick in the freezer.