Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Crostini with Sundried Tomato Jam

Recipe from Giada De Laurentiis / Food Network


Yield: 8 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes 


Ingredients 

Jam 
1 jar (8 oz) sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped, oil reserved
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 cup water
½ cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon chopped fesh thyme leaves
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Crostini
1 baguette, cut into ¾-inch slices
¼ cup olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
5 oz goat cheese, room temperature
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves


Instructions

Jam 

Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, onion, and garlic. Stir and cook until the onions are soft and beginning to brown at the edges, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the sugar, vinegar, water, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.

Remove the cover and continue simmering until most of the liquid is reduced and the mixture is the consistency of jam, about 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.



Crostini

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil.

Place the baguette slices on the baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the baguette slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes.

Place the soft goat cheese in a small bowl. Stir in the thyme.



To assemble

Spread the crostini with sun-dried tomato jam and top with the goat cheese and herb mixture. 

Transfer to a serving plate and serve.


Notes

Use Italian loaf instead of preparing the crostini – better when preparing in advance

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Cheesecake Cookie Cups

Recipe shared by Alicia Chen / From Very Best Baking

Yield: 24 servings

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes + 1 hour to chill
 

Ingredients

1 package (16.5 oz) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, room temperature
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Line 24 cupcakes cups. Place one piece of cookie dough in each muffin cup.
 

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookie has spread to edge of cup.
 

Beat cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and vanilla extract in medium bowl until smooth. Pour about 3 tablespoons cream cheese mixture over each cookie in cup.
 

Bake for additional 15 to 18 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Recipe from Martha Stewart


Yield: # of eggs 

Prep time: Time for eggs to warm to room temperature
Cook time: 20 minutes


Ingredients

Eggs, room temperature


Instructions

Place eggs in a large saucepan. Cover them with cool water by 1 inch.  

Slowly bring water to a boil over medium heat; when the water has reached a boil, cover and remove from heat. Let sit 12 minutes.

Transfer eggs to a colander; place under cool running water to stop the cooking. Eggs can be peeled and served immediately.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Alta's Brussels Sprouts

Adapted from Alexandra's Kitchen

Yield: 2 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes


Ingredients

10 oz (¾ lb) brussels sprouts, stem removed and halved 
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey


Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450˚F. 

Toss the sprouts with enough olive oil to coat, a generous pinch of salt and pepper to taste. 

Bake for 15 minutes. 

While the sprouts are in the oven, gently simmer the balsamic vinegar with the honey in a small sauté pan until the mixture has reduced and is slightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.  

Remove the sprouts from the oven, remove, stir and rearrange and return to over for five minutes or until knife-tender. 

Transfer to a bowl, add the reduced balsamic mixture into the bowl and toss to coat evenly.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Oreo Truffles

Recipe shared by Alicia Chen / From Kraft

Yield: 48 truffles

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 


Ingredients

36 Oreo cookies, finely crushed, divided
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
4 packages (4 oz each) Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, broken into pieces, melted


Instructions

Reserve 1/4 cup cookie crumbs. Mix cream cheese and remaining cookie crumbs until blended. 

Shape into 1-inch balls on baking sheet lined with wax paper-covered rimmed baking sheet. 

Freeze for 10 minutes. 

Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered rimmed baking sheet. 

Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. 


Notes 

To melt chocolate, place in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high 2½ minutes or until chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds.

Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.