Happy Mother's Day

So after a messed up dinner out to eat... my food server was great about it but mushrooms and I don't agree.. I was hungry for something sweet... and I remember a pin from pinterest for Cheesecake stuffed strawberries .  I have the strawberries and the creamed cheese

....  I didn't have the graham cracker crumbs but oh well I will try it without.
The little cover bakers where a gift for the daughter. Plus there is flowers too.

 8 ounce package of cream cheese (soften)
1/4 cup of powder sugar (can use more if want it                  sweeter)
 1 teaspoon of vanilla

Mix this together and stuff into strawberries that have the top cut out and hollowed.  Some are like that already.
They tasted great with the graham cracker crumbs but if you have some you can dip the cream cheesed filled strawberries into the crumbs....

The small white container is going to work with me tomorrow.  think my co-workers will be jealous??

The hardest thing is not eating to many as you make them.. I ate a few...  what? Yea a few or more...

Hope you had a good mother's day....

 

Strawberry Sorbet

2 2/3 cups strawberries
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool completely (1– 2 hours).
Combine with pureed strawberries and lemon juice.
Pour into canister and freeze as directed on pages 4–5.

Mandarin Orange Fried Rice

1 tablespoon oil
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup minced onions
1 cup Cold rice
1 can of mandarin oranges, saving some liquid.
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Heat pan with oil..add onion. When the onion starts to soften .beat egg and add to hot pan. Cook until set. Add rest of ingredients. Cook until hot. About 3 to 5 minutes.

Hawaiian Iced Tea

4 orange pekoe tea bags
1 quart of almost boiling water
1 quart of cold water and ice
1 cup  pineapple juice
1/2 cup of simple syrup or 3/4 cup (or more to taste)  of sugar

Place the tea bags in the almost boiling water. The secret to great tasting tea.
Steep for 2 to 4 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add sugar if using.
Add cold water and ice. Pour into pitcher.
Add pineapple juice and simple syrup.
Chill for a hour before serving.

Grilled Fruit?

I saw some  recipes for grilled fruit and it peaks my interest.  Yea I have done the fruit with meat  skewers before but never thought to grill fruit by itself.  I have to experiment with this....


 First I look around the  web. Some of the things I learned are basic things.
Firm fruits like apples, pears, and pineapple are suppose to be easy to grill. Where softer fruits like mango, papaya, peaches, and nectarines are just heated and need to be watch closely. Bananas, pineapples, peaches, plums, apples, and pears can be cut in half, pitted or cored, and grilled
  I have made banana boats where we put some marshmallow and chocolate pieces in the banana cut lengthwise. Wrap with foil and place in the coals for about 10 minutes to melt the marshmallows and chocolate.  Very sweet.

First thing many people do is marinate the fruit in a liquid. Many times it is a liquor.  Guess that would be for adults only meals.  Tequila pineapple rings anyone? Even Tequila Orange rings. Juicy fruits like citrus  grill better when  cut into thick slices.

After grilling there are different things that people sprinkle on. The most popular is  brown sugar or cinnamon and sugar. But you can use whatever you like.  I have seen recipes calling for hot sauce.  Ok. Tech just might like that....

Do you grill fruits? What is your favorite grilled fruit recipe?
 

Strawberry Felds Forever

Strawberry syrup

3/4 cup of water
3/4 cup to 1 cup of sugar
1 1/2 cups of mashed strawberries
1/4 cup of water
1 teaspoon of cornstarch

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Gradually add strawberries; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cornstarch to 1/4 cup of water and mix thoroughly. Add to hot syrup.Watch may thicken quickly. 

Serve over pancakes, waffles or ice cream.

Strawberry soup 
1 cup water
1 cup of sugar

Heat over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
Turn off heat. Let cool.


Add:
1 pint of mashed strawberries
1 cup of whipped cream

Mix with cooled sugar water and serve.
Can add a slice of strawberry  for garnish

Strawberry butter

1 tsp confectioners sugar
1/4 cup chopped  strawberries
1/2 cup of butter ( room temp)

Combine in blender or food processor until smooth.


Strawberry Bread


1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup strawberries
2 tablespoon strawberry jam
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C)
In a bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, beat together the  strawberries, strawberry jam, eggs, sugar, and oil.
Gradually beat the flour mixture into the strawberry mixture.
Transfer to the prepared loaf pan
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.

I like to use Simply Fruit for jam.

Can sub raspberries, blueberries or any type of berries for the strawberries in these recipes

Triple Berry Loaf

1/2 stick of butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, separated and beat (whites beaten to a stiff froth)
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour

1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pint blueberries, blackberries and raspberries fresh or frozen

 Oven Temp: 375F

Cook for 40-50 minutes depending on oven

Directions:

Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the beaten egg yolk. Add the milk, alternately with the sifted flour and baking powder. Stir in the vanilla. Gently fold in the whites.  Then gently fold in the blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.  Yes the batter will turn a pretty shade of pink, purple color.

Bake in a greased and floured loaf pan in a  375F oven until cake tests 40 minutes.

Remove cake from pan by running a knife along edges. Spread a little butter over the top of the cake while it is still warm, and sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Yumm.... Baked Fruits

I have a sweet tooth lately. Guess it cabin fever with the foot of snow we just got and the cold blast. My wishing for warmer weather or just to brighten my day.

Baked Bananas 

2 bananas

1 tablespoon maple syrup

¹/₂ teaspoon vanilla extract

¹/₄ teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Peel bananas, slice lengthwise and arrange in a single layer in a small baking dish. Mix together the maple syrup, vanilla extract and cinnamon.  Drizzle liquid over the bananas.

Bake until tender.  15 to 20 minutes.

Baked Apples Halves

1 soft tart (cooking) apple

2 t water

2 T maple syrup

1 t butter

Put water in the bottom of a greased baking dish. Put the apple halves in the dish, cut side up. Pour   maple syrup apples and dot with the butter.
Bake the apple halves in a 350F/180C oven for 4-5 minutes. Baste the apply halves once or twice during this time. Serve hot.