Quesadilla

Pepper Jack Quesadillas

Ingredients:
2 whole wheat tortillas
1/2 block of pepper jack cheese
1/4 yellow pepper
1/4 green pepper
1/4 cup yellow onion
1/2 cup chicken cubed
1/2 cup beef cubed
Plain 0% Greek Yogurt
Favorite salsa

Heat pan to medium. Add chicken with olive oil, basil, salt & pepper and red pepper. When chicken is white all over add beef. cook 5 minutes. Add onions cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add peppers cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
Butter flat pan add tortilla. Evenly Place thinly slice 3/4 of pepper jack cheese on top of tortilla. Toss all cooked ingredients on top of cheese. Add cheese and another tortilla. Flip after 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese starts to ooze. Cut in to triangles. I like to add greek yogurt for my sour cream substitute.

Simple and tasty.

-shan

Lime Pie Cups

Lime Pie Cups

Ingredients:

Crust:

2 graham crackers

2 Tbls butter

Lime Curd:

1/4 cup lime juice + 1/2 lime, squeezed

1 large egg
1 large egg yolk

1/4 cup sugar 

2.5 Tbls butter, room temperature 

1/6 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup chilled whipping cream

Crust:

Crush graham crackers, divide into two ramekins. Pour butter into each and stir. Refrigerate until Lime curd is ready.

Lime Curd:

Set a strainer over a small bowl; set aside. 

Stir lime juice, egg, egg yolk, and sugar together in another small bowl. Set bowl over a small saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk until mixture has thickened, the whisk leaves a path when lifted from curd, about 15-20 minutes. Add butter to curd, one Tbsp. at a time, whisking to blend between additions. Strain curd into prepared bowl. Press with spoon or spatula directly onto surface of curd. Chill until cold, 1-2 hours. 

Sprinkle gelatin over 1 Tbl water in a small bowl; let stand until gelatin is soft, about 5-8 minutes. Using an electric mixer, beat cream until soft. Add gelatin mixture; continue beating cream until just before firm. Fold whipped cream into lime curd. 

Pour lime curd into ramekins and put in fridge to chill. You can also place in the freezer for a much colder desert. 

(Edited this version of Lime Pie from Bon Appetit.)

Crepes (Creamy Berry or Banana Cocoa)

Crepes (Creamy Berry or Banana Cocoa)

Crepes

1 large egg

¼ & 1/8 cup milk

¼ cup water

¼ cup wheat flour

¼ cup white flour

1 ½ Tbls melted butter

Berry Filling**

4 to 5 strawberries cut into small chunks

8 blackberry cut in thirds

3 Tbls brown sugar

1 tsp white sugar

4 to 5 Tbls plain greek yogurt

1/8 cup skim milk

Topping**

2 strawberries cut into small pieces

4 blackberries cut in thirds

2 Tbls greek yogurt spread on top

Blend all Crepe ingredients in a blender pulsing for 10 seconds

Place 1 ounce of crepe batter in the fridge for 1 hour to allow bubbles to subside.

Heat small non-stick pan, add butter to coat. Cook for 30 seconds flip, cook for 10 more seconds. Remove from pan lay flat on cutting board to cool. You can stack them after cooled and store in the fridge or freezer.

Add all fruit in bowl. Stir in brown sugar and white sugar. Stir in milk. Stir in greek yogurt one tablespoon at a time until smooth.

Lay out crepe and place in center.

Roll or place each side to the center, like a burrito so filling is covered.

Place fresh cut berries or yogurt on top.

**You can use any filling or topping you want. I also used a banana and 60% cocoa chips. (picture shown)

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Streusel Bites

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Streusel Bites

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Bread:

2 package (or 2 ¼ tsp jarred yeast) of fast rising yeast

½ cup hot water (150 degrees)

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp ginger

¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 Tbls olive oil

Flour enough to make a ball (half wheat half white)

Filling:

2 dices red apples

3 to 4 Tbls brown sugar

1 to 2 tsp cinnamon

(You can also add a dollop of cream cheese on the bottom)

Streusel:

4 Tbls Butter (Slightly softened or room temperature)

1/3 cup Oatmeal

2 to 3 Tbls Brown Sugar

2 Tbls Wheat flour

Spread 3-inch squares of bread, place filling and close up.

Place in greased muffin tin. Bake for 10 minutes. Sprinkle Streusel and bake for another 10 minutes or until streusel is lightly browned.

Cocoa Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Cocoa Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Last night I wanted to bake or cook or something, I was antsy and needed to use my energy. Jon has enjoyed the benefits along with me :)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Ingredients:
2 large mashed bananas
2 Tbls chunky peanut butter
1 Tbl melted butter

1 cup quick oats
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp sea salt
2 Tbls brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbls white sugar
1/3 cup 60% cocoa chips (Ghirardelli is my favorite)
1/8 cup white chocolate chips
3 Tbls cocoa powder (Ghirardelli is my favorite)
2 Tbls fruit & nut mix

Mash bananas, add peanut butter and melted butter.
Whisk all dry ingredients then add to wet mixture.

Spoon dough onto cookie sheet and bake for 10 mins. Transfer to cookie rack after 30-60 seconds after taking out. Let cool and place in refrigerator.

I had some with my plain greek yogurt and strawberries this morning, so tasty and great for protein!

-shan

Turkey Pizza Balls

Turkey Pizza Balls...I can't believe how good these were. So good.

Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey
Mozzarella Cheese cut into chunks (desired thickness up to you)
Turkey pepperoni
2 Tbls olive oil (for stove top cooking)
1 container of your favorite pasta/pizza sauce to dip.

Spices:
1 Tbl fresh or dried basil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp smoky ground pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper
3/4 tsp dried parsley
1 Tbl Green Jalapeno Tabasco sauce
1/4 tsp cinnamon
4 Tbls diced white onion

Preheat stove top to medium heat or oven to 375 degrees. 
Combine all spices in with ground turkey.
Flatten out turkey in hand put mozzeralla square and pepperoni and form 2 to 2.5 inch balls. Repeat.
Pour olive oil in pan. Drop balls in pan, cook until center is about 155 to 165 degress, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until center is 155 to 165 degrees. 

tasty tasty.

Creamy Tarts with Fruit

Creamy Tarts w/Fruit

Made these for Easter, and they were kind of addicting :)

Ingredients:

1 -8oz package softened cream cheese
1 -14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 roll of Fillo (Phyllo) dough (or you can buy a few packages of already made fillo shells)
1/2 stick melted butter (salted or not)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
Thaw fillo dough for about an hour. Enough where it is easy to handle and won't crack. You may want to cover with a damp cloth or paper towel so they don't dry out.
Cut a 2 to 2.5 inch wide piece. Take one sheet at a time and brush with butter, until you have five sheets total on top of each other. Cut into 2 to 2.5 inch squares. Shape into mini muffin cups (see photo). 
Bake for 7 to 10 mins or until lightly browned.

While baking, or after you've finished about 2 dozen or so fillo cups, beat cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add condensed milk.
When mixed well add lemon juice. Set aside, do not place in fridge.

Fill fillo shells and top with favorite fruit, chocolate, or topping of sweet topping of your choice.

thanks!!

-shan