I know spring is trying to display itself in all its many colors and the temperatures are trying to warm up, but a cup of hot chocolate in the morning or evening still tastes good and is comforting. In a month or two it will be too warm for this, but meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
1 stick Splenda Flavor for coffee, Hazelnut flavor
3/4 cup lactose free milk
1 tblsp. dairy free chocolate chips
Put all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Over a low flame stir constantly until the chocolate chips melt. Pour into serving cup. Makes one serving.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
Seared Scallops with Apple Slaw & Roasted Potatoes
This is a nice dinner to make for a special dinner for your family or for company. It takes some time to get the potatoes ready to cook, the bacon cooked, the apple and cabbage chopped and the scallops cooked, but the effort is worth it.
Seared Scallops with Apple Slaw & Roasted Potatoes
3 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cut in about 20 pieces
1/2 onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp. rosemary
5 tblsp. olive oil, divided
3 slices of bacon
1/2 of a small head of cabbage
1 Fuji apple
2 tsp. cider vinegar
1 lb. small sea scallops
1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
Fry the potatoes in the oil. When the potatoes are almost done, add the onion, garlic and rosemary. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving. While you may not want to eat the onion, it does flavor the potatoes nicely. Set aside and keep warm until ready to serve.
Cook the bacon to well done and set on paper towels to drain. In the same pan without draining add the cabbage that has been chopped. Stir in the Fuji apple that has been chopped and 2 tsp. cider vinegar. Cook until crisp tender. Remove from pan and keep warm.
Rinse one pound of sea scallops. Place in a resealable plastic bag with paper towels. Rinse the same pan, dry and spray with vegetable spray. Add 2 tblsp. olive oil. Add scallops. If there is a buildup of liquid, drain it off with a spoon so the scallops can brown. When the scallops are browned, place them on a serving plate with the apple slaw on one side and sprinkle with the crumbled bacon and poppy seeds on top. Serve with the potatoes. Serves 2-4 Enjoy!
Seared Scallops with Apple Slaw & Roasted Potatoes
3 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cut in about 20 pieces
1/2 onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp. rosemary
5 tblsp. olive oil, divided
3 slices of bacon
1/2 of a small head of cabbage
1 Fuji apple
2 tsp. cider vinegar
1 lb. small sea scallops
1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
Fry the potatoes in the oil. When the potatoes are almost done, add the onion, garlic and rosemary. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving. While you may not want to eat the onion, it does flavor the potatoes nicely. Set aside and keep warm until ready to serve.
Cook the bacon to well done and set on paper towels to drain. In the same pan without draining add the cabbage that has been chopped. Stir in the Fuji apple that has been chopped and 2 tsp. cider vinegar. Cook until crisp tender. Remove from pan and keep warm.
Rinse one pound of sea scallops. Place in a resealable plastic bag with paper towels. Rinse the same pan, dry and spray with vegetable spray. Add 2 tblsp. olive oil. Add scallops. If there is a buildup of liquid, drain it off with a spoon so the scallops can brown. When the scallops are browned, place them on a serving plate with the apple slaw on one side and sprinkle with the crumbled bacon and poppy seeds on top. Serve with the potatoes. Serves 2-4 Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
BBQ Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
This is a remake of an old Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe. I used to love to make it when I came home from work because it was quick and easy. When paired with a garden or fruit salad it was filling and everybody loved it. Then eating disorders came along and no more barbeque sauce. As time went on I missed barbeque sauce more and more. The last straw was going to a local restaurant famous for their barbeque and while everyone else was munching down ribs and chicken, I had my plain and uninteresting chicken. I thought to myself there must be some way I can make a barbeque sauce not based on tomatoes that tastes right and I can eat. After some trial and error, here is my recipe for barbeque sauce.
BBQ Turkey Cheese Pastry Sandwich
Sauce
1/4 cup plus 1tsp. water
1 tblsp. brown sugar
3/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 tblsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. onion powder.
1/2 tsp. garlic salt Makes about 1/2 cup of sauce
Mix ingredients in a small sauce pan and heat over low flame. In a cup mix 1 tblsp. corn starch and 2 tblsp. water. Slowly mix into the sauce and stir until the sauce is thickened. Remove from flame and set aside.
1/2 lb. ground turkey
1 tsp. dried onion
1/4 cup of the above sauce
(save the remaining sauce for another use)
1 pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls
3 lactose free harvati cheese slices
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brown the ground turkey. Add the dried onion, sauce and mix together.
Unroll crescent rolls on cookie sheet sprayed with vegetable spray. Split the crescent rolls into two sections. On one section spread the meat mixture leaving a half inch edge all around. Place the cheese slices on top. Bring the other crescent roll section down on top and press along the edges.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until crescent rolls are golden brown.
You can make changes in this recipe by changing the meat to hamburger or sausage, using any kind of cheese, and using puff pastry instead of crescent rolls.
See you next time.
BBQ Turkey Cheese Pastry Sandwich
Sauce
1/4 cup plus 1tsp. water
1 tblsp. brown sugar
3/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 tblsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. onion powder.
1/2 tsp. garlic salt Makes about 1/2 cup of sauce
Mix ingredients in a small sauce pan and heat over low flame. In a cup mix 1 tblsp. corn starch and 2 tblsp. water. Slowly mix into the sauce and stir until the sauce is thickened. Remove from flame and set aside.
1/2 lb. ground turkey
1 tsp. dried onion
1/4 cup of the above sauce
(save the remaining sauce for another use)
1 pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls
3 lactose free harvati cheese slices
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brown the ground turkey. Add the dried onion, sauce and mix together.
Unroll crescent rolls on cookie sheet sprayed with vegetable spray. Split the crescent rolls into two sections. On one section spread the meat mixture leaving a half inch edge all around. Place the cheese slices on top. Bring the other crescent roll section down on top and press along the edges.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until crescent rolls are golden brown.
You can make changes in this recipe by changing the meat to hamburger or sausage, using any kind of cheese, and using puff pastry instead of crescent rolls.
See you next time.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Chicken Tetrazzini
I was looking for something different to serve on Easter and this turns out to be perfect to serve with a green salad and a light dessert. I made two which kept in the refrigerator for several days. It was so good we didn't need to freeze it because we ate both of the casseroles within the week. If you prefer dark chicken meat, substitute chicken thighs.
Chicken Tetrazzini
1 8 oz. box of mushrooms
2 1/2 tblsp. stick margarine
3 tblsp. Madeira wine (you can use any wine or omit it)
3 chicken breasts
3 tblsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
3 tblsp. olive oil
8 oz. noodles, favorite type
1/2 cup dairy free harvati cheese
2/3 cup panko crumbs
3 tblsp. melted stick margarine
1 14oz. can chicken broth
6 tblsp. flour
4 oz. soy cream cheese
1 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. herbes de Provence
4 oz. dairy free harvarti cheese
Heat oven to 425 F. Wash, dry and chop mushrooms. Brown in the melted 2 1/2 tblsp. margarine. When the mushrooms are brown, turn off the flame, pour in the wine, turn the flame back on med-low until the wine is gone. Put the mushrooms in a dish and set aside.
Using the same skillet, spray with vegetable spray. Put the chicken in a resealable bag with the flour, salt and pepper. Shake until the chicken is coated on all sides. Put the chicken in the skillet along with the remaining contents of the flour mixture in the bag. Brown on both sides and make sure the chicken is cooked through as the juices will run clear. Set aside to cool, then cut into cubes.
While the chicken is cooking, put on a pan of water to boil. When it does, add the noodles and cook to package directions. Drain and set aside.
To make the topping, combine the 1/2 cup finely grated harvati cheese, panko crumbs and 3 tblsp. melted margarine. At first it will seem like they won't blend together, but continue to mix with a fork and they will blend.
To make the sauce, put the chicken broth in a sauce pan and whisk in the flour. Add the soy cream cheese, spices, and harvati cheese. Make sure to keep all ingredients mixed together until they begin to bubble around the edges.
In a large bowl or pan combine the mushrooms, chicken, sauce and noodles. Spoon or pour into a 13x 9 in. or 2 each 9 in. baking dishes sprayed with vegetable spray. Top with the panko crumb mixture.
Bake at 425F for 10-15 minutes until heated through and the topping is brown. It is possible for the topping to brown and the casserole not to be warm in the center yet, if so, let it continue to cook and lay a piece of foil across the top so it doesn't burn. Makes 6 servings.
I am working on more recipes in all categories. Until next time.
Chicken Tetrazzini
1 8 oz. box of mushrooms
2 1/2 tblsp. stick margarine
3 tblsp. Madeira wine (you can use any wine or omit it)
3 chicken breasts
3 tblsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
3 tblsp. olive oil
8 oz. noodles, favorite type
1/2 cup dairy free harvati cheese
2/3 cup panko crumbs
3 tblsp. melted stick margarine
1 14oz. can chicken broth
6 tblsp. flour
4 oz. soy cream cheese
1 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. herbes de Provence
4 oz. dairy free harvarti cheese
Heat oven to 425 F. Wash, dry and chop mushrooms. Brown in the melted 2 1/2 tblsp. margarine. When the mushrooms are brown, turn off the flame, pour in the wine, turn the flame back on med-low until the wine is gone. Put the mushrooms in a dish and set aside.
Using the same skillet, spray with vegetable spray. Put the chicken in a resealable bag with the flour, salt and pepper. Shake until the chicken is coated on all sides. Put the chicken in the skillet along with the remaining contents of the flour mixture in the bag. Brown on both sides and make sure the chicken is cooked through as the juices will run clear. Set aside to cool, then cut into cubes.
While the chicken is cooking, put on a pan of water to boil. When it does, add the noodles and cook to package directions. Drain and set aside.
To make the topping, combine the 1/2 cup finely grated harvati cheese, panko crumbs and 3 tblsp. melted margarine. At first it will seem like they won't blend together, but continue to mix with a fork and they will blend.
To make the sauce, put the chicken broth in a sauce pan and whisk in the flour. Add the soy cream cheese, spices, and harvati cheese. Make sure to keep all ingredients mixed together until they begin to bubble around the edges.
In a large bowl or pan combine the mushrooms, chicken, sauce and noodles. Spoon or pour into a 13x 9 in. or 2 each 9 in. baking dishes sprayed with vegetable spray. Top with the panko crumb mixture.
Bake at 425F for 10-15 minutes until heated through and the topping is brown. It is possible for the topping to brown and the casserole not to be warm in the center yet, if so, let it continue to cook and lay a piece of foil across the top so it doesn't burn. Makes 6 servings.
I am working on more recipes in all categories. Until next time.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Flourless Chocolate Cake
I'm often envious of other's when they order flourless chocolate cake knowing I can't have any so I was determined to find a way I could make it for myself. After tinkering with the recipe a few times I was very pleased and even my husband liked it. He's trying to cut down on sugar so I used some Splenda but you can use the same amount of sugar if you want. Increase the amount of instant coffee if you want more of a mocha flavor
Cake:
1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips
4 tblsp. stick margarine
1/4 cup sugar plus 2 tblsp. Splenda
1/4 tsp. instant coffee
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup cocoa
Glaze:
1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips
3 tblsp. lactose free milk
Cake: preheat oven to 375 degrees. Carefully melt the chocolate chips and margarine in the microwave or over low heat just until the chips are soft. Remove from heat and stir until combined. Stir in sugar, Splenda, instant coffee and vanilla, then add eggs, beating just until smooth. Sift cocoa powder over the mixing bowl and mix just until combined.
Pour into an 6 1/2 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with vegetable spray and has waxed paper or parchment paper on the bottom that has also been sprayed. I've tried doing this without the waxed paper and ended up glueing the pieces of my cake together with glaze.
Bake 20-25 min., when done, the top should have a thin crust and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center should register a minimum of 200 degrees F.
Glaze: After the cake has cooled completely it can be glazed. Combine the the chocolate chips and milk and melt the same as with the cake. Spread the glaze over the cake and allow it to drip over the sides. The glaze should set for several hours before serving the cake. For a larger cake, use an 8" pan and double the ingredients, same temperature, start at 25 minutes and keep and eye on your cake.
Cake:
1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips
4 tblsp. stick margarine
1/4 cup sugar plus 2 tblsp. Splenda
1/4 tsp. instant coffee
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup cocoa
Glaze:
1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips
3 tblsp. lactose free milk
Cake: preheat oven to 375 degrees. Carefully melt the chocolate chips and margarine in the microwave or over low heat just until the chips are soft. Remove from heat and stir until combined. Stir in sugar, Splenda, instant coffee and vanilla, then add eggs, beating just until smooth. Sift cocoa powder over the mixing bowl and mix just until combined.
Pour into an 6 1/2 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with vegetable spray and has waxed paper or parchment paper on the bottom that has also been sprayed. I've tried doing this without the waxed paper and ended up glueing the pieces of my cake together with glaze.
Bake 20-25 min., when done, the top should have a thin crust and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center should register a minimum of 200 degrees F.
Glaze: After the cake has cooled completely it can be glazed. Combine the the chocolate chips and milk and melt the same as with the cake. Spread the glaze over the cake and allow it to drip over the sides. The glaze should set for several hours before serving the cake. For a larger cake, use an 8" pan and double the ingredients, same temperature, start at 25 minutes and keep and eye on your cake.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Ham, Asparagus, Mushroom Quiche & New Products
Before I get to the recipe, I want to share some new lactose free products that are now available and will expand the possibilities for not only what you can eat but also what dishes you can make. There is now lactose free cottage cheese as well as a variety of ice cream flavors. Kraft also has a new line of block cheeses which if you look for the very small print says 0% lactose and comes in cheddar, white cheddar, harvati, and asiago flavors.
Today's recipe would make a nice dinner with a soup or salad or brunch with a fruit salad. If you don't care for asparagus, leave it out or substitute it for a different vegetable.
Ham, Asparagus, Mushroom Quiche
1 refrigerated pie crust
1 box mushrooms
2 tblsp. stick margarine
3 tblsp. Marsala wine
1/3 cup asparagus tips
1 cup chopped ham
1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper
1 tsp. herbes de Provence
1 egg
1 cup egg substitute
1/3 cup lactose free milk
1 tblsp. instant dried minced onion
3 slices each Muenster and light Swiss lactose free cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line the inside of a pie plate with pie crust and pierce with a fork to keep it from bubbling up when baking. Bake for 10 minutes or when it is starting to brown. Remove from oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
Clean mushrooms. In a frying pan melt the margarine. Brown the mushrooms until the margarine and liquid is gone. Turn off the flame and pour in the wine. Turn the flame back on and simmer until the liquid is gone. Turn the flame off and set the mushrooms aside.
Cook asparagus tips in the microwave for one minute. In a mixing bowl mix the remaining imgredients except the sliced cheese. Add the mushrooms. Pour into the crust. Break up the cheese slices and sprinkle over the top.
Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until the center is set. If the crust edge is getting too brown make a foil collar around it to keep it from burning.
See you next time
Today's recipe would make a nice dinner with a soup or salad or brunch with a fruit salad. If you don't care for asparagus, leave it out or substitute it for a different vegetable.
Ham, Asparagus, Mushroom Quiche
1 refrigerated pie crust
1 box mushrooms
2 tblsp. stick margarine
3 tblsp. Marsala wine
1/3 cup asparagus tips
1 cup chopped ham
1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper
1 tsp. herbes de Provence
1 egg
1 cup egg substitute
1/3 cup lactose free milk
1 tblsp. instant dried minced onion
3 slices each Muenster and light Swiss lactose free cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line the inside of a pie plate with pie crust and pierce with a fork to keep it from bubbling up when baking. Bake for 10 minutes or when it is starting to brown. Remove from oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
Clean mushrooms. In a frying pan melt the margarine. Brown the mushrooms until the margarine and liquid is gone. Turn off the flame and pour in the wine. Turn the flame back on and simmer until the liquid is gone. Turn the flame off and set the mushrooms aside.
Cook asparagus tips in the microwave for one minute. In a mixing bowl mix the remaining imgredients except the sliced cheese. Add the mushrooms. Pour into the crust. Break up the cheese slices and sprinkle over the top.
Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until the center is set. If the crust edge is getting too brown make a foil collar around it to keep it from burning.
See you next time
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Blackberry Raspberry Cheesecake
I realize I have been absent for many months. After my mother passed away, my husband and I decided we needed a change of scenery and decided to move. We found a house we liked that was under construction which meant we were in a time constraint to sell our home. Apparently that wasn't a problem because our home sold in three days. The only problem was after living in our home for 29 years there was much purging to be done and limited time to do it. The couple who bought our home generously rented our home back to us for one month so that we could finish packing and our new house could finish being built.
If this was all that was going on in our lives that would have been enough, but of course it wasn't. Just before we moved we attended a destination wedding for one of our nieces and two days after we moved we attended another destination wedding.
When we came back we had one month to get our home presentable for guests staying with us for the shower of our second grandchild.
Several days after everyone went home we left on a month long vacation to spend birthdays with our first grandchild and our daughter.
By the time we got home my husband and I were exhausted. It had been five months since we had sold our home until we returned from our vacation and we felt displaced. Now we were finally going to have the chance to feel like we were home.
Most of our boxes are unpacked now and I have found most of what belongs in the kitchen. I have been testing recipes. Most have been a success, some after I remade them. Some were hopeless. But I have been working on quite a few to round out a fairly even number in all categories in the hope of making a cook book of them. More about that later.
Today's recipe is blackberry raspberry cheesecake. You will notice that I will be including Splenda in future recipes. My husband and I have both been told by our doctor that we need to watch certain parts of our diets and cutting down on sugar will help.
Blackberry Raspberry Cheesecake
Crust 9 in. springform pan
2 1/2 tablespoons stick margarine, melted
7 Oreos
8 squares graham crackers
Filling
2 ea. 8 oz. soy cream cheese, softened
2 ea. 5.5 oz. goat cheese, softened
2 eggs
1/4 cup Splenda
2 tblsp. blackberry spreadable fruit
2 tblsp. raspberry spreadable fruit
1 tsp. vanilla ext.
1 tsp. raspberry ext.
1 tsp. blackberry ext.
Topping
1/4 cup each blackberry and raspberry spreadable fruit
To make the crust, spray the inside of the pan with vegetable cooking spray. Crush the Oreos and graham crackers together and mix with the melted margarine. Press in the bottom of the pan. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 7 minutes. Set aside.
To make the filling put the soy cream cheese and goat cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until combined and smooth. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until blended and smooth. Pour over crust. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until center is set.
To make topping, let cheesecake cool for 10 minutes. Mix the two flavors of spreadable fruit together and spread evenly on the cheesecake. When the cheesecake is thoroughly cooled, cover and put in the refrigerator at least 3 hours before serving.
I have several recipes I have been working on for my next writing and I haven't decided which to do next so I guess it will be a surprise for all of us. See you next time.
If this was all that was going on in our lives that would have been enough, but of course it wasn't. Just before we moved we attended a destination wedding for one of our nieces and two days after we moved we attended another destination wedding.
When we came back we had one month to get our home presentable for guests staying with us for the shower of our second grandchild.
Several days after everyone went home we left on a month long vacation to spend birthdays with our first grandchild and our daughter.
By the time we got home my husband and I were exhausted. It had been five months since we had sold our home until we returned from our vacation and we felt displaced. Now we were finally going to have the chance to feel like we were home.
Most of our boxes are unpacked now and I have found most of what belongs in the kitchen. I have been testing recipes. Most have been a success, some after I remade them. Some were hopeless. But I have been working on quite a few to round out a fairly even number in all categories in the hope of making a cook book of them. More about that later.
Today's recipe is blackberry raspberry cheesecake. You will notice that I will be including Splenda in future recipes. My husband and I have both been told by our doctor that we need to watch certain parts of our diets and cutting down on sugar will help.
Blackberry Raspberry Cheesecake
Crust 9 in. springform pan
2 1/2 tablespoons stick margarine, melted
7 Oreos
8 squares graham crackers
Filling
2 ea. 8 oz. soy cream cheese, softened
2 ea. 5.5 oz. goat cheese, softened
2 eggs
1/4 cup Splenda
2 tblsp. blackberry spreadable fruit
2 tblsp. raspberry spreadable fruit
1 tsp. vanilla ext.
1 tsp. raspberry ext.
1 tsp. blackberry ext.
Topping
1/4 cup each blackberry and raspberry spreadable fruit
To make the crust, spray the inside of the pan with vegetable cooking spray. Crush the Oreos and graham crackers together and mix with the melted margarine. Press in the bottom of the pan. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 7 minutes. Set aside.
To make the filling put the soy cream cheese and goat cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until combined and smooth. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until blended and smooth. Pour over crust. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until center is set.
To make topping, let cheesecake cool for 10 minutes. Mix the two flavors of spreadable fruit together and spread evenly on the cheesecake. When the cheesecake is thoroughly cooled, cover and put in the refrigerator at least 3 hours before serving.
I have several recipes I have been working on for my next writing and I haven't decided which to do next so I guess it will be a surprise for all of us. See you next time.
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