Balsamic Tomato Bruschetta Recipe

INGREDIENTS

6  Roma Tomatoes, chopped

1/2 Cup  Sun-dried Tomatoes

3 Cloves  Minced Garlic

1/4 Cup  Olive Oil

2 1/2 Tablespoons  Balsamic Vinegar

1/4 Teaspoon  Salt

1/4 Teaspoon  Ground Black Pepper

1 French  Baguette

2 Cups  Shredded Mozzarella

1/3 Cup  Red Onion, chopped

2 Tablespoons  Fresh Basil, chopped (for garnishing)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.  Let it sit for 10 minutes.

2. Cut the baguette diagonally into 1/4 inch slices.

3. Preheat the oven on broiler setting.  Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet.  Broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until slightly browned.

4. Top each slice evenly with the tomato mixture, and sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each.  Broil for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

5. Garnish with basil just before serving.

Wine and Cheese Night

Thinking about having a classy wine and cheese night with the gals?  While your guests will be bringing bottles of wine and platters of meat and cheese, try sprucing up your table-scape with these delightful finger foods.  Your guests will think you spent all afternoon in the kitchen!

Not only does bruschetta make a statement with its fresh flavors, it is the perfect size for a tasting menu and cleaning your palette between swigs of wine.  Bruschetta originates from Italy and it started out as just a garlic rubbed roasted bread with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Over the years, it has transformed from the plain garlic and oil to a jazzed up caprese bite.

For my wine and cheese night, I whipped up a Balsamic Tomato and Parmesan  Artichoke bruschetta.  They were so tasty, and both paired deliciously with our wine choices.  Everyone kept coming back for more of the artichoke bruschetta, so next time I know to make more of that!  There are a ton of great recipes all over the web, but you can basically put anything on top of little crostini and have a great tasting appetizer.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe

INGREDIENTS

RED VELVET ROUNDS

2 Cups  All-purpose Flour

3 1/2 Tbsp  Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1/2 tsp  Baking Soda

1/2 Cup  Butter, softened

1 Cup  Packed Brown Sugar

1  Egg

1 tsp  Vanilla Extract

1/2 Cup  Buttermilk

1 oz (2 Tbsp)  Red Food Coloring

WHOOPIE PIE FILLING

1/4 Cup  Butter, softened

4 oz  Cream Cheese, softened

7 oz  Marshmallow Creme

DIRECTIONS

1. In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder and baking soda.

2. In large bowl, beat butter on medium. Then add brown sugar and beat until fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.

3. Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk, beating after each addition until just combined.  Stir in food coloring, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Using a small cookie dough scooper, scoop 1 inch rounds onto baking sheet (lined with parchment paper) making sure they’re 1/2 inch high.  Allow 1 inch of space between each round.

5.  Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until tops are set.  Cool completely and remove from baking sheet.

6.  In a medium bowl, beat 1/4 cup butter and cream cheese until smooth.  Then, fold in marshmallow creme.

7.  For easy filling, put whoopie pie filling into a Ziploc bag, and cut the corner off.  Squeeze filling onto the flat sides of half the rounds, and top with remaining rounds.

You can store these up to 4 days in the refrigerator, but I’m sure they’ll be long gone before then, lol.  If you’re taking them to a party or giving them away as a gift, place each whoopie pie into a cupcake cup to keep the pies from sticking together. If you're storing them in the refrigerator, for best taste, let it stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes and then jump in taste buds ready!  To add a twist to these already amazing treats, add 1/3 cup of white chocolate chips to the filling before piping the rounds. Yum!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

How could I forget about these??  I made these delicious red velvet whoopie pies for Christmas gift giving two years ago.  Since red velvet has suddenly taken the sweet tooth nation by storm I thought it would be a perfect gift to pass out.  They're soft, creamy and perfectly bite-sized so you won't feel guilty about eating more than one with your cup of coffee or scoop of ice cream (yuuummm).  This recipe only makes about 2 1/2 dozen whoopie pies, so be sure to bake 2 batches because you are for sure going to want to save some for yourself and people are bound to ask you for more!

Secret Moments Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup  Butter or Margarine softened

1/2 Cup  Granulated Sugar

1 tsp  Vanilla Extract

1 3/4 Cups  All-purpose Flour

1 Cup  Finely chopped Walnuts

36  Dark Chocolate HERSHEY'S KISSES

Powdered Sugar

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

DIRECTIONS

1. Beat butter, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy.  Add flour and walnuts.  Mix on low speed until well blended.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, or until dough is firm enough to handle

2. Remove KISSES from wrappers.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Shape about 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball around each chocolate, making sure that the chocolate is completely covered.  Place on cookie sheet (for easy clean up and removal, place parchment paper on cookie sheet).

4. Mix 1/4 Cup of powdered sugar and 1/2 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder in a small bowl.

5. Bake 11 - 13 minutes or until cookies are set and not browned.  Cool cookies completely, roll in powdered sugar and cocoa powder mixture.

Now all you have to do is whip up this quick and easy recipe and pour yourself a glass of milk, ^^.  Enjoy!

Secret Moments

Who can resist the sinful taste of dark chocolate?  How about hiding it in a dollop of shortbread?  Even better, right?!

The recipe is originally from Hershey's, but I tweaked a few things, and I call these delightful treats Secret Moments.  It's kind of a chocolate twist to the traditional Melting Moments (Russian Tea Cookies).  The first bite has powdered sugar and cocoa powder melting in your mouth, and your teeth sinking through buttery shortbread into a dark chocolate core.  It sounds really sweet, but the walnuts and dark chocolate offset the sweetness and makes this treat a perfect any-time satisfier.

These Secret Moments are incredibly easy to make, and most of the ingredients are right in your kitchen.  You can also make the dough ahead of time, store it in your refrigerator or freezer, and pull it out when you need it.  They're perfect for dessert nights, picnics with the kids and simple Christmas gifts (just don't forget to keep some for yourself, lol).

Easy Peasy Pancake Recipe

INGREDIENTS

 

2 Cups  Bisquick

1 Cup  Milk

2  Eggs

1 Tbsp  Sugar

1 Tsp  Baking Powder

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 Tsp  Vanilla Extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Stir all ingredients together till blended.

2. Scoop batter with 1/4-cup measuring cup, and pour onto hot greased griddle (cast iron pan works great too).

3. (Optional) Place a few slices of fruit onto batter as it's cooking

4. Cook till edges are dry.  Flip, and cook till golden.