Strawberry Cream Pie

Pie is one of those things that screams family get togethers or cook-outs.

With fourth of July coming up...I thought I would make a patriot pie that is so

delicious everyone will ask you for the recipe and it's super easy.

Something magical happens when you make homemade whip cream and

- pair it with sweet delicious strawberries.

Strawberry Cream Pie

6 ounces vanilla wafers

4 tablespoons plus 2/3 cup sugar

5 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 cup cranberry-raspberry juice

2 quarts strawberries, thinly sliced

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup heavy cream

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees. For the crust, in a food processor, combine

vanilla wafers and 2 tablespoons sugar. Process until mixture resembles fine

crumbs. Transfer to medium bowl, add melted butter. Stir to combine, Press

crumb mixture onto bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie plate. Bake for 14 minutes.

Let the pie cool for 30 minutes.

2) Meanwhile in a medium saucepan, combine the 2/3 cup sugar, the juice, 2 cups

of strawberries and cornstarch. Gently crush berries. Bring to boiling over medium

heat. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in remaining berries. Pour

into cooled pie crust and chill for at least 4 hours.

3) Just before serving in a large chilled bowl, beat heavy cream and 2

tablespoons of sugar and whip until soft peaks form.

Cherry Bruschetta

                    There is something so dreamy about grilled bread with amazing fruit on top.
                 Bruschetta, one of life's greatest pleasures. You can have with Savory or Sweet
                     Either way...it is incredible. I look for any reason to have crusty bread.
                          Please make this while Cherries are in season. I mean like....run
                      to the store and impress some neighbors or loved ones. You can even
                               make it to treat yourself. You are so worth it. Enjoy.

                                                            Cherry Bruschetta

                                     1 Baguette
                                     Cherries, pitted and sliced
                                     Lindt Dark Chocolate, chopped
                                     Honey
                                     1/2 lime
                                     1 teaspoon sugar
                                     Honey Nut Cream Cheese

                         1) Cut cherries and place in bowl. Pour sugar, honey and lime on top
                         and mix. Set aside.
                         2) Grill or broil bread until toasted. If you can you can add a little butter
                         before grilling. It makes everything better =)
                         3) Once bread is toasted add cream cheese. Top with cherry mixture.
                         Garnish with chocolate and drizzle with honey.

Brownies with Coconut Frosting

          I'm at a lost for words.....This is a very rare thing. I usually can talk about anything.
          This dessert. Yes, this dessert that you see right before your eyes is so good. I mean
            entirely too good. Decadent, rich, delightful, creamy, fudge and YOU. Yes, You
                need to make this and be a super star baker for your friends or loved ones.
                        Get your glass of milk ready and I hope you have the will power
                            not to eat the entire pan. Share and make someone happy.

                                                        Brownies with Coconut Frosting

                                BROWNIES...
                                1 cup of butter, room temperature
                                2 eggs
                                6 ( 1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate or 1 cup semi sweet chips
                                2 cups sugar
                                1 cup all purpose flour
                                1 teaspoon vanilla extract
                                1/2 teaspoon salt

                     1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 9 pan.
                     2) In a 3 quart saucepan over very low heat, melt butter and chocolate,
                     stirring the mixture constantly. Remove from heat, and stir the sugar into the
                     chocolate. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Beat in eggs one at a time,
                     mixing well after each, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour and salt, stir into
                     chocolate mixture. Spread batter into pan.
                     3) Bake for 30 minutes or until done.

                                 COCONUT FROSTING...
                                 2 sticks butter, room temperature
                                 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
                                 1/3 cup coconut milk
                                 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract or vanilla
                                 pinch of salt
                                 1 1/2 cups toasted coconut for garnish

             1) Beat first 5 ingredients in a bowl and frost brownies and add toasted coconut.

Avocado, Egg Toasts with Feta

               Do you have a go to breakfast that you tend to eat a lot of? This is my new
           go to. You can hard boil the eggs ahead of time...to have them on hand. Once you
                try this healthy breakfast you will want it as much as I do. I adore anything
                      with avocados. I look for the chance to add them in everything.
            I used to eat oatmeal and bananas about 5 times a week. I figured I should mix
                          it up. Live a little and add a new breakfast favorite. Enjoy!

                                               Avocado, Egg Toasts with Feta

                                                          Hard Boiled Eggs
                                                               Avocados
                                                                  Feta
                                                        Sour Dough Toast
                                                          salt and pepper

               1) Hard boil eggs. Meanwhile, mash avocado with fork and place on toast and
               season with salt and pepper. Place avocado on toast, top with sliced egg, feta
               and season with more salt and pepper.

             
         

Roasted Summer Vegetables with Creamy Lemon Fettucini

                      This is my definition of a perfect Summer meal. Light, creamy and full of
                   all of your favorite Summer veggies. It's a perfect dinner for the ladies and the
                   roasted veggies are just so flavorful. The creamy lemon pasta is so good you
                   could just eat it all by itself. Serve with some crusty bread and a glass of vino.

                                  Roasted Summer Vegetable with Creamy Lemon Fettucini

                                                     VEGGIES
                                      1 eggplant, sliced into think strips
                                      1 red bell pepper, sliced
                                      2 yellow summer squash, sliced
                                      2 zucchini, sliced
                                      handful of cherry tomatoes
                                      2 garlic cloves, minced
                                      2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
                                      2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
                                      1 teaspoon garlic powder
                                      salt and pepper

                                                        PASTA
                                      1 pound fettucini
                                      1/2 cup parmesan cheese
                                      1 lemon, zest and juice
                                      1 cup of heavy cream
                                       salt and pepper, to taste

                  1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
                  2) Boil salted water for pasta and cook until al dente.
                  3) Place vegetables on a cookie sheet. Add oil and spices. Toss well and
                  bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until roasted.
                  5) Drain pasta and add your heavy cream, parmesan cheese, lemon juice
                 and lemon zest.
                  6) Add roasted veggies to pasta or serve veggies on top of pasta.
                  Serve with additional cheese and lemon wedges.
               

4th of July Rice Krispy Pops

                     I love 4th of July and so do my kiddies. I'm always looking for something
             fun to make that can be super fast and easy peasy. These are basically kicked up
        rice krispy treats. I threw in some red and blue m & m's and some red candy melts   
                       and these soon became an instant hit. Enjoy and let the kids help.

                                                       4th of July Rice Krispy Pops

                                                       1/2 stick of butter
                                                       1 box of rice crispy treats
                                                       1 bag of marshmallows
                                                        peanut butter m & m 's
                                                        red candy melts
                                                       

                         1) Melt butter in a heat proof bowl, add marshmallows and melt.
                   when melted add rice crispy treats and m&m's. Mix well and place in a
                 9 x 13 pan. Melt candy melts and place on top. You can add a stick in them
                                               and make them rice krispy pops.

Spicy Sausage, Peppers and Onion Quiche

                      I'm a quiche kinda gal..... I actually love everything thrown in a crust.
             This Quiche is so good and  it's even man worthy. Sausage, peppers and onions,
          now how can you go wrong with that? It would be perfect for a Father's Day Brunch.
               Serve with a side salad and a nice glass of mimosa and you have a perfect meal.

                                                   Spicy Sausage, Peppers and Onion Quiche

                                                        4 hot sausage links, casings removed
                                                              1/2 of a red bell pepper, diced
                                                          1/2 of a orange bell pepper, diced
                                                                     1 onion, chopped
                                                           1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
                                                                  3 garlic cloves, minced
                                                             1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
                                     a dash of garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes
                                                                         salt and pepper
                                                                               6 eggs
                                                                  1/3 cup parmesan cheese
                                                                   1/3 cup cheddar cheese
                                                         1 pie crust, homemade or store bought

                            1) Preheat oven to 375
                            2) In a large frying pan place 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add peppers, onions
                            and sausage. Cook until almost done.
                            3) Add spices, tomatoes and garlic to the mixture cook for another 5 min.
                            4) In a bowl mix eggs and cheeses.
                            5) Heat your crust in oven according to package before adding the filling
                            about ten minutes.
                            6) Take crust out of the oven and add your veggies and meat mixture.
                            Pour eggs and cheese over that and place in oven. Cook for about 40 to 45
                            minutes or until done.

           

Cannoli Dip

                  Hello my friends....Today is my 2 year blogging anniversary. It seems like
           only yesterday that I wrote my first post. I remember the feeling I had the moment I
            clicked publish. Back then only my close friends and family looked at it. I never in
                    my wildest would of ever thought that my blog would be what it is today.
             I want to thank each and everyone of you for stopping by my page. You have truly
                       made my world a better place. Cheers, to many more yummy years.

             This recipe is down right delightful. I ate it for dinner one night with my favorite
                    ladies. It's perfect for a quick get together or a nice hot Summer day.
                            You can mix and match any fruit, cookies and cakes.

                                                                  Cannoli Dip

                                                       2 1/2 cups of ricotta cheese
                                             1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
                                                2 tablespoons coffee, room temperature
                                                            1 tablespoon vanilla
                                                      1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
                                                     1 cup of mini chocolate chips

                       1) Beat ricotta and cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and mix until
                              well blended. Add coffee and vanilla. Mix and serve in bowl.

              I served this with fresh strawberries, pineapple, lady fingers and vanilla wafers.