Confessions of a Foodie

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Showing posts with label Blackberry Cheesecake Squares. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blackberry Cheesecake Squares. Show all posts

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including 4-Step Chicken Marengo and Katharine Hepburn's Brownies. Enjoy!

AL ROKER’S VEGETABLE LASAGNA

This is from The Today Show’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “This vegetarian lasagna, which is bubbling with gooey cheese, is a delicious way to sneak lots of vegetable servings into dinner.”

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 1 lasagna

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 zucchini, medium dice

1 small yellow squash, medium dice

1 medium yellow onion, medium dice

1 medium red bell pepper, medium dice

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups marinara sauce

3 tablespoons chopped basil

1 pinch red pepper flakes

Lasagna

32 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese

2 eggs

1 pound dry lasagna noodles, cooked according to packaging

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella

Preparation

For the sauce:

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add zucchini, squash, onion and red peppers. Season with salt and sauté vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Pour in marinara sauce and chopped basil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook sauce for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

For the lasagna:

While sauce is cooking, mix together ricotta cheese and egg until combined. Season with salt and pepper.

In a 9x13-inch baking dish, assemble the lasagna: Spoon vegetable sauce on bottom, cover with noodles in a single layer, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle some Parmesan. Repeat until the lasagna is fully built, finishing by covering the top with the shredded mozzarella.

Cover lasagna with aluminum foil. Bake in a 400°F oven, covered, for 40 minutes, then remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese turns golden brown.

Once cooked, let lasagna sit for 8-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE SQUARES

This is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman.

Total:4 hr 5 min; Active: 30 min; Yield: 15 squares; Level: Easy

Ingredients

Crust:

Cooking spray, for spraying foil

One 11-ounce box vanilla wafers

1/2 cup pecans

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

Filling:

Three 8-ounce packages cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

Topping:

4 cups blackberries

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: Line a 9-by-13-inch rectangular baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Place the vanilla wafers and pecans into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse again until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. (If they come up the sides, that's okay!)

For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the sour cream and mix again.

Pour the filling into the crust, smooth the top and bake for 50 minutes. Turn off the oven, open the oven door and allow the pan to sit in the open oven for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.

For the topping: Add the blackberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water to a saucepan or skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the juices thicken slightly, 4 to 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, make a slurry by stirring together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Add the slurry to the berries, return to the boil and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool the mixture.

Pour the blackberries over the cheesecake and place the pan into the fridge to cool and set for at least 2 hours (several hours is better).

When ready to serve, remove the cheesecake from the pan by lifting the edges of the foil. Slice into 15 pieces with a long serrated knife.

4-STEP CHICKEN MARENGO

This is from Melissa d’Arabian of The Food Network’s Ten Dollar Dinners.

Total:35 min; Active: 20 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/4-step-chicken-marengo-recipe.

Ingredients

3 large chicken cutlets, sliced into thin paillards (slice while partially frozen)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium sweet onion, sliced

1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced

1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and julienned

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup white wine

1/2 cup beef broth

One 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes

1/2 tablespoon butter

Directions

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, to taste, and lightly dredge in flour. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat and add the chicken. Brown on both sides, until nicely golden, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate. In the same pan, add more oil, if needed, along with the onion, mushrooms and peppers and saute until softened and fragrant, but not limp, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the tomato paste and cook a few minutes to cook out the raw flavor. Turn up the heat, and add the wine/wine to deglaze the pan and let it reduce for 2 or 3 minutes. Add the beef broth and tomatoes. Once the mixture begins to bubble, add the browned paillards and any juices from the chicken and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the chicken is warmed through, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and stir in the butter. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH POTATO TOPPING

This is from Kathy Kingsley, About.com's American Food expert. She writes, “Although this dish is called a 'pie,' there isn’t any pastry involved. It is simply a mix of ground turkey and vegetables in a sauce with a topping of mashed potatoes. The dish is browned in the oven for a delicious example of comfort food. For a pretty effect, pipe the topping over the filling, using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Serve this hearty meal with a steamed green vegetable.” Yield: Serves 6 to 8.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Potato Topping

3 1/2 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inches pieces

1 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons butter

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 medium carrots, peeled and diced

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

1 cup thawed frozen peas

3/4 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels

One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained

1 tablespoon tomato paste

Preparation

Make the potato topping: In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes with enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes well in a colander. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, milk, butter, salt and pepper to taste. Using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until smooth. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring a small saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the carrots and cook for 2 minutes to blanch. Drain and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 15 seconds. Stir in the ground turkey, breaking up the large pieces with a fork, and cook until browned. Add the blanched carrots, peas, corn, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Mix well. Cook, stirring often, until the flavors have blended, about 10 minutes. Season with black pepper to taste.

Spray a 3-quart gratin dish or shallow casserole with vegetable oil spray. Spoon the vegetable-turkey mixture into the prepared dish. Top with dollops of mashed potatoes. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until heated through. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes:

• You can mash any type of potato, but those with a high starch/low water content, such as russet and Yukon Gold, produce perfect results. The starch creates a fluffy texture, and the low water content allows them to absorb milk and butter without becoming gummy.

• Never try to whip potatoes in a food processor or you will have a gluey mess.

• Ideally, mashed potatoes should be served freshly made, but this is not always possible. Mash them up to 1 hour before serving, reserving one-third of the milk. Place them in a heatproof bowl, set over a pan of barely simmering water. Pour the reserved milk over the top. Just before serving, stir the milk into the potatoes.

• Potatoes are more fragile than you might think, so handle them carefully to prevent bruising. Keep them unwashed in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place. If stored in a place that is too hot, the sugar will convert to starch and the potatoes will lose their natural sweetness.

• Choose fairly clean, smooth, firm potatoes. For even cooking, pick potatoes that are about the same size. Do not select ones with wrinkled skins, soft dark spots, cut surfaces, or green areas. Green spots mean they have been exposed to light; cut the spot off before cooking to eliminate bitterness.

MEATLOAF EXPRESS

This is also from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “Making them mini not only slashes the cook time, but makes mealtime fun, too. These single-serve meatloaves bake under a sweet and savory topping to ensure moist and flavorful little loaves that your whole family will love.”

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves: 6 people

To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/meatloaf-express/.

Ingredients

1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed French Onion Soup

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup honey mustard (honey Dijon-style)

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

1 cup plain dry bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten

Directions

Set the oven to 425°F. Stir the soup, ketchup and honey mustard in a medium bowl.

Thoroughly mix the beef, bread crumbs, egg and 1/4 cup soup mixture in a large bowl. Season the beef mixture as desired.

Shape the beef mixture into 6 mini meatloaves. Place the mini meatloaves into a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Pour the remaining soup mixture over the meatloaves.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the meatloaves are cooked through.

KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES

This came in a recent New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “Much like its author, this recipe is a no-fuss classic. It calls for just 1/4 cup of flour, which yields an incredibly rich and gooey brownie, and it's super easy to make. So easy, in fact, that baking a batch of these might just become part of your weekend routine.” Time: about 45 minutes; makes 12 brownies

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 cup chopped or broken-up walnuts or pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

Preparation

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Melt butter in saucepan with cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, nuts and salt. Add to the cocoa-butter mixture. Stir until just combined.

Pour into a greased 8 x 8-inch-square pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake; the brownies should be gooey. Let cool, then cut into bars.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including 4-Step Chicken Marengo and Katharine Hepburn's Brownies. Enjoy!

AL ROKER’S VEGETABLE LASAGNA

This is from The Today Show’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “This vegetarian lasagna, which is bubbling with gooey cheese, is a delicious way to sneak lots of vegetable servings into dinner.”

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 1 lasagna

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 zucchini, medium dice

1 small yellow squash, medium dice

1 medium yellow onion, medium dice

1 medium red bell pepper, medium dice

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups marinara sauce

3 tablespoons chopped basil

1 pinch red pepper flakes

Lasagna

32 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese

2 eggs

1 pound dry lasagna noodles, cooked according to packaging

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella

Preparation

For the sauce:

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add zucchini, squash, onion and red peppers. Season with salt and sauté vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Pour in marinara sauce and chopped basil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook sauce for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

For the lasagna:

While sauce is cooking, mix together ricotta cheese and egg until combined. Season with salt and pepper.

In a 9x13-inch baking dish, assemble the lasagna: Spoon vegetable sauce on bottom, cover with noodles in a single layer, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle some Parmesan. Repeat until the lasagna is fully built, finishing by covering the top with the shredded mozzarella.

Cover lasagna with aluminum foil. Bake in a 400°F oven, covered, for 40 minutes, then remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese turns golden brown.

Once cooked, let lasagna sit for 8-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE SQUARES

This is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman.

Total:4 hr 5 min; Active: 30 min; Yield: 15 squares; Level: Easy

Ingredients

Crust:

Cooking spray, for spraying foil

One 11-ounce box vanilla wafers

1/2 cup pecans

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

Filling:

Three 8-ounce packages cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

Topping:

4 cups blackberries

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: Line a 9-by-13-inch rectangular baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Place the vanilla wafers and pecans into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse again until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. (If they come up the sides, that's okay!)

For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the sour cream and mix again.

Pour the filling into the crust, smooth the top and bake for 50 minutes. Turn off the oven, open the oven door and allow the pan to sit in the open oven for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.

For the topping: Add the blackberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water to a saucepan or skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the juices thicken slightly, 4 to 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, make a slurry by stirring together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Add the slurry to the berries, return to the boil and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool the mixture.

Pour the blackberries over the cheesecake and place the pan into the fridge to cool and set for at least 2 hours (several hours is better).

When ready to serve, remove the cheesecake from the pan by lifting the edges of the foil. Slice into 15 pieces with a long serrated knife.

4-STEP CHICKEN MARENGO

This is from Melissa d’Arabian of The Food Network’s Ten Dollar Dinners.

Total:35 min; Active: 20 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/4-step-chicken-marengo-recipe.

Ingredients

3 large chicken cutlets, sliced into thin paillards (slice while partially frozen)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium sweet onion, sliced

1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced

1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and julienned

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup white wine

1/2 cup beef broth

One 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes

1/2 tablespoon butter

Directions

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, to taste, and lightly dredge in flour. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat and add the chicken. Brown on both sides, until nicely golden, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate. In the same pan, add more oil, if needed, along with the onion, mushrooms and peppers and saute until softened and fragrant, but not limp, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the tomato paste and cook a few minutes to cook out the raw flavor. Turn up the heat, and add the wine/wine to deglaze the pan and let it reduce for 2 or 3 minutes. Add the beef broth and tomatoes. Once the mixture begins to bubble, add the browned paillards and any juices from the chicken and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the chicken is warmed through, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and stir in the butter. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH POTATO TOPPING

This is from Kathy Kingsley, About.com's American Food expert. She writes, “Although this dish is called a 'pie,' there isn’t any pastry involved. It is simply a mix of ground turkey and vegetables in a sauce with a topping of mashed potatoes. The dish is browned in the oven for a delicious example of comfort food. For a pretty effect, pipe the topping over the filling, using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Serve this hearty meal with a steamed green vegetable.” Yield: Serves 6 to 8.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Potato Topping

3 1/2 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inches pieces

1 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons butter

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 medium carrots, peeled and diced

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

1 cup thawed frozen peas

3/4 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels

One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained

1 tablespoon tomato paste

Preparation

Make the potato topping: In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes with enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes well in a colander. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, milk, butter, salt and pepper to taste. Using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until smooth. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring a small saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the carrots and cook for 2 minutes to blanch. Drain and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 15 seconds. Stir in the ground turkey, breaking up the large pieces with a fork, and cook until browned. Add the blanched carrots, peas, corn, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Mix well. Cook, stirring often, until the flavors have blended, about 10 minutes. Season with black pepper to taste.

Spray a 3-quart gratin dish or shallow casserole with vegetable oil spray. Spoon the vegetable-turkey mixture into the prepared dish. Top with dollops of mashed potatoes. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until heated through. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes:

• You can mash any type of potato, but those with a high starch/low water content, such as russet and Yukon Gold, produce perfect results. The starch creates a fluffy texture, and the low water content allows them to absorb milk and butter without becoming gummy.

• Never try to whip potatoes in a food processor or you will have a gluey mess.

• Ideally, mashed potatoes should be served freshly made, but this is not always possible. Mash them up to 1 hour before serving, reserving one-third of the milk. Place them in a heatproof bowl, set over a pan of barely simmering water. Pour the reserved milk over the top. Just before serving, stir the milk into the potatoes.

• Potatoes are more fragile than you might think, so handle them carefully to prevent bruising. Keep them unwashed in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place. If stored in a place that is too hot, the sugar will convert to starch and the potatoes will lose their natural sweetness.

• Choose fairly clean, smooth, firm potatoes. For even cooking, pick potatoes that are about the same size. Do not select ones with wrinkled skins, soft dark spots, cut surfaces, or green areas. Green spots mean they have been exposed to light; cut the spot off before cooking to eliminate bitterness.

MEATLOAF EXPRESS

This is also from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “Making them mini not only slashes the cook time, but makes mealtime fun, too. These single-serve meatloaves bake under a sweet and savory topping to ensure moist and flavorful little loaves that your whole family will love.”

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves: 6 people

To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/meatloaf-express/.

Ingredients

1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed French Onion Soup

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup honey mustard (honey Dijon-style)

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

1 cup plain dry bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten

Directions

Set the oven to 425°F. Stir the soup, ketchup and honey mustard in a medium bowl.

Thoroughly mix the beef, bread crumbs, egg and 1/4 cup soup mixture in a large bowl. Season the beef mixture as desired.

Shape the beef mixture into 6 mini meatloaves. Place the mini meatloaves into a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Pour the remaining soup mixture over the meatloaves.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the meatloaves are cooked through.

KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES

This came in a recent New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “Much like its author, this recipe is a no-fuss classic. It calls for just 1/4 cup of flour, which yields an incredibly rich and gooey brownie, and it's super easy to make. So easy, in fact, that baking a batch of these might just become part of your weekend routine.” Time: about 45 minutes; makes 12 brownies

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 cup chopped or broken-up walnuts or pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

Preparation

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Melt butter in saucepan with cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, nuts and salt. Add to the cocoa-butter mixture. Stir until just combined.

Pour into a greased 8 x 8-inch-square pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake; the brownies should be gooey. Let cool, then cut into bars.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Friday Recipes

It's Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Apple-Chicken Quesadillas and Frozen Blueberry Lemonade Pie. Enjoy!

BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE SQUARES

This is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman.

Total:4 hr 5 min; Active: 30 min; Yield: 15 squares; Level: Easy

Ingredients

Crust:

Cooking spray, for spraying foil

One 11-ounce box vanilla wafers

1/2 cup pecans

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

Filling:

Three 8-ounce packages cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

Topping:

4 cups blackberries

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: Line a 9-by-13-inch rectangular baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Place the vanilla wafers and pecans into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse again until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. (If they come up the sides, that's okay!)

For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the sour cream and mix again.

Pour the filling into the crust, smooth the top and bake for 50 minutes. Turn off the oven, open the oven door and allow the pan to sit in the open oven for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.

For the topping: Add the blackberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water to a saucepan or skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the juices thicken slightly, 4 to 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, make a slurry by stirring together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Add the slurry to the berries, return to the boil and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool the mixture.

Pour the blackberries over the cheesecake and place the pan into the fridge to cool and set for at least 2 hours (several hours is better).

When ready to serve, remove the cheesecake from the pan by lifting the edges of the foil. Slice into 15 pieces with a long serrated knife.

ONE-POT MAC ’N’ CHEESE

This is from The Food Network, and begins, “This one-pot wonder has humble beginnings: just milk and macaroni. As the pasta cooks, the starch released helps thicken the milk to make the perfect base for a sauce. The cheeses and seasonings are stirred in at the very end, and everything comes together magically.”

Total: 20 min; Active: 10 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/one-pot-mac-n-cheese.

Ingredients

4 cups whole milk

3/4 pound elbow macaroni (about 3 cups)

8 ounces mild Cheddar, shredded (about 3 cups)

3 ounces part-skim mozzarella, shredded (about 1 cup)

2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Large pinch cayenne pepper

Large pinch freshly grated nutmeg

Kosher salt

Directions

Put the milk and macaroni in a medium saucepan. Bring the milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the macaroni from clumping, then cook, stirring frequently, until the macaroni is tender and the milk has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the Cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese, butter, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and stir until smooth, thick and creamy. Serve hot. (The dish will thicken as it cools; thin it out with a little hot water if desired.)

Cook's Note

Be sure to buy blocks of cheese and shred it yourself. The pre-shredded cheese that comes in bags is often tossed with starchy cellulose, which can give this mac 'n' cheese a clumpy texture.

CHICKEN WITH CRISPY PANKO COATING

This comes from Diana Rattray, Southern food expert for The Spruce. Diana wrote, “Mayonnaise and honey mustard help flavor this easy crispy baked chicken.”

Serves 4 to 6 in 55 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup Dijon honey mustard blend

1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon or thyme

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

6 boneless chicken breast halves
1 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup fine dried bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon salt

Dash pepper

Dash paprika, optional

Directions

Heat oven to 400 F.

Line a baking pan with foil and lightly grease the foil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine the mayonnaise, honey mustard, tarragon or thyme, and parsley. Spread over the chicken to coat thoroughly.

Combine the bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and paprika in a bowl or pie plate.

Press the chicken breasts in the bread crumb mixture, turning to coat thoroughly. Arrange chicken on the prepared baking pan.

Bake for 25 minutes; turn and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until cooked through.

LASAGNA VERDE

This yummy recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “There is not a more delicious way to get your veggies – and a healthy dose of protein – than with this easy Lasagna Verde recipe.”

Serves: 8; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes. Source: Pasta Fits

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 oz. lasagna noodles (about 8 sheets or enough for 2 layers)

2 tsp. olive oil

2 lbs. spinach, well-washed

32 oz. part-skim ricotta

2 eggs

1 Tbsp./1/2 oz. garlic, grated or finely chopped

1 tsp. lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)

1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg

2 cups/10 oz. frozen peas

2 cups/8 oz. asparagus, cut in 1/2” pieces

1/2 cup/2 oz. grated Parmigiano

8 oz. mozzarella, grated, divided

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain, toss with olive oil, and reserve.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place the spinach in a large pan over medium heat. If spinach is still wet, simply cover pan and wilt. If it’s dry, add 1/4 cup water to the pan, cover, and wilt. Drain spinach. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop it and squeeze out excess liquid.

Place spinach in a large bowl with the ricotta, eggs, garlic, zest, nutmeg, peas, asparagus, Parmigiano and half of the mozzarella. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Place half the noodles along the bottom of a 9” x 13” pan. Top with half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat with remaining noodles and ricotta mixture.

Strew remaining mozzarella over the top. Place in the oven and cook until heated through (about 30 minutes).

FROZEN BLUEBERRY LEMONADE PIE

This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “Blueberries give this frozen lemonade pie extra color and flavor, and it is a fabulous pie for a hot summer day. The pie takes just a few minutes to mix - just freeze and eat!” Prep Time: 6 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Total Time: 6 minutes; Yield: 8 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1 can (6 ounces) frozen lemonade

1 tub (8 ounces) whipped topping, regular or "lite," thawed in the refrigerator

1 deep dish graham cracker pie crust, homemade or purchased

Preparation

Put the blueberries, sweetened condensed milk, and frozen lemonade in a blender container. Blend until well mixed.

Pour into a bowl and fold in the whipped topping until well blended.

Spoon into the prepared crust.

Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours.

If frozen solid, take it out of the freezer 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.

Note: I used a "2 extra servings" deep dish ready crust for the pie. A smaller pie shell will leave you with extra filling.

Just freeze any excess in small ramekins or 4-ounce canning jars and serve as a frozen pudding.

APPLE-CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

This recipe begins, “You may be surprised at the idea of combining chicken and apples inside a crispy tortilla, but the taste will amaze you.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

Click here to view this online.

Ingredients

2 medium tart apples, sliced

1 cup diced cooked chicken breast

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed

1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped onion

6 low-carb tortillas, fajita-sized, warmed

3/4 cup shredded lettuce

3/4 cup salsa

6 tablespoons sour cream

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Place about 3/4 cup on half of each tortilla. Fold tortilla in half over filling and secure with toothpicks.

Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Carefully turn quesadillas over; bake 5-8 minutes longer or until golden brown. Discard toothpicks. Cut each quesadilla into three wedges. Serve with lettuce, salsa, and sour cream.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 12; Calories – 121; Total Fat – 5 g; Saturated Fat – 3 g; Sodium – 196 mg; Carbohydrates – 13 g; Fiber – 2 g; Sugars – 4 g; Protein – 7 g