Cheeseburgers with Roasted Ramp Mayonnaise are one of our favorite summer burgers. I start these burgers by roasting fresh spring ramps. Then, I use the roasted ramps to make a creamy mayonnaise. Next, I cook the burgers in a cast iron skillet. Finally, I top …
Focaccia with Basil Pesto Butter is one of our favorite appetizers. I start this recipe by hand-kneading an easy focaccia dough. Next, I topped the dough with olive oil and spices and baked it until it was golden brown. While the focaccia baked, I made …
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is one of our favorite summer appetizers. I start this dish by cooking dried chickpeas until they’re tender. While the chickpeas are cooking, I roast red bell peppers. Then, I process all the ingredients in my food processor. Finally, I serve my hummus with sliced baguette, cherry tomatoes, and carrots. We like this dip for several reasons. First of all, I really like how nutritious this appetizer is. It’s a dish I feel good about feeding my family. Secondly, I like how inexpensive this dish is to prepare. I only need to buy a few inexpensive ingredients to make this dish. Thirdly, I like that I can make this even a couple of days ahead of time. I like to make this ahead of time for entertaining. And, lastly, we all love this creamy and flavorful hummus.
The Equipment I Used
A Food Processor- You’ll need this to process your chickpeas and other ingredients.
The Ingredients Needed for Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Red Peppers- You’ll need two red bell peppers for this hummus.
Garlic- Use fresh garlic cloves. I like to buy the peeled cloves and store them in my freezer.
Begin by making the hummus: Rinse the chickpeas and then place them in a three quart saucepan. Fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Boil for ten minutes and then take it off the flame and let it sit for one hour. Drain and rinse the beans.
Put the beans back in the pot and cover with water. Simmer the beans until they're tender, for about 90 minutes. You may need to add additional water.
While the beans cook, roast the peppers: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the peppers on a sheet pan and roast them for one hour. Remove the skins and seeds.
Drain the beans and put them in the food processor. Add the garlic, oil, tahini, roasted peppers, water, lemon juice and salt. Process the ingredients until it's all smooth and fluffy.
Serve the hummus with the bread, carrots, and cherry tomatoes.
Miso Ramen with Spring Vegetables is one of our favorite spring soups. I start this soup by baking some rich pork belly. Then, I make a fragrant miso broth. Finally, I add ramen noodles and lots of fresh fava beans, mushrooms, carrots. We like this …
Creamy Springtime Farfalle Alfredo is one of our favorite spring dinners. I start this dish by making a creamy alfredo sauce, filled with asparagus, mushrooms, and peas. Then, I top the pasta with garlicky tomatoes. Of course, I put lots of cream and Parmesan in …
Mango Shortcakes with Coconut Cream are one of our favorite fruit desserts. I start this dessert by making buttery shortcakes. Then, I make a fluffy coconut whipped cream. Finally, I layer the biscuits with fresh mango and blackberries and the coconut cream. We like this dessert for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make this dessert in just thirty minutes. Secondly, I like that I can make these shortcakes early in the day. I also whip the cream in advance. Then, I assemble the shortcakes right before serving. Thirdly, I like that I can serve these as dessert after a meal, or with afternoon tea. Finally, we all love how delicious this beautiful dessert tastes.
The Equipment I Used
A Pastry Blender- I use this to cut the butter into the flour for my biscuits. I bought mine at Williams Sonoma.
An Electric Mixer-Use this to whip the coconut cream.
A Food Scale- For perfect shortcakes, be sure to weigh your flour.
A Melon Baller- I used this to make melon balls.
The Ingredients Needed for Mango Shortcakes with Coconut Cream
Flour- Use all- purpose flour. I always use King Arthur Flour.
10tbsp.cold unsalted butter, cut in half inch pieces (140g)
1cupfull fat buttermilk, plus two tablespoons, divided
For the Coconut Whipped Cream:
1cupheavy cream
2tsp.granulated sugar
1tsp.coconut extract
To Assemble the Shortcakes:
2cupsmango, either cubed or balled with a melon baller
1cupblackberries
Instructions
Begin by making the Mango Biscuits: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Place the diced mango in a bowl, and cover with hot water.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour until the butter is the size of peas. Drain the mango well and stir it into a cup of the buttermilk. Set aside the other two tablespoons of buttermilk. Using a fork, gradually stir in the buttermilk. Try and stir as little as possible. On a floured board, pat the dough into a one-inch-thick rectangle. Using a four- inch biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits. It's okay to reroll the dough but try to handle the dough as little as possible. Place the biscuits on a heavy, parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with two tablespoons of buttermilk and sprinkle with a tablespoon of sugar. Bake them about 15 minutes or until they're light brown. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the Coconut Whipped Cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat together all the ingredients until the cream is fluffy. I used a piping bag with a star attachment to pipe on the cream but you can just spoon it on the biscuits.
Split the biscuits and layer on the fruit and coconut whipped cream.
Sweet Chili Chicken Cobb Salad is one of our favorite main dish salads. I start this dish by air frying cubes of chicken breast. Then, I toss the cubes in homemade sweet chili sauce. While the chicken cooks, I assemble a classic Cobb salad. Finally, …
Springtime Beef Lemongrass Soup is one of our favorite spring soups. I start this meal by braising a tender chuck roast. Then, I simmer together a rich lemongrass and chicken broth. Finally, I divide the broth and beef between the bowls, and add the veggies …
Easy Chocolate Ganache Tart is one of our favorite desserts. I start this tart by making a buttery chocolatetart dough. Then, I make a rich ganache filling. Finally, I chill this no-bake filling until it’s set. We like this tart for several reasons. First of all, I like that this tart is so quick to make. I can make the dough and the filling in less than thirty minutes. Secondly, I like that I can make this tart in advance and let it chill before serving. Thirdly, this I like that this tart is easy enough for every day, but fancy enough for company. And, lastly, we all love the rich and delicious flavors in this tart.
The Equipment I Used
A Tart Pan- I used an 8 inch round tart pan with a removeable bottom. I bought it at Williams-Sonoma.
A Pastry Blender- Use this to cut the butter into the flour. Or, use two knives to do this.
A Food Scale- For a perfect tart dough, please weigh your flour.
A Rolling Pin- You’ll need this to roll out your tart dough.
The Ingredients Needed for Easy Chocolate Ganache Tart
Chocolate Chips- I used Guittard semisweet chocolate chips.
Heavy Cream- Be sure to use heavy cream, not half and half or light cream.
Butter- Use unsalted butter. I always use Kerry Gold Irish butter.
Flour- Be sure to use all purpose flour. I always use the King Arthur brand.
Chocolate- Use a good quality chocolate chip. I used the Guittard chips.
How I Made my Tart
First, I made the dough. Be careful to add the water slowly. You don’t want your dough to be wet.
Next, I chilled the dough. You can shorten the chilling time, but this may cause the crust to slump when baking.
Finally, I made the ganache and let the tart chill overnight.
If you like chocolate, you need to try this decadent and delicious Easy Chocolate Ganache Tart.
Easy Chocolate Ganache Tart
Homemade chocolate tart crust filled with a rich chocolate ganache.
Begin by making the tart dough: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder and salt. using a pastry cutter, cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour, until the flour is fully incorporated, and everything is the size of peas. Add the ice water, starting with one tablespoon. Stir it in with a fork. You may not need all the water. Just stir in enough water, until a scraggly dough is formed. Empty the dough onto a floured board, and shape the dough into a disc. Wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for two hours.
On a floured board, roll out the disc of dough into a circle, and then press it into the tart pan. Use the rolling pin to roll over the edges of the pan to cut off the excess dough. Prick the tart shell all over with a fork, and freeze for 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place some parchment into the pie dish and fill it with pie weights. Bake on a sheet pan for 12 minutes. Remove the parchment and pie weights and bake for 7 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
While the tart shell is baking make the filling: Place the chocolate chips and butter in a large bowl. Heat the cream in a two quart saucepan, just until it starts to simmer. Pour it over the chocolate and then stir until a thick ganache is formed. Stir in the vanilla. Pour it into the crust and chill for 4 hours or overnight. I like to serve it with whipped cream and raspberries.
Classic Chocolate Chip Pancakes are one of our favorite breakfast dishes. In fact, I’ve probably cooked these pancakes more than I’ve cooked any other recipe. Since, when my girls were little, they wanted these pancakes every day. We all still love these pancakes for several …