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Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Feta and Pecans

Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Feta and Pecans

Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Feta and Pecans is one of our favorite June salads. Finally, my farm markets are full of fresh berries, and they are some of my favorite ingredients to cook with. I love this salad for several reasons. First of all, 

Red Beet and Tahini Hummus Dip

Red Beet and Tahini Hummus Dip

Red Beet and Tahini Hummus Dip is one of our favorite summer appetizers. I love this dip for several reasons. First of all, I adore the pretty pink color of this hummus. Secondly, I really like the flavor the beets impart to the hummus. The 

Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread Twist

Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread Twist

Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread Twist is one of our favorite summer breads. There are several things I like about this recipe. First of all, all you need to mix up this dough is a bowl and a spoon. For that reason, I like to make this bread at vacation rental homes. That way, I don’t need an electric mixer or a bread machine to make this yummy bread. Secondly, this recipe is fairly inexpensive to make. If you have basic baking supplies, you’ll only need to buy the blueberries to make this recipe. Lastly, this bread is bursting with fresh blueberry flavor. And, we all really love it.

The Equipment I Used

  • Measuring Cups- Usually I weigh all my ingredients. But, since I like to bake this bread on vacation, I don’t have always have a food scale to use. Just be sure you spoon the flour and other ingredients into your cups, and then level them off with a knife.
  • A Thermometer- I made to stop by the store to pick one of these up to measure the temperature of my heated milk.
  • A Large Baking Sheet- You’ll need a big baking sheet, because this is a huge loaf.
  • Parchment Paper- Use this to keep your bread from sticking to the pan.
  • A Mixing Bowl- You’ll need a big bowl to mix together the dough.

The Ingredients Needed for Blueberry Cream Cheese Twist Bread

  • Bread Flour- Use bread flour for this recipe. I like King Arthur brand.
  • Blueberries- Be sure and use fresh blueberries.
  • Cream Cheese- Make sure you use brick cream cheese. I used Philadelphia brand.
  • Sugar- Use granulated sugar.
  • Yeast- Be sure and use active dry yeast, not quick acting yeast.

How I Made my Bread

  • First, I mixed together the dough. I just used a wooden spoon to do this.
  • Next, I let the dough rise.
  • Then, I rolled the dough out. I spread on the filling, rolled it up, twisted it, and then let it rise again.
  • Finally, I baked the dough, and then we gobbled it up.

If you like blueberries, you need to try this delightful Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread Twist.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread Twist
Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread Twist
Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread

Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread Twist

A sweet yeast bread filled with cream cheese and blueberries.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Rising Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2¼ tsp. active dry yeast
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tbsp. melted unsalted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3½ cups bread flour

For the Blueberry Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 8 ounces softened cream cheese
  • 3 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

For the Egg Wash:

  • 1 beaten egg
  • 1 tbsp. water

Instructions
 

  • Begin by making the bread dough: In a small saucepan, heat the milk to 105 degrees. Remove from the heat and stir in the yeast. Let sit for five minutes.
  • In a mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, butter, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until they're well mixed.
  • Stir in the yeast, and stir until combined. Slowly add the bread flour, stirring until all the flour is incorporated.
  • Dump the dough on to a floured board, and knead for eight minutes, adding more flour as necessary. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, turning the dough to coat it with oil. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place for one hour. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Roll the dough out into a 18×12 rectangle. Mix together all the filling ingredients and spread it all over the dough. Roll the long side of the dough up into a rope. Cut the rope in half, and seal the four ends, by pinching the dough together. Twist the two strands together, to form a twisted rope. Place the dough strand on a parchment lined baking sheet. Stir together the egg wash ingredients and brush it all over the bread. Bake the bread for 25 minutes, and then let it cool completely on a wire rack.
Keyword bread
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Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa

Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa

Pepper Quesadillas with Peach and Tomato Salsa are a terrific meatless appetizer or main course. Filled with sweet peppers and onions, these quesadillas are topped with a fruity salsa. I love these cheese quesadillas for several reasons. First of all, I love that these are 

Berry Salad with Goat Cheese Balls

Berry Salad with Goat Cheese Balls

Berry Salad with Goat Cheese Balls is one of our favorite summer salads. I love this salad for several reasons. First of all, it’s a great salad to serve to company. The goat cheese balls will impress any guest. Secondly, I like that this salad 

One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake

One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake

One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake is a quick and easy dessert. There are several things I love about this cake. First of all, I can mix this whole cake up in one bowl. That means, there’s only one bowl to wash. And, this was especially important to me, because I baked this up in a vacation house. Unfortunately, this vacation house had very little in the way of baking supplies. So, to make this cake I had to buy my own bowl and pan. Secondly, this cake can be mixed up using just a wooden spoon and a whisk. That means, you don’t need an electric mixer to make this cake. Lastly, this cake is really delicious and really highlights summer blueberries.

The Equipment I Used

  • Measuring Cups and Spoons- Usually I swear by my kitchen scale, but since I left mine at home, I just used measuring cups.
  • A Cake Pan- Use a Nine inch Cake pan for this cake.
  • A Cooling Rack- You’ll need a cooling rack to properly cool your cake.
  • Parchment Paper- Use this to easily remove your cake from the pan.
  • A Mixing Bowl- I bought a metal mixing bowl to mix up my cake, but you can use any big bowl.
  • A Sifter or Whisk- Use either of these to mix together your dry ingredients.

The Ingredients Needed for One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake

  • Blueberries- These are the star of your cake, so buy the best fresh berries that you can find. Wash and dry your berries well. Remove any stems.
  • Buttermilk- Usually I prefer whole milk buttermilk, but the Mississippi Whole Foods only had low-fat buttermilk so that’s what I used.
  • Vanilla Extract- This is optional. The cake will still be delicious without it.
  • Flour- Use all purpose flour. I like the King Arthur brand.
  • Butter- Be sure and use unsalted butter, and make sure it’s very soft.

How I Made my Cake

  • First, I creamed my butter and sugar. I made sure my butter was very soft first. And, I added the rest of the wet ingredients.
  • Next, I added the dry ingredients. I made sure to sift them before adding them.
  • Then, I baked the cake for twenty five minutes.
  • Next, I added the cinnamon, sugar, and the rest of the berries and baked it some more.
  • Finally, I let the cake cool before I served it.

If you like blueberries, you need to try this easy and yummy One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake.

One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake
One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake
One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake

One-Bowl Sweet Blueberry Cake

A quick and easy blueberry cake.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 slices

Equipment

  • a 9 inch square cake pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 8 tbsp. softened butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp. light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2½ cups fresh blueberries

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease a nine inch square cake pan, and then line it with parchment paper so that some paper hangs over two of the sides. That way you'll be able to lift it out of the pan.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar. Add the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla and stir until well combined.
  • Using a sifter, add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Stir until just combined. Stir in 1½ cups of the blueberries.
  • Pour the batter into the pan and bake on the middle rack for twenty -five minutes. Then, sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar over the top of the cake. Sprinkle on the rest of the berries and bake about ten minutes more, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  • Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for ten minutes. Then, remove the cake from the pan and let it sit until cool.
Keyword Dessert
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Matzo Ball Soup with Spring Vegetables

Matzo Ball Soup with Spring Vegetables

Matzo Ball Soup with Spring Vegetables is my family’s favorite spring soup. I love this soup for several reasons. First of all, I love that this dish can be made totally ahead of time. Secondly, as long as I have chicken stock in my freezer, 

Whipped Feta and Mascarpone Dip with Crudités

Whipped Feta and Mascarpone Dip with Crudités

Whipped Feta and Mascarpone Dip with Crudités is a quick and easy appetizer. Actually, I also like serving this as a vegetable side dish. And, this is also great to keep in the fridge for between meal snacks. There are several things I love about 

BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli

BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli

BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli are one of our favorite spring dinners. We all love any kind of BLT, or bacon, lettuce, and tomato combination. I consider these cheeseburgers a spring dinner because of the Ramp Aioli. Ramps are wild leeks that are only available in the spring, usually just in April. Sadly, I didn’t forage for these myself, but was able to find them at my local market. The ramps add really great flavor to the aioli, and the aioli in turn really livens up these cheeseburgers. I consider homemade burgers to be true fast food. And, with specialty toppings I can turn my cheeseburgers into gourmet treats.

The Equipment Needed

  • A Food Processor- I used a food processor for making my aioli. If you don’t have a food processor, just stir everything up in a bowl. Just be sure and mince up the ramps really well.
  • A Cast Iron Skillet- If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, just use any heavy skillet.

The Ingredients I Used for BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli

  • Ground Beef- I always use ground chuck when making my burgers. I find that it makes really juicy burgers.
  • Bacon- My favorite bacon is Niman Ranch bacon.
  • Italian Fontina Cheese- I used fontina, but I think swiss or Havarti would also go nicely with these burgers.
  • Tomatoes- Find the biggest, juiciest tomatoes you can for these burgers.
  • Lettuce- Use butter or Boston lettuce for these burgers.
  • Buns- I love serving my burgers on brioche buns.
  • Mayonnaise- Hellman’s is my favorite brand to use for this aioli.
  • Ramps- Be sure and soak your ramps to get all the grit out.

How I Made my Burgers

  • First, I made my aioli. I made sure to clean the ramps really well.
  • Next, I was careful to season my burger meat well and to get my skillet really hot.
  • Then, I cooked the burgers until they were well done. But, you should cook them to the doneness that you prefer.
  • Finally, I topped my buns with all the veggies and the aioli.

If you are a burger lover, you need to try these flavorful BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli.

BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli
BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli
BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli

BLT Cheeseburgers with Ramp Aioli

Cheeseburgers topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, Italian fontina cheese, and a ramp aioli.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 540 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef chuck meat
  • ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 slices of bacon, halved
  • 4 ounces Italian fontina cheese, shredded
  • 4 leaves butter lettuce
  • 4 slices tomato
  • 4 brioche buns

For the Ramp Aioli:

  • 2 ramps, cleaned and thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Sprinkle the beef with the salt and pepper and form it into four patties.
  • Make the Ramp Aioli: On low heat, cook the ramps in the oil until they're tender. Put the ramps and the oil in the food processor, along with the rest of the ingredients. Process until the ramps are combined with the mayonnaise.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet on high heat. Also, in a medium skillet, on medium heat, cook the bacon until it's crispy. Drizzle the cast iron skillet with the oil and cook the burgers to your desired doneness. When the burgers are almost done, top them with some of the cheese.
  • Serve the burgers on the buns with the lettuce, tomato, and aioli.

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcal
Keyword beef
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Lobster and Fresh Tomato Penne Pasta

Lobster and Fresh Tomato Penne Pasta

Lobster and Fresh Tomato Penne Pasta is one of our favorite seafood dinners. In the summer, I like to cook and eat lobster as much as possible. However, we have an ongoing debate in our house. Some of us believe lobster is best eaten with