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Showing posts with label breakfast recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breakfast recipe. Show all posts

14 October 2010

Healthy Recipe: Fiesta Southwestern Cheesecake, Oven Baked French Toast

Check out a creative beautiful dish that is a lower calorie version of our favorite Mexican flavors.



From Denny:  Out local TV show (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) personality and chef is delighting her fans with yet more great tasting recipes in her latest cookbook.  She specializes in lots of flavor without packing on the pounds.  Clegg's recipes are  simple and user friendly too, aimed at women of all ages.  Of course, to give you a grin there are those whimsical illustrations along with the full-color photos.




New Book:  "Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets to Sizzle at Any Age" by Holly Clegg

(Save 28 percent by purchasing from Amazon Books)


Clegg's concept for this book was to make the book very visually pleasing so it would be eye-catching to give as a gift.  It's packed full of information and focused upon great recipes.  Clegg's books are always the kind of recipes that stimulate you to want to cook.  This book is 237-pages, featuring 200 recipes, 100 photographs and illustrations and also details  the nutritional and diabetic exchange information too.  There are also special icons to draw your attention to those recipes that are freezer friendly or vegetarian.

Some of what sets this cookbook apart from the rest is she gives advice as to which types of coffee will pair best with a particular recipe: medium-light, dark roasts or flavored coffees.  Like any good Louisiana cook she also offers up advice on spices, serving suggestions and cooking information.

And get this, Clegg has a chapter called “Diva Dermatology.”  Here she parks her  recipes for facials - which are made from everyday foods:  Avocado Carrot Cream Mask, Applelicious Wash and Margarita Salt Body Buffer.  Holly Clegg has always a reputation for being fun and this new book sure captures her essence for others to enjoy.

The majority of the new book, is for what Clegg  is most famous:  recipes "designed for busy women.… as they experience and embrace the many stages of life,” she says.

In the first chapter of the book, "Foods to Improve," she gives an overview of the best foods to include in your diet.  "Remember to eat with color," she advises, "using the colors of fruits and vegetables to ensure you will get a wide range of vitamins and minerals into your daily eating."

For the busy cook there is an amusing chapter called "Lovin' No Oven."  You guessed it.  These are recipes where you can skip turning on the oven and running up your utility bill or spend more time on a recipes.  There are yummy recipes like Tomato Bruschetta and Lemon Pie.

For the busiest among us, Clegg designed her "Quickies" chapter.  These recipes require just a few ingredients and are very easy to pull together:  Watermelon and Feta Salsa, Home-Style Chicken and Chocolate Fudgies.
Party recipes for groups: "Effortless Entertaining" is the chapter to visit.

For those empty nesters, the retired or young couples without children, Clegg has a chapter for recipes for just two servings: "Table For Two."  These recipe gems are simple and make-ahead for entertaining if you like.  There are high fiber, sweets, breakfast, snack foods and even ethnic-inspired:  Asian Slides With Pineapple Salsa to Garlic Fried Rice.


If you want to pay full retail for this book it can be ordered from her websites: Holly Clegg or The Healthy Cooking Blog - $24.95, plus tax and handling or call 1-800-884-6559.

Here’s a recipe from the book that would be welcome at tailgate or holiday parties.


Chillis


Fiesta Southwestern Cheesecake

From: “Holly Clegg’s trim & TERRIFIC Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets to Sizzle at Any Age — 200 Simple and Sexy Recipes”

Makes: 20-25 servings. Make ahead and freeze this savory Southwestern-style cheesecake for an appetizer taste sensation. If freezing, top with salsa when serving.

Ingredients:

1 cup toasted corn Chex cereal crumbs
1 tbl. butter, melted
1 tbl. olive oil
2 (8-oz.) pkgs. reduced-fat cream cheese
1/3 cup nonfat sour cream
1 egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
2 (4-oz.) cans chopped green chilies, drained
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups salsa, divided

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In springform pan, mix together cereal crumbs, butter and oil, press into bottom of prepared pan.

In mixing bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, egg and egg whites until creamy. Add garlic, chili powder and cumin, mixing well.

Fold in cheddar cheese, green chilies, green onions and onion. Carefully spread half mixture over crust, top with 1 cup salsa, and cover with remaining cream cheese mixture; do not mix.

Bake 50-60 minutes or until mixture is set. Remove from oven, let cool in pan 10 minutes. Run knife around inside edge to loosen; remove sides from pan. Cool to room temperature before refrigerating. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator and top with remaining 1 cup salsa.

Spicy advice: For extra flavor and kick, use a flavored salsa such as roasted tomato or your favorite. I like to purchase fresh salsa from the grocery store. Also, you can add shrimp or crabmeat to cheesecake for a seafood southwestern version.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 96 calories, 58 percent calories from fat, 6 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 26 milligrams cholesterol, 252 milligrams sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram dietary fiber, 2 grams sugar and 4 grams protein.



From Denny: This recipe from the cookbook too was a huge hit with a cook who wrote a review over at Amazon Books. She forgot to put up the nutritional information but raved about how easy it was to make and, most of all, how popular it was with the group who scarfed it down in no time.


One Dish Oven Baked French Toast

Makes: 10 servings

Ingredients:

1 large loaf French Bread, cut into 1-inch thick squares (whole wheat my be used)
1 (10 oz) jar seedless all natural blackberry fruit spread
1 (8 oz) package reduced-fat cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup skim milk
2 eggs
4 egg whites
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 cups fat-free half-and-half
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

Coat 13x9x2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray

Place half of French bread squares in prepared baking pan. In microwave-safe dish, heat fruit spread until melted, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over bread.

In bowl, beat together cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar and milk until smooth. Drop over bread mixture and cover with remaining French squares.

In large bow, whisk together eggs, egg whites, brown sugar, half-and-half, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour mixture evenly over bread. Gently press bread into liquid mixture, cover, and refrigerate as time permits, preferably overnight.

Preheat over 325 degrees. Bake, covered, 30-35 minutes. Uncover and bake 5-10 minutes more or until bread is golden.






New Book:  "Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets to Sizzle at Any Age" by Holly Clegg

(Save 28 percent by purchasing from Amazon Books)

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21 June 2010

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread

*** Enjoy two easy recipes for your favorite banana muffin.




Another version of a banana nut muffin by erin.kkr @ flickr


From Denny: In my search to see what's baking at the bed and breakfast inns across America and Canada I found this sweet comfort food for breakfast. This recipe comes from a rustic peaceful Texas inn.

While I live next door in Louisiana where we grow the most awesome pecans, they grow them in Texas too. Both states love the praline for everything from muffins to cakes to bread pudding and sweet potato casserole toppings.

Searching for non-copyrighted photos, this photographer posted this little darling banana bread recipe with the sweet goodness of added white chocolate chips. You can try other variations besides chocolate chips if you like. Tips for baking well and suggestions of ingredients follows the recipe.


Banana Praline Muffins


From: Las Brisas Farm
Fayetteville, Texas




From Las Brisas Farm: Tired of work and stresses of the city? Want to get away and just relax? If so, Las Brisas Farm offers a much needed respite. Las Brisas Farm is located in the heart of Czech-German country and is one mile south from historic Fayetteville where shops and dining reflect yesterday's past. The cottages are set on forty rolling acres where one can appreciate spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and star gaze clear, vast skies. One guest described the setting as eye candy for the soul!


Banana Praline Muffins


Yield: 12 muffins


Ingredients:

3 bananas, ripe - mashed
1 egg
1/2 C. sugar
1/4 C. oil
1 1/4 C. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt

Praline:

3 T. brown sugar
1 T. sour cream
1/2 C. chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix brown sugar and sour cream, add pecans.

Mash bananas; add egg, sugar and oil. Beat well. Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix until just moistened.

Grease muffin tins, and put equal amount of batter in each. Top each with equal amount of praline mix in center of muffin.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.






White Chocolate Banana Bread by Divine Domesticity @ flickr



White Chocolate Banana Bread

Makes: one loaf

Ingredients:

3 very ripe bananas
2 tbsp soft butter
1 cup sugar
1 + 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup white chocolate chips and /or coarsely chopped nuts – pecans or walnuts work well (optional)

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 375°/190°C

2.Mash bananas in a bowl and add rest of the ingredients. Stir just until blended. It seems as if there is not enough liquid but don’t be fooled. The very ripe bananas add all the moisture needed. Mixing the ingredients together with a fork for 2-3 minutes is all you need to create the batter.

3.Pour into greased 9"x5" loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out dry (unless of course you hit a chocolate chip).

4.Cool for 10 minutes on a cake rack before removing from pan.

5.To bake muffins, prepare the batter as above and bake for 20-25 minutes at 400°F/200°C, in center of oven


Tips & Variations

* This is a great breakfast or mid day snack.
* Instead of chocolate chips (or with them, if you prefer) try:
chopped walnuts or pecans
dried cranberries or cherries
* Just make sure these ingredients add up to one cup. More than that will lose the bread/cake texture.


*** Check out how Muffin Monday started: American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
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