Tangy Maple Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs

There is something about bite-sized yummies that are always a party hit!  Try serving these for dinner to the kids with a side of rice and veggies and no complaints during supper.


Ingredients

• 1 can whole cranberry jelly
• 3 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 2 tsp chili hot sauce
• 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 pound ground pork, veal and beef (or any combo you prefer)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs (panko)
• Chopped parsley  approx -2 tbsp

Preparation

1. In large on a medium heat skillet add cranberry, honey, ketchup, molasses, garlic, hot sauce, vinegar, syrup and water stir well and let heat until bubbles then turn heat to low.  
2. In bowl mix meat, add egg and bread crumbs and blend with clean hands!
3. Start making little balls with hands and place each gently in sauce.  Bring to a boil for 5 minutes then turn heat down to low and let cook for 1 hour.
4. Serve with sprinkling parsley and tooth pics to make them easy to eat up!

Mini Crispy Bacon Broccoli Quiche

These mini quiche are filled with flavor and some veggies!  Perfect for a pot-luck like the one we attended last night for our choir OR makes great lunch for the kids to pack and go to school!

Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon
• 1 large shallot
• 1 1/2 cup small chopped broccoli
• 8 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 24 thin slices cheese (cheddar/mozzarella/swiss...your choice!)
• mini quiche crusts-24

Preparations

1. In large bowl whip eggs and milk and set aside
2. Preheat oven to 350-place quiche crust on baking dishes
3. Slice bacon into small pieces and place in large skillet and cook until crispy
4. Add diced shallots and cook 2 mins in bacon.  Remove from heat and let cool-drain out grease and place in bowl-set aside.
5. Wash, dice broccoli and steam for 5 minutes until partially cooked and set aside.
6. Fill quiche crusts 1/2 full with egg mixture.
7. Sprinkle in bacon/shallot 
8. Top with 2 pieces broccoli and slices of cheese.
9. Place in oven and cook for 25 minutes until crust is brown and cheese is crispy on top. 

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

BLUEBERRY

 A cross section of a sliced blueberry with light shining from behind

Blueberry Rice Crispy Cake

Blueberry Pineapple Yogurt Dessert

Brown sugar Blueberry banana Yogurt

Spaghetti with Toasted Eggplant Pomodoro

Spaghetti topped with Bocconici mozzarella...recipe on bottom of page!

Toasted eggplant saute in olive oil

Boiled diced tomatoed in garlic and olive oil

Oregano and parsley

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant peeled and cubed
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 Panko bread crumbs
6 tblsp olive oil
2 garlic cloved minced
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 black pepper
1/8 tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Peel and cube eggplants and set aside.  In large bowl beat egg and milk, add cubed eggplant and mix until well soaked.  Toss in Panko bread crumbs and fully coat.  

2. In large skillet 4 tblsp olive oil and heat until hot.  Add breaded eggplant and cook on low-med and stir allowing toasting to occur. Mix occassionally.

3. In large sauce pan add 2 tblsp olive oil and minced garlic, heat until light golden.  Add can of diced tomatoes.  Bring to boil and cook on medium heat for 20 minutes.

4. Heat water for spaghetti and cook spaghetti according to package.  

5. Add tomatoes to toasted eggplant and mix lightly.  Add 1/8 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp oregano and 1 tsp parsley.

6. Dish spaghetti in pasta bowls and top with eggplant sauce and sprinkle with bocconcinis.

Serves 4-6  

Strawberry Caprese Salad

Enjoy this sweet and tangy summer salad or appetizer and have fun...give it a tropical feel and add a beach umbrella!

Strawberry Caprese Salad 

Ingredients:

10 sweet cherry tomato-orange sliced in half 

5 fresh strawberries sliced thin

bocconcini 1/2 cup

1 granny smith apple sliced thin

1 tblsp olive oil

1 tsp balsamic

sprinkle of thyme 

Preparations:

Slice your strawberries, apples and tomatoes.  Place apples on plate, then layer with strawberries. Top with bocconcini and drizzle olive oil, balsamic and sprinkle thyme.

Serves 2 people

Tumeric

Apple Still Life

Sweet & Buttery Grilled Apple Crepes

                                           

                                    Sweet & Buttery Grilled Apple Crepes

If crepes weren't good enough...try this recipe for even more comfort...on Sunday morning and serve to your loved ones...they will thank you;)

Preparations:
Make your favorite crepe recipe batter and set aside.
Slice thinly apples (the sweeter the better)
Place your sliced apples in microwave in about 1/2 cup of water and heat for 3 minutes...until apples come out soft. Remove from remaining water.
Grate cheese (cheddar, swiss)
In crepe skillet heat up butter and sautee apples to brown about 3 minutes each side. Set aside

Make your crepe and when you flip to the second side add the sliced apple and cheese and close.
Serve with sugar or syrup.

Apple Still Life

The design concept of this photo was created showing the apple as powerful, important and all mighty in history.

Symbolism of an apple

• The forbidden apple from Adam and Eve 
• An apple is a gift given to teachers
• The famous saying I heard allot growing up "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" 
• A food which has been proven to prevent disease.

The taste, sound and smell that one experiences when taking their first bite into a ripe, fresh juicy apple is undeniable.