Valentine’s Day

Beet Pistachio Ravioli

~ lk529 ~ 11 Comments

It’s February and that means all things hearts and all things red and pink.

Now I am the first to defiantly declare that I hate pink. But as I mature my mind has opened up a bit to taking an interest in the girly color. I actually own three articles of clothing in the pink family!

But when it comes to pink foods, I’m all for it!

We’re talking beets. Again!

These pasta purses are simple to assemble and would definitely make for quite the showstopper at your Valentine’s dinner this month.

ravioli-purse-assembly

Using wonton or egg roll wrappers makes homemade ravioli a less daunting task. To cook the beets, either roast them in the oven or boil them until tender.

img_8745

Beet Pistachio Ravioli

Ingredients:

  • 2 beets, peeled, chopped, and cooked until tender
  • 1/2 C ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 C parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 C shelled pistachios
  • 3 tbsp mascarpone cheese
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 pkg (12 oz) wonton wrappers
  • water, for sealing the ravoili
  • melted butter, for serving
  • Meyer lemon olive oil, for serving
  • cooked pancetta or bacon, for serving (optional)
  • fresh mint, for garnish (optional)

Steps:

  1. Place cooked beets, ricotta, parmesan, pistachios, mascarpone, S+P in a food processor and puree until smooth.
  2. Place a small spoonful in the center of a wonton wrapper. Dip finger in a shallow bowl of water and trace the edge of the wrapper. Pinch wonton into a little purse. [see photos above] You can also simply fold the wonton wrapper into triangles.
  3. Cook assembled wontons in a pot of boiling salted water for approximately 4 minutes, until the wonton wrapper is clear and the ravioli float to the top.
  4. Serve ravioli warm with a drizzle of melted butter, Meyer lemon olive oil, S+P. Add some crispy pancetta or bacon for texture and fresh mint for freshness and greenery.

*This recipe is adapted from Erica at http://www.forkknifeandlove.com/easy-beet-pistachio-ravioli-with-lemon-butter-sauce/*

Beet and Pistachio Ravioli | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Tuesday Tattles #20

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

Tuesday Tattles

 

When I was looking through my kids’ bookshelves to create the latest Tuesday Tattles favorite baby books list (toddler books still to come), I realized just how many books had to do with love!

I made a mental note to create another Tuesday Tattles post surrounded solely around these particular books.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching – this week is already the last full week of January! – I figured what better time than now to feature this list. So, if you have little ones in your lives who mean the world to you, grab a book and read to them.

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

5 books for kids about Love | Sew You Think You Can Cook | http://sewyouthinkyoucancook.com

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

The popular phrase “Love you to the moon and back” comes from this book written over 20 years ago. As a {former} Aerospace Engineer, I quite enjoy the quote. Guess How Much I Love You is a beautiful book that, personally, I think is wonderful for fathers to read to their children.

If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul

I mentioned this book in my bed time books list, but it’s applicable to today’s list, too. My favorite thing about reading this book is all the extra kisses and snuggles my Firecracker gives me! It’s a perfect way to end the day, particularly if that day happened to be a bit more challenging than others.

I Love You Through and Through by Burnadette Rossetti-Shustak

11949548_10103205307664611_5720887468623193194_nThis book has been a favorite ever since Firecracker’s first Valentine’s Day. My mom sent it in a package. I Love You Through and Through is a simple poem with adorable illustrations. It’s probably the first book I had memorized. The book has resurfaced as the “one more book” before lights are turned out each night.

I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker

I think my mom found this book, too. Quite similar to I Love You Through and Through, this book tells little ones that “any way you feel, no matter what you do, I love you because you’re you.” Illustrations of a cute fox cub and his mama depict the many emotions that little ones may feel.

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

I don’t think there’s any book more classic than this one. I honestly kept this book off the shelf for as long as I could. As a mother of boys it’s such a gut-wrenching, tear-inducing story. To this day, I still remember the first time I read it aloud. I remember sitting in the rocking chair in Ohio with a 4 or 5 month old Firecracker in my lap. At that 4th to last page, when the mother calls her son, my voice cracked and the tears started rolling down my cheeks. I will read the book every single time one of my boys pulls it from the shelf. As they grow, I hope they’ll understand the unconditional love I have for them, no matter how crazy they make me. I do, however, promise never to climb through their windows when they’re adults living on their own!

 

 

Food Bloggers Recipe Swap: Shredded Beets with Citrus Vinaigrette

~ lk529 ~ 3 Comments

It’s my first time posting in the Food Bloggers Recipe Swap and I’m pretty excited.

I probably should have just waited until the new year to begin participating, but I was just too excited!

There’s been a lot going on here, as I’m sure in most people’s homes, the past two months. I’m now feeling the crunch to Christmas (and that is in no way a bad thing) and have been neglecting a lot of my blogging responsibilities, frantically scrambling to pull together a post the night before it’s due to go live.

I’ve been enjoying the bit of a break though, and have revived my cross stitch hobby. Christmas time always does that to me. I’ve also just begun a new friendship and have enjoyed getting out of the house and killing time at the mall talking to another adult human being during the day.

Somehow this week though, I’ve got to find time to pack for our holiday vacation, wrap the kid’s presents, send those Christmas cards, and order a few final gifts. My mother-in-law is coming into town tonight so I’m hoping I’ll be able to sneak in some of that holiday cheer while the kids are otherwise preoccupied. (hint hint, Tilly!)

What does any of that have to do with Food Bloggers Recipe Swap?

Well, nothing really. Except that by opting in for December, I committed myself to being assigned a blog, finding and recreating a recipe from that blog, and then sharing it with all of you, my dear readers. Much like the Secret Recipe Club which has sadly come to an end.

The main difference between this group and that is the posting leniency. As long as I get my post completed by the end of the month, life is peachy! I don’t think the assignments are a secret either, and should I choose, I could search through the assignment list and figure out who is digging through my recipe index, but I won’t spoil the surprise. 🙂

For my first month, I was assigned Love and Cilantro written by Danya. Danya grew up in Jamaica and now lives in Canada where she attends culinary school. I envy her bravery to switch up her life and live out her dreams. I often think about going to culinary school, maybe after the kids are in elementary school?

Danya’s blog is relatively new, just over a year old if my calculations are correct! With a shorter recipe selection than some blogs I’ve scoured you’d think my decision would be fairly simple. Think again! I’d narrowed it down to Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast (which will still probably happen), Asian Salad, and the Raw Beet Salad I ultimately picked. Oh wait! There’s this beautiful Greek Chicken she shared on Sunday, too, dang – too late!

I’m really happy with the Beet Salad, though. I mean, I love beets, so why wouldn’t I like this salad!? I don’t often work with beets raw and it was fun to do so. The vinaigrette the shredded beets are tossed in is perfectly balanced – the lemon mellows out the orange and the white balsamic is a fun new ingredient to my pantry. I didn’t have chives so very thinly sliced a scallion.

I think this salad would make a beautiful addition to your holiday table this month – the bright color and flavor would brighten your plate wonderfully!

Shredded Beets with Citrus Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch beets, peeled and shredded
  • 1 orange, zested and juiced
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1/4 C white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp agave (or honey)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1-2 scallions, thinly sliced (or 4 chives)

Steps:

  1. Place shredded beets in a bowl.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the citrus, vinegar, oil, mustard, and agave. Season to taste with S+P. Toss beets with as much dressing as desired. Garnish with scallion/chives.

*This recipe is adapted from Danya at http://loveandcilantro.com/orange-beet-salad/*

Shredded Beets with Citrus Vinaigrette for Food Bloggers Recipe Swap from Sew You Think You Can Cook

 

#SundaySupper: Root Vegetables

~ lk529 ~ 25 Comments

Every year in our marriage we’ve celebrated Valentine’s Day by enjoying fondue. That’s what happens when you get two Fondue Makers! Sometimes I do a cheese, sometimes chocolate, and sometimes even both!

This year, our 5th married Valentine’s Day, was a little different. Our stay here in Ohio has been for schooling, my husband will earn his Masters degree at the end of the month. He successfully defended his thesis this week! This calendar year has been quite a stressful and busy one so far and I am quite ready to get my husband back. So, for Valentine’s Day this year I was reading Chapters 4 and 5 of his thesis, being a second set of eyes to check for content cohesion and grammatical quirks.

I woke up really early on Sunday, February 14th to go to the grocery store before the post-church crowds did their shopping to get everything I’d need for Caramelized Shallot Fondue and Champagne Poached Pears. I also found some Florida Strawberries! And then I got to the check out only to discover that they couldn’t sell me alcohol before noon.

We decided we’d go back to get the champagne later in the day but a snow storm derailed those plans. It was on to Plan B. No plan. The plan of, “What’s in the fridge?” Beets. Pine nuts. Crescent rolls. Pasta. Bacon.

An internet search yielded a Beet Pesto Pizza. We didn’t have any of the toppings but the pesto we could make and serve over pasta instead. (We did toss some bacon in our pasta, too!)

The result? A beautiful, deep pink pasta which turned out to be simply perfect for Valentine’s Day! My garnish of parsley makes this a great option for Christmas, too.

That long introduction leads us to the theme for today’s #SundaySupper hosted by Cindy of Cindy’s Recipes and Writings, root vegetables. We contemplated adding some sweet potato to the pesto, but were too afraid of the color that might result. There are some great ideas for how to prepare a wide variety of root vegetables in today’s round-up, simply scroll past my photo to check them out!

Beet Pesto

Ingredients:

  • 1 large beet, peeled and diced
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts
  • 1/4 C extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss beet and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Season with S+P. Place on a baking sheet and roast 20-30 minutes, or until tender. (Note: roasting time will depend on size of dice.)
  3. When slightly cooled, place in a food processor and pulse until fine. Add the pine nuts and olive oil and puree until smooth. Season to taste with S+P.
  4. Option: Serve on pasta with parmesan and parsley.

Beet Pesto for #Sunday Supper from Sew You Think You Can Cook

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8387592742_f6164fd5a8_oJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Chocoholic Waffles

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

Valentine’s Day is this weekend (Sunday to be exact) and I have the perfect brunch to share with your loved ones – unless they don’t like chocolate. Every component of this recipe involves chocolate! There’s chocolate waffles, which are quite good on their own but it’s Valentine’s Day people, step it up. Then there’s a white chocolate custard, and to top that off there’s a mocha whipped cream! All three components compliment each other beautifully.

I am an admittedly lazy cook and seriously thought about not making the custard. But I couldn’t. Because, Bobby Flay. Yep, surprise! Yet another brunch recipe from one of our favorite celebrity chefs! This particular recipe is one we watched on Cooking Channel last year. It comes from the Brunch at Bobby’s episode titled Chocoholic Brunch.

Chocolate Waffles

Ingredients:

  • 2 C flour
  • 1/2 C cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 2 C buttermilk
  • 1/4 C canola oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 stick butter, melted
  • 3 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Steps:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  2. Whisk the egg yolks with the brown sugar until smooth. Add in the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
  3. Combine wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix in the butter and the chocolate.
  4. Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the waffles batter.
  5. Into a hot greased waffle iron, drop 1/3 C of batter and cook until browned.
  6. Assemble waffles with custard, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries.

White Chocolate Custard

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 vanilla bean, halved
  • 1 1/2 C half-and-half
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 oz white chocolate, chopped

Steps:

  1. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean. Put the seeds and the pod in a small saucepan with the half-and-half. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, remove from the heat, and let cool.
  2. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until pale yellow. Slowly add some of the half-and-half until smooth. Whisking, add to the pot of remaining half-and-half and return to the stove. Cook over medium heat without allowing it to boil, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the custard thickens enough to coat the spoon.
  3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the white chocolate until melted.
  4. Strain and refrigerate.

Mocha Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

  • 1 C heavy cream
  • 3 tbsp dark chocolate covered cacao nibs (I used Pacari)
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp espresso powder

Steps:

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring heavy cream and cacao nibs to a simmer. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Place in a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge overnight.
  2. Strain the cold cream and discard the nibs.
  3. Using a hand mixer, beat the cream until thickened. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and espresso powder. Beat until firm peaks form.

*These recipes are adapted from Bobby Flay at http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/bobby-flay/dark-chocolate-waffles-with-white-chocolate-custard-sauce-and-chocolate-espresso-whipped-cream.html*

chocoholic waffles chocolate waffles, white chocolate custard, mocha whipped cream Sew You Think You Can Cook

A “Date Night” Potluck Party

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

We had our final Recipe Club meeting last week. With most of us moving in the next couple of months the group looks like it’s fizzled to a stop. I had a great time with these ladies and met my best friend up here (and Firecracker’s best friend, too!) through this group and I am forever grateful. I couldn’t have imagined this assignment here in Ohio without these fabulous ladies and the clubs and groups that I joined while here.

For our last meeting I suggested “Date Night” as a theme, taking a cue from the holiday this Sunday. We had a very small gathering, only six of us! (There are seven items listed below because I brought two dishes.) I wasn’t surprised by the small turn out as most of our husbands are in hunker down mode finishing up their theses..thesii? I know I can’t wait for thesis defense to happen and the stress level in our life go down just a tad. So it’s no surprise that there was a good deal of chocolate on the menu during out meeting!

Date Night Recipe Round UpHere are the recipes that were brought to the “Date Night” potluck”

#FreshTastyValentines: Peruvian Purple Potato Soup

~ lk529 ~ 4 Comments

LogoCamilla’s (of Culinary Adventures with Camilla) #FreshTastyValentines continues!

I am not showcasing any of our amazing sponsors with today’s post because this soup is what I made last year for Valentine’s Day! (That being said, Gourmet Garden products would work beautifully in this soup.) I’m sharing it during this event because it falls beautifully under the theme of #FreshTastyValentines! It’s a fresh take on potato soup by using purple potatoes, it’s tasty (and spicy!), and it’s quite healthy with only 1 gram of fat, 4 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and 150 Calories per serving.

Because Valentine’s Day fell on a Saturday last year and my MIL was visiting I wanted to pull out all the stops and make a three course meal. Soup, entree, and fondue for dessert.

For the entree my husband and I had picked up some Cornish hens to try out. We bought them too far in advance and hadn’t put them in the freezer. When we cut the packaging open we were bombarded with the smell of “don’t you dare try to eat me.” We were so disappointed! I don’t even remember what our Plan B was, probably pork tenderloin, but I do remember that we didn’t even make Plan B! Our decadent breakfast (which I’ll be sharing next week) kept our tummies happy all day.

But I did still make this soup, which ended up being our main course. I was once again disappointed by my menu, but only by appearance. I was expecting a purple soup, perfect for Valentine’s Day, but instead this soup was the color of chocolate. Which, I suppose, is still appropriate for the holiday. Squeezing lime right over the soup did create a fun purple swirl though! And this soup packs a kick, so that lime was necessary.

This soup makes 6 servings.

Peruvian Purple Potato Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • 2 jalapenos, deseeded and diced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 4 C vegetable stock
  • 2 lb purple potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 C fresh cilantro
  • lime juice

Steps:

  1. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot (I used my Dutch oven). Saute the onion, jalapenos, and bay leaves until onion is tender and translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  2. Add the stock and potatoes. Season with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
  3. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup. (If you don’t have an immersion blender very carefully transfer to a traditional blender. Leave a gap in the lid and cover with a towel to prevent burns.)
  4. Add the cilantro and lime juice. Adjust salt if needed. Serve with an extra spritz of lime juice.

*This recipe is adapted from Isa at http://foodreference.com/html/purple-potato-soup1008.html*

Peruvian Purple Potato Soup for #FreshTastyValentines from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway and be sure to check out the other bloggers who posted more Valentine’s recipes today:

 

Thank you to #FreshTastyValentines sponsors for providing bloggers with samples and products to use for #FreshTastyValentines recipe development without additional compensation. All opinions stated are those of the bloggers.

#FreshTastyValentines: Roshambo

~ lk529 ~ 24 Comments

LogoWelcome to day one of #FreshTastyValentines, a blogging event headed up by Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla. To kick off the week I’ve made a cocktail perfect for your Valentine’s Day brunch (and a bonus recipe for pancakes).

When UncommonGoods signed on as one of our event sponsors I knew I wanted to make a cocktail because they have an incredible selection of gifts to keep any home bar and kitchen uniquely equipped (here). UncommonGoods (www.uncommongoods.com) is a web-based marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. One of the incredible prizes to win during this week’s event is a $150 gift certificate at their site. With your shopping spree you can find incredible glassware in which to enjoy my Roshambo cocktail or your favorite bottle of wine (here) or discover ways keep your drinks cool without watering them down (here).

Because we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day this week I limited my cocktail recipe search to red or pink beverages. With a big move approaching in the Spring I also added another restriction so as to not buy any new liquor. The discovery of the Roshambo couldn’t have been more perfect. It is a sparkling wine based cocktail which fits in beautifully with Valentine’s Day. This cocktail is a beautiful accompaniment to your Valentine’s breakfast.

This recipe makes two servings.

Roshambo

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1/2 C water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 C apple juice
  • 1/2 C cranberry juice
  • prosecco or champagne

Steps:

  1. Place sugar, water, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow simple syrup to cool completely. Remove cinnamon stick.
  2. In a small pitcher combine 1/4 C cinnamon simply syrup with the juices. Keep cold until ready to serve.
  3. Pour juice mixture into glasses and top with prosecco.

*This recipe is adapted from Eva at http://1bigbite.com/2013/11/roshambo/*

Roshambo for #FreshTastyValentines from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway and be sure to check out the other bloggers who posted more Valentine’s recipes today:

Thank you to #FreshTastyValentines sponsors for providing bloggers with samples and products to use for #FreshTastyValentines recipe development without additional compensation. All opinions stated are those of the bloggers.

This blog post also comes with a bonus recipe for pancakes!

Cinnamon Sour Cream Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 C whole wheat flour
  • 1 C all-purpose flour
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 oz sour cream
  • 1 C milk
  • 1/2 stick butter, melted

Steps:

  1. In a large bowl whisk together the flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  2. In another bowl whisk together the eggs, sour cream, milk, and melted butter.
  3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry.
  4. On a hot buttered griddle drop 1/2 C of batter into pancakes. Flip pancakes when batter starts to set and bubble form in the center of the pancake. Cook until both sides are golden brown.

*This recipe is modified from Kelley at http://www.mountainmamacooks.com/2015/11/creme-fraiche-pancakes/*

 

#FreshTastyValentines: The Giveaway

~ lk529 ~ 5 Comments

Welcome to #FreshTastyValentines! This event, hosted by Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla,  runs February 1st through February 8th. We have nearly two dozen bloggers with over one hundred recipes scheduled to inspire you to have a wonderful Valentine’s weekend. With six different categories (drinks, appetizers, fruits and veggies, dips, meats, and desserts) you’re sure to find the perfect dish to make for your sweetheart!

Before we begin, we’d like to give a HUGE “Thank You” to our sponsors! These sponsors have contributed great prizes for a gigantic giveaway. There are fourteen different prize packages which are detailed in the rafflecopter. The rafflecopter link is below and will go live on February 1st at 12am PDT. Note: If you are finding this post before the #10DaysofTailgate kick-off please check back to enter the giveaway.

Thank you LOGO-001 (1)

Our #FreshTastyValentines Bloggers
in alphabetical order with links to their homepages
The Prizes

BenBella Vegan is a division of BenBella Books, a boutique book publisher located in Texas. BenBella Vegan has published over twenty plant-based books and cookbooks in the past decade. They are providing a prize package that includes five different cookbooks from their 2015 publishing releases! One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive a print copy of the following cookbooks: The Plant-Based Journey, Dining at The Ravens, Plant-Powered Families, The China Study Quick & Easy Cookbook, and The Plant Pure Nation Cookbook.

While there’s been a growing awareness of whole grain
benefits in recent years, Bob’s Red Mill has been providing whole grain products to customers since 1978. Their philosophy is to provide whole grain foods that have endured the test of time. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner with a package of Hulled Hemp Seed Hearts. With a nut-like flavor and creamy texture, their hulled hemp seeds are a nutritious, healthy, and delightful addition recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

Casabella grew out of the idea that housewares
and cleaning products could be great looking, fun and functional simultaneously. And, to that end, they strive to deliver products that are attractive, intuitive and functional.
Additionally, all of their products are designed and assembled in America. They are providing a prize package of kitchen gadgets that are perfect for your Valentine cooking and for the rest of the year as well. One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive: Casabella’s Clip n StripShears and a Garlic Roaster.

Envy Apples were born in New Zealand using natural plant-breeding methods by cross-pollinating Braeburn apples with Royal Gala apples. They have since planted trees in Washington state and Chile. They are providing a prize package for one #FreshTastyValentines winner that will include Envy apples, an apple corer, and more.

Gourmet Garden loves herbs and spices and strives to make everyday cooking easier and more enjoyable. Their herbs and spices are washed, chopped and prepped within 18
hours of harvesting through patented processes that seal in the natural essential oils to maximize the fresh flavor and aroma of the herbs. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner with each of their stir-in pastes (basil, chili pepper, cilantro, dill, Italian herbs, garlic, chunky garlic, ginger, lemongrass, oregano, parsley, and Thai seasonings), each of their lightly dried herbs (basil, chili pepper, cilantro, ginger, and parsley), and two Gourmet Garden logo coolers.

KitchenIQ is the new houseware branch of Smith’s Consumer Products, Inc. and embraces their long-standing reputation
for innovation and quality, reflecting their commitment to producing smarter products for the kitchen. They are providing a prize package of kitchen gadgets that are perfect for your Valentine cooking and for the rest of the year as well. One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive: KitchenIQ’s Strawberry
Tool and Better Zester.

Mann Packing was founded in 1939 and is now a third generation, majority women-owned company. Their mission is: Fresh Vegetables Made Easy™ and they value honor, passion, quality, and vision. Additionally, they support local schools and donate generously to numerous charitable organizations throughout the community and the industry. They are giving one #FreshTastyValentines winner a $25 gift card.

Not Ketchup was created by Erika Kerekes who also writes the kitchen blog In Erika’s Kitchen. She shares: “When we think of ketchup, we think tomatoes. But it hasn’t
always been that way. The first ketchups were actually made several centuries ago from pickled, fermented fish in China, Malaysia and Indonesia.” Not Ketchup got its name because the United States has bizarre regulations about what can be labeled as ‘ketchup.’ Since Not Ketchup does not contain any tomatoes, according to the powers that be, it’s Not Ketchup. Not Ketchup is providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner with a bottle of their NEW No-Sugar Added Tangerine Hatch Chile fruit ketchup.

Pacari Chocolate is a family owned business created in Ecuador by Santiago Peralta and Carla Barbotó. They wanted to revolutionize the chocolate industry; pacari means “nature” in Quechua, and was selected to embody everything that Pacari Chocolate represents. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner a package of their premium organic chocolates!

Sun Basket is a convenient ingredient delivery service that was created by a top San Francisco-based chef and approved by an in-house nutritionist. Each delivery includes easy, delicious recipes and seasonal, sustainably souced ingredients from West Coast farms. Sun Basket has generously donated THREE prize boxes. Winners must reside in the following states: CA, WA, CO, UT, OR, AZ, NV, & ID to win these prizes.

 T.Lish began because each Christmas, Tiffany Denson would make dozens of mason jars filled with her signature dressing and marinade for her neighbors, friends, and family. Then, they began requesting the sauce throughout the year; a neighbor recommended she start selling it retail. She did. And word spread. T.Lish is Tiff’s line of all natural and extremely versatile dressings, marinades and sauces. They are providing a prize package of their three marinades and dressings to one #FreshTastyValentines winner.

UncommonGoods was founded by Dave Bolotsky who, at a craft show at the Smithsonian in 1999, was captivated by the unique handmade goods and the craftsman behind them. He had a vision to create an online venue to connect makers to individuals searching for special and uncommon goods. UncommonGoods (www.uncommongoods.com) is an web-based marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner a $150 gift certificate for a shopping spree at the online marketplace.

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi began over thirty years ago, when Robert Mondavi had a goal of getting great California wine on every table in America. In 1979 he established the Woodbridge Winery near his childhood home of Lodi, California to make fruit-focused wines for everyday drinking. They are providing a prize package for the raffle. One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive two bottles of Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi wine – one bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and one bottle of Pinot Noir.

Our #FreshTastyValentines Bloggers
in alphabetical order with links to their homepages
A Day in the Life on theFarm
A Kitchen Hoor’sAdventures
CafeTerraBlog
Caroline’s Cooking
Cheese Curd In Paradise
Cindy’s Recipes andWritings
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Blog-iversary 2

~ lk529 ~ 7 Comments

IMG_5681Today is my blog’s anniversary! This second year has flown by.  In this past year I have gained an additional 77 followers and 357 Facebook friends.

I am still going strong with Secret Recipe Club and #BundtBakers (having missed only one month in each so far) and I continue to participate in Foodie Extravaganza and The Crazy Ingredient Challenge when my allergy restrictions allow it.

As if I didn’t have enough commitment on my plate I have added Blogger CLUE Society and The Sunday Supper Movement to my blogging community adventures. The latter has been a huge boost to not only my site’s traffic but also my social media accounts. If you’re a blogger looking for ways to venture out, I encourage you to join a group like these – the camaraderie you’ll find is more reward than you could imagine.

I feel like my blogging has grown over the past two years and my food photography has improved considerably (staying home with my son has definitely contributed to that as I now have natural light!), my photography editing skills have become second nature, and I think my story telling ability is on the rise. My efforts have even been rewarded when I was nominated for the Liebster Award!

For my blog-iversary I decided to try something that’s been on my culinary bucket list. Making marshmallow. I saw these adorable mini s’mores cheesecakes and knew that’s what I’d do to celebrate another blogging milestone. Unfortunately I don’t have a mini cheesecake pan – but how awesome is that?! – and didn’t think using cupcake liners would create the same impressive dessert. I decided to make a full size cheesecake. I increased the crust amount but didn’t think about the actual cheesecake, as a result my cake is very thin. However, the silky richness of the chocolate cheesecake doesn’t leave you feeling cheated. (If you want a thicker cake I’d suggest adding another 1/2 recipe to the filling.) To top this decadent cheesecake, homemade marshmallow frosting. If you have a blow torch I highly encourage you to take the s’mores factor to the next level. I simply garnished mine with extra graham cracker crumbs.

This cheesecake is sexy. Now there’s a word I’ve never used for food before! But seriously. Next time you want to impress your date make this cheesecake. It’s smooth, it’s rich, and it melts in your mouth.

S’mores Cheesecake

Ingredients for crust:

  • 9 full sheets graham crackers
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tbsp sugar

Ingredients for cheesecake:

  • 12 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste (I used Nielsen-Massey)

Ingredients for topping:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9″ springform pan.
  2. Place graham cracker sheets, butter, and sugar in a food process. Pulse until the mixture looks and feels like wet sand. Press into the pan evenly. Bake 5 minutes.
  3. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the cocoa powder and salt until combined. Add the egg and vanilla paste, mixing until incorporated. The mixture will look like chocolate pudding. Spread cheesecake filling on the crust.
  5. Bake 25-27 minutes, or until set. Turn off the oven and crack the door. Allow cheesecake to cool completely before chilling in the refrigerator.
  6. Whisk egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar over a double boiler until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is warm. Remove from heat. Beat using a hand mixer, starting on low and increasing speed to high, until mixture becomes white, thick, and sticky. Add the vanilla extract and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently spread over the chilled cheesecake.

*This recipe is adapted from Rachel at http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/mini-toasted-smore-cheesecakes/*

S'mores Cheesecake | Sew You Think You Can Cook