Vanilla Pastry Cream (aka Creme Patisserie)

 

Photo source:  House of Nash Eats

"I first made this recipe when attempting to make authentic French fruit tarts that could equal the ones I enjoyed during my visits to Paris and other parts of France. Julia Child’s famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, was my primary source for learning how to make creme patisserie, which is the french name for this creamy, thick custard filling that has a silky smooth texture and is sturdy enough to be piped in swirls.

You don’t have to be a skilled chef to master a simple French pastry cream. It uses super basic ingredients and is made in one pot on the stove, with excellent results every time.

This pastry cream is thickened with cornstarch and egg yolks, so it’s naturally gluten-free.

In many recipes, we use this pastry cream as is, although sometimes I like to lighten it up a bit by folding it into 1 cup of heavy cream that has been whipped with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and a little vanilla."  Comment from House of Nash Eats

Never made it and would love to experiment with it.

Click here to go to the House of Nash Eats recipe page.

No Bake Cherry Cheesecake

 

Photo source:  Glorious Treats

"This delicious No Bake Cherry Cheesecake recipe is the perfect cool and creamy summer treat! Enjoy sweet and juicy cherry filling, smooth and creamy no bake cheesecake and everyone’s favorite graham cracker crust! Assemble in small containers or one large trifle for a party. You can make elements of this recipe ahead of time, or enjoy it right away. Happy no-baking!"  Comment from Glorious Treats

Love that this is a no bake recipe for those times you don't want to turn on the oven.  Smooth and creamy cheesecake with cherry filling sounds perfect!

Click here to go to the Glorious Treats recipe page.

Florida Key Lime Pie Recipe with Real Whipped Cream

Photo source:  Life Love and Good Food

"This authentic recipe for Florida Key Lime Pie is incredibly delicious! It’s easy to make and features a rich and creamy sweet-tart filling made with real key lime juice, topped with fresh whipped cream, all held in a buttery graham cracker crust. It’s absolutely divine!"  Comment from Life Love and Good Food

Key Lime Pie is a favorite and I'd love to have as many versions of it as possible!

Click here to go to the Life Love and Good Food recipe page.

Easy Classic French Cream Puffs

 

Photo source:  House of Nash Eats

"Cream puffs are made from a choux pastry (aka pâte à choux) which is just a light pastry dough made with flour, eggs, butter, and water. The puffed up hollow shells are perfect for filling with pastry cream or whipped cream for an easy, elegant dessert!" Comments from House of Nash Eats

Have not had a cream puff in years and love them!

Click here to go to the House of Nash Eats recipe page.

How to Cook Green Beans 9 Ways—From Simple Steamed to Crispy Tempura

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"Is there a more popular vegetable than green beans? This humble vegetable is loved by kids and adults alike and is easy to prepare. They can be roasted, steamed, or sautéed and served as a delightful side dish with nothing more than a squeeze of lemon. Or, they can be transformed by techniques such as stir-frying or tempura-battering.

We've compiled this comprehensive guide to the best ways to cook green beans, and each technique is broken down into easy-to-follow steps." Comment from Martha Stewart.com

Green beans are one of those vegetables that are good no matter how they are made.

Click here to go to the Martha Stewart.com recipe page.

 

Three Ingredient Cream Cheese Sausage Dip

 

Photo source:  Plain Chicken

"I am not a big fan of plain cream cheese. I love it in dips, casseroles, etc. But just cream cheese on a bagel – nope. I was worried that this 3-Ingredient Cream Cheese Sausage Dip would have too much of a cream cheese flavor, but it didn’t. The sausage and tomatoes really shine in this dip. We served this with some scoops tortilla chips and it was perfect! This is a great dip for when you need something quick and easy for a party. It is always a hit!"   Comment from Plain Chicken

All these combined ingredients sounds perfect!

Click here to go to the Plain Chicken recipe page.

https://www.plainchicken.com/3-ingredient-cream-cheese-sausage-dip/

Sausage and Pimento Cheese Quiche

 

Photo source:  The Southern Lady Cooks

"If you are a fan of quiche, you will definitely want to make this delicious Sausage and Pimento Cheese Quiche."  Comment from The Southern Lady Cooks

The quiche looks delicious and I love the combination of ingredients.

Click here to go to The Southern Lady Cooks recipe page.

Chicken and Broccoli Tortellini Casserole

 

Photo source:  Plain Chicken

"Chicken and Broccoli Tortellini Recipe – the ultimate weeknight winner! It’s a creamy, cheesy, one-pan wonder that uses a genius “no-boil” method—the tortellini cooks right in the savory Parmesan garlic sauce while it bakes. Packed with juicy chicken and tender broccoli, it’s a hearty meal the whole family will love. Perfect for busy nights when you want comfort food without the sink full of dishes!"  Comment from Plain Chicken

A delicious meal without the sink full of dishes sounds awesome to me!  Love the combination of all the ingredients.

Click here to go to the Plain Chicken recipe page.

Cheesecake Cookies

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"While there will always be room for classic holiday cookies on our dessert table, we like to get creative with our favorite seasonal flavors every now and then. That's where our Cheesecake Cookies come into play. As adorable as they are delicious, these bite-sized cheesecake confections just might become your new favorite Christmas cookies. Truthfully, the hardest part of this recipe might be letting the cookies cool completely without grabbing one (or two) for a taste test."  Comment from Southern Living

I'm intrigued and would like a taste test now!  Sounds delicious.

Click here to go to the Southern Living recipe page.

Melt-In-Your Mouth Cookies

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"The name of these cookies is only one part of the story: Yes, melt-in-your-mouth cookies practically dissolve in your mouth thanks to the buttery shortbread texture. But they also have the sweetness and lightly browned bottoms beloved in sugar cookies. Every bite is satisfying and unique.

Learn how to make melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and if you love them, here's a tip for your next batch: Leave the cookies in a little longer until the edges become golden brown for an even more caramelized flavor." Comment from Southern Living

These cookies sound delicious and I would love to try the combination of a shortbread and sugar cookie. How can you go wrong with a name like that. Sounds like a winner!

Click here to go to the Southern Living recipe page.

Lucinda's New York-Style Cheesecake

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"New York-style cheesecake is a super simple dessert that is even creamier and denser than a classic cheesecake. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t love it, even outside of New York.

There are only two components to cheesecake, and our recipe has perfected both. A silky sweet filling is essential, but a sturdy, well-baked crust is arguably the most important part, as it makes the cheesecake easier to slice. This cheesecake requires only about an hour of oven time, but you’ll need to set aside another eight hours for it to thoroughly set up in the refrigerator before digging in. We can assure you—it's most certainly worth the wait." Comment Martha Stewart.com

This creamy, delicious looking cheesecake is ready for a strawberry topping!

Click here to go to the Martha Stewart.com recipe page.

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"An American-born beauty, the cheesecake gets upgraded with a triple dose of chocolate. It's in the crust, in the filling, and over the top."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

This cheesecake looks so delicious and super appealing to a chocoholic.  Over the top perfect!

Click here to go to the Martha Stewart.com recipe page.

Collection of Salad Dressing Recipes UPDATE

Why use store-brought commercial salad dressing when it is so easy to make homemade dressing?  It is so much better, you control the ingredients and you can tweak it to your family's taste.

Salad dressings are not just for salad anymore . . . I love baked chicken and potatoes drenched in italian dressing and stir fry chicken made with asian salad dressing.  Experiment and you will be surprised with the results!

Absolutely Fabulous Greek Dressing

Asian Ginger Dressing

Avocado Goddess Salad Dressing

Catalina Dressing

Chef John's Ranch Dressing

Cilantro Lime Dressing

Honey Mustard Dressing

Italian Dressing Mix

Ranch Salad Dressing

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Rich and Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing

Southwest Fiesta Dressing

Sweet and Spicy French Dressing

Salad Dressings That Are So Much Better Than Store-Bought

Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Cookies

 

Photo source:  Bake or Break

"These may look like pretty standard peanut butter cookies, but one bite of these Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Cookies will tell you that’s not the case. There’s just a little extra something. Something a little richer. Something more flavorful. Yep, it’s cream cheese!

I tweaked my basic peanut butter cookie recipe, decreasing the butter and adding some cream cheese. I had done a similar thing with chocolate chip cookies a while back, so I was excited to try a similar twist with peanut butter cookies.

And I’m happy to tell you that it was a more than worthwhile experiment. The result is a soft, chewy, irresistible cookie with just a bit bigger, more interesting flavor than the original. If you’re looking for something a little different in the peanut butter cookie category, then give these a try.

It’s not the kind of change that will hit you over the head. Rather, it’s more likely to garner questions like “What’s different about these?” from cookie eaters. Whether or not someone trying one of these cookies can guess the cream cheese addition, they’ll be smitten with the wonderful flavor and the soft, chewy texture."  

Comments from Bake or Break

I already love peanut butter cookies and the addition of cream cheese must put them over the top.  I can't wait to try them.

Click here to go to the Bake or Break recipe page.

Make-Ahead Paella Casserole

 

Photo recipe:  Food Network

Recipe Courtesy of Rachael Ray

"This paella is perfect if you're short on time: Just assemble, cover and refrigerate the night before for quick cooking the day-of."  Comment from Food Network

Love paella and I will try this recipe for sure.

Click here to go to the Food Network recipe page.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

 

Photo source:  All Recipes

"This ooey gooey chocolate pudding cake is moist, delicious, fudgy yet fluffy, and so delicious that it will have you wanting seconds. It has a fabulous texture and it's easy to make."  Comment from All Recipes

The photo says it all for chocoholics out there . . . looks delicious and must make.

Click here to go to the All Recipes recipe page.

Colorado Pizza Bread

 

Photo source:  All Recipes

"This Colorado pizza bread, with a sausage and pepperoni filling laced with 2 kinds of cheese, is quickly made with refrigerated pizza dough. It's a beautiful appetizer, and hearty enough for dinner."  Comment from All Recipes

If you are hungry for a pizza in a hurry, this recipe looks like the thing for you.  Quick, easy and looks delicious!

Click here to go to the All Recipes recipe page.

Crab Rangoon Garlic Bread

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Sometimes, there is simply nothing more appetizing than your go-to takeout order from the local spot that already knows your favorites by heart. But sometimes even a takeout favorite can get old. Enter crab rangoon garlic bread. The dish, created by food influencer Esther Lee (@biteswithesther), hit social media feeds earlier this week and is already generating buzz from followers who are antsy to give it a try.

The dish brings together elements of two popular takeout classics: crab rangoon and fresh garlic bread. The result is a comforting carb-and-dairy-forward dish that combines an iconic Chinese-American appetizer with an Italian-American staple in a mashup you won't be able to get enough of." 

Comments from Better Homes and Gardens

This crab rangoon garlic bread has got to be delicious!  Gotta try it!

Click here to go to the Better Homes and Gardens recipe page.

Coconut Cream Pie - Two Versions

 

Photo source:  Mom on Timeout

Coconut Cream Pie is one of my favorite pies and I used to make it all the time.  My recipe is somewhere in my files and I will post when I find it.  In the meantime I will be listing more than one recipe so I can have a variety to choose from.

VERSION 1

"Truly the best Coconut Cream Pie ever! This is my Dad’s favorite pie and it is truly amazing! Made with coconut milk for extra creamy, coconut flavor! Best part? The custard. And I totally made it in the microwave."  Comment from Mom on Timeout

Click here to go to the Mom on Timeout recipe page.

VERSION 2

Photo source:  The Food Network

"This old-fashioned pie is filled with rich, creamy custard, then capped with a cloud of toasted meringue and a generous sprinkling of sweet coconut flakes. It tastes as if you pulled it straight from the dessert case of your favorite diner, only better."  Comment from Food Network

Click here to go to the Food Network recipe page.

The Right Way to Steam Broccoli

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"Learning how to steam broccoli properly is a game-changer. It transforms a humble vegetable into a bright, flavorful side that’s as beautiful as it is nutritious. Steaming preserves its vibrant green color, crisp-tender texture, and essential nutrients that broccoli naturally provides. Yet many home cooks struggle with overcooked, waterlogged florets that look dull and taste bland. Our guide takes the guesswork out of steaming broccoli, so it's always perfect. With the correct timing and a thoughtful finish, steamed broccoli is the kind of weeknight workhorse you can always count on for dinner—simple, flexible, and quietly excellent."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

Love steamed broccoli and will take advise from the article.

Click here to go to the Martha Stewart.com recipe page.