Recent Recipes
The Motherlode New York Strawberry Cheesecake
February 3, 2012
The secret to a smooth cheesecake without cracks is in the cooking and cooling process. No need to worry in this case, as the topping will fill in the cracks. If you use reduced-fat ingredients, the calories are significantly lower, but this cheesecake is still the motherlode of desserts.
The Cheesecake Factory lists the calories in their original cheesecake as 710 per serving. This recipe has 216 calories and is just as rich. Enjoy!
Heart Healthy Béarnaise Sauce
January 20, 2012
Typical Béarnaise sauce has 1,040 calories in 1 cup with 105 grams of fat, mostly saturated. This sauce has 70 calories per serving and only 5 grams of fat, 1 gram saturated. Bearnaise sauce is actually a mayonnaise based emulsion. Consequently, the logical short cut is to use an emulsion already available and fat free mayo will do the job perfectly. This sauce is industrial strength and will hold together. Perfect for a meat dish.
Cream of Any Vegetable Soup
December 27, 2011
This soup base has fewer calories and less fat than most cream soup bases. And it helps lower your cholesterol, too. Use this creamy soup base to make any vegetable soup in season. Use your imagination; it can be served hot or cold.
30-Minute Chili
December 16, 2011
Need a quick chili recipe with rich flavors? This great Sunday night chili can be made with ground turkey, lean hamburger such as buffalo, or vegetarian-style using “meatless” burgers. Spice it up with fire-roasted tomatoes. For an alcohol-free chili, substitute nonalcoholic beer or vegetable broth in the same volume amounts. The secret to thickening the chili is using a skillet, rather than a saucepan.
French Onion Soup
December 2, 2011
Is French Onion soup really French? Food historians report that King Louis XV was the first to create onion soup. The king’s chef, rather than wasting a great bottle of champagne just because it was flat, added onions to it and thus French onion soup was born. Today, however, French onion soup is usually made with a beef stock, onions and selected spices. The flavor of French onion soup is spectacular and the recipes can be quite varied except for two basics – quality sautéed onions and broth and French bread with melted cheese. This recipe duplicates the flavor without a beef stock.
Apple Tart En Pappillote
November 18, 2011
Simple, yet delicious. Elegant, but fast. French, but yet so American!
There are numerous tart recipes using a variety of fruits….pears, apples, bananas, apricots, and strawberries. This recipe is best for the fall season with apples and cinnamon. It is comfort food at its best. Do not feel that this recipe limits a person to other options. Pears can be added, ginger can be substituted for cinnamon, and nuts can crank up the crunch with pecans, pistachios or walnuts. The secret is in the baking of the tart. The process uses a closed parchment bag. It retains the moisture creating a flakey, tender and moist crust. Homemade dough is great, but to speed up the process, puff pastry works well. Normally, I never consider using butter, but in this case, a brush of light butter makes a difference. For those that are gluten intolerant, a gluten-free dough recipe works well. Watch the cooking times.
Salmon in a Pouch
November 9, 2011
I love using this recipe when I have a few friends over because the cooking time is reduced with pouch cooking. Cooking in a pouch means a quick cook time and easy clean up. It also helps keep food moist. Because the recipe is easy to modify for one or several people, try it out for easy entertaining or for a quick dinner.
Pressure Cooked Cuban Black Bean Soup
October 19, 2011
Nutella Flourless Chocolate Torte
September 23, 2011
Occasionally, one must have rich,
dense and satisfying chocolate. So
Nutella is a perfect source in which
to indulge. Yes, there are calories,
but just a small slice will satisfy
any chocolate cravings. This
dessert is easy to make. Yes, there
are soybeans in the base—a true
surprise—but you would hardly
believe it when you taste it. Plus,
this torte is loaded with protein.