Mini Lasagna and Spaghetti Cups

 

Makes 24 cupcake shaped lasagna and spaghetti cups. These are fun and easy to make - and everyone in the family seems to gobble them up!

You'll Need: 1 pound thin spaghetti cooked al dente (dried pasta added to boiling and salted water and cooked for about 6 minutes; strained, not rinsed, set aside), 1 to 2 Tbsp butter or olive oil, 16 oz container ricotta cheese, 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black or white pepper, 1 egg (whisked with a fork), 2 cups red pasta sauce, 2 cups white pasta sauce, 1 cup mozzarella (shredded), 1 cup parmesan cheese (shredded), 1/2 cup fresh parsley (chopped)

How to Prepare: Once the pasta is removed from the boiling water, throw it in a bowl with the butter or olive oil and toss. Set aside. In a separate bowl whisk together the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and egg. Set aside. 

Coconut Flour Crepes with Orange Zest

Our daughters love to help us make these crepes. Best of all, we all love to gobble them up for brunch together, while sipping on a glass of sparkling cider or sparkling wine! 

Make the fillings sweet or savory. Drizzle chocolate or honey - or fill your crepes with savory eggs and bacon. Get creative and tailor them to your family's taste buds.

Makes 6 crepes
Crepes: 1/4 cup coconut flour, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp fresh orange zest, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract, 1.5 cups milk (plus 1-2 Tbsp milk if needed to thin batter), 2 eggs (beaten), 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (or canola oil or melted butter), non-stick oil spray for pan (coconut or butter flavored spray recommended). Filling: 1 cup raspberry or strawberry jam, 1 cup fresh strawberries (washed, hulled and sliced) or 1 cup fresh raspberries, blueberries or blackberries (or evenly mix) Garnish: powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh berries 

Chocolate Ganache: 1 cup milk chocolate (melted), 1/2 cup heavy cream

Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, White Chocolate Cookies

Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, White Chocolate Cookies 

Makes about 40 cookies

You'll Need: 

2.25 c all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature), 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, 2 large eggs (room temperature), 1 cup white chocolate chopped, Zest of 2 medium lemons, 2 tsp dried edible lavender (finely chopped), 3 tsp crystallized ginger (finely chopped) 

Colorful Tortillas

 Tortillas! Tortillas! Tortillas! Tortillas! Tortillas!

We love to make colorful tortillas. They are fun, healthy, delicious and easy to make. 

Ingredients: 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp Herbs de Provence, 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 2 cups maseca, 1.5 cups warm water (90-100 degrees), food gel tubes (your favorite colors) and extra maseca for re-rolling dough or dough balls on work surface (about 1/2 cup extra)

You'll need: large bowl, tortilla press, large ziplock bag (cut in half to make 2 large squares and fold over the 2 tortilla press plates and tape on back), towel lined tortilla warmer, flipping spatula, whisk, wooden spoon, off-set spatula, disposable food handling gloves (if desired), comal (or other cast iron cooking surface), two tea-towels dampened, spray bottle with extra water 

Mini Savory Souffles

Serves 6

3 Year Old, Chef Izabella, helped me make these. If she can do it, so can you. Izabella's Tip, measure out all of your ingredients and arrange them in preparation bowls on a tray (mise en place).
You'll Need: 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1/3 cup almond meal, 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs, 4 strips turkey bacon, 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 cup low fat organic milk, pinch kosher salt, pinch freshly grated black pepper, pinch freshly grated nutmeg, 4 large eggs (separated), 3 large egg whites, 3/4 tsp cream of tartar, 2 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley (chopped), 1/2 cup colby jack cheese (grated), 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated), 2 Tbsp fresh chives (diced), 2 tsp capers

Banana, Dark Chocolate, Pecan Biscotti

My 2 year old** helps me make these. She helps me eat them too. We like to share them with neighbors and friends. They are a delicious treat! They are known as the double baked cookie (but they are actually triple baked). 

Makes about 20-26 cookies 

You'll Need: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup almond meal*, 1 tsp baking powder, 1.25 cups granulated sugar, pinch kosher salt, 2 large egg yolks (room temperature), 3 large eggs (room temperature), 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, 1 cup dried banana chips (chopped lightly in food processor), 1/2 cup pecans (lightly chopped), 1/2 cup dark chocolate (lightly chopped), additional 1/2 cup to 1 cup of flour for kneading and handling dough