Lazy Days of Summer

Cool, Refreshing......Speaks for itself!

Beat the Heat

It sure is hot!  Beat the heat with a cool, refreshing summer salad.  Heavy meals don't sit well in the heat.  You may not move around as much as you would if it were a little cooler. Try a cool, easy to make, refreshing summer salad.   This one has bibb lettuce, manderin oranges, strawberries, and a light creamy dressing.  Add a few nuts if you like.  This salad is sure to please.  Enjoy!

Ethnic Cookies are good anytime of the year.

I came across a recipe for a cookie my friend used to make years ago and bring to work.  It's a Rugelach cookie.  I believe this cookie is an Eastern European treat.    Her recipe was a bit complicated so I tried it a different, easy way and boy oh boy, it was delish!
Instead of making the dough,  I used two rolled up pie crusts.  The filling usually is dried fruit with apricot preserves.  I used cinnamon, nuts and not only apricot preserves, but raspberry.  They were unbelievably easy and excellent tasting.  The recipe is attached.  They are a favorite around this house!

Rugelach Cookies

½ c brown sugar

¼ c walnuts chopped

¼ c mini chocolate chips

2 Pillsbury Ready to use Pie Crust rolls

½ c apricot or raspberry preserves

Unroll the two dough rolls.

Cut each in half.

Separate so you have 4 halves

Mix the brown sugar, walnuts and chocolate chips.

Spread 2 halves of each crust with apricot or raspberry preserves

Sprinkle the sugar mixture over each half of the dough.

Roll the dough starting at the rounded edge to the straight edge.

Press gently.

Cut each roll into 1 inch pieces and arrange on parchment paper cookie sheet

Bake 350 degree oven for 17 minutes, or until lightly browned.

The filling will spread out when baking.  Let them cool completely on the parchment paper.  Remove each cookie and break off the extra filling that melted.

Makes 32 cookies.

Pie Please!

Try this one:  find a good recipe for homemade apple pie filling.  Next take ripe strawberries and use them in the recipe instead of apples!  I tried it and the results were amazing.  See for yourself!

'Tis the season, strawberry season that is!

Now is the time for the best strawberries of the year.  They are ripe and sweet and a treat to eat!  What are you waiting for?  If you haven't already,  take a frozen pound cake, slice it lengthwise into three slices,  load it with strawberry flavored cream cheese frosting and fresh berries.  The possibilities are endless. 
If you're not into baking, try dipping strawberries in melted chocolate bark for a real summer treat!  Have fun and ENJOY!

Cook of the Week!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Wow today's the day!  The Daily Herald newspaper should have my interview in it.  I'm so excited to see it.  You can download it online by going to http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120612/entlife/706129965/   Check it out for my tiramisu recipe along with recipes for Mom's Ricotta Cookies and Tamale Pie!   Thanks.

It's been a few months since I wrote anything on my blog.  Been very busy cooking and baking and trying to win contests!  I am going to be in the Daily Herald newspaper on Wednesday, June 13.  They are doing a spread on me as "Cook of the Week".  I'm so excited.  I hope my interview will be presented well.  I'm attaching the photo of the Tiramisu I made for the photo shoot.  It will be exciting!  Enjoy.