Sunday, April 29, 2012

Fluffly Pancakes


I don't make pancakes very often and when I do (sad to say) I use a mix.  Well, not anymore!  I found a recipe for pancakes and it's a keeper.   The recipe comes from allrecipes.com.  What made these pancakes extra special was the honey vanilla butter (recipe follows).  I like to have this butter in the fridge and use it on french toast, waffles, pancakes, warm biscuits and it's also great on baked sweet potatoes. 
Fluffy Pancakes


Ingredients
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
cooking spray or vegetable oil 

RECIPE FOR COMPOUND BUTTER: (Make at least 2 hours ahead)

Honey Vanilla Butter

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick)butter, room temperature
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, honey, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla together until smooth.

Dollop the mixture onto parchment paper in a log shape. Roll the paper tightly and twist the ends to seal. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.


Directions
  1. Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to "sour".
  2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk egg, butter and vanilla into "soured" milk. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray or lightly with vegetable oil. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side. Serve with a dollop of honey vanilla compound butter and drizzle with real maple syrup.  
  4.  Makes 8 small pancakes (Kevin and I have been known to eat this whole batch of pancakes so if you are feeding more than 2-3 adults double recipe!)

Monday, April 16, 2012

Greek Salad with Spinach and Feta Chicken Sausage


Another one of my Allrecipes Allstar Activites this month was to prepare recipes from Al Fresco Chicken Sausage recipes on allrecipes.com.  I have to say I'm so glad I got to try this product.  The chicken sausages are flavorful and not greasy.  These sausages will now be in my grocery cart as I can't wait to use them in other recipes!
  Al Fresco offers all natural chicken sausage in dinner and breakfast varieties. All of their products have 70% less fat than pork sausage and are free of nitrites, preservatives and artificial ingredients, but full of flavor.
Here is one of the recipes I tried.  Go to allrecipe.com to get the recipe for Greek Salad with Spinach & Feta Chicken Sausage.
We Loved all the Mediterranean flavors in this salad. I've never thought of using sausage in a salad but this spinach & feta chicken sausage was lean and full of flavor. 

“I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertiser are only used for experienced-based reviews on my blog. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of myself, Dawn.”

Go Bold with Butter, I did!

I am an Allrecipes.com Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position).  As an Allstar I was very excited to be involved with the brand partnership GO BOLD WITH BUTTER campaign as we support the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board in partnership with America's Dairy Farmers. The website (www.goboldwithbutter.com) has great tips and recipes using natural butter. I love butter and never use any substitute or margarine.  I did however grow up using margarine but after I was married started using REAL butter and I've been eating, cooking and baking with butter ever since.  Only real butter for my family!
I've made a few recipes from their blog as our April Activity is that we prepare and photograph their recipes and share it with our network.  Here are a few recipes I made.  Go to  Go Bold With Butter web page or their fb page to find these and other great recipes.
 Deconstructed Chicken Kiev
The buttery garlic filling is on the outside of the Chicken as the coating, instead of hidden inside like Chicken Kiev. The chicken is served with roasted potatoes, tomato and Feta salsa, and fresh arugula. We were surprised how much we liked this recipe. I loved the coolness of the tomato and feta salsa with the warm flavorful chicken. The roasted potatoes seemed like an odd side dish, but it was a yummy dinner! Will make again.
Pesto, Plum & Fontina Panini
 I really like this sandwich.  Pesto, tomato, and fontina cheese grilled with butter on french bread, Yum! To make it extra simple use prepared pesto.  I do love to make homemade pesto once I'm growing basil in my garden but until then I always have some prepared pesto in the fridge. 





Shrimp & Sweet Corn Maque Choux

I followed the recipe exactly and thought it was too spicy. I would cut back on the Cajun spice if I was to make again.  It made for a nice light meal.


“I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertiser are only used for experienced-based reviews on my blog. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of myself, Dawn.” 



Cherry Chesse Danish


I have to admit I'm having a hard time coming down from all the excitement I had with the Pillsbury Bake Off.  So in honor of Pillsbury I made these cherry danishes for Easter morning. These come together in minutes, they are so simple to make. Over the years I've made these all the time, one of my kids favorites.  The recipe makes 8 so it was perfect when my kids were home.  Now that they have flown the coop I don't make them unless they are home.  Only my son was home for Easter but he had no problem eating his sister helping.

4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 Tablespoons powder sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
8 oz pkg. Pillsbury crescent rolls
1/2 can cherry pie filling
1 Tablespoons milk
sugar


1. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar and extract until smooth.
2. Separate crescent roll dough into eight triangles. On large ungreased cookie sheet, arrange triangles so they don't touch.
3. Spoon cream cheese mixture onto bottom portion of each triangle; spoon cherry pie filling (about 4-5 cherries) on top of cream cheese.
4. Fold top corner of triangle over so tip touches bottom corner. Gently press outside edge to seal seam. Repeat with remaining triangles.
5. Brush top of crescent roll dough with milk; sprinkle with sugar.
6. Bake 350 for 20 minutes until golden brown. (Do not under bake otherwise the dough will be doughy)
Serves 8 ( or 4 in our house as we all want two)
Hint: The other half of the can of cherries won't go to waste because your family will be asking for you to make them again soon.