Enjoy my very own recipes:

April 2011

Basil and Onion Pizza

1 package store bought pizza dough (try your local bakery)
1 can pizza sauce (for those on a college budget like me, or use your very own homemade sauce)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (or your choice)
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup onions (sliced)
1 tablespoon fresh basil (minced)

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Butter a pizza tray or stone.

Shape the dough into a circle shape and push up the edges to make the crust. Add the sauce starting from the middle and swirling it out in a circle gesture with the bottom of a large spoon. Next add the garlic powder and onion powder. Sprinkle on the mozzarella and salt. Add the basil and onions. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the pizza is lightly golden.

Serve warm.

Serving size: 4 serving

Cook time: 40 minutes.

Sunny Easter Eggs

Ingredients:

• 1/2 onion minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon fresh basil
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary

Directions: Saute onions in pan with olive oil for 1 minute. Add the basil and cook for another 4 minutes. Take off onions and put on side plate. Crack 2 eggs in the pan and cook them sunny side up. Season with the salt, pepper, and rosemary. Cook for another 3-4 minutes or until done. Can serve with toast.

Serving size: 1 serving

Cook time: 15 minutes.

March 2011

New York Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons melted butter

Filling:

• 24 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 eggs, separated
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Topping:

• 1 can store brand cherry pie filling.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and butter together in a mixing bowl. Pour the mixture into a spring form pan and using a mixing cup press the crumbs into the base. Using your fingers gently press crumbs into the sides of the pan. Bake for 6 minutes. Let cool.

Filling:

In a food processor, cream the cream cheese and the sugar together. Add the zest and vanilla, Blend until smooth. Add 5 egg yolks and heavy cream, pulse until smooth. Pour into a large clean bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until a soft froth forms. Add 2 tablespoons sugar slowly to the egg whites and continue to whisk until soft peaks form. Fold into cream cheese, a little bit at a time until fully integrated. Pour into the prepared spring form pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until firm. Let cool for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Serve with Cherry Topping

Yield: 6 servings

Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes

February 2011

Barbecued Chicken Panini

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• Barbecue sauce (I used Tangy)
• 2 French bread
• 8 slices mozzarella cheese (I used shredded mozzarella)
• 1 sweet onion

DIRECTIONS:

Place chicken in a shallow dish or large plastic bag.  Pour in enough barbecue sauce to coat completely (be sure to retain some extra sauce to spread onto the bread later).  Seal and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat.

Place the chicken onto the hot grill. Close the lid and grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side. (You can throw out the plastic bag full of marinade)

Turn off heat, let cool. Carefully clean off the grates.  Reheat the grill to medium-high heat.

Slice bread cross-wise into two pieces and then lengthwise to create top and bottom halves. Spoon a generous amount of barbecue sauce onto the inner sides of each bread half. On each bottom half, place 2 slices of cheese, 1 chicken thigh, and some onions to taste. Place top halves on top and press down gently with your hand so that the sandwich stays together.

Position panini onto the panini grill vertically, in the same direction as the grates (this will help to keep the sandwich intact).  Grill for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Prep Time : 1 hour

Cook time: 45 minutes