Pepperoni & Swiss Bites

Recipe found here

Pepperoni & Swiss Bites

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 12 x 12 sheet of puff pastry
• pepperoni or other sliced deli meat
• 6 slices swiss cheese (or any other cheese)
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (dried works too)
• 4 Tbl honey mustard

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut the puff pastry in half so you have 2 strips. Lay them out in front of you so that the long side is perpendicular to your body.  
2. Spread 2 Tbl of honey mustard (more if you love mustard) on the pastry leaving a 1 inch strip bare along the top. 
3.  Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp thyme on each section. Cover the mustard with a single layer of pepperoni or other meat. 
4.  Place 3 slices of cheese on each strip. 
5.  With your fingers, carefully roll the pastry away from you so you have two long tubes. Cut them on the diagonal into 1 inch pcs and place on a cookie sheet. You can also cut them thinner and make pinwheels. 
6. Bake at 375 F for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 22 – 24 pcs. You can serve them with extra honey mustard for dipping if you like.

-Alyssa

Strawberry Jam & Brie Bites

Recipe found here

Strawberry Jam & Brie Bites

INGREDIENTS:

• Wedge/Circle of brie cheese, cut into 32 bite-size pieces
• 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
• 1/2 cup of your jam of choice (I used my homemade black raspberry & strawberry jam)
• Turbinado Sugar
• Water
• Spray bottle with water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray 2 cookies sheets with cooking spray. Cut each pastry sheet into 16 squares (for a total of 32 squares). I did this by cutting each sheet in half, then I cut each half in half. Repeat in opposite direction and you will end up with 16 squares. 
2. Place one piece of brie in the center of each square, then top each with about a teaspoon of the jam. Wet your finger and run it along all four edges of a square, then bring the four corners together in the center and pinch together. You also want to pinch along the edges to seal.
3. Once all my little bundles were done, I sprayed them with fresh/clean water – just lightly, don’t soak them. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you could gently brush them with a little water. Sprinkle each with the turbinado sugar. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

-Alyssa

Stuffed Mushrooms

Recipe by the Pioneer Woman

Stuffed Mushrooms w/ Sausage and Cream Cheese
Recipe makes too much filling!

INGREDIENTS:

• 24 ounces, weight White Button Mushrooms
• 1/3 pound Hot Pork Sausage
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
• 1/3 cup Dry White Wine
• 7 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1 whole Egg Yolk
• 3/4 cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wipe off or wash mushrooms in cold water. Pop out stems, reserving both parts.
2. Chop mushroom stems finely and set aside.
3. Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool.
4. Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.
5. Pour in wine to deglaze pan, allow liquid to evaporate.
6. Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.
7. In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk. Stir together with Parmesan cheese.
8. Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up.
9. Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.
10. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
11. Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot.

-Alyssa

Dinner Medleys...

BBQ chicken with sauteed green beans and mashed potatoes

lamb on rice pilaf

Ina Garten's Coq au Vin 

Baked Chicken Fajitas (notes: marinate chicken in rub and drain tomatoes)

Baked Salmon with Fiddleheads and rice pilaf

Whole Foods' ribs and mac & cheese

Farfalle with Parmesan/Swiss cheese cream sauce

-Alyssa & Derek

Leg of Lamb

-- Derek

Best Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting

Best Sugar Cookies

Yields about 30 cookies

INGREDIENTS:

Dough:

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 5 1/2 cups flour

Icing:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4-1/3 cup milk
• food coloring (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

For the cookies:

1. Use an electric mixer to cream butter and sugar. Then add eggs and vanilla. Add sour cream. In a separate bowl, combine salt, soda, and flour, and add to mixture.
2. Form dough into a disc and wrap with plastic wrap.
3. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
4. Roll out on floured surface to about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Use your choice cookie cutter to cut into dough. Lay cookies out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake cookies for 7-8 minutes.

For the buttercream frosting:
In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Beat in sugar and vanilla until crumbly. Gradually add milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add desired food coloring.

Recipe found here

-Alyssa

Dinners by Derek

Veal Parmesan

Chili with cornbread muffins

Barefoot Contessa's Mussels in White Wine

Pork ribs with roasted potatoes

-Derek