Easy Blender Lemon Curd

Makes around 1 & 1/2 cups

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (5 medium lemons) 

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

8 tbsp unsalted butter quartered

1/4 tsp salt or to taste

Combine lemon juice, sugar, eggs and salt in a blender until thoroughly mixed. 

Melt the butter on the stovetop or in the microwave. Set the blender to medium speed, open the pouring spout, and add the butter in a slow and steady stream until fully integrated into the lemon mixture.

Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens (about 5 minutes). Be sure that you are heating the mixture slowly and evenly, you don't want it to cook too quickly.It should be thick enough that your spoon leaves a trail behind it when you run it through.

Remove from heat and transfer the curd to a bowl or container. Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the curd to stop a skin from forming on the top. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Flavor improves dramatically when chilled (the "egginess" that is present when first cooked dissipates as it chills). Keep covered in the refrigerator and consume within 4 weeks. Lemon curd also freezes well for up to a year in a tightly covered container.

Recipe comes from Tori Avey cooks

Cream Cheese Cookies

Makes 24 medium size cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 3/4 cup cake flour

Some powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Cream together butter and cream cheese with electric mixer.

Add sugar and beat for 1 minute. Add egg and beat to combine. Add extracts and beat until combined. Add in baking powder and cake flour (in three sections), mixing to combine.
Once incorporated, refrigerate dough for at least an hour.

Dough is sticky so use flour on your hands to roll out 1-2 inch balls. You can use the bottom of a cup/glass dipped in flour to gently flatten the balls. Don't flatten too much or the cookies won't puff up.

Bake for 9-11 minutes. Important: Pull them out when you see the underside edges turning golden! This might vary for your oven and altitude. Watch these cookies carefully.
Cool cookies completely and dust with powdered sugar.

Печенье со сливочным сыром

На 24 среднего размера печенья

1/2 чашки масла, размягченные (100 грамм)
4 унции (около 120 грамм) сливочного сыра, комнатной температуры ("Philadephia")
1 чашка сахара
1 яйцо
1 чайная ложка экстракта ванили
1 чайная ложка экстракта миндаля
1/2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя
1 3/4 чашки муки

Разогреть духовку до 375 Фаренгейтов. Выложить деко пергаментной бумагой.

Взбить электрическим миксером сливочное масло и сливочный сыр. Добавить сахар и взбивать еще в течение 1 минуты. Не переставая взбивать, добавить яйцо и экстракты. Смешать разрыхлитель и муку в отдельной посуде и добавить частями во взбитую массу. Замешать тесто, обернуть пленкой и положить в холодильник как минимум на 1 час.

Вынуть тесто из холодильника, сформировать шарики. Если тесто липкое, то посыпать ладони мукой.

Выложить на деко и дном чашки или стакана, смоченного в муке, немного придавить шарики.

Выпекать в духовке 9-11 минут. Важно: вынуть из духовки, если края нижней стороны становятся золотыми! Следите за печеньем в духовке. Дать остыть и посыпать сахарной пудрой.

Recipe comes from Pizzazzerie

Avocado Tuna Salad No-Mayo

Prep time: 10 minutes

Yield: Makes enough tuna salad for 2 sandwiches

1 5-ounce can tuna, preferably packed in olive oil, drained
1/2 ripe avocado, roughly chopped
1/2 cup minced celery ( I used 1 stalk)
1/2 medium carrot, peeled and shredded on large holes of the grater (my addition)
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Place all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix with a fork, mashing the avocado and breaking up the chunks of tuna as you go, until the ingredients are well combined.Add more oil or salt and pepper if necessary, serve on your favorite sandwich bread or toast.

Салат из авокадо и тунца без майонеза

Время приготовления: 10 минут
Выход: Достаточно салата для 2 бутербродов

1 (5-унция) упаковка консервированного тунца, предпочтительно оливковом масле,
1/2 спелого авокадо, мелко нарезанного
1/2 чашки измельченного сельдерея (я использовала 1 стебель)
1/2 средней по величине моркови, очищенной и натертой на крупной терке (я добавила для цвета)
1/4 чашки мелко нарезанного красного лука
1 столовая ложка оливкового масла
2 чайных ложки лимонного сока
1 чайная ложка лимонной цедры
2 столовые ложки нарезанной свежей кинзы или петрушки
1/2 чайной ложки кошерной соли
Черный перец по вкусу

Выложить все ингредиенты в небольшую миску. Вилкой смешать, стараясь растирать авокадо и тунец. Выложить на хлеб.

Recipe comes from Simply recipes

Chocolate Butter spread

I confess. I'm a bad daughter, because I did not memorize my mom's chocolate spread recipe. I'm sure, every Yiddish family used to have a very special recipe of honik mit shpitter. Couple days ago I found a recipe and decided to make it. It's yummy, healthy and quite satisfying.  if you have kids, make a double portion. It's a very good with a piece of multi-grain bread. I really love it.  

Chocolate Butter spread

1 & 1/4 cups (220 gram) almonds or other nuts
1/3 cup (80ml) water
6 tablespoons (90gram) butter
1/3 cup (80ml) honey
3 ounces (105 gramm) dark chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
small pinch of salt

Toast the almonds in a rimmed baking sheet in preheated 350 F (180 C) oven for 6-8 minutes. Combine the water and butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then add the honey. Pour the mixture into a food processor with nuts and pulse until evenly ground. Add chocolate to the blender with the cocoa, olive oil, and salt. Process until smooth.

Note: Cool completely before serving. Keep in a lower shelf of the refrigerator.

Шоколадное масло.

1 и 1/4 чашки (220 грамм) миндаля (можете использовать другие орехи или смесь орехов)
1/3 чашки (80мл) воды
6 столовых ложек (90 gram) сливочного масла
1/3 чашки (80мл) меда
3 унции (105 грамм) темного шоколада, нарезанного на меслкие кусочки
1 столовая ложка порошка какао
2 столовые ложки оливкового масла
небольшая щепотка соли

Поджарить миндаль на противне в предварительно разогретой до 350 F (180 C) духовке в течении 6-8 минут. Смешать воду и масло в кастрюле и довести до кипения на среднем огне, затем добавить мед. Вылить смесь в кухонный комбайн с орехами и пульсировать до образования паст. Добавить шоколад, какао, оливковое масла и соль. Процесс до получения однородной массы.

Дать остыть и держать в на нижней полке в холодильнике.

Recipe comes from "The hungry family cookbook" by Kjartan Skjelde and Berit  Nortsrand

Coconut-Date Truffle Bites

Several months ago I made Chocolate Chips ourmeal raising treats They are amazing and very healthy. This time I deicided to make something similar and quite tasty. It's still healthy and very easy to make.

Coconut-Date Truffle Bites

Makes 20 medium size balls

2/3 cup roasted, salted almonds
30 whole pitted dates
1/2 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon coconut oil ( I took sunflower oil)
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped


1. Place almonds in a food processor; process until finely ground. Add dates; process until finely ground. Add coconut and next 3 ingredients (through salt); pulse until combined.

2. Scoop about 2 teaspoons cocoa mixture with a spoon, and roll into a ball. Repeat the procedure with remaining cocoa mixture. Place the truffles on a platter lined with parchment paper; refrigerate 1 hour.

3. Place chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 1 minute and 20 seconds or until melted, stirring every 20 seconds. Add truffles, stirring gently to coat. Return truffles to platter until the chocolate sets.

Трюфеля из кокосовой стружки и фиников

На 20 среднего размера  шариков

2/3 стакана жареного , соленого миндаля
30 фиников без косточек, нарезать на мелкие кусочки
1/2 чашки стружки несладкий кокоса
2 столовые ложки несладкого какао
1 столовая ложка кокосового масла ( я взяла подсолнечное масло)
1/8 чайной ложки соли
60 грамм сладкого шоколада , мелко нарезанного

. Положить миндаль в кухонный комбайн и прокрутить до полного измелчения. Добавить порезанные финики, кокосовую стружку и следующие 3 ингредиента (включая соль) ; Прокрутить до полного измелчения..

2. Добавить какао и кокосовое масло. Провернуть в комбайне и вынуть смесь. Скатать 20 шариков и поместить их на блюдо, накрытое пергаментной бумагой. поставить в холодильник  на 1 час.

3. Поставить шоколад в микровольновую печь на 1 минуту 20 секунд до полного расплавляния, перемешивая каждые 20 секунд . Вынуть трюфеля из холодильника и покрыть шоколадом. Полохить трюфеля на туже тарелку и поставить в холодильник до застывания. Хранить в холодильнике. .

Recipe comes from Cooking Light 2013

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Raisin Treats

Makes: 15 medium size balls
Prep: 15 mins
Stand: 10 mins
 Chill: 30 mins

    1 cup pitted Medjool dates, tightly packed (see Note)
    1 3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
    3/4 cup raisins
    1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (60% to 70% cacao)
    1 generous tbsp natural peanut, almond or sunflower seed butter
    1 teaspoon chia seeds
    1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions

Place dates in a medium bowl.

Fill bowl with hot water to cover dates by about an inch. Let stand 10 minutes. Drain. Combine all ingredients In the bowl of a food processor. Process continuously until mixture comes together, forming a dough of sorts.

You want the oats to be pretty much completely broken down, with a few bits of raisins and little chips of chocolate still visible. Using a teaspoon-size scoop, portion out small pieces of dough, using your hands to roll them into balls about 2 inch in diameter. Place balls on a cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

Once chilled, transfer to an airtight container to store in the fridge for up to 10 days. Note: The dates should be nice and tacky here, more like a delicious edible glue than a soft fruit puree, so you should soak them less than you would if you were making baked goods. Medjool dates work best in this recipe because they're extra sticky, but Deglet Noor dates work too --they may require about 10 minutes more soaking time.

Excerpt from Real Sweet by Shauna Sever  published in Family cricle

Cherry Compote

It's a very easy and refreshing dish we used to make back in Ukraine. Actually, we love compote so much that we used to have a special pan to make it.

Cherry Compote

6 cups water
1 & 1/2 pounds cherries
1 (15oz) can canned peaches in a light syrup
3 tablespoons sugar

Pur water in a large pan. Bring liquid to a simmer over the medium-high heat. Add cherries and peaches with syrup. Reduce the heat so that the mixture barely bubbles, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add sugar, mix everything and cook more for 1-2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let compote cool in a pan. Pour compote with fruits in a nice glass container.

Компот из черешни.

6 чашек воды
759 грамм черешни
1 банка  (450 грамм) консервированных персиков
3 столовых ложки сахара
Налить воду в вольшую кастрюлю и закипятить. У мнеьшить огонь и вбросить черешню и персики. Пожалуйста не выливайте сироп от консервированных персоков, влейте его в кастрюлю с фруктами. Варить компот 10 минут. Добавить сахар и поварить 1-2 минуты. Снать кастрюль с компотом с огня и дать компоту остыть. Остывший компот можно налить в крацивый стеклянный графин.

Mixed Fruit Compote

Mixed Fruit Compote

2 navel (seedless) oranges
2 & 1/2 cups mixed dried fruits, such as apricots, apple rings, peaches, pears, figs, raisins, and prunes
1 cup dried cherries (I took 1 & 1/2 cup fresh cherries)
1/2 cup dry cranberries
1 & 1/2 cups medium-dry sherry
3 cups apple cider or orange juice
1 cinnamon stick

Use a small, sharp knife to remove the peel of each orange in a continuous spiral or make several long pieces. Turn the peel over and use the knife to cut or scrape out and discard as much of the white pitch as possible. Trim any pitch from the oranges as well, then cut them into 1/4-inch slices. Place the oranges and all the remaining ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium-high beat. Reduce the heat so that the mixture barely bubbles, then cover and simmer for 5 minutes ( I did 15 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat and let the fruit cool in a pan. The orange peel and cinnamon stick remain in the juice just to give it flavor; do not serve them. Store the fruit and its juice in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

I'm sure, you don't need 1 month to store such delicious dish. It's goes very well with most of all of the baking goods you have in your home.

Recipe from Lora Brody's cookbook.

Hungarian style apple-pie bars

I searched for this recipe forever. My mom used to make apple-pie bars with similar recipe, and, of course, I would like to reproduce the recipe. Finally, I found the recipe in such good cooking book "From our grandmother's kitchen". I reduced amounts of ingredients for the size of baking pan they mentioned, and my apple-pie bars came out perfect. I really recommend such good recipe for everybody who likes a combination of cookie dough and sweet apple filling. It's simply delicious. I enjoyed every bite of the delicacy.

Dough
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (very soft)
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling
9 medium size apples, peeled, cored, cubed
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Egg wash
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in bowl. In large bowl, beat sugar and eggs together with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in butter, sour cream, and vanilla until combined, about 1 minute, scraping down bowl and beaters as needed. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add flour mixture until just combined.
Transfer dough to clean counter and knead a little bit. Add flour as you need. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Press each piece of dough into 4-inch square, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours ( I did 2 hours)
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 F. Grease 13 by (-inch baking dish. Roll one piece of dough into 13 by 9-inch rectangle on lightly floured counter.
Toss apples with nutmeg, sugar, sugar and bread crumbs. Add raisins and walnuts. Spread filling evenly into dough-lined baking pan.
Roll remaining piece of dough into 13 by (-inch rectangle on lightly floured counter. Loosely roll dough around rolling pin and gently unroll it over filling. Trim and crimp edges of dough together.
Prepare egg wash mixing egg and milk. Brush the top dough. Poke vent holes in top crust at 2-inch intervals using fork. Bake until crust is golden brown, 50 to 60 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baling. Let pie-bars cool on wire rak until filling has set, about 2 hours. Serve at room temperature.

Венгерский яблочный пирог

Тесто
3 чашки муки
1 чайная ложка разрыхлителя
3/4 чайной ложки соли
1 стакан сахара
2 больших яйца
8 столовых ложек мягкого несоленого сливочного масла
1/4 стакана сметаны
3/4 чайной ложки ванильного экстракта

Начинка
9 средних размеров яблока, очищенных от кожуры, удалить сердцевину, в кубе
1/2 ч.л. мускатного ореха
2 столовые ложки панировочных сухарей
3 столовые ложки сахара
1/2 чашки изюма
1/2 стакана измельченных грецких орехов

Помазка
1 яйцо
2 столовые ложки молока

Перемешать  в миске муку, разрыхлитель и соль. В большой миске взбить сахар и яйца электрическим миксером на средней скорости до получения однородной массы, около 1 минуты. Добавить масло, сметану и ваниль. Взбивать приблизительно 1 минуту. Уменьшить скорость миксера и медленно добавить мучную смесь. Выложить тесто на стол и замесить. Если нужно добавить муки. Разделить тесто на 2 равные части, плотно завернуть в пищевую пленку и поставить в холодильник на час или два  (я продержала тесто 2 часа)

Разогреть духовку до 350 F (180Ц). Приготовить дечку размером 13х9 дюймов. Раскатать одну часть теста в прямоугольник по размеру дечки. Выложить тесто в дечку.
Перемешать яблоки с мускатным орехом, сахаром и панировочными сухарями. Добавить изюм и грецкие орехи. Распределите начинку равномерно поверх нижнего пласта теста.
Раскатать оставшееся тесто в прямоугольник досточной величины, чтобы покрыть начинку. Накрыть раскатанным тестом начинку и плотно защипнуть края.

Перемешать яйцо и молоко. Помазать раствором пирог. Ножом сделать вентиляционные отверстия на растоянии 5 см друг от друга. Поставить в нагретую духовку и выпекать до золотисто-коричневого цвета, 50-60 минут. Через 30 минут после начала выпечки, повернуть пирог в духовке. Вынуть готовый пирог из духовки и дать остыть окоо 2 часов, нарезать на порционные куски. Подавать при комнатной температуре.

Crispy hamantashen

Crispy Hamantashen

This year I decided to add one more interesting recipe to my hamantachen collection. Previously I did 2 different type of dough for hamantachen. Both of the are good, but this time I tried something new.


Couple weeks ago I baked Raspberry fan cookies. My cookies were a hit among my coworkers, and one the coworkers mentioned that dough is quite good for hamantashens. So, I tried this type of dough for my hamantashen.

here's a recipe:

Make 40 hamantashen

Prep: 1 hour
Chill: 1 to 2 hours
Bake: 8 -10 minutes

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 can of "solo" poppy-seed filling
2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
Finely shredded lemon peel (optional)

Directions
1. In a very large bowl, combine butter and cream cheese. Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and salt. Beat until light and fluffy, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in the 1 teaspoon lemon peel, the vanilla, and lemon extract until combined. Beat in cornstarch. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.

2. Preheat oven to 375 F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the dough portions to an 1/8-inch thickness. Using a round 2-1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place dough rounds 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Mix poppyseed filling with bread crumbs and mix well. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of the poppyseed mixture onto the center of each round and shape the hamantashen

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool. Repeat with the remaining dough portions. If desired, sprinkle cookies with additional lemon peel before serving.

5. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

Dough recipe from Better Homes and Gardens magazine

Cheese Kreplach

Today I'm blogging about very familiar recipe such as cheese kreplach. It reminds me my childhood in Zhitomir. We used to eat a lot of kreplach calling them "vareniki".
Enjoy the recipe ! Happy Holiday!

What do you think makes the ideal chocolate chip cookie?

Are you ready to bake the best chocolate cookies?

If yes, please read the article in NY Times

Here's a recipe to bake and much more :

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Jacques Torres

Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour, 1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt, 2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter, 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract, 1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content. Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

Note: Disks are sold at Jacques Torres Chocolate; Valrhona fèves, oval-shaped chocolate pieces, are at Whole Foods.

Dark Chocolate Pudding

Serves 2 to 4
Total Time 20 minutes

3 Tbsp. cornstarch, 5 Tbsp. sugar, 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups skim milk, 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a saucepan, thoroughly combine the cornstarch, sugar, and cocoa. Add the milk and stir until very smooth. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until the pudding comes to a boil. Then lower the heat and gently simmer, stirring continuously, for 3 or 4 minutes. Stir in the vanilla, pour the hot pudding into a decorative serving bowl or individual custard cups, and serve warm or chill for about 2 hours, until cold and set.

You can always replace the skim milk with whole milk for a richer pudding. And if you want a more intense chocolate hit, replace the cocoa powder with 2 or 3 ounces of high-quality semisweet chocolate, such as Scharffen Berger. Melt the chocolate separately, then whisk it into the other ingredients. Cook, stirring, until the mixture simmers and thickens. Add vanilla and serve.

Малокалорийный и быстрый шоколадный пудинг

На 2-4 порции.
Время приготовления: 20 минут.

3 столовые ложки кукурузного крахмала, 5 столовых ложек сахара, 2 столовый ложки порошка какао (лучше 1/2 чашки жидкого сладкого темного шоколада), 2 чашки нежирного молока, 1 чайная ложка эстракта ванили.

В небольшой кастрюльке смешать крахмал, сахар и какао (шоколад). Добавить молоко и перемешать. Поставить на средний огонь, постоянно помешивая, довести до кипения. Уменьшить огонь и кипятить 3-4 минуты. Жидкость начнет густеть. Не переставая помешивать, продержать пудинг еще 1-2 минуты на огне. Добавить ваниль и снять с огня. Разложить по декоративным стаканам и поставить в холодильник на 2 часа. Украсить взбитыми сливками и свежими фруктами.

Если Вы используете шоколад, то распустите его заранее.

Для тех, кто еще не знает о знаменитых книгах, изданными работниками Moosewood restaraunt в штате Нью Йорк, рекомендую познакомиться. Все книги продаются на http://www.amazon.com/. В моей кулинарной библиотеке уже 3 книги из этой серии.

Recipe from Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites by Moosewood Collective

Cheesecake Pops

It sounds SUPER DELISIOUS for kids. I did not try them because of the last Seder, but now we should try to have a FUN.

Two ideas to explore:

Try them from scratch

Try them from cheesecake leftovers

Tahini cookies

Tahini cookies

A tahini-based dough is for eye-popping cookies that melt in the mouth. They're just delicious.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup well-stirred tahini, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1/3 cup sesame seeds (optional)
Special equipment: parchment paper
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.

Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes, then beat in tahini and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing until a crumbly dough forms. Transfer dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and press into a disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheetsRoll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll balls 1 at a time in seeds to coat and arrange 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets. Bake, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until cookies are puffed and starting to crack, 12 to 15 minutes total. Cool on sheets 10 minutes (cookies will be very fragile when hot), then transfer from parchment to a rack to cool completely.


Печенье из тахини.

Это просто и вкусно. Для тех, кто не знаком с тахини (паста из кунжутных семечек), предлагаю почитать статью о семенах сезама

1 1/4 чашки муки, 1/2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя, 1/4 чайной ложки соли, 1/2 чашки мягкого сливочного масла, 1/2 чашки сахара, 1/2 чашки тахини, 1 чайная ложка ежтракта ванили, 1/3 чашки кунжутных семочек для посыпки

Смешать муку, разрыхлитель и соль в небольшой миске.
Взбить миксером масло и сахар в течении 3 минут, постепенно добавить ванильный экстракт и тахини. Всыпать предварительно подготовленную сухую смесь и замешать тесто. Тесто завернуть в пищевую пленку и положить в холодильник на 1 час.

Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Застелить пергаментной бумагой дечки. Вынуть тесто из холодильника и выкатать небольшие шарики и уложить их на дечку, оставляя место между. Печь в духовке 12-15 минут. Остудить 10 минут. Подавать с фруктами.

Recipe from Gourmet December 2006

Easy Oreо Truffles

Easy Oreо Truffles
Prep Time: 30 min
Total Time: 1 hr 30 min
Makes: 3-1/2 doz. or 42 servings, one truffle each

1 pkg. (1 lb., 2 oz.) OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided, 1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened , 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
CRUSH 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
DIP balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
REFRIGERATE until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Трюфеля из печенья.

1 пакет (1lb) печенья "Oreo", 1 упаковка (8oz.) сливочного сыра "Филадельфия", 2 пакета (8oz каждый) сладкого шоколада.

Прежде всего приготовить посыпку для трюфелей. Для этого положить 5 печений в кухонный комбайн и размолоть в мелкую крошку. Выложить крошку из комбайна в отдельную тарелку.
Оставшееся печенье положить в комбайн и размельчить. Вынуть и смешать со сливочным сыром. Из полученной смеси сделать шарики диаметром 2 см каждый. Приблизительно получится 40-42 шарика. Поставить в холодильник или в морозилку для охлаждения на 1-2 часа.
Растопить шоколад на водяной бане. Каждый шарик окунуть в шоколад. Достать вилкой, дать немного стечь шоколаду и выложить на застеленный пергаментом противень. Сверху посыпать заранее оставленной крошкой из печенья. Поставить в холодильник для застывания.
Хранить в холодильнике.

Recipe from KraftFoods Inc.