Tag: SWEET

LEMON BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE ~ BLOG 366.95

Whether you need a brunch or potluck dish, this streusel topped Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake is the perfect choice!

LEMON BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray a 10″ Springform pan with non-stick spray.

STREUSEL TOPPING
½ cup butter, melted
1 ½ cups AP flour
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla

  • In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, flour, sugar and vanilla until crumbly. Set aside.

CAKE
¼ cup melted butter
¼ cup canola oil
1 cup granulated sugar
2 LARGE eggs
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla
1 cup vanilla bean yogurt or sour cream
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 cups AP flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups fresh or frozen small wild blueberries (see note)

  • In a large bowl, whisk together butter, oil and sugar for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the eggs, vanilla, yogurt, lemon juice and zest and whisk until combined.
  • Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and stir just until combined.
  • Stir in blueberries and set aside.

FILLING optional
8 ounces cream cheese
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 LARGE egg
zest from one lemon

  • With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and lemon zest until smooth.

GLAZE optional
¾ cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice

ASSEMBLY

  • Spread ½ of the cake batter into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  • Spread cream cheese filling in the center, staying away from the edge of the pan as much as possible.

  • Top with remaining cake batter and spread to cover as much of the cream cheese filling as possible.

  • Sprinkle the crumb topping over top.

  • Bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes, or until center is set and DOES NOT jiggle when moved. You don’t want an unbaked center! and it could take up to 80 minutes.
  • Let cake cool to room temperature before drizzling the glaze over top.
  • Serve.

NOTES 

  • Frozen blueberries will release more moisture as they bake, so you may want to reduce the oil to 2 tablespoons if using frozen berries.
  • Both the cheesecake filling and the glaze are optional – just depends on how much sweetness and decadence you want for the occasion.

BLUE CHEESE RANCH WEDGE with SWEET & SPICY BACON

With all the recent E. Coli scares with Romaine lettuce I decided to go back to good old iceburg lettuce.  A change in lettuce brings with it a change in dressing. Here is a favorite from Damaris Phillips with very few changes. This is a PERFECT recipe for us – hubby loves blue cheese more than I do so it’s a compromise that works. I love to top it with my swwet & spicy bacon – YUMMY!

BLUE CHEESE RANCH WEDGE with SWEET & SPICY BACON
DRESSING
1 cup creme fraiche
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup FRESH basil leaves, chopped
1/4 cup FRESH parsley leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons sliced FRESH chives
1 teaspoon FRESH thyme leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 lemon, juiced (about 1 tablespoon)
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (ALSO great with Gorgonzola)
FRESH coarsely ground sea salt black pepper
FRESH coarsely ground black pepper

  • Combine the creme fraiche, buttermilk, basil, parsley, chives, thyme, garlic, lemon juice and onion powder with a whisk in a medium bowl.
  • Fold in the blue cheese, season with salt and pepper.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

SALAD
1 head iceberg lettuce, quartered and core removed
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar

  • Divide the lettuce wedges among 4 plates.
  • Top each with 1/4 cup of the dressing, the tomatoes, sliced green onions, sweet and spicy bacon.
  • Serve the remaining dressing on the side.
  • Eat right away!

SWEET & SPICY BACON adapted from GIADA
1 pound slab bacon, cut into 1-by-1/2-inch pieces **
1/4 cup PURE maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons FRANK’S original hot sauce

  • Place the bacon in an even layer in a large skillet.
  • Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often with spatula until the bacon is light golden brown, about 20 minutes.
  • Whisk together the maple syrup, black pepper and Frank’s in a small bowl.
  • Pour off some of the rendered bacon fat, leaving just a small amount.
  • Return the skillet to the heat and pour the maple syrup mixture over the bacon.
  • Braise gently until the syrup thickens and glazes the bacon and the bacon is deep golden brown, about 15 minutes.
  • Serve warm.

SWEET GLAZED CHICKEN THIGHS

SWEET GLAZED CHICKEN THIGHS serves 4-6
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup pineapple juice (I use a pineapple orange mix)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 1/2-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons cornstarch

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Whisk together the melted butter, pineapple juice, liquid aminos and brown sugar until sugar is completely dissolved.
  • Generously season both sides of the chicken thighs with the salt and pepper.
  • Lightly grease baking dish.
  • Place chicken thighs in a single layer in the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Pour pineapple juice mixture over the chicken.
  • Cover and cook 45 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
  • Remove chicken with a slotted spoon, keep warm.
  • Pour pineapple mixture from baking dish into a stove top safe saucepan.
  • Whisk together the water and cornstarch.
  • Add cornstarch mixture to saucepan, whisking constantly until thickens.
  • Plate chicken pieces and spoon sauce over chicken pieces.
  • Serve immediately.

SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN

SWEET and SOUR CHICKEN

1/3 cup apricot pineapple jam**
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
scant 1/4 cup grated onion
pinch red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon chili sauce
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
8 ounce can crushed pineapple, WELL drained (reserve juice)
1/2 teaspoon molasses
splash grenadine (for color)
1/4 cup pineapple juice
Fresh ground salt and black pepper, to taste
2-3 pounds chicken thighs##
Scallion Rice@@
Sliced scallions for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Line a shallow roasting pan with foil and spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the jam, vinegar, chili sauce, brown sugar, grenadine, pineapple juice, molasses, garlic, all but 1/4 cup of the crushed pineapple and onion.
  • Cook over a low heat to heat sauce through.
  • Place chicken skin side up on baking sheet, generously seasoning with fresh ground salt and pepper.
  • Roast chicken 15 minutes.
  • Brush glaze onto chicken pieces (about 1/3 of the glaze).
  • Roast another 10-15 minutes until juices run clear and chicken is cooked through (170°).
  • Turn oven to broil and raise rack to 5 inches below broiler.
  • Brush chicken again with glaze and return to oven, broiling until crisp and golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Heat any remaining glaze in the microwave for 30 seconds.
  • Serve over buttered rice.
  • Garnish with scallion greens.

NOTE ** In many places in this country you can’t buy apricot pineapple jam, but I usually buy a jar of apricot and a jar of pineapple and make my own when I can’t find it already made.

NOTE ## You can use mixed chicken parts just as easily, I just prefer thighs. You can also use boneless chicken, JUST BE SURE to adjust cooking times. Also remember that there won’t be any skin to crisp so chicken will dry out some as well as cook faster. IF USING BONELESS PIECES, I brown them in avocado oil in a skillet before adding and tossing with the sauce.

NOTE:@@ To make scallion rice, I substitute a combination of mainly chicken broth with a little pineapple juice for the water in any rice recipe.  I then add 1 tablespoon butter, the scallion whites of the onions and 1/4 cup of the crushed pineapple and then cook per package directions.