Ta Tum! Drumroll, introducing a new blog...

After much deliberation I decided to launch my own little sister blog just for my culinary exploits, I will be discussing all things related to and surrounding food/drinks, and of course posting my recipe creations. Come and see! :) I have a link to the side, and the web address is labeebonvivant.blogspot.com.

Enjoy! :)

Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie

Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie

Combine in blender:
1 c. frozen blueberries
½ c. whole milk
1/2 c. plain yogurt
½ t. vanilla
1 T. honey

Puree till smooth.
Serves 2.

Cranberry Raspberry Yogurt Smoothie

Cranberry Raspberry Yogurt Smoothie

Combine in blender:
½ c. frozen raspberries
½ c. whole milk
½ c. cranberry juice
1 c. plain yogurt
½ t. vanilla
1 T. honey

Puree till smooth.

Serves 2.

Parmesan and tomato ‘stracciatella’ Soup

Parmesan and tomato ‘stracciatella’ Soup

This was what I made for my lunch today, this recipe can be doubled etc. to serve multiple people.

Bring to a simmer:
1 c. chicken broth or stock
1 tomato, diced

Off heat, Add:
1 beaten egg
¼ c. grated parmesan cheese

Season with salt, black pepper and a dash of pepper flakes.
Serve with crumbled parm.

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

Combine in blender:
1 c. plain yogurt
8 frozen whole strawberries
1/2 c. whole milk
1 T. honey
½ t. pure vanilla extract
Dash salt.

Puree until smooth.
Serves one.

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

Combine in blender:
1 ripe banana
1 T. creamy peanut butter
2/3 c. whole milk
Dash salt.

Puree until smooth.
Serves one.

Honeyed cherry lemonade

Honeyed cherry lemonade

Combine in blender:
¼ c. lemon juice
1 T. honey
1/3 frozen dark sweet cherries
½ c. water

Puree until smooth. Serves one.

The richest custard ever

The richest custard

2 c. whole milk (not low fat/skim)
¾ c. honey
½ t. salt
3 T. cornstarch
4 lg. Egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 T. pure vanilla extract
8 oz. Cream cheese or mascarpone
1 c. heavy whipping cream

1. Stir the honey, milk and salt together in a medium saucepan.
Cook over medium heat until little bubbles form around the edges of the pan, about 7 minutes.
2. In a separate bowl, gradually add the heated milk to the cornstarch.
Transfer the milk-starch mixture back to the saucepan; cook over low heat, whisking constantly, 5 minutes.
3. Put the egg yolks in a small bowl. Whisk in a small amount of the hot milk-starch mixture. Add the yolk mixture to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture come to a boil and thickens, 10-12 minutes.
4. Off of the heat, add the cheese and vanilla, whisk until cheese is completely dissolved.5. Pass the custard through a sieve into a bowl, let sit at room temperature 5 minutes. The custard can be served at room temperature or chilled, topped with whipped cream.

Ginger Almond Banana Muffins

I served these with some of my apple butter.

Ginger Almond Banana Muffins

Combine in mixing bowl:
1 ½ c whole wheat flour
¾ t. ground ginger
¾ t. salt
2 t. baking powder
½ t. baking soda

Combine in separate mixing bowl:
½ c. buttermilk
1 egg
2 ripe bananas, mashed
¼ c. honey
½ c. butter, melted
1 t. almond extract

Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mix until combined, but do not over mix.
Fold in ½ c. sliced almonds.
Pour into buttered jumbo muffin tin,Bake at 400 degrees, 20 min. or until knife through the middle comes out clean.

Tomato soup

Tomato Soup

Melt in 3 Qt. soup pot:
2 T. butter

ADD:
1 chopped onion
1 t. salt
SAUTE until translucent

ADD:
6 oz. Tomato paste
3 c. whole milk
pinch cayenne pepper
¼ t. minced garlic
½ c. packed basil leaves
1 ½ T. honey

Puree soup in batches in blender.
Season with additional salt and pepper, Serve.

5 Spice Applesauce Bread

5 Spice Applesauce Bread

Combine in mixing bowl:
2 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking powder
½ t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. anise seeds
½ t. ground ginger
½ t. ground nutmeg
½ t. ground cloves

Combine in a separate bowl:
1 ½ c. applesauce
½ c. butter, melted
2 T. milk
½ c. honey

Combine the wet and dry mixtures. Pour into buttered 9 by 9 inch baking dish.Bake at 400 degrees for 35 min. or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Smoky Bacon and Vegetable Chowder

Smoky Bacon and Vegetable Chowder

3 parsnips, peeled and chopped
9 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 small russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 t. salt
Put the vegetables and salt into a soup pot, just cover with water and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer until tender (10-15 min). Do not drain off the cooking water.

In a saute pan:
Crisp 10 slices turkey bacon, drain bacon on paper towels and crumble when cooled
In the pan, along with the renderings form the bacon, melt 1 T. butter.

Whisk together in a bowl:
¼ c. flour
½ t. ground cayenne pepper
½ t. freshly ground black pepper
1 ½ t. salt
3 c. whole milk
1 t. Italian seasoning
Pour into sauté pan, cook over medium heat until thickened.Pour into soup pot with vegetables, add crumbled bacon.

House lasagna

House Lasagna

13 oz cooked whole wheat Lasagna noodles

Combine in mixing bowl:
1 ½ lb. Roasted chicken, shredded
6 slices turkey bacon, crisped and crumbled
32 oz. Jar tomato sauce
1 c. torn basil leaves
1 t. minced garlic

In a sauce pan:
Melt: 3 T. butter
Add: 1 t. salt
Black pepper
½ t. pepper flakes

whisk in separate bowl: 3 c. whole milk
and ½ c. cornstarch

Add milk mixture to butter/spices in pan, cook over medium heat until mixture becomes thickened. Remove from heat,
Whisk in
3 eggs,
one at a time, keep the mixture moving constantly, otherwise your eggs will scramble.
Add: 8 oz. Grated parmesan cheese.

To assemble:
Per layer: lay out 3 noodles in a buttered 9 by 13 inch baking dish
Next: spread about ½ c. of the white sauce
Then: about ¼ of the red sauceWhen lasagna is assembled bake in a 400 degree oven for 25 min. or until golden on top

Banana Walnut Bread

Banana Nut Bread

Preheat oven to 350, grease loaf pan.

Combine in large mixing bowl:
1 ¾ c. whole wheat flour
1 ¼ t. baking powder
½ t. baking soda
¾ t. salt
½ t. ground cinnamon

Combine in separate bowl:
3 mashed ripe bananas
2 T. milk
1 t. vanilla
½ c. honey
1/3 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs

½ c. chopped walnuts

Fold the contents of the second bowl into the first until no clumps of flour remain (do not overmix). Fold in nut; pour batter into pan and bake for 60-65 min. or till a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Whole Wheat Muffin recipe

I served these for our breakfast with strawberry jam and swiss cheese.

Whole Wheat Muffins

1 ½ c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking powder
½ t. salt
2/3 c. buttermilk
½ c. butter (1 stick), melted, plus more for pan
2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease your muffin pan.
Combine the flour, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
Whisk buttermilk, butter and eggs together in a separate bowl.
Stir the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture (until just combined [don’t over-beat])Pour into muffin tin, bake at 400 for 15 min. or until golden.