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Mom’s need pampering every day of the year, but for Mother’s Day, we need to go all out!!! In this short video, I demonstrate two tasty recipes. Ham & Cheese Crescent Roll-Ups, followed by a tasty and colorful non-alcoholic drink, The Cinderella!

Ham & Cheese Crescent Roll-Ups

• 1 8-ounce tube crescent roll dough
• 3 ounces Nancy’s cream cheese, softened
• 2 teaspoons Koop’s stone ground mustard
• 1 tablespoon green onions, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 8 thin round slices of ham
• Parchment Paper: Paper Chef pre-cut sheets

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, Dijon mustard, green onions, and extra sharp cheddar cheese.
3. Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate the triangles.
4. Using a small spatula, spread 1 tablespoon of the seasoned cheese mixture on each piece of dough. Then lay one slice of ham on top. Fold the edges of the ham in, so it is not hanging over the edges of the dough.
5. Start at the wide end of the triangle, and roll up, towards the point of the triangle. Place the crescents, point down, on the parchment paper.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Cinderella

• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup ginger ale
• 2 tablespoons grenadine
• Ice Cubes
• 1 orange slice, for garnish

Serve with a straw and a paper umbrella if you have it!

Makes 2 servings

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and lemon juice.
2. Shake gently, and pour into a martini glass filled with ice.
3. Hang a slice of orange on the side of the martini glass.
4. Serve with a straw and a paper umbrella.

Watch me whip up these tasty waffles in no time at all, with a few basic ingredients. Top it off with blueberry sauce, sweetened with maple syrup and apple juice!

Waffles with Blueberry Sauce

• 4 cups blueberries, frozen
• 12 ounces Gala apple juice (‘Tude brand)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ¾ cup whole milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• Extra oil for brushing the waffle iron

Special equipment: silicone brush, electric waffle maker

1. In a large saucepan, combine the blueberries, apple juice, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, and then turn down to a rapid simmer. Simmer, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine the wet ingredients: eggs, oil, vanilla, and brown sugar. Whisk well. In a smaller bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir, just until combined.
3. Preheat waffle maker. Using the silicone brush, grease both top and bottom cooking surfaces with the extra oil.
4. Use a 1/3 cup measuring cup, scoop the batter and pour evenly onto the hot waffle maker. Close the lid, and cook until done, about 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Serve immediately with the hot blueberry sauce.

Crunchy, quick, and delicious!! This recipe will knock your socks off! Watch Chef Becky prepare onion rings and dill pickles in batter made with Ninkasi beer!

Beer Battered Onion Rings

• ½ cup all propose flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup instant mashed potato flakes
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup cold beer **(Nikasi Pravada Pilsner ) ** you may substitute cold club soda
• 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
• 2 large yellow onions (also try baby dill pickles, I dare you!)
• 3 cups canola oil

Sauce

• ½ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup ranch dressing

1. Peel and slice onions to ½ inch thick
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, potato flakes, cayenne pepper and kosher salt. Whisk in the beer and stir until smooth.
3. Place panko in a shallow bowl.
4. Make sauce by combining the ketchup and ranch in a small bowl. Set aside.
5. Heat the canola oil in a frying pan with high sides to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with paper towels.
6. Place 4 onion rings into the bowl of batter and toss to coat them.
7. Remove onion rings from batter and place into a pan of panko breadcrumbs. Turn to coat completely.
8. Carefully place onion rings in the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. The procedure is the same for the dill pickles!

Three simple ingredients are combined to make the perfect appetizer for wine tastings and summer parties!

Sun Dried Tomato & Basil Stuffed Brie

• 8 ounce Brie cheese wedge
• 3 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained and julienned
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped small
• Baguette or crackers for serving

1. Chill the brie in the freezer for 10 minutes to make it easier to handle.
2. Using a sharp knife, slice the brie triangle in half, so you end up with two identical triangles.
3. Place one triangle of the brie on a pretty oven-safe serving dish. Arrange the sun-dried tomato pieces on top, and then sprinkle with the chopped basil. Place the brie wedge on top and score the top of the wedge with a sharp knife. This will make it easier to serve after it’s been baked.
4. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Serve with sliced baguette, or your favorite crackers.

So DELICIOUS!! Brownies, marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate, graham crackers, and chocolate frosting unite to create a sinfully sweet and tasty dessert!! No campfire needed!

S’more Brownie Cups

• 1 batch of Triple Chocolate Decadence Brownies, or a high quality boxed brownie mix, baked
• 1 tub marshmallow cream
• 1 tub milk chocolate frosting
• 3 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars
• 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
• 8 graham crackers, broken into 1 inch pieces
• 8 clear plastic cups, 9-ounce capacity

1. Bake brownies according to package directions, and let cool. Break brownies up into chunks, about 1 inch in size.
2. Place the 8 cups on the counter. In each of the plastic cups, layer the ingredients in the following order:

Order of Assembly

• Brownie Chunks (about 3 tablespoons in the bottom of each cup)
• 1 tablespoon marshmallow cream
• Hershey bar broken into pieces (about 2 chunks per cup)
• Brownie Chunks (about ¼ cup per plastic cup)
• 2 tablespoons chocolate frosting (spread around to cover brownie chunks)
• 6 to 8 mini marshmallows per cup
• 4 graham cracker pieces
• Hershey bar pieces (arrange with logo facing up)

Serve with a spoon.

This dip is so tasty! I use rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, ranch dressing, Frank’s hot sauce, mozzarella cheese, and green onions. It’s great with Ritz crackers, celery sticks, and baby carrots.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, completely softened
• ½ cup ranch dressing
• ¼ cup Frank’s brand hot sauce
• 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
• ½ cup green onions
• 2 ½ cups diced rotisserie chicken
• ½ cup blue cheese crumbles

Serve with celery sticks, baby carrots, Ritz Crackers

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, ranch dressing, green onions, and hot sauce.
2. Mix until combined using an electric mixer.
3. Add mozzarella cheese and mix again.
4. Add diced chicken and stir gently.
5. Place in a 13 X 9 baking dish, crock pot, or heavy-duty foil pan (for grilling).
6. Sprinkle evenly with the blue cheese crumbles.

Oven: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Crock pot: Heat on high for 1 hour, or low for 2 hours.

BBQ at your tailgater: Preheat grill to low. Place foil pan on directly on the grates, and close lid. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until dip is hot and bubbly.

Make this fun snack with your kids, to have something healthy before trick-or-treating! I use pizza dough, and slice it into finger and toe shapes! Brush on pesto to make the Ogre Toes green!! Give them a WICKED manicure and pedicure with plastic spider rings!

Witch’s Fingers & Ogre Toes with Bloody Dip

• 1 tube pizza dough
• ¼ cup blanched almonds
• Red food coloring
• 1 can medium whole olives
• 3 tablespoons pesto
• 1 cup Marinara sauce
• 12 plastic spider rings

1. Using a sharp knife, slice the blanched almonds in half. Place them in a small glass dish and add four drops of red food coloring. Stir well so the almonds become coated with the red dye. Spread the almonds curved-side up on a paper towel to dry.
2. Open tube of pizza dough, and unroll onto a large cutting board. Using a knife, cut long strips 1 inch wide, by 12 inches long. Cut the long strip into three pieces (approximately one finger long). Roll between your palms to make them round, like fingers. Place on a foil lined cookie sheet. Form a rounded knuckle shape in the middle of each finger. Press one red almond into the tip of each dough stick.
3. For the Ogre Toes, cut the strips to be wider and shorter (1 ½ inches by 2 ½ inches long). Place them on the foil lined cookie sheet. Form into a toe shape. Using a small food-safe brush, brush pesto over the dough. Slice the whole olives into halves. Press one olive half into the tip of each toe.
4. Bake fingers and toes in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Once cool, place the plastic spider rings on the Witch’s Fingers. Serve with marinara “bloody” sauce.

These cookies are loaded with flavor! With a full cup of pumpkin, lots of chocolate, and the spices of pumpkin pie, they’re sure to become your family’s favorite cookie this season.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 cup butter, completely softened
• ⅔ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (Trader Joe’s is my favorite brand of chips!)

1. Combine butter, brown sugar and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.
2. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Continue beating until well mixed.
3. Reduce speed to low; add flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl often, until well mixed.
4. Gently stir in chocolate chips.
5. Chill dough for one hour in the refrigerator. Dough can be frozen at this point if you would like to prepare in advance.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop cookie dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons each. Flatten slightly and place on foil-lined cookie sheets.
7. Bake for 11 to 12 minutes.

This recipe will become a new family tradition! Watch me make Sausage, Apple, and Cranberry Stuffing, which I put in a fresh turkey breast, and then bind it with twine. I roast it, and then carve it into beautiful slices. It is perfect for a small family gathering, when you do not want to prepare a whole turkey. Enjoy!!

Sausage, Apple, Cranberry Stuffed Turkey

This is one of my favorite recipes! It’s sweet and savory, and has the hallmarks of the holidays, with fresh apples, fresh herbs, and dried cranberries. It is a special recipe, and well worth the effort. Your family will ask for it again and again!

For the stuffing, you will need:

• 6 cups whole wheat bread, about 6 or 7 slices
• 1 pound turkey sausage, breakfast flavor, casings removed
• 1 ½ cups onion, diced small
• 1 ½ cups celery, diced small
• 2 tablespoons fresh sage, minced
• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 large golden delicious apple, cored and chopped
• ¾ cup dried cranberries
• ⅓ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• ¾ cup turkey or chicken stock
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Cube the bread and then toast on a cookie sheet in a hot oven, for 6 to 8 minutes at 365 degrees. Transfer to large bowl.
2. In a large skillet, cook the onions and sausage over medium heat. Break up the sausage into small pieces. Cook until evenly browned. Add the celery, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Cook for 4 minutes for flavors to blend.
3. Pour sausage mixture into bowl with the bread cubes. Mix in apples, cranberries, and parsley. Drizzle with turkey stock and melted butter.

For the turkey entrée, you will need:

• 3-pound turkey breast, boneless and skinless, butterflied
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• Kitchen twine

1. Prepare the stuffing before working with the turkey.
2. Using a very sharp chef’s knife, trim all visible pieces of fat from the turkey breast. Cut a pocket into the thickest part of the turkey breast.
3. On a cutting board, lay the longest piece of butcher’s twine perpendicular to yourself. Lay the other 4 pieces of butcher’s twine across the long piece. Lay the butterflied turkey breast on top of the twine, and arrange the breast meat open. Place about 3 or 4 cups of stuffing into the turkey breast. Taking one of the 4 shorter pieces of twine, carefully tie it closed, containing the stuffing in the turkey. Repeat with the other three pieces. Use care to contain all of the stuffing in the breast meat. Lastly, tie the long piece of twine, going the long way and fold the meat to contain the stuffing.
4. Once the meat has been tied up, turn it over and place in an oven safe baking dish. Brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with the kosher salt, pepper, and thyme.
5. Bake uncovered in a 375 degree oven, for approximately 55 minutes to an hour. Using a meat thermometer, check to ensure the stuffing has reached 165 degrees. Let roast rest for 15 minutes. Carve into slices, about half an inch thick.

**This recipe makes plenty of stuffing. Place remaining stuffing in an oven safe baking dish, and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve on the side, along with my Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles, and Cranberry Orange Walnut Crescent Rolls.

This quick and easy Holiday Snack Mix is sure to become a family favorite!! Toast Cheerios with melted butter and cinnamon, then add the whole wheat Chex, pretzels, dried apples, dried cranberries, and M&M’s. Perfect for gift giving!

Holiday Snack Mix

• 14 ounce box Cheerios, plain
• 1 stick butter
• 2 tablespoons Cinnamon
• 14 ounce box Whole Wheat Chex
• 6 cups mini pretzels
• 2 cups dried apple rings, chopped small
• 2 cups dried cranberries
• 2 cups M&M’s (12.6 ounce bag)

1. In a large skillet, melt the stick of butter and add the cinnamon over medium-low heat. Stir well. Add the box of Cheerios, and stir well. Toast the Cheerios by stirring constantly over medium-low heat, until the butter is completely absorbed. Remove from heat.
2. In a very large bowl, place the toasted Cheerios, the Chex cereal, the pretzels, the dried apples, the dried cranberries, and the M&M’s. Stir very well.
3. Divide into cute gift packaging. Air tight is best. Store in the freezer if possible.