Recipes

So sweet, so easy, and SO delicious!!! Watch me make this rich tasting chocolaty treat, perfect for Valentine’s Day, dinner parties, or just for fun!

Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cups

• 1 ½ cups dark chocolate (Chocolate Decadence is my favorite brand)
• 12 ounces silken tofu
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ½ cup fresh raspberries, for garnish
• 1 ounce fresh mint, for garnish

1. Put chocolate chips in a medium saucepan, and heat on the stovetop using LOW heat. Keep a close eye on the chocolate, and stir it often.
2. Place tofu and raspberries in a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the melted chocolate, maple syrup, vanilla, raspberries, and powdered sugar and process until very smooth. Scrape down the sides and process for 30 seconds longer. Pour into martini glasses for elegant presentation. Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint.
3. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
4. Make Ahead Tip: Loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Watch this cooking demonstration on how to make one of my favorite recipes! Miso, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Japanese rice wine make the perfect marinade for fresh salmon, which cooks up quickly on a cedar plank!

Miso & Ginger Glazed Salmon on Cedar Plank

• 2 lbs salmon, boneless and skinless
• ½ cup miso paste, red, room temperature
• 1/3 cup Mirin (Japanese rice cooking wine)
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar, unseasoned
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup green onions, sliced thinly
• ¼ cup ginger root, grated
• 4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• Cedar plank

1. Soak cedar plank in water for 2 to 4 hours before cooking the fish.
2. In a glass bowl, combine the miso with the Mirin. Using a spatula, thoroughly combine the two ingredients, so no lumps remain. Once smooth, add the rice vinegar, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, and sesame oil.
3. Place the salmon filet in a Ziploc bag, and pour the sauce over the fish. Marinate for 2 hours before cooking.
4. Preheat grill to medium heat for 15 minutes. Place the cedar plank on the grill and close lid, to preheat the plank for 5 minutes.
5. Place salmon on top of the hot cedar plank. Pour remaining marinade over the fish. Close the lid and cook salmon for 12 to 18 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish.
6. Serve immediately.

What a delicious way to use quinoa!!! Watch me prepare a client favorite recipe, using quinoa, black beans, cilantro, corn, and spices! I promise you’re going to love it!

Quinoa with Black Beans and Cilantro

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped fine
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons cumin
• 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper *you can double or triple the cayenne if desired
• 2 cups quinoa, rinsed well
• 1 cup white wine
• 3 cups broth, HOT
• 1 pound corn kernels, thawed
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained well
• 2/3 cup cilantro, washed and chopped

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until the onion is translucent. Add the cumin and cayenne and stir well.
2. Rinse the quinoa with plenty of water. Add to the pan. Add the white wine and bring it to a boil. Continue stirring until the wine has completely evaporated.
3. Add the 3 cups of broth and bring it to a boil again. Scrape down the sides of the pan to ensure all of the quinoa is submersed in the cooking liquid. Turn heat down to medium-low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes.
4. After the 20 minutes are up, add the corn kernels. Stir well, cover again, and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Mix in the black beans and cilantro. Stir well and heat through.

This dish freezes well. You can portion it out into lunch sized servings and store them in the freezer. Just grab one out of the freezer before you leave for work!

This recipe will knock your socks off!! My friends fight over these, I promise! Toasted baguette topped with blue cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, seared steak, and French-fried onions….need I say more?

Steak Bruschetta

• Baguette (one or two)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Garlic salt
• ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 pound flat iron steak
• 2 teaspoons Montréal seasoning
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup French fried onions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Slice baguette into ½ thick pieces. Brush lightly with olive oil, and then sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes. Remove bread from the oven, and turn on the broiler.
3. Brush steak with olive oil, then sprinkle on the Montreal Steak seasoning. Preheat a large non-stick skillet with one tablespoon oil. When pan is hot, sear steak for 90 seconds per side. Remove from pan and place on a cutting board to rest.
4. In a small bowl, combine the blue cheese and mayonnaise. Stir well.
5. Use a small spatula and spread 2 teaspoons of the blue cheese-mayo spread onto each baguette. Place three chunks of sun-dried tomato on each piece of bread.
6. With a sharp knife, slice the steak into pieces about ¼ inch thick. Place one slice of steak onto each slice of bread.
7. Top each steak with a teaspoon of French fried onions.
8. Place bruschetta in the oven, on the middle rack. Broil for about 3 minutes. Keep a very close eye on the food, because it will burn very quickly!

This is a special cookie recipe for any time of year! I’m going to show you how to make something special with everyday ingredients. Making browned butter will give these cookies a delicious caramel taste that you will love!

Browned Butter Sugar Cookies

This is a special cookie recipe for any time of year! I’m going to show you how to make something special with everyday ingredients. Making browned butter will give these cookies a delicious caramel taste that you will love.

• 1 cup butter, salted
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar

1. Melt 1 cup butter over medium heat in a heavy sauce pan for 2 minutes. Continue cooking and stirring. Watch closely until butter foams and turns a delicate golden brown color (3 to 4 minutes). Immediately remove from heat and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Use a hotpad or trivet under the pan in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Combine the browned butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat using medium speed until well mixed. Add the flour and mix again.
4. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Roll the balls in sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with tines of a fork, in a crossing pattern.
5. Bake for 11 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

This recipe is AMAZING!! Make it ahead of time, and have an incredibly easy meal ready for the grill!

Bacon Wrapped Rosemary Chicken

• 4 small chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• Sea Salt (I love Jacobsen sea salt)
• Black pepper
• Garlic Powder
• 8 slices thick cut bacon
• 12 wooden skewers, soaked in water

1. Pick all leaves off the rosemary sprigs. Place the trimmed chicken on a large plate. Season both sides with the garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and rosemary leaves.
2. On a large cutting board, lay two slices of bacon side by side. Place one chicken breast on the bacon slices. Wrap the bacon slices around the chicken breast, and secure it with 3 wooden skewers per chicken breasts. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
3. Preheat grill to medium high. Grill chicken breasts for 8 minutes on the first side, then flip over. Grill for 6 to 7 minutes on the other side. Cut chicken to ensure meat is cooked through.

Your family will love you for this recipe! Flour tortillas, pizza sauce, cheese, oregano, pepperoni, olives, and garlic salt are all you need!

Pizzadillas

• 4 flour tortillas
• 2/3 cup pizza sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 2 tablespoons sliced olives
• 16 pepperoni slices

1. Lay flour tortillas out on a clean work surface. Spread two tablespoons pizza sauce out, to cover half of each tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top of the pizza sauce. Next, sprinkle garlic powder and oregano on top of the cheese. Place four pepperoni slices on each tortilla. Place a few sliced olives on top of the shredded cheese. Fold tortillas in half and press lightly.
2. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Spray with non-stick spray. Place two pizzadillas in the skillet, and brown for 2 or 3 minutes per side. Press flat with a pancake turner.
3. Slice into quarters and serve.
4. These are a very convenient lunch to send to school with your child!

I know you’re going to love this party-perfect appetizer!! Make it ahead of time and take “ready to bake” to any party! All you need is baguette, cream cheese, pesto, salami, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan Cheese.

Genoa Bread

• Baguette
• Soft Cream Cheese
• Pesto
• Quality Salami, thinly sliced, casing removed
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes, oil-packed, thinly sliced
• Parmesan Cheese

1. Slice bread into ½ inch thick slices. Using a butter knife or silicone spatula, spread a thin layer of soft cream cheese on top of each slice of bread (about 1 ½ teaspoons cream cheese on each slice of bread).
2. Place about ¾ teaspoon pesto on top of the cream cheese. Spread it evenly, using the back of a spoon.
3. Thinly slice the salami with as sharp knife, and remove the casing. Slice into half-moon shapes. Arrange on top of the bread.
4. Drain the sun-dried tomatoes, and place on top of the salami.
5. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
6. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.
7. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 7 to 8 minutes.

A brownie recipe for true chocolate lovers!!! Three kinds of top quality chocolate is key and my favorite brand is Chocolate Decadence, from Eugene, Oregon.

Triple Chocolate Decadence Brownies

• 2 sticks butter (1 cup), cut into pieces, room temperature
• 8 oz. Chocolate Decadence dark chocolate (62%), coarsely chopped
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¾ teaspoon table salt
• 2 teaspoons espresso powder
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup Chocolate Decadence Milk Chocolate (chips, buttons, or bars chopped up)
• ½ cup Chocolate Decadence 62% Dark Chocolate (semi-sweet)
• ½ cup Chocolate Decadence 72% Dark (bitter sweet)

1. Heat oven to 350°. Line a 13X9 metal pan with parchment paper (its handy to allow a few inches the parchment paper to come up the sides of the pan). Spray parchment with non-stick spray. Set pan aside.
2. Pour enough water into a 4-quart saucepan that it reaches a depth of 1″. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Combine butter and chocolate in a medium sized metal bowl; set bowl over saucepan. Cook, stirring, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.
3. Whisk together eggs in a large bowl. Add sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, espresso powder, and salt; whisk to combine. Stir in chocolate mixture; fold in flour.
4. Stir in the three kinds of chocolate chips.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 35 minutes. Let cool on a rack for two hours. Cut and serve.

Watch me make a client favorite recipe….it’s healthy and SO tasty! Would you guess, the two secret ingredients are chocolate and refried beans?

Four Bean Turkey Chili with Chocolate

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 ½ teaspoons beef broth concentrate (I recommend “Better than Bouillon”)
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 32-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, lightly drained
• 1 15-ounce can light red kidney beans, lightly drained
• 1 15-ounce can dark red kidney beans, lightly drained
• 1 15-ounce can refried beans
• 1 ounce dark chocolate
• ½ cup sour cream, for garnish
• 1/3 cup sharp cheddar cheese, for garnish

1. In a stock pot add onions, jalapenos, and bell pepper. Add the olive oil and sauté for a few minutes. Add the wine, and cover. Cook about 10 minutes, or until the bell peppers are nearly cooked through.
2. Add the ground turkey, and break up the turkey with your spatula. Cook until browned.
3. Add concentrated beef broth (do not dilute), tomatoes, black beans, light red kidney beans, and dark red kidney beans. Stir well. Add chili powder, cumin, and chocolate. Mash refried beans well to break up any solid chunks before adding to the pot. The refried beans will help thicken chili.
4. Simmer for 30 minutes, and stir every 5 minutes. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan each time.
5. Garnish with sour cream and cheddar cheese.