Recipes

This recipe for French toast is seriously delicious!!! Learn a new twist on a classic brunch dish, using croissants, berries, and real maple syrup!

Croissant French Toast

• 5 croissants
• 5 large eggs
• ½ cup half and half
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cup fresh sliced strawberries, sliced bananas, and blueberries

The Night Before

1. Split the croissants in half. Let them sit out overnight to dry out.
2. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Place in the refrigerator overnight. Pour mixture into a pie plate.

In the Morning

1. Pour egg mixture into a pie plate or shallow dish. Dunk each croissant (cut side down) into the mixture, and let it soak for 30 seconds. Flip over and let soak for 30 seconds longer.
2. Preheat large non-stick skillet over low heat. Melt a small pat of butter. Add two pieces of croissant (or however many will fit in your pan). Increase heat to medium-low.
3. Cook for 4 minutes on the first side. When toast is a deep golden color, flip it over and cook for 3 minutes on the second side.
4. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining croissant halves.
5. Serve with maple syrup, fresh berries, banana slices, and more butter!

Makes 5 large or 10 small servings.

Watch me prepare an elegant sweet and savory little tart, just perfect for Mother’s Day!

Cranberry, Apple, Brie Tarts

• 18 ounces puff pastry
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 3 tablespoons flour
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup apple butter
• 4 ounces brie cheese, rind removed, cut into ½ inch squares, ¼ inch thick
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Special Equipment

• Mini Muffin Pan
• Biscuit Cutter
• Pastry Brush
• Rolling Pin

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Thaw puff pastry at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sprinkle a little flour on a large cutting board. Gently open the puff pastry. Dust a little flour on the rolling pin. Use gentle pressure, and roll out the puff pastry.
3. Use a round biscuit cutter (about 2.5 inches in diameter), and cut circles from the puff pastry dough.
4. Grease each mini muffin well, using a pastry brush and the oil. Place one circle of dough in each well and gently press it down.
5. Place ½ teaspoon of dried cranberries in the bottom of each pastry.
6. Cut rind off of the brie, and then cut it into thin pieces, about ½ square, by ¼ inch thick. Place one piece of cheese on top of the cranberries.
7. Spoon ½ teaspoon apple butter on top of the cheese.
8. In a small bowl, mix the cinnamon and sugar. Use your finger tips and sprinkle this mixture around the top crust of the tarts.
9. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 23 minutes. If you substituted pie crust, the baking time will be less, around 18 minutes.

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!

Party Perfect Appetizer!! Rotisserie Chicken, green onions, spices, and cheese rolled up into a tortilla!

Spicy Chicken Tortilla Roll Ups

• 1 ½ cups rotisserie chicken meat, chopped
• 1 10 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes with chilies, drained
• 1 cup jalapeno jack cheese, shredded
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt
• ½ cup cilantro, chopped
• ½ cup green onions
• 6 large Jalapeno Cheddar tortillas

1. In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, drained tomatoes, cheese, remaining spices, garlic, cilantro and scallions. Mix together until well-incorporated. Add chicken and stir together.
2. Lay out tortillas and divide mixture evenly in the center of each. Spread into a thin layer leaving ½ inch around the edge. Roll each tortilla tightly. Chill in the refrigerator for one hour.
3. Use a sharp knife to cut into 1″ thick slices and transfer to a serving platter. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Yummy!!! Watch me prepare this ultra creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe, using a few simple ingredients. It’s a comfort food classic that kids and families adore!

Tillamook Mac & Cheese

• 6 quarts water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 pounds elbow macaroni
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 4 cups Tillamook Extra Sharp Special Reserve Cheddar Cheese
• 2 cups Velveeta Cheese, cubed
• 4 cups half and half, hot
• 1 teaspoon Johnny’s seasoned salt

1. It’s best to have the ingredients prepared before boiling the macaroni. Grate the cheese, heat the half and half, and melt the butter.
2. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt, and then add the macaroni noodles. Boil according to package directions. Pour the boiled pasta into a large strainer. Shake off excess water, and then return the noodles to the pot. Add the melted butter and stir well. Add the cubed Velveeta and stir well. Add the shredded cheddar and stir again.
3. Return to the stovetop and turn heat to medium-low. Add the hot half & half and seasoned salt. Stir just until cheese is melted.

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.