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Best Coconut Cream Pie
Tuesday was my fiancé’s birthday, so I prepared a romantic meal for the two of us with one of his favorite desserts. He mentioned recently that he loves coconut cream pie, so I figured this was the perfect opportunity to make this much-loved treat for the first time. I have the most delicious recipe for Coconut Cream Pie… it starts with a flaky homemade crust and is filled with a creamy, custardy filling bursting with fragrant, toasted coconut. Finally, a heaping golden brown mountain of meringue is piled on top. The pie is comforting and refreshing and perfect for any time of year.
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Chickpea Salad with Fresh Herbs
For a light and easy salad this summer, I highly recommend trying out my tasty Chickpea Salad with Fresh Herbs. This salad is so easy to prepare and is a fresh accompaniment to a variety of dishes. It can be served on its own for a light lunch or it can be a fabulous side dish for your next picnic or barbecue. The best part about this recipe is that you can make it your own – feel free to add your favorite crisp vegetables or leave out those you don’t care for as much. If you have an herb garden this summer you are in luck because you can snip and chop any of your favorite herbs and add them to your salad as you wish. You can also double this recipe for a large group or party. Enjoy!
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Cauliflower “Mac & Cheese”
Macaroni and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, but if you are like me, you may try to save it for only for those times when you really want to indulge. I wanted a way to enjoy the flavors of Macaroni & Cheese without all of the carbs and fat, so I found this tasty recipe for Cauliflower “Mac & Cheese.” Although this recipe is no substitute for the original, rich version, it is creamy and satisfying. This dish uses cauliflower in place of macaroni, and a blend of low-fat cheeses in place of the full-fat varieties. Once the cauliflower florets and homemade cheese sauce is tossed together, you add fresh breadcrumbs over everything to create a crunchy topping. I served my Cauliflower “Mac & Cheese” with a fresh side salad, but feel free to get creative and serve as a side with your next meal!
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Eggplant and Lentil Stew with Pomegranate Molasses
I love recipes with a “secret ingredient.” I have been hearing a lot about the many uses for Pomegranate Molasses, an essential ingredient in traditional Middle Eastern cooking, so I had to give it a try. Pomegranate Molasses is a syrup-like reduction of pomegranate juice and sugar that has a really unique flavor and turns out to be the “secret ingredient” in this delicious vegetarian stew. This dish hails from Antakya, a coastal town in southern Turkey, where it is a summer staple for Turks in the region. If you haven’t heard, the coast of Turkey is full of quaint little beach towns with fabulous authentic restaurants along the shore.
This is one of those stews that gets better the longer you simmer it over the stove. With lentils, eggplant, onions and tomatoes, the stew is hearty and satisfying. A drizzle of pomegranate molasses over the top adds a surprising tartness that makes this dish so unique. Serve the stew on its own or over couscous for a tasty, light meal. Pomegranate Molasses can be found at Middle Eastern markets – I went to Kalustyan’s in NYC to pick up mine.
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Chimichurri Flank Steak
For a little taste of South America in your kitchen, try this fiery recipe for Chimichurri Flank Steak. Chimichurri is the quintessential sauce of Argentina and best enjoyed on juicy, grilled steaks. Meats in Argentina are never served without a side of chimichurri! The traditional sauce is made with parsley, garlic and vinegar–and it surely packs a punch. To best showcase this tasty marinade, I decided to grill flank steaks, a long and thin cut of meat that is surprisingly lean and very juicy. Although this recipe is perfectly delicious on its own with a side of vegetables and potatoes, I decided to throw the steak in sizzling fajitas along with with sautéed onions and red peppers for a family dinner at the beach last week. Feel free to be creative with sides and serving suggestions. However you decide to serve it, the succulent, boldly flavored steak will take center stage. A perfect excuse to throw your next fiesta!
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Margarita Cheesecake
Last week the fiancé and I were tasked with cooking dinner for one night at our family shore house in beautiful Ocean City, New Jersey. Before I even thought about what I’d make for the main dish (post coming soon…), I thought long and hard about what to bake for dessert – my favorite course of any meal. With the abundant sunshine and beachside location, I thought a Margarita Cheesecake would be perfect for this occasion and hoped our family would enjoy it. You start out with a recipe for a traditional, creamy cheesecake with a graham cracker crust as a base and then add tequila, triple sec and lime in true margarita style. The cheesecake is finished with a thin layer of tangy sour cream topping. It’s light, refreshing and a fantastic variation on a timeless favorite. By the end of the night, the whole cheesecake was devoured… except for the piece I hid for myself 😉
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Blueberry Peach Crumble
This comforting recipe for Blueberry Peach Crumble needs little introduction. Cobblers come in all sorts of varieties, but one of my favorite fruit combinations is blueberry and peach. The fruity filling consists of the usual components, sugar and cornstarch, along with a delicious twist – lemon juice, freshly grated lemon zest, cinnamon and almond extract. The combination is heavenly. To top it off I made a traditional crumble of brown sugar, butter, four and salt. It’s easy to make and a guaranteed hit. Once baked it will be crumbly on top and oozing with warm fruit on the bottom. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of freshly whipped cream. It’s the perfect end to your summer meals.
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Heavenly Cheese Danish
The ultimate crowd-pleaser, my recipe for Heavenly Cheese Danish is an easy treat to be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert or any time of day. This recipe uses refrigerated crescent rolls in place of puff pastry, making the preparation easy and quick. The filling is a creamy and sweet cream cheese mixture, with a hint of fresh lemon juice and vanilla extract. Once out of the oven, golden and crispy on top and drizzled with glaze, you will be amazed at the finished danish that truly tastes better than a bakery. The texture is very light and has far more creamy filling than any pre-packaged danish you’d find in the stores. Make this ASAP for your family and friends – I guarantee you’ll be making your second one shortly after! 😉
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Vegetarian Moussaka
When my fiancé and I visited the magical island of Santorini about this time last summer, one of our most memorable meals on the island was at Nectar & Ambrosia Restaurant, where we enjoyed a rich Greek Moussaka. A traditional Greek Moussaka is made by layering eggplant with a spiced meat filling and topping it with a creamy, baked béchamel sauce. It is a rich and satisfying dish usually reserved for special Sunday night meals or celebration dinners. Our meal and experience at Nectar & Ambrosia, an exclusive spot with only 14 tables on the terrace and 8 tables inside,was an experience we will not soon forget.
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Chili Lime Sweet Potato Salad
A little healthier than traditional potato salad and a lot more flavorful, Chili Lime Sweet Potato Salad is an easy and fun side. You start out by roasting sweet potatoes in the oven until crisp and then toss them with a homemade dressing made of garlic, onion, fresh lime juice, cumin, chili powder and cilantro. When the warm sweet potatoes are tossed with the dressing, they become beautifully coated and all of the flavor absorbs into the potatoes. It’s a colorful and fresh dish (with a kick!) that I highly recommend adding to your summer cooking repertoire.