Hasselback Baguette

Yield: 3-4 servings

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INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp oil

1 small red onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

½ tsp dried basil

¼ tsp kosher salt

  • pinch coarse black pepper

1 (24-in) baguette

  • shredded cheese

EQUIPMENT:

3 long wooden skewers

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add pepper and sauté for an additional 3 minutes. Season with basil, salt, and pepper.

3. Cut off the ends of the baguette; discard ends or reserve for another purpose. Slice baguette into 1 ½ inch thick slices (you should have about 15 slices). Slit each slice through the top, leaving the lower end uncut.
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Alpine Alpine Lace® Reduced-Fat Deli Cheese #LifeIngredients

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Alpine Lace. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.
swiss

Being a mother is hard work!  There is never enough sleep, enough time, or enough energy to get through each week.  Day after day, we make small decisions that open the door to a lifestyle of not taking as much care of ourselves as much as we should be.

Taking small steps is the key to getting back on track to a healthy lifestyle and good eating habits, for both you and your children.  Choosing healthy snacks, lower fat options, and whole foods is a great way to take back control of your diet.  Need ideas?  Start with cheese.

Alpine Lace ® Deli Cheese is a high-quality, wholesome, satisfying cheese that provides enough indulgence to fuel your day.

The best thing about Alpine Lace Cheese is that the perfect on-the-go snack, too!  Show me a mother and I will show you someone that needs great, portable snacks.  There is something about having kids that automatically makes you a taxi and when you’re in the car constantly, as I am, it is easy to fall into the rut of chips, burgers, and candy bars.  Challenge yourself to be prepared with better options: nuts, fruits, and Alpine Lace Reduced Fat Swiss Cheese.  Not only can it be paired with apples and grapes as a mess free car snack, you can also use it in sandwiches and recipes for a more filling meal.
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No Fuss Doughnut

This is a super easy treat to make for the family. If you thought you couldn’t find the time to make donuts- you are wrong. This is a awesome fool proof way to make up some fresh donuts for any occasion. All you nee is some oil and some Pillsbury biscuits and you are ready to go.

 

donuts

These are rolled in cinnamon sugar, they make a great quick snack for after school!

What you need:

Oil for frying

Deep skillet for frying

1 can of buttermilk biscuits

a small donuts cutter for the holes

rack for placing donuts on once fried
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Yogurt Panna Cotta with Strawberry Coulis

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This creamy, delightful, easy to make panna cotta (Italian for “cooked cream”) is also quite impressive.

The use of yogurt instead of the traditional cream makes this dessert as light as air and also adds a

refreshing acidic punch that goes perfectly with fruit. Let the season guide your choice of fruit, from

kiwi, to raspberries or blackberries. You can make the panna cotta in a large, family-style container or

in elegant individual servings. You can also prepare it a day ahead of your dinner party and simply cover

and place in the refrigerator until needed.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

½ cup whole milk

½ cup sugar, plus additional, if needed

1 ½ gelatin sheets, dissolved in enough cold water

to cover

1 ½ cups plain, full-fat yogurt, strained in a
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Insalata di finocchi e arance/Fennel and Orange Salad

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A crisp white bulb of fennel brings to mind my father and the people of his generation, who loved to

eat it as a palate-cleansing finish to a long meal. Fennel, with its delicate, anise-like flavor, thrives on

the Italian plains and is a favorite winter vegetable, particularly at Christmas time. High in fiber and

potassium, fennel has been prized for its nutritional and medicinal value since ancient times.

This simple, refreshing salad has been on the Al Tiramisu menu since I first created this version many

years ago. It’s a perennial hit with my guests who invariably ask me for the recipe. Many home cooks

seem mystified by fennel’s unusual appearance and for them I offer tips, below, for dealing with fennel.
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Pulled Brisket Recipe

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Meat · Yields 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1              (3-4 pound) second cut brisket

1 Tbsp  prepared horseradish

1 Tbsp  imitation mustard

½-1cup ketchup, to taste

1 cup     water

2 tsp      garlic, chopped

¼ cup    brown sugar

¼ cup   vinegar

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.       Preheat oven to 425°F.

2.       Combine remaining ingredients in a 4-quart saucepan and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Shepherd’s/Cottage Pie Meatballs

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If you call something shepherd’s pie on the Internet but you use beef instead of lamb, people freak out. I personally like this recipe better with beef, but it works both ways, so I wanted to leave it open for you to decide. The fun part of this recipe is biting into a meatball to find the soft mashed potato on the inside.

Makes: 30 to 35 meatballs

Heat: 0

Pig-Out Scale: 6.4

 

Potatoes

2 large russet potatoes

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

4 tablespoons (56 g) butter

2 carrots, diced

1 small onion, diced

2 cups (230 g) corn

½ cup (120 ml) cream

 

Meatballs

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons (30 ml) Worcestershire sauce

2 slices bread

2 tablespoons (30 ml) milk

¼ cup (16 g) chopped parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ pounds (680 g) ground beef or lamb

 

Make the Potatoes: Preheat the oven to 375˚F (190˚C, or gas mark 5). Rub the potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 ½ ours, until tender.
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Country Chicken & Buttermilk Soup

 

This comforting chicken soup is filled with vegetables and uses nonfat buttermilk and fat-free chicken broth instead of a heavier cream base. It’s as satisfying as chicken and dumplings, with none of the guilt.

chicken soup

Makes 6 servings

Hands-on 35 min.

Total 1 hour, 5 min.

 

2 skinned and boned chicken breast halves (about 1 ½ lb.)

5 cups reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth

1 Tbsp. butter

2 medium-size red potatoes, cut into wedges

1 celery rib, chopped

¼ large white onion, coarsely chopped

½ carrot, peeled and chopped

½ cup fresh or frozen green peas
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