Strawberry and Cream Dream bars

Cheesecake is good in so many variations. Tastes & Treasures cookbook has a wonderful recipe on page 170. The following recipe adds lots of extras. Add some blueberries and it becomes a 4th of July treat.

Strawberry and Cream Dream bars
Ingredients:
Crust
1 pouch ( 1 lb 5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 large egg

Filling
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 package ( 8 ounce) cream cheese, softened

Topping
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the cookie mix, butter and egg until a dough forms. Press dough into the bottom of the baking pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

In a small, microwave-safe bowl, microwave white chocolate chips for 45 to 60 seconds or until chips are melted. Stir until smooth. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in the melted chocolate chips. Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled sugar cookie crust. Refrigerate while making the topping.

In a small bowl, crush 1 cup of the strawberries. In 2-quart saucepan, add the 1 cup of crushed strawberries, sugar, cornstarch and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes. Gently fold in remaining strawberries. Spoon over the filling. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until set.
Serve and enjoy!

Thanks to countrycook.net

Refreshing Watermelon Cake for the Fourth of July

Found this lovely recipe on the internet. Can't wait to try it for the 4th of July celebration.

Watermelon Cake

Ingredients:
Whipped cream or Coconut Whipped cream (Paleo Version)
1 Large Watermelon cut in a circle like a cake
Blueberries
Raspberries
Almonds

Directions:
Cut your watermelon according to the photos.
Pat the watermelon down with wipes to dry it.
Frost it with whipped cream.
Add Almonds to the side.
Decorate the top with fresh fruit of your choice. Add an American flag to top it off!

Southwestern Bacon and Cheese Strata

Company is coming and I love to look like I know what I am doing in the kitchen, when it really isn't true. This recipe makes it look simple to cook breakfast for overnight guests. Thanks to historic Rancho de La Osa for giving us the recipe for Tastes & Treasures cookbook, page 118.

Southwestern Bacon and Cheese Strata
Ingredients:
 10 cups cubed trimmed white bread
14 eggs, beaten
4 cups milk or half-and-half
16 slices hone or mesquite-flavored thick bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard, or 1 tablespoon Dijon mustaard
1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeno chile
2 cups (8ounces)shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
Mix the bread, eggs and milk in a large bowl and let stand for 20 minutes. Add the crumbled bacon, white pepper, dry mustard, jalapeno chile, Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese and mix well. Spoon into a 9X13-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 8 to 10 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and place the dish on a baking sheet for ease in handling and for catching any spills.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the strata for 45 to 60 minutes or until the center is firm and the top is golden brown. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of salsa.

Serves 8 

Little hands make Indian Fry Bread

Indian Fry Bread

Many American Indian tribes in Arizona make fry bread. Today you can taste fry bread at many American Indian festivals and celebrations or you can make your own at home.
Be careful to supervise children around the hot oil while frying.

Ingredients:
Shortening for deep-frying
7 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup milk
½ cup water

Directions:
Step 1: Heat the shortening in a deep fryer, skillet, or frying pan.

*Note: To fry in a skillet, add enough shortening to fill the skillet about 1 inch.

Step 2: Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

Step 3: Add the milk and water and mix to form firm dough.

Step 4: Pinch off a baseball-size piece of the dough and roll or shape by hand to the
size of a dinner plate.

Step 5: Deep-fry until the bread is golden brown.

*Note: Fry the dough in the hot shortening until golden brown, turning after 15
to 20 seconds.

Step 6: Drain on paper towels.

Step 7: Repeat with the remaining dough.

Step 8: Serve hot with honey or powdered sugar.

* Recipe from Cameron Trading Post found on page 14, Tastes & Treasures: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona by the Historical League.

Healthy Cookies

My daughter has made these with the help of the granddaughters. Lots of fun for the kids to make and even better to eat.

Pancakes for kids

Who thought a baster was only for turkeys? Love the creativity from my daughter-in-law and the kids love to have a personalized pancake. Great for dipping into the syrup. Serve with fruit.

Heart Healthy Chia Seed Pudding

Pudding doesn’t have to come out of a package (we’re talking to you, Jell-O) or contain loads of sugar and empty calories. Just ask Tiana Hill, a wellness coach and yoga instructor at Floo-id Yoga whose been whipping up chia seed pudding since before the tiny superfood was cool. “About four years back, a family member developed a serious heart condition and so I was on the hunt to find foods that were heart healthy and tasted good – and that’s how I stumbled on chia seed pudding,” says Tiana. The recipe fit the bill and more. Chia seeds aren’t only heart healthy, they’re packed with bone-building calcium, iron and fiber. Over the years, Tiana has tweaked and simplified the recipe, and turned it into a family favorite – and you can too!

Recipe: Tiana’s Chia Seed Pudding
Chia seed pudding not only tastes amazing, but it is good for us, so my family tends to have it on a weekly basis for breakfast or for a sweet treat!

Chia Seed Pudding (serves 4)
Ingredients:
2 cups unsweeted almond milk
2 tablespoons agave
1/2 cups chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pint strawberries, sliced (about 2 cups)
1-2 bananas, sliced
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Drizzle of agave (optional)
Dollop of coconut whipped cream or Greek yogurt (optional)

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, gently whisk almond milk, 2 tablespoons agave and vanilla until combined. Whisk in the chia seeds; let stand 30 minutes. Stir to distribute the seeds if they’ve settled, cover and refrigerate overnight, or until the pudding has set (at least 4 hours).
2. Before serving, stir the pudding to make sure there are no clumps. Spoon the pudding into 4 bowls or glasses. Top with strawberries, bananas, coconut, almonds, a drizzle of agave and whipped cream. ENJOY!
Thanks to http://tianahill.com/2014/05/18/512/