Cheesecake Filled Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

 Oh so simple. Oh so delicious. Oh so impressive. 

Large Fresh Strawberries

Ready to eat Cheesecake (found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store, near the cookie dough and pudding and cream cheese, its in a tub)

"Almond Bark" or "Dipping Chocolate" 

Directions & Tips:

Core the berries with a pairing knife

Dip the strawberries in the melted chocolate (follow directions on the bag, I microwaved the chocolate for a minute, stirred it and it was ready to go). Lay dipped berries on wax paper to harden.

Once hardened fill the centers with the cheesecake stuff (I used a disposable pastry bag, but you could easily just use a plastic baggie with the corner cut off to pipe it in the center)

I found this idea online here. 

Easy Donuts

All you need is:

Hot Oil

Cans of biscuit dough

Any toppings you want

TIPS:

Flatten biscuit doughs and pull open a hole in the center

Slowly put in hot oil in a shallow sauce pan of oil (about 1 inch deep)

The oil temp is fickle. I set my stove to Med-High, but you must wait about 15 min for the oil to heat up- the oil needs to be hot enough to cook the dough quickly, but not too hot to burn the outside and leave the inside doughy.

Flip the donut after about 2 min using metal tongs or a metal strainer spoon

Lay the donuts onto a towel right after pulling out of grease and let sit for a couple min. This allows the excess oil to be absorbed and the donut to cool down. 

I use frosting, cinnamon sugar, powder sugar & sprinkles to top them, but anything goes. Get creative!

Key Lime Coconut Cookies

1 Cup Butter Flavored Shortening

Add 1 Cup White Sugar

3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup Sweetened Lime Juice

1 tablespoon Vanilla 

2 1/4 Cup Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Salt

2 cups Sweetened Shredded Coconut

2 Cups White Chocolate Chips

TIPS:

Whip the butter shortening first

Add the sugars, eggs, juice and vanilla

Then add the rest of the dry ingredients slowly, blend in the coconut and chocolate last with a spoon. 

Bake on 325 for 8 min. 

I use a pre greased stone for my cookies, the next best thing is a cooking sheet sprayed with the Pam that has flour in it, or a spray of "Bakers Joy"

The Lime Juice is pre-sweetened bought from the Mixers section near the alcohol in the grocery store. 

 

Santa Fe Pasta

1 Box Mini Bow-tie (Farfalle) Pasta, cooked al dente 

1 pound Ground Spicy Turkey Sausage, scrambled & cooked

1 Green Bell Pepper, cut into strips & sautéed 

1 Can White Northern Beans (or black beans), strained & rinsed 

1 Can Chile Mexican Style Diced Tomatoes, strained 

3/4 Packet Taco Seasoning Packet

1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Tbs. Janes Crazy Mixed Up Lime Salt & Pepper

1 Cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Optional add ins: Olives, Onion, other color peppers, whatever else you like

TIPS: 

Cook pasta according to directions on box, but add about 1 tablespoon of table salt to the water before boiling). 

De-case (peel) the sausage from the casings if needed, scramble in a saucepan over med heat until cooked through (about 10 min). Strain meat, getting rid of any excess fat/juices. 

Using the empty pan that the sausage was made in, sauté green pepper strips until edges start to black. 

Combine everything into a large empty pot and keep covered on the lowest setting for about 1/2 after everything is together to get the flavors to mix.

ENJOY!