I hate baking. Just the idea of making dough from scratch exhausts me. I love eating baked goods though, so every now and then I will shuffle my way into the kitchen and bake me up something sweet and sugary. I used ready made puff pastry dough from the freezer which makes for a flaky thinner crust, if you have the time and want something thick and doughy, this would also work with your fav pastry dough recipe.
Ingredients:
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1/3 cup of sugar
1 tsp. of vanilla extract
1 package of puff pastry dough, which includes 2 sheets
Directions:
You can either combine both sheets to form one long sheet or make two danishes one sheet per danish. Roll sheet out, then combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Mix well. Place in center of sheet leaving room on both sides. (if you are making two danishes, save half of the cheese mixture for the other sheet of dough) You can add toppings of your choice to the cheese, such as fresh fruit like blueberries or chocolate spread. (I made one with cheese and chocolate spread and another with cheese and fresh blueberries) Then cut slits into the dough on either side of the cheese mixture. Starting from one end, crisscross them over the cheese filling creating a braid. Bake on 350′ for 20-25 minutes till slightly golden. Once it has cooled off, drizzle a glaze of confectionery sugar and water over the danish.
My mom’s got the best brownies on the block. It’s one of the reasons I don’t dread Pesach, I know there will be something delicious to nosh on. My sister Rivky has taken my holiday favorite and created something even more decadent with it. This cheesecake brownie is so amazing, you will want to make it all year round!
I adore Purim. Any holiday that encourages dressing up, eating large amounts of candy and drinking alcohol gets a thumbs up from me. I don’t like to eat Hamantaschen though. The three cornered pastry is a holiday treat and is traditionally filled with poppy seeds and various jams. Devouring it is symbolic of overcoming evil.(more on that HERE) I do like to engage in all the festivities and since I run a food blog, I felt it was necessary for me to bake some. I like chocolate and savory foods, so I came up with the following three versions that were in the spirit of the holiday but tastier than the usual selection.
I think Pumpkin pie is underrated. It’s a healthy dessert chock full of vitamin A, Potassium and fiber. But at the same time it’s a slice of delicious, cinnamon, creamy goodness. My Bubby I share a love for pumpkin pie. I wanted to try and create a healthier low cholesterol version so both me and my bubby could enjoy the treat without her having to worry about the high cholesterol or sugar content that most pies have. Thus was born the pumpkin munchkin pie! Sometimes my bubby and I eat them for breakfast with a cup of coffee and schmooze a little while we nosh. I don’t think it should only be relegated solely to Thanksgiving. The bright orange pie always has a place in my fridge. When this dessert is made with egg beaters and no calorie sweetener, the pies are almost- dare I say it? Guilt free indulgences! The no calorie sweetener that I use most often is Truvia. It’s made using the stevia plant, it’s pareve and it has no aftertaste. I just discovered the stuff not too long ago at my local supermarket, and I find that the pleasantly sweet flavor is so close to sugar that I can’t even tell the difference and neither can anyone else who tries my pumpkin muchkin pies. I included a low fat version using egg beaters and no cal sweetener for those counting calories and for those who feel “there ain’t nothin like the real thing” go for the eggs and sugar version! Either way you bake it, Bon Appetite’!
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 TBS baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 cup superfine sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup milk (or non dairy milk)
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup jelly of choice
Ingredients:
13/4 cups Bob’s Redmill All Purpose gluten free baking flour
1/2 cup yogurt mixed with 1/2 cup of water
1 egg
2 T sugar (I used stevia as a sub)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp of strawberry extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
3 cups of veg oil
