Tag: milk

Marjoram Pea Pesto Crostini with Fresh Ricotta

Marjoram Pea Pesto Crostini with Fresh Ricotta

Finished Marjoram Pea Pesto Crostini with Fresh Ricotta up close from front on slate cheese board

When I made these Marjoram Pea Pesto Crostini with Fresh Ricotta the other day, I thought I was being so creative. The Marjoram Pea Pesto is a healthy spin on traditional pesto with updated flavor combinations. The Homemade Instant Pot Ricotta Cheese is pretty standard, except it takes advantage of my Instant Pot, making preparation and cleanup speedy.

However, when I checked online to decide what to name these crostini, the first link that came up was Giada’s Pea Pesto Crostini! Whoops! So much for being unique. I’ll take it as a confirmation that my creative endeavors seem to resonate with others–some pretty famous others.

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Trader Joe’s Multigrain Pancakes

Trader Joe’s Multigrain Pancakes

Trader Joe's Multigrain Pancake Mix stacks with butter and maple syrup up close

Finally, with these Trader Joe’s Multigrain Pancakes I have an excuse to try out my Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Griddle/Grill! I’ve been sitting on a new Lodge Griddle for far too long, and these pancakes were the perfect reason to inaugurate a new kitchen appliance.

Pancakes are quite the crowd-pleaser for breakfast. When I make pancakes for a group, however, I just want them to be quick and easy.

My answer? Pancake mix and a griddle. I find that a griddle offers large, evenly-heated surface area to maximize cooking space and with a mix, pancake batter can be whipped up in just a few minutes.

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Homemade Instant Pot Ricotta Cheese

Homemade Instant Pot Ricotta Cheese

Finished Homemade Instant Pot Ricotta Cheese

I’ve been dreaming of making cheese for years, but I’ve never felt ready to dive in until recently. After sharing my cheese-making dream with a friend, she mentioned that she often makes ricotta and it takes her no time at all. That small reassurance did just the trick. A few days later, I bit the bullet and made my first batch of cheese, ricotta cheese!

What surprised me the most was how easy fresh, homemade ricotta cheese is to make! In 20 minutes, I had a bowl full of fluffy, white ricotta cheese. I was so excited that I couldn’t even wait for the cheese to cool and kept shoveling spoonfuls into my mouth. Yes, it was quite the sight.

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Coconut Cream Pie Bites

Coconut Cream Pie Bites

Coconut Cream Pie Bite with bite from side

These Coconut Cream Pie Bites were born out of curiosity. Could I create a mouth-watering, bite-sized dessert for friends in an hour?

This is how the story goes: I had one hour before we needed to leave for an evening at a friend’s house, and that’s when I decided to bring a dessert. I know, one hour before maybe wasn’t the best time to decide to try something new, but that’s what making it up as I go is all about, right?

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