Year: 2021

Dessert made easy with the help of an air fryer. Try these delicious and sweet strawberry cream cheese empanadas with little to no mess. Substitute the strawberry with your favorite jam as desired. Ingredients: 1 pack of empanada discs 1 tbsp. strawberry jam (or any jam flavor) 1 tbsp. cream cheese Non-stick cooking spray Directions: Add the cream cheese and jam to half of the empanada disc. Spread evenly. Fold over and seal the edges with a fork. Egg wash the edges (optional). Coat air fryer pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cook at 325 degrees F for 8 minutes.

The refreshing Mint Julep cocktail is a pairing of sweet mint, simple syrup or sugar and bourbon. It’s perfect for the warmest summer nights thanks to the fresh ingredients. This recipe requires a traditional method to mint the julep, which combines 6 to 7 mint leaves with either sugar and a splash of water, or a tablespoon of simple syrup. Crushing the mint into the syrup will add to the spirit, resulting in a mint julep. Prep time: 5 minsServing: 1 cocktail Ingredients: 2 1/2 ounces Bourbon 1/2 ounce simple syrup or 1 to 2 sugar cubes 8 mint leaves (plus 2 sprigs for garnish) Crushed ice Directions: Combine the mint, simple syrup, and bourbon: Combine the mint, simple syrup or sugar cubes, and bourbon in your glass or cup. Using a spoon, macerate the mint by crushing it into the sugar and liquid, releasing its essence. Fill glass with crushed ice and pour cocktail: Fill your glass or cup with crushed ice, and gently press a spoon into the ice, moving it around a bit to incorporate the ingredients. Garnish and serve: Garnish with 1-2 mint sprigs, and very much enjoy. Source: Simply Recipes

Jackfruit is a great substitute for meat and an obvious choice for tacos, sandwiches, salads and wraps. Jackfruit is a large fruit that can be purchased in its young green, unripe form which has the texture of a stringy, pulled meat. Much like tofu, jackfruit takes on the flavor of whatever sauce, marinade or spaces you’re cooking it with. If you have any leftovers, it’s great in a breakfast burrito! Here’s how to prepare these delicious tacos. Prep time: 15 minsCook time: 10 minsTotal time: 25 minsServings: 4 to 6 servings Ingredients: 2 (14-ounce) cans jackfruit in brine, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups) 2 cloves minced garlic 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional) 3/4 cup barbecue sauce, store-bought or homemade 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon grated orange zest To serve: 10 to 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas 1 ripe avocado, thinly sliced 4 radishes, thinly sliced 1/3 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped 1/3 cup shredded red cabbage 1/3 cup corn kernels, canned or fresh from the cob 1/4 cup sour cream (optional) 1 lime, cut into wedges Directions: Shred the jackfruit: Using your fingers or forks, break apart the chunks of jackfruit into shredded pieces. Cook the onions: In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeño and cook for an additional 1 minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Cook the jackfruit: Add the shredded jackfruit to the pan with the onions and stir well. Add the barbecue sauce, cumin, oregano, coriander, smoked paprika and salt to the pan.Stir to evenly distribute the spices and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until the jackfruit is browned and slightly crisped around the edges. Fold in the orange zest. Assemble the tacos: Warm the tortillas and add a large spoonful of cooked jackfruit to the center of each. Top with avocado, radishes, cilantro, cabbage, corn, sour cream and a squeeze of lime. Source: Simply Recipes

Apple turnovers are simple to make. The biggest decision you have to make is how to do the pastry crust. Already-prepared frozen puff pastry will be the easiest to make, with plenty of buttery layers. A homemade butter crust will be flaky but not filled with puffy layers. If you make your own homemade puff pastry dough you’ll have a truly delicious pastry. Prep time: 20 minsCook time: 20 minsTotal time: 40 minsServings: 4 to 6 servings Ingredients: 1 large tart baking apple (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cored, cut into 1/4-inch dice 3 tablespoons dried currants 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch 1/4 cup applesauce 1/8 teaspoon vanilla 1 frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed, OR 2 pâte brisée doughs (enough for a double crust pie) 2 tablespoons butter, cut into bits 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon milk Directions: Get ready: Put oven rack in lower third of oven and pre-heat oven to 400°F. Butter a large baking sheet Make filling: In a medium bowl, mix together apples, currants, and walnuts with the sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch, making sure the fruit and nuts are well coated. Mix in the apple sauce and vanilla. If using puff pastry: Unfold the thawed pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Depending on the size of your puff pastry sheet you are going to want to cut the sheet into either four 5-inch-by-5-inch or six 4-inch-by-4-inch squares. If using pie dough: Roll out your pie dough on a lightly floured surface to a 16×11 inch rectangle. Trim the edges to 15×10 inches and cut into six 5×5-inch squares. Add filling to pastry squares: Divide the apple mixture among the squares, leaving a 1-inch border. If you are using an already prepared puff pastry sheet, dot the mixture in each pastry with a little butter. (If you are using a butter pie dough, you can skip adding the extra butter.) Brush egg mixture on pastry edges: In a small bowl mix the beaten egg with a teaspoon of milk. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg mixture on the border of the pastry. This will help the pastry seal. Fold and crimp, add steam vents: Fold each pastry into a triangle, enclosing the filling, and crimp edges with a fork. Brush the tops of the pastries with more of the egg wash. Cut 2 or 3 small steam vents in the top of each turnover. Bake: Place the pastries in the oven and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Cool turnovers to warm before serving. Source: Simply Recipes