Year: 2021

A lemon pudding is probably one of the easiest desserts you can make. The key is a thick cream, reduced slightly, and combined with tart lemon juice. Use fancy glasses for a memorable presentation. Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Chilling time: 2 hours Yield: 4 servings Ingredients: 2 cups heavy whipping cream 2/3 cup granulated sugar Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 6 tablespoons lemon juice 1 cup blueberries, raspberries, sliced strawberries or blackberries, to garnish Directions: Warm the cream and sugar: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, sugar and lemon zest. Bring to a boil. Adjust the heat to a gentle boil, and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Watch carefully and stir frequently to keep the cream from boiling over. Add the lemon juice and continue to simmer for 5 more minutes. Stir frequently. Take the pan off the heat and let the cream cool for 5 minutes. Strain and chill. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a 4-cup liquid measuring cup or other container for easy pouring. Pour into 4 four-ounce ramekins or pretty stemmed glasses. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 2 to 3 hours, or until set. This pudding can also be prepared and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance. Top each glass with berries just before serving. Source: Simply Recipes

Eggs benedict is a brunch favorite. If you’re trying to cut back on the meat, try this veggie packed version for a meal the whole family will love. Prep time: 15 minutes Cook: time: 10 minutes Yield: Makes 4 one-egg servings Ingredients: For Hollandaise Sauce: 2 egg yolks 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt Pinch of cayenne pepper 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter For the Eggs Benedict: 1 tablespoon olive oil 5 ounces baby spinach 1 clove garlic, minced Pinch of salt and pepper 1 avocado, thinly sliced 4 large eggs 1 tablespoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar 2 English muffins Chopped scallions, for garnish (optional) Directions: Make the hollandaise sauce: Add egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and cayenne to a blender or food processor and pulse until combined. The mixture should be frothy and light yellow in color. Slowly drizzle in the butter and continue to run the blender until the sauce thickens. Cook the spinach: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and warm until shimmering. Add the spinach and sauté until it wilts and cooks down, about 2-3 minutes. Then add the garlic and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Keep spinach warm over very low heat until serving. Poach the eggs: Bring a large pot with a few inches of water to a slight simmer. Add a dash of vinegar (like apple cider vinegar) to the pot. Swirl the water with a spoon and gently roll in the cracked eggs. Let eggs poach in not-quite-boiling water for 2-3 minutes, or until the whites of the eggs are set and the centers are still soft. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and let them drain on a few paper towels. Assemble the benedicts: Toast the English muffins. Blend the hollandaise sauce one final time to smooth it out. Top English muffins with sliced avocado, then spinach, and finally a poached egg. Right before serving, spoon hollandaise sauce over each Benedict and sprinkle with minced scallions. Serve immediately. Share your masterpieces with us over on our Facebook and Instagram. Sources: Simply Recipes

Try out this recipe for a delicious dinner meal packed with flavor and smokiness. The best part? It’s quick and easy! Prep time: 40 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Yield: Serves 4 Ingredients: 2 tablespoons sweet paprika 2 tablespoons smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 Tbsp lime juice 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 pound of large shrimp, cleaned and peeled, tails on Bamboo skewers Directions: Soak the skewers in water for at least a half an hour before grilling. Marinate the shrimp: In a large bowl whisk together the spices—the paprikas, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper—and the lime juice and olive oil. Add the shrimp and toss to coat with the marinade. Keep chilled for half an hour to an hour. Grill the shrimp: Prepare grill for medium-high direct heat, or heat a grill pan. Thread the shrimp onto skewers (it helps to double thread with two skewers at a time to make it easier to turn over on the grill). Baste the grill grates with some olive oil so that the shrimp don’t stick to the grill. Grill or cook the shrimp a few minutes per side (2-4, depending on the size of the shrimp), until the shrimp are just cooked through. Remove from grill and serve immediately. Sources: Simply Recipes

It’s never the wrong time to enjoy cake, even breakfast time. Try this blueberry cake recipe with the same flavor of a great blueberry muffin. Enjoy it with a morning coffee or tea. Time: 2 hr 25 min Active: 40 min Yield: 6 to 8 servings Ingredients: Melted unsalted butter, for buttering the pan 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (see Cook’s Note) 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1 1/4 cups blueberries, plus more for topping Frosting and Filling: 1/2 cup plain yogurt One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/4 cup blueberry preserves, for topping Directions: For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 7-by-3-inch round cake pan. Whisk together the sugar, oats, baking powder, salt, baking soda and 1 1/2 cups flour in a large bowl and set aside. Toss the blueberries with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour in a small bowl. Whisk together the oil, yogurt, vanilla and eggs in a medium bowl. Fold the oil mixture into the sugar mixture until just combined. Then gently fold in the floured blueberries. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes. Unmold the cake and cool completely on the rack, about 30 minutes more. For the frosting: Meanwhile, beat the yogurt and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Then slowly add the sugar, while beating, until completely combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. Slice the cooled cake in half horizontally to make 2 rounds. Put 1 cake round on a cake stand or round serving platter. Evenly spread half the frosting over the top of the cake, spreading all the way to the edge. Dollop half the blueberry preserves in several small drops all over the frosting layer. Top with the remaining cake round and spread the remaining frosting over the top. The sides of the cake will be unfrosted. Dollop the remaining blueberry preserves in the center of the cake. Sprinkle blueberries on top of the preserves. The cake can be served right away or made the night before and refrigerated. Sources: Food Network

Learn how to make a quick dinner option with this teriyaki chicken recipe. Try your hand at a homemade teriyaki sauce for a healthier choice with great flavor. Cook time: 30 minutesYield: Serves 4 Ingredients: 3/4 cup soy sauce* (or mix tamari** and water in equal proportions to make 3/4 cup) 3/4 cup sake 3/4 cup mirin 4 Tbsp sugar A 1-inch piece of ginger, grated fine 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds total (set out for 30 minutes to come to room temp) 2-3 Tbsp sesame seeds Directions: Gently simmer chicken in sauce made with sake, mirin, soy sauce, sugar, ginger: Mix the grated ginger, sugar, soy sauce, sake and mirin in a pot and bring to a boil. Add the chicken breasts, return to a simmer, then lower the heat to the lowest possible setting (warm if you can), on your smallest burner, and cover.The idea is to cook the chicken as gently as possible, below a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.If you are working with somewhat large chicken breasts, you may need to cook them longer, or cut them in half before cooking. Toast sesame seeds: While the chicken is poaching, toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until they begin to brown. Move to a small bowl and set aside. Set aside chicken, cover with foil: Remove the chicken breasts from the teriyaki sauce, set on a plate and wrap with foil. Reduce sauce: Bring the sauce back to a boil and boil vigorously until the sauce is reduced to a syrup, about 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the sauce, stirring it occasionally. Slice chicken, cover with sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve: To serve, slice the chicken breasts, cover with the teriyaki sauce and sprinkle sesame seeds on them. Serve with plain white rice. Sources: Simply Recipes