Sunday, September 30, 2012

Strawberry champagne preserves

Maggielamarre-Strawberry-vodka-preserves

 

Hi Everyone,

I made it to the farmers market very late, but it turned out to be my lucky day. There were a few baskets of strawberries left that started to sweat and the vendor marked them down to $1.00 a basket. However being the savvy shopper that I am, I bargained I will take the whole lot for .50 cents a piece.

 

Now the proud owner of 8 baskets of strawberries, It occurred to me they will be best as preserves. 

 

Strawberry Champagne Preserves

Strawberries washed and pitted

2 cups of Champagne

1/3 cup of Splenda baking sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mason Jar

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 300F

  • Hull, wash, and slice strawberries, mix in a container with the champagne, let stand at room temperature for 2 hours
  • Cook on medium heat, stir continuously until it baubles and then lower the heat and cook for another 10 minutes, until the juice have reduce to half
  • Add the cinnamon,mix well let sit for 1 minute

 

 

Clean mason jars, place into the oven for 2 minutes

 

  • Remove jars from the oven, pour strawberry champagne onto jar
  • Place jars into the oven and turn off the oven, let cool in the oven for 45 minutes

 

 

Maggielamarre-Strawberry-vodka-preserve

 

Voila! Preserves that is diabetic friendly

 

A few more ideas: this is perfect on crostini with mascarpone, or better yet spread it on brie and bake for 10 minutes.

Enjoy,

Maggie


Share/Bookmark

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Blueberry Banana Cupcake/muffin

MaggieLamarre-Banana-blueberry-cupcake

 

 

Hi Everyone,

As we say goodbye to Blueberry season, I want to savor these fresh blueberries one last time before moving on to Pears, Plums and Pumpkins.

As you know I’m not a fan of frosting, however you can create a flavorful maple syrup mascarpone frosting to add more flavour and textures.

 

Banana Blueberry cupcake

 

1 box of banana bread

2 eggs

1 pint of Blueberry

1/4 cup extra virgin Olive Oil

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

 

MaggieLamarre-Banana-blueberry

 

Directions

  • Separate the eggs and in a clean bowl, beat the eggs, add the oil until well mix
  • Add the vanilla and cinnamon
  • Pre-heat the oven to 350 F
  • Add the banana mix a little at a time to avoid lumps,mix well
  • Coat a muffin tin with oil
  • Add the batter
  • Sprinkle the blueberries evenly over the top of the batter
  • Bake at 350F for 25 minutes

MaggieLamarre-Banana-blueberry-cupcakes

 

 

MaggieLamarre-Banana-blueberrycupcakes

 

Serve with a touch of butter with espresso!

 

 

MaggieLamarre-Banana-blueberry-cupcake

 

Enjoy,

Have a great week!

Maggie


Share/Bookmark

Monday, September 10, 2012

Fall is here finally!

Hi Everyone,

It’s with a sigh of relief from the scorching 96-98 degrees and 40% humidity we have endured this Summer. I am looking forward to the balmy 75-80 degrees this Fall and enjoy the pool more.

Since my daughter is in college now I no longer have a partner to go to the pumpkin patch with,luckily we have the flea market that carries smaller varieties that I can get and start putting my fall menu together.

Here are a few pics of what I’m going to be basing my menu on.

Have a fabulous week,

Maggie

 

Gorgeous peppers, that are perfect for cream cheese stuffing with shrimp.

 

Maggielamarre-peppers

 

Red delicious perfect for pickling or pies

 

Maggielamarre-apples

 

 

Peppers perfect for stuffing with dirty rice, or jambalaya

 

MaggieLamarre-redpeppers

 

 

Perfect for bars, or cookies

MaggieLamarre-squash

 

 

 

Pumpkin bars, cakes, cookies, pies and the list goes on and on :)

 

MaggieLamarre-pumpkin


Share/Bookmark

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Pinterest recipe tweak: Fruit medley

 

MaggieLamarre-Peachcobbler

 

Peach Cobbler

 

 

Hi Everyone,

I’ve been collecting recipes to try and I’ve found some of the recipes  doesn’t come out as stated. However some are so good it bears repeating over and over again.

Such is the case for this recipe Cobbler using soda. The recipe was a bit too dry for me when I first made it, I went to work on redoing it now ‘I have it perfect to my taste :)

Here’s how  I tweak it

0902121301

 

 

Ingredients:

2 cans of peaches drained

1tbsp cinnamon and butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 box of cake mix

2 1/2 cups sprite zero or regular

rectangle pan

Directions:

Mix 1/2 tsp. of Cinnamon with 1/2 tsp. of vanilla with the drained peaches in a bowl.

Spread fruit  mixture to the pan, add butter to the peaches.

Add the cake mix to the top of the fruit, sprinkle the remainder of the cinnamon on top of the cake mix.

Tip

the recipe calls for1 can of soda I found it to be too dry. Instead I used 2 1/2 cups of soda it was the perfect amount I needed for a moist cobbler.

0902121301a

 

Add 2 1/2 cups of sprite on top, you will see foams on top don’t worry. Bake 350 degrees for35 mtes. It should look like this.

MaggieLamarre-Peachcobler

 

 

When sliced it is very delicious with the added cinnamon, vanilla and butter.

 

MaggieLamarre-Peachcobbler

 

What recipes from pinterest have you tried that has been a success?

Have a good week!

Maggie


Share/Bookmark