Pressed Spritz Cookies

Pressed Spritz Cookies are delicious, buttery, bite-sized treats that are simple to make and share. Their distinctive shapes and optional colorful decorations make them a popular choice for special occasions or whenever you crave a tasty cookie.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Food coloring optional
• Sprinkles or colored sugar optional

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375F 190C

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract

Beat well to combine

Gradually add the flour and salt to the wet ingredients

Mix until just combined

If using food coloring, divide the dough into separate portions and color each with a few drops of food coloring

Mix until the color is evenly distributed

Fill a cookie press with the dough, choosing your desired disc shape

Press the dough onto ungreased baking sheets, leaving some space between cookies

If desired, decorate the cookies with sprinkles or colored sugar

Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely

Once the cookies are completely cooled, store them in an airtight container

One-Pot Tex-Mex Orzo

This Tex-Mex orzo dish is tasty and simple to make. It has orzo pasta, black beans, corn, and spices, all of which are traditional Tex-Mex ingredients. Its a great meal for busy weeknights when you dont have time to spend hours cooking but still want something tasty and filling.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orzo pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 can 14
• 5 ounces diced tomatoes
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 can 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

Put olive oil in a big pot and heat it over medium-low heat

Put in the diced onion and red bell pepper and cook them until they get soft

Crack open the cans and add the black beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper

Bring the mix to a boil, then turn down the heat and let it cook for 10 minutes

Add the orzo pasta to the pot and mix it well

Put the lid on and cook on low heat for another 10 to 12 minutes, or until the orzo is done and the liquid is gone

Cover and let sit for a few minutes until the cheese melts

Then take it off the heat and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top

Add fresh cilantro as a garnish before serving

Peach Panna Cotta Tart

With fresh, juicy peaches on top of a buttery tart shell, this Peach Panna Cotta Tart has the delicate flavors of creamy panna cotta and peaches. Its a beautiful summer dessert thats also simple to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons gelatin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1 pre-made tart shell
• 2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced

Instructions:

In a saucepan, heat heavy cream, milk, and sugar until sugar dissolves

Sprinkle gelatin over the mixture and let it bloom for 5 minutes

Heat the mixture gently until gelatin dissolves completely

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract

In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth

Gradually whisk in the warm cream mixture until smooth and creamy

Pour the mixture into the pre-made tart shell

Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or until set

Arrange sliced peaches on top of the set panna cotta tart

Serve chilled and enjoy

Tocino Burger

Indulge in the sweet and savory flavors of Filipino tocino with this Tocino Burger recipe. Juicy tocino pork patties, fresh veggies, and a touch of mayo make this burger a delightful treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 burger buns
• Lettuce leaves
• Sliced tomatoes
• Sliced onions
• Mayonnaise
• Cooking oil for grilling

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine ground pork, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, and black pepper

Mix well and marinate for at least 30 minutes

Shape the marinated pork mixture into 4 burger patties

Preheat your grill or a pan over medium-high heat and brush with cooking oil

Grill the tocino burger patties for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until fully cooked and caramelized

Toast the burger buns on the grill for a minute or until lightly browned

Assemble the burgers by placing lettuce leaves on the bottom bun, followed by a tocino patty, sliced tomatoes, and onions

Spread mayonnaise on the top bun and place it on top of the burger

Serve your delicious Tocino Burgers hot and enjoy

Bean & Bacon Soup

A hearty and comforting soup made with soft navy beans, bacon, and aromatic vegetables that are cooked slowly until they are just right in a flavorful broth.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb dried navy beans
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Rinse the navy beans and soak them overnight in water

In the morning, drain and rinse the beans

In a skillet, cook bacon until crispy

Remove and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet

Add onions, garlic, carrots, and celery to the skillet

Saut until onions are translucent

Transfer the sauted vegetables and bacon to the slow cooker

Add soaked beans, chicken broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until beans are tender

Before serving, remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning if needed

Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired

Ancient Grains Salad with Wheat Berries and Brussels Sprouts

This Ancient Grains Salad with Wheat Berries and Brussels Sprouts is a hearty and nutritious dish that combines the earthy flavors of wheat berries with the roasted goodness of Brussels sprouts. Its a perfect blend of textures and tastes, complemented by a simple balsamic vinaigrette.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup wheat berries
• 1 cup Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Rinse the wheat berries thoroughly and cook them in a pot of boiling water for about 45-60 minutes or until they are tender

Drain and set aside to cool

While the wheat berries are cooking, preheat your oven to 400F 200C

Toss the Brussels sprouts with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper

Spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are tender and slightly crispy

Remove and let them cool

In a large salad bowl, combine the cooked wheat berries, roasted Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and fresh parsley

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat all the ingredients

Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top and season with additional salt and pepper if needed

Serve the ancient grains salad immediately or refrigerate for later

Enjoy

Chicken Parmesan Burgers

Chicken Parmesan Burgers combine the flavors of classic chicken Parmesan with the convenience of a burger. These juicy chicken patties are seasoned with Parmesan cheese and Italian spices, topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, and served on toasted buns. Its a delicious twist on a beloved Italian-American dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup marinara sauce
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 hamburger buns
• Lettuce leaves optional
• Sliced tomatoes optional
• Sliced red onion optional

Instructions:

Ground chicken, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder should all be mixed together in a bowl

Mix everything together well

Split the mixture in half and shape each half into a burger patty

Warm up a pan or grill on the stove over medium-high heat

Use a little cooking spray or oil to grease it

Make the chicken Parmesan burger patties

Cook them for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or until they are done all the way through and the outside is golden

Check to see if the temperature inside reaches 74F 165C

Shred mozzarella cheese and put it on top of each burger patty in the last minute of cooking

Cover the grill or pan to melt the cheese

You can grill or toast the hamburger buns until they are just barely browned

Place lettuce leaves if using on the bottom half of each bun, then place a chicken Parmesan burger patty on top of them

If you want, you can add sliced tomatoes and red onion and more marinara sauce on top of each patty

Put the other half of the bun on top

Get the Chicken Parmesan Burgers out of the oven and enjoy them