Spring

Green Jalapeño Margarita: Go Green on Cinco de Mayo

by liz · May 4, 2020

Here’s a trend I’ve been seeing lately: adding spinach to smoothies, grating zucchini into brownies and stirring pumpkin into soup and pastas. This may sound crazy, but these are all good ways to get more nutrients into our diets, which most of us need! And, they really do taste delicious…or, rather, I should say they don’t taste at all. I can’t even detect the extra veggies added to these particular dishes, so I get to eat my favorite foods with one extra, effortless serving of vegetables.

So, I soon became a spinach-smoothie convert, throwing a handful of spinach into any combination of frozen fruit, yogurt and instant breakfast mix I was blending. As May rolled around, I realized I could easily incorporate this trick into one of my favorite cocktails: the frozen margarita! Plus, I love jalapeños and drinks with a bit of spice. Adding a few fresh slices of this hot pepper + spinach gives your frozen margarita some heat, as well as a gorgeous green color. And it still tastes like that awesome beach trip to Mexico.

I give you the Green Jalapeño Margarita: your new favorite frozen summery drink.

Green Jalapeño Margarita

Ingredients for 2 servings:

3/4 cup fresh spinach leaves
1/4 cup Tequila blanco
1/4 cup orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier)
1/4 cup apple juice or orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 to 4 slices fresh jalapeño chile
10 to 12 cilantro leaves
2 cups crushed ice
Coarse salt

Directions:

PLACE spinach, Tequila, liqueur, Juicy Juice, lime juice, jalapeño slices, cilantro and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

DIP rims of glasses into water; dip into salt and shake off excess. Pour margarita mixture into glasses. Garnish each with a jalapeño slice, if desired.

Cook’s Tip: Increase amounts of jalapeño, cilantro and spinach leaves according to taste.

Green Jalapeño Margarita

Author: Food Charmer

Recipe type: Drinks

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 1

Try this healthier - and still delicious - take on a spicy, frozen margarita.

Ingredients

¾ cup fresh spinach leaves
¼ cup Tequila blanco
¼ cup orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier)
¼ cup apple juice or orange juice
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 to 4 slices fresh jalapeño chile
10 to 12 cilantro leaves
2 slices cucumber
2 cups crushed ice
Coarse salt

Instructions

PLACE spinach, Tequila, liqueur, apple or orange juice, lime juice, jalapeño slices, cilantro, cucumber and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
DIP rims of glasses into water; dip into salt and shake off excess. Pour margarita mixture into glasses. Garnish each with a jalapeño slice, if desired.
Cook's Tip: Increase amounts of jalapeño, cilantro and spinach leaves according to taste.

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Easy Spring Pasta Recipe: Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

by liz · Mar 5, 2019

Fresh pasta with local, organic spring peas, leeks and thyme for an easy, impressive dinner.

Spring has sprung in California – as well as most of the country. To me that means spring vegetable season; asparagus, leeks, peas, artichoke, fennel and fresh herbs are bountiful in farmers markets. Much of this produce is available year-round, but spring is the best time to get the freshest spring vegetables, whether at your local market, grocery store or from your own garden!

And those fresh spring flavors really come through in this easy spring pasta recipe, Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme. It’s a cinch to make and it’s packed with flavor and nutrients, plus spring is a great time to get hooked on the Mediterranean way of eating. Adding a bit of the pasta water instead of using sauce is a traditional way to make pasta dishes in Italy. This recipe is a sure way to eat more vegetables and wow your friends with your culinary savvy!

Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

Recipe courtesy of Buitoni.

Ingredients for 3 servings:

1 package (9 ounces) Refrigerated Fettuccine
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup sliced fresh leek
1/3 cup frozen peas
Salt and ground black pepper
2 thyme sprigs, leaves removed and stems discarded
1/4 cup (1 ounce) freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

PREPARE pasta according to package directions, reserving ½ cup cooking water. While pasta is cooking, prepare leek mixture.

HEAT oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek; cook, stirring frequently, until softened and golden. Stir in peas; cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, as shown above.

ADD reserved pasta cooking water, thyme leaves and cheese; stir in gently. Toss pasta with leek mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

Wine Pairing

Italian wines can be hard to find, other than the super popular Pinot Grigio. If you can find a Soave wine, it’s a soft, fruity, clean wine with crisp lemon flavors and really complements this dish.
Grenache Blanc with its acidity and rounded flavors, or Sauvignon Blanc with its herbaceousness, would also be great wines with this pasta.

Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

Author: Buitoni

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 20 mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients

1 package Refrigerated Fettuccine (9 oz.)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ cup sliced fresh leek
⅓ cup frozen peas
Salt and ground black pepper
2 thyme sprigs
¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese (5 oz.)

Instructions

PREPARE pasta according to package directions, reserving ½ cup cooking water. While pasta is cooking, prepare leek mixture.
HEAT oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek; cook, stirring frequently, until softened and golden. Stir in peas; cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
ADD reserved pasta cooking water, thyme leaves and cheese; stir in gently. Toss pasta with leek mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

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Special Easter Ham: Baked Cola-Brined Fresh Ham

by liz · Mar 4, 2019

Easter ham is a tradition for many people on Easter Sunday. Brining the meat – soaking or marinating meat overnight using a solution containing salt and other ingredients – is also a popular way to prepare meats. But, have you tried a cola-brined ham? In the South, they’ve been brining meat in cola for a long time. Brining helps the meat stay moist by saturating the cells with the solution before baking it, and cola adds some sweetness and tang to the meat. You can even use another Southern favorite for brining – Dr. Pepper!

Brining is different from braising, although they are both ways to increase the moisture content in meat. Braising is cooking the meat mostly submerged in broth or liquid instead of marinating beforehand (like this Drunken Pork recipe). If you’d rather start with a smoked (fully-cooked) ham, try this Mango & Cider-Roasted Ham.

Brining meats, especially pork in cola, has become a popular way to prepare meat in recent years, and this recipe makes for a tasty new flavor to include in your traditional Easter brunch or dinner. This Oklahoma girl will definitely be brining ham with Dr. Pepper – the only soda worth the calories in my opinion – and thinking of home. Enjoy and Happy Easter!

Baked Cola-Brined Ham

Recipe by El Mejor Nido

Ingredients for 8-10 servings:

3 bottles (2 liters each) cola or other dark-colored soda (such as root beer or Dr. Pepper)
1 1/2 cups salt
1 (6 to 8 pounds) bone-in, shank or butt portion fresh ham (half a leg), skin on
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic (about 8 cloves)
1 tablespoon Granulated Chicken Bouillon

Directions:

COMBINE cola and salt in a medium-size cooler or other 10-quart bucket or stockpot; stir to dissolve the salt.

USING a sharp knife, score entire surface of ham in a crosshatch or diamond pattern, cutting down just through the skin. Place ham in the brine, submerging completely. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

POSITION oven rack in the lowest position and preheat oven to 500° F.

COMBINE parsley, oil, garlic and bouillon in small bowl; stir well.

REMOVE ham from brine. Rinse it well under cold water then pat dry with paper towels. Place the ham wide-side-down in a large roasting pan with a flat rack. Rub outside of ham all over with the bouillon mixture, pressing it gently into scored slices between the skin.

BAKE uncovered for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350° F and continue to bake until the roast reaches 150° F on an instant-read thermometer (this should take 2 to 2 1/2 hours, about 20 to 25 minutes per pound of ham). After the first hour, it’s a good idea to loosely wrap foil around the bone to keep it from burning.

TRANSFER the roast to a carving board and tent with foil; allow the roast to sit at room temperature until the internal roast temperature reaches 160° F (about 20 to 30 minutes). The roast is now ready to carve.

Cola-Brined Easter Ham

Author: Meals.com

Recipe type: Main

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 2 hours 39 mins

Total time: 3 hours 9 mins

Serves: 10

Brining an Easter ham in cola (or Dr. Pepper) is divine.

Ingredients

3 bottles (2 liters each) cola or other dark-colored soda (such as COKE or DR. PEPPER)
1½ cups salt
1 (6 to 8 pounds) bone-in, shank or butt portion fresh ham (half a leg), skin on
⅓ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic (about 8 cloves)
1 tablespoon Granulated Chicken Bouillon
Directions:
COMBINE cola and salt in a medium-size cooler or other 10-quart bucket or stockpot; stir to dissolve the salt.
USING a sharp knife, score entire surface of ham in a crosshatch or diamond pattern, cutting down just through the skin. Place ham in the brine, submerging completely. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
POSITION oven rack in the lowest position and preheat oven to 500° F.
COMBINE parsley, oil, garlic and bouillon in small bowl; stir well.
REMOVE ham from brine. Rinse it well under cold water then pat dry with paper towels. Place the ham wide-side-down in a large roasting pan with a flat rack. Rub outside of ham all over with the bouillon mixture, pressing it gently into scored slices between the skin.
BAKE uncovered for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350° F and continue to bake until the roast reaches 150° F on an instant-read thermometer (this should take 2 to 2½ hours, about 20 to 25 minutes per pound of ham). After the first hour, it’s a good idea to loosely wrap foil around the bone to keep it from burning.
TRANSFER the roast to a carving board and tent with foil; allow the roast to sit at room temperature until the internal roast temperature reaches 160° F (about 20 to 30 minutes). The roast is now ready to carve.

Instructions

COMBINE cola and salt in a medium-size cooler or other 10-quart bucket or stockpot; stir to dissolve the salt.
USING a sharp knife, score entire surface of ham in a crosshatch or diamond pattern, cutting down just through the skin. Place ham in the brine, submerging completely. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
POSITION oven rack in the lowest position and preheat oven to 500° F.
COMBINE parsley, oil, garlic and bouillon in small bowl; stir well.
REMOVE ham from brine. Rinse it well under cold water then pat dry with paper towels. Place the ham wide-side-down in a large roasting pan with a flat rack. Rub outside of ham all over with the bouillon mixture, pressing it gently into scored slices between the skin.
BAKE uncovered for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350° F and continue to bake until the roast reaches 150° F on an instant-read thermometer (this should take 2 to 2½ hours, about 20 to 25 minutes per pound of ham). After the first hour, it’s a good idea to loosely wrap foil around the bone to keep it from burning.
TRANSFER the roast to a carving board and tent with foil; allow the roast to sit at room temperature until the internal roast temperature reaches 160° F (about 20 to 30 minutes). The roast is now ready to carve.

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Eating Fish on Fridays? Two Easy Fish Recipes

by liz · Mar 4, 2019

Eating Fish on Friday? Here are two very easy fish recipes to take advantage of during Lent or anytime of the year!

Fish Baked In Creamy Milk Sauce with Onions & Herbs

Recipe by Very Best Baking

Tender fish fillets seasoned with herbs are topped with sautéed onions and baked in a light, velvety creamy milk sauce in this classic dish from Colombia’s Pacific coast. Thyme, basil and anise give the sauce excellent flavor and will be a recipe you’ll want to try again and again.

Ingredients for 4 servings:

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small onion, sliced into thick rings
1 lb. white fish of choice, cut into 2-inch pieces
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon anise seeds, crushed
2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) evaporated milk
1/4 cup water

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 325° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

HEAT 1 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, until tender and golden brown. Remove from skillet; set aside.

SEASON fish with salt and pepper. Add remaining oil to same skillet and cook fish until browned on both sides. Remove from heat. Place fish in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with thyme, basil and anise. Top with reserved onion rings. Combine milk and water in small glass measure; pour over fish. If desired, season with additional salt and pepper.

BAKE for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Fish Baked In Creamy Milk Sauce with Onions & Herbs

Author: Very Best Baking

Recipe type: Main

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 4

Tender fish fillets seasoned with herbs are topped with sautéed onions and baked in a light, velvety creamy milk sauce in this classic dish from Colombia's Pacific coast. Thyme, basil and anise give the sauce excellent flavor and will be a recipe you'll want to try again and again.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small onion, sliced into thick rings
1 pound white fish of choice, cut into 2-inch pieces
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
½ teaspoon dried basil leaves
¼ teaspoon anise seeds, crushed
⅔ cup (5 fluid-ounce can) Evaporated Milk
¼ cup water

Instructions

PREHEAT oven to 325° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
HEAT 1 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, until tender and golden brown. Remove from skillet; set aside.
SEASON fish with salt and pepper. Add remaining oil to same skillet and cook fish until browned on both sides. Remove from heat. Place fish in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with thyme, basil and anise. Top with reserved onion rings. Combine milk and water in small glass measure; pour over fish. If desired, season with additional salt and pepper.
BAKE for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

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Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Recipe by Very Best Baking

Convenient comfort food at its very best. This Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole is a comforting option for any weeknight or weekend meals.

Ingredients for 8 servings:

6 cups (about 8 oz.) dry medium egg noodles, prepared according to package directions
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cans (9 oz. each) tuna, drained and flaked
2 cans (10 oz. each) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
2/3 cup crushed potato chips

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

MELT butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add celery and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in noodles, tuna, soup and evaporated milk; mix well. Pour into prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with potato chips.

BAKE for 25 to 30 minutes or until chips are golden brown.

Easy Easter Brunch Menu: Enjoy Spring!

by liz · Mar 3, 2019

Spring is here! And that means time for brunch, spring vegetables and Easter delicacies. You won’t find any cute bunnies or other Easter treats for kids in this Easter Brunch menu; it’s a strictly grown-up affair. You can easily switch out the egg dish, vegetable side dish, coffee or pastry/dessert to come up with your own custom easy Easter brunch menu.

1. Main Dish – Egg, Ham & Cheese Brunch Nests (shown above)

These egg nests have a spicy secret: chipotle chiles. You can adjust the amount of chipotle to get just the level of spice you like. And topped with cilantro-avocado crema adds just the right amount of cool to the dish. Thanks to Ericka of Nibbles and Feasts for this recipe; check out her blog for more.

2. Side Dish – Roasted Carrots with Shallots & Thyme

With many vegetables, cooking destroys some of their vitamins, but this isn’t the case with carrots. You can absorb more beta carotene from cooked carrots than from raw ones. If you like garlic, add a few peeled whole cloves to the mix. Or try these Roasted Asparagus with Pesto & Lemon.

Ingredients

2 pounds small carrots, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise

1 cup sliced shallots

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 425° F.

Place in a rimmed baking sheet. Add shallots and thyme; drizzle with oil and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

Roast for about 30 to 35 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.

3. Bacon Dessert – Maple Browned Butter Bacon Cupcakes

Whether you’re baking for an upscale party, an Easter brunch or a winter respite, cupcakes are a universal favorite. These sweet and savory cupcakes will specifically please bacon lovers with a sweet tooth – and isn’t that everyone??

Ingredients

3 strips center-cut bacon
3/4 cup plus 1/2 teaspoon packed light brown sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, lightly browned*
2 large eggs
1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream cheese frosting or 1 container (16 ounces) white prepared frosting

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange strips of bacon on a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet (line baking sheet with foil for easy clean up).
Bake, rotating pan halfway through cooking, for about 15 minutes or until bacon is almost crisp. Remove 2 strips of bacon and place on paper towel to cool. Sprinkle remaining piece of bacon evenly with 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar. Bake for 3 minutes or until sugar melts. Set aside to use as garnish.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with paper or foil liners.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl; mix well.
Whisk together browned butter, remaining 3/4 cup sugar, eggs, buttermilk, 1/4 cup maple syrup and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Crumble the 2 strips of bacon and fold into batter. Spoon into prepared cups, filling 2/3 full.
Bake for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Stir remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup into prepared frosting. Pipe onto cupcakes. Crumble remaining sugar-coated strip of bacon; sprinkle over cupcakes.

Maple Browned Butter Bacon Cupcakes

Author: Chris Garboski

Recipe type: Dessert

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 38 mins

Total time: 58 mins

Serves: 12

Whether you’re baking for a group of kids or an upscale party, cupcakes are a universal favorite. These sweet and savory cupcakes were made specifically for bacon lovers with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients

3 strips center-cut bacon
¾ cup plus ½ teaspoon packed light brown sugar, divided
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, lightly browned*
2 large eggs
⅓ cup low-fat buttermilk
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream cheese frosting or 1 container (16 ounces) cwhite prepared frosting

Instructions

Instructions
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange strips of bacon on a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet (line baking sheet with foil for easy clean up).
Bake, rotating pan halfway through cooking, for about 15 minutes or until bacon is almost crisp. Remove 2 strips of bacon and place on paper towel to cool. Sprinkle remaining piece of bacon evenly with ½ teaspoon brown sugar. Bake for 3 minutes or until sugar melts. Set aside to use as garnish.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with paper or foil liners.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl; mix well.
Whisk together browned butter, remaining ¾ cup sugar, eggs, buttermilk, ¼ cup maple syrup and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Crumble the 2 strips of bacon and fold into batter. Spoon into prepared cups, filling ⅔ full.
Bake for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Stir remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup into prepared frosting. Pipe onto cupcakes. Crumble remaining sugar-coated strip of bacon; sprinkle over cupcakes.

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4. Caramel Macchiato Cappuccino

Fancy coffee drinks are so easy to make at home!

Ingredients

1 shot (1 ounce) espresso
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon Caramel coffee creamer or Caramel sauce
Ground cinnamon

Directions

Mix together and voila!

5. Breakfast Bread – Pull-Apart Cinnamon Chocolate Coffeecake (above)

This coffeecake has the best of all breakfast breads: cinnamon, glaze on top and chocolate. Pull-apart bread is so easy to serve, and it goes really well with coffee before the meal, or as a dessert. And all week long!

Easter Sweets: Butterfinger Panna Cotta with Easter Egg Nests

by liz · Mar 1, 2019

One of my favorite Easter sweets is panna cotta, or Italian “cooked cream.” It’s an eggless custard that is silky-smooth and so easy to make. In fact, David Lebovitz writes that if it takes you more than 5 minutes to put it together, you’re doing something wrong. If you haven’t yet tried to make custard, crème brulée or flan, panna cotta is the recipe to try first.

Our easy version for Easter, Butterfinger Panna Cotta Nests, uses items you already have in your pantry, since it replaces the cream with evaporated milk. That also lowers the fat and increases the nutrients! This dish has to be made in advance so it can set in the refrigerator, leaving you free on the day of the meal to entertain or cook other dishes. Putting the ingredients together and warming them in a pan are a snap, and the shredded coconut egg nests on top are perfect for a pretty Easter table.

Panna cotta is also an extremely versatile recipe. You can experiment and make your own version by adding lemon or orange zest, almond extract or even spices like saffron, pepper or rosemary. Here are some panna cotta recipes we love using chocolate and amaretto, as well as pumpkin spice and chocolate pistachio.

Happy Easter!

Butterfinger Panna Cotta Nests

Ingredients for 4 servings:

PANNA COTTA

3 tablespoons water
1 envelope (7 grams) unflavored gelatin
1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup crushed BUTTERFINGER BITES Candy

NESTS

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
4 drops green liquid food coloring
2 drops yellow liquid food coloring
BUTTERFINGER NestEggs

Directions:

FOR PANNA COTTA:
GREASE four 6-ounce or six 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups.

PLACE water in a small bowl; add gelatin and let stand to soften.

PLACE evaporated milk, sugar and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat. Add gelatin mixture; stir gently to dissolve gelatin.

POUR into prepared ramekins; sprinkle with crushed Butterfinger.

REFRIGERATE for 2 hours or until panna cottas are firm.

FOR NESTS:
PLACE coconut in a resealable bag. Add green and yellow food coloring; seal bag and shake to thoroughly mix. If necessary, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of water to help color mix.

TOP panna cottas with coconut “grass”; top with 1 to 2 unwrapped Nestlé NestEggs.

Butterfinger Panna Cotta with Easter Egg Nests

Author: Meals.com

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 4

Scrumptious Italian dessert with chocolate for spring or Easter!

Ingredients

PANNA COTTA:
3 tablespoons water
1 envelope (7 grams) unflavored gelatin
1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Milk
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup crushed BUTTERFINGER BITES Candy
NESTS:
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
4 drops green liquid food coloring
2 drops yellow liquid food coloring
BUTTERFINGER NestEggs

Instructions

FOR PANNA COTTA:
GREASE four 6-ounce or six 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups.
PLACE water in a small bowl; add gelatin and let stand to soften.
PLACE evaporated milk, sugar and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat. Add gelatin mixture; stir gently to dissolve gelatin.
POUR into prepared ramekins; sprinkle with crushed Butterfinger.
REFRIGERATE for 2 hours or until panna cottas are firm.
FOR NESTS:
PLACE coconut in a resealable bag. Add green and yellow food coloring; seal bag and shake to thoroughly mix. If necessary, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of water to help color mix.
TOP panna cottas with coconut “grass”; top with 1 to 2 unwrapped Nestlé NestEggs.

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Top Ten Easter Sweets Recipes

by liz · Feb 28, 2019

1. Easter Eggs in a Nest

Get ready for the Easter Bunny’s visit with this unforgettable treat shown above. Nestled in delicious butterscotch or chocolate nests, the unforgettable taste of these elegantly wrapped candy eggs will leave kids hopping for more.

2. Premier White Lemony Cheesecakes

Premier white baking bars give this elegant and lemony cheesecake a smooth and creamy consistency. Try this in the Spring, Easter or a bridal shower—to rave reviews.

3. Carrot Patch Cupcakes

These are almost too cute to eat! Cultivate a crop of carrots with dollops of orange icing topped with fresh mint sprigs in mini 2 1/2-inch terra-cotta pots.

4. Peanut Butter and Candy Egg Blondies

If you love peanut butter, you’re in for a real treat with these amazing blondies above. Kids and adults alike will adore these peanut butter blondies that are both baked and topped with peanut butter candy eggs.

5. Classic Easter Cake with Coconut and Jelly Beans

This cake is nothing short of pure American ingenuity, in my mind — a sweet and sticky confection of angel food cake, marshmallow icing, and all the jelly beans you can handle. It’s a little bird’s nest for your Easter table, and its deep nostalgia for me is only matched by how easy it is to make and how fun it is to eat.

6. Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns are lightly sweetened, mildly spiced rolls with a distinct image of a cross that runs across the top. They are specifically associated with Good Friday, and have been for almost a millennium. Over time, hot cross buns in the U.S. became extremely sweet, and today are often criss-crossed with a sugary icing, but that isn’t the recipe of yore; the original crossing mixture was more of a paste.

7. Warm Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Sauce

This warm mini carrot cake recipe is made in two tiny ramekins (the same size you use for creme brulee–6 ounces). Then, make the warm cream cheese sauce the moment the cakes come out of the oven. A sprinkling of toasted pecans on top is, well, the icing on the cake.

8. Egg-Ceptional Easter Cookies

These egg-shaped chocolate chip cookies can be festively decorated with colored frosting for a sweet Easter treat.

9. Mini Lemon Lime Tartlets

These cute Mini Lemon Lime Tartlets above give the fresh taste of spring and are the perfect way to celebrate any occasion.

10. Chocolate Chip Easter Baskets

These little Easter baskets above are sure to delight everyone in your Easter celebration.