Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

 • 1 1/2 cups pecans
 • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
 • 1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
 • 1 cup granulated sugar
 • 2 eggs
 • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
 • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
 • 1 teaspoon baking powder
 • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 • 1 teaspoon salt
 • 3 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
 • 1 1/2 cups raisins

Directions:


Preheat the oven to 350º.
Place the pecans on a sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes. Cool and chop.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, and then vanilla.
Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together into a medium bowl. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Add the oats, raisins, and pecans and mix just until combined.
Using a small ice-cream scoop or a tablespoon, drop 2-inch mounds of dough onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Flatten slightly with a damp hand. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Transfer the cookies to a baking rack and cool completely.

White Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Ingredients:

 • 1 teaspoon baking powder
 • 1 teaspoon baking soda
 • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
 • 1/2 teaspoon salt
 • 2 sticks butter, softened
 • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
 • 1 egg
 • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 • 1 cup quick cooking oats
 • 3/4 cup shredded coconut flakes
For garnish:
 • 8 ounces white chocolate, melted
 • 3/4 cup toasted, shredded coconut flakes

Directions:


Preheat oven to 350º.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the baking powder, baking soda, flour and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg. Add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined. Fold in the oats, vanilla extract and shredded coconut flakes.
Form walnut-sized balls of the mixture and drop 2 inches apart onto parchment paper-lined sheet pans. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the bottoms of the cookies are golden brown.
When the cookies are cool, dip them halfway into the melted white chocolate and then into the toasted shredded coconut flakes. Set them down onto parchment paper-lined sheet pans to dry completely.

Belgi Galettes

Ingredients:

 • 2 pounds dark brown sugar
 • 1 pound butter
 • 7 eggs
 • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
 • 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

 1. In a large bowl, stir together the brown sugar and butter until smooth and creamy; then add eggs and vanilla, and beat well. Gradually stir in flour. Set bowl over a hot water bath, and stir to blend ingredients. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
 2. Preheat the galette iron.
 3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place in the galette iron. Close the iron and cook the cookies. This should take about 30 seconds in an electric galette iron or 2 to 4 minutes in a handheld iron over a medium flame. Carefully remove cookies and cool on wire racks.

Madeleines

Ingredients:

 • 2 eggs
 • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
 • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
 • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
 • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
 • 1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:

 1. Preheat oven to 375º. Grease twenty-four 3-inch Madeleine molds.
 2. In a medium bowl beat eggs, vanilla and lemon zest with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar. Beat for 5 minutes or until thick.
 3. Sift together the flour and baking powder. Sift one-fourth of the flour mixture over the egg mixture, gently fold in. Fold in the remaining flour by fourths. Then fold in the cooled butter. Spoon batter into the prepared molds, filling 3/4 full.
 4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden. Cool in molds and loosen cookies with a knife. Invert cookies onto a rack and cool.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients:

    •    1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
    •    1/2 teaspoon salt
    •    1 teaspoon baking soda
    •    1/2 cup butter, softened
    •    1/2 cup white sugar
    •    1/2 cup peanut butter
    •    1/2 cup packed brown sugar
    •    1 egg, beaten
    •    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    •    2 tablespoons milk
    •    40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups

Directions:

    1.    Preheat oven to 375º.
    2.    Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
    3.    Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture and mix well.
    4.    Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan. Bake for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Romania Peach Cheesecake

Ingredients:
9" Graham cracker crust
1 container ready to eat cheesecake filling
1 can of peaches in light syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 of lemon, juiced
fresh basil leaves

Directions:
Spread cheesecake filling into prepared crust. Chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
In a small saucepan, add the peaches, sugar, and lemon juice. Simmer for 7 minutes or until peaches begin to break down. Leave to cool.
After the cheesecake is chilled, transfer to a cake plate. Spread the peach mixture topping over the surface with a spatula. Garnish with fresh peach slices and fresh basil leaves before serving.

Baked Rigatoni

Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk, at room temperature
Sea salt and white pepper
1 cup grated fontina cheese
1/2 pound thinly sliced prosciutto, julienned
1 pound dry rigatoni
3 tablespoons butter, diced

Directions:

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Gradually add the milk and continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Simmer until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon which will take about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in fontina and prosciutto. Season with salt and white pepper. Set aside.
In a large pot of salted water, boil the rigatoni and cook for about 5 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander. Return pasta to the pot and pour in bechamel sauce then mix well.
Place pasta with sauce into a baking dish. Top with diced butter and bake in oven for 25 minutes or until bubbling and the top is golden brown.

Roasted Veggies

Ingredients:

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium carrots, cut into 1 1/2-inch thick circles
1/2 pound Brussels sprouts halved
1 pound red bliss potatoes, cut into thick slices
3 medium parsnips, cut into thick slices
1 pound sweet potatoes, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
Sea salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400º.
Grease a baking sheet pan with extra-virgin olive oil. Place vegetables in baking sheet and add the dried herbs, salt and pepper. Toss well to evenly coat all the vegetables with the seasonings and oil.
Spread the vegetables evenly on a large baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes.

Crab Cakes

Ingredients:
1 pound crabmeat, picked free of shells
1/3 cup crushed Ritz crackers
2 onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
Dash cayenne pepper

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients. Shape into patties and dust with flour.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully place crab cakes, in batches, and fry until browned which is about 5 minutes. Flip crab cakes and fry the other side until golden browned which is about 4 minutes. Serve warm with preferred sauce.

Parmesan Tilapia

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 pounds tilapia fillets

Directions:
Preheat your oven's broiler. Line a pan with aluminum foil.
In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and salt. Mix well and set aside.
Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for 2 more minutes. Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned. The fish should flake easily with a fork.

Steaks with Sauteed Mushrooms

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound New York strip steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick
1 package sliced fresh mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup minced shallot
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons red wine
Sea salt and pepper

Directions:
In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and thyme. Sprinkle onto each side of the steaks. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and minced garlic and saute for about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender. Stir in the red wine and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
In another skillet, fry steaks for about 5 minutes per side or to your preferred degree. Top with mushrooms and serve.