Happy New Year, and Hoppin’ John Recipe

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Happy New Year, and I hope your celebration goes well and without incident.  As tradition with other New Years, it’s normal to have certian items the first day of the year.  Tradition is that the first thing you eat in the new year, should be one of the things to bring you luck.  One of my favorite is Hoppin’ John (Black Eye Peas and white rice).  Right after the stroke of midnight, you eat some Hoppin’ John.  The person who is preparing the dish, puts a dime in the finish dish.  Then they person who gets the dime in their portion will have good fortune for the new year.   Continue reading “Happy New Year, and Hoppin’ John Recipe” »

Tasty Low Carb Cheese Cake

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Low Carb Cheesecake

Low Carb Cheesecake

Ok, I’ve been working on this revised recipe for a while now.  The famous Secret Ingredient Cheesecake recipe has a sinfully rich taste, and velvet smooth texture.  It also has a ton of carbs, since it has a full cup of sugar.  Well…. that won’t cut it in 2009.  With both of us, doing the low carb thing, I had to revise it, and got it down to 15 grams of carbs per slice (1/8 of the 9″ pie pan).  Going low carb, it limits your choices for any satisfaction for your sweet tooth.  I’ve tried to make this previously, with normal Splenda.  It just didn’t work.  Normal Splenda just doesn’t bind with the other ingredients like normal sugar.  In comes their new Sugar Blend.  It was specially formulated for baking, and it solves that binding problem.  I was actually shocked at the taste, compared to the Full O’ Fat version.  Try out this recipe out, and let me know how it works for you.

2 eggs
2 PKG 8oz Philly cheese regular
1/2  cup of Splenda Sugar Blend
1 to 2 tblsp of pure Vanilla to taste (don’t use Jamaican vanilla.  you can use imitation vanilla, but I use pure Mexican or American vanilla)

This will make 1 9″ pie pan or 12 mini pie pans

1. Mix all with a blender at room temp, until mixture is very smooth with no lumps.  Mix in eggs, sugar and Philly cream cheese at the same time. Add vanilla last.
2. Pour into desired graham cracker pie pan
3. Pre heat oven to 400. Then cook for 30 mins, or until top is lightly gold brown.
4. After done let cool, for about 30 mins
5. Add any toppings as needed. Normally the middle of the pie sinks, and in this impression is where I add the toppings.  The ugliest looking cheesecake is the one that gets the topping to cover it up.

Half Healthy, but Full Of Flavor

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Complete meal with pork chop, squash & zucchini and side salad

This meal was a spur of the moment choice.  I was at the grocery store, and couldn’t think of what to cook for dinner.  I wanted something mostly healthy, but had a taste for fried pork chops.  I knew I could pull together a salad with no problem, but what about a 2nd veggie?  I chose yellow squash and zucchini.  It’s easy to make, and doesn’t take too much prep work.  Let’s get started. Continue reading “Half Healthy, but Full Of Flavor” »

Kickin’ Chicken Breasts

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Last night I had plans to try out our new Emeril’s Grill & Panini maker on my chicken breast seasoning recipe. After taking it out the box, and assembling it, I had the urge to use the normal charcoal grill. So, I’ll have to review the Emeril Grill later in the week. My aim with bringing simple, but great recipes, is to show people that wonderfully flavorful food can be prepared and cooked in a short amount of time. Anyway, on to the recipe. Continue reading “Kickin’ Chicken Breasts” »

Just In Time, Chicken Tortellini Soup

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Good afternoon. I’m posting this recipe just in time for a friend that is under the weather. This is a great savory soup, that will warm those chilled bones after being out Christmas shopping. It is very easy to create, since you are just putting all the ingredients, bringing to a boil, then simmering. This can be used as a good base soup, that you can add and remove items as you please. I have made some changes to cut done on time, preparation, and importantly cost. Let’s begin, and as always please let me know your feedback with this recipe. Continue reading “Just In Time, Chicken Tortellini Soup” »

Secret Ingredient Cheesecake Recipe

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     Here is my famous secret ingredient cheese cake.  I have perfected this through the years, and I even used to sell these in NJ.  It’s a very simple cheese cake that you have to bake.  It’s just simple four ingredients.  You can put the mix in a 9″ graham crust pie pan, made by Nabisco or a off brand.  The off brand actually tastes better, in my tests for some reason.  Or you can make your own crust with, butter, brown sugar and crushed graham crackers.  You can also put the batter in mini graham pie pans.  They hold one heaping table spoon of mix each.  The mini graham cracker pie shells, are great for parties and other events.  It allows you to really plan how many much you need to make.   Continue reading “Secret Ingredient Cheesecake Recipe” »