9.09.2011

Artichoke and Spinach Swirls recipe.

Ingredients
1 (17.3 ounce) package Pepperidge Farm� Puff Pastry
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

Directions
Thaw the pastry sheets at room temperature for 40 minutes or until they're easy to handle. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Stir the mayonnaise, cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, spinach and artichokes in a small bowl until the ingredients are mixed.
Unfold 1 pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. With the short side facing you, spread half of the spinach mixture on the pastry to within 1-inch of the edges. Starting at the short sides, roll up like a jelly roll. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet and spinach mixture.
Cut each roll into 20 (1/2-inch) slices. Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from the baking sheet and cool slightly on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 40 pastries.

Best BBQ Shrimp Ever recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup canola oil
3/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco�)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup tomato-based chili sauce
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 pounds peeled and deveined medium shrimp
16 skewers

Directions
Whisk together the canola oil, hot pepper sauce, garlic, chili sauce, lemon juice, and oregano in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the shrimp and toss to evenly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and marinate in the refrigerator 1 hour.
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate.
Remove the shrimp from the marinade, and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade. Thread about 4 shrimp onto each skewer.
Cook on the preheated grill until pink on the outside and no longer translucent in the center, about 3 minutes per side.

Brazilian Style Flan (Pudim de Leite Condensado) recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup milk, plus
2 tablespoons milk

Directions
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Melt the sugar in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Once the sugar becomes a golden brown syrup after about 10 minutes, pour it immediately into a round baking dish, swirling so that the syrup coats all sides of the dish. Set aside to cool.
Place the egg yolks into a blender and blend on medium for 5 minutes, then add condensed milk, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, and egg whites. Continue to blend until all ingredients are combined. Pour egg mixture into the baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place baking dish on towel, inside roasting pan, and place roasting pan on oven rack. Fill roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. The center of the flan will still be soft. Allow flan to cool before unmolding onto a plate. Refrigerate before serving.

Asparagus Sesame Rolls recipe.

Ingredients
12 fresh asparagus spears
12 slices bread, crust removed
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

Directions
Trim asparagus spears to 6 in. Flatten bread with a rolling pin. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and blue cheese until combined. Spread over bread; top with an asparagus spear and roll up tightly. Roll in butter; place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 375 degrees F for 14-16 minutes or until bottom is lightly browned.