Croissant Chicken Salad Sandwich

Buttery,flaky croissant with creamy chicken salad is a satisfying and elegant chicken sandwich.By dividing the sandwich in half or using a petite croissant ;these sandwiches will look impressive at baby showers,bridal showers,brunch or any get togethers.Both of the recipes are delicious and can be made with other type of breads as well.

6-8 croissants

I cooked/roasted chicken breast sliced or cubed ( or 2 cans of canned)

1/4 of apple cored and chopped

3/4 cup grapes halved (green or purple)

1 tablespoon fresh dill finely chopped

1/2 cup sliced almonds toasted

1/3 cup fried bacon pieces(optional)

fresh black ground pepper

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

salt

spinach(optional)

Other option-

I cooked/roasted chicken breast sliced or cubed ( or 2 cans of canned)

1/2 cup peeled and cubed cucumber

3 green onion finely chopped

1/2 cup mayonnaise

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Yellow Split Pea Soup

This yellow split pea soup is one of many traditional Russian soups.It’s very tasty,light,and healthy.

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Chicken Marsala with Pasta

Chicken Marsala is an Italian dish made from chicken cutlets,mushrooms and marsala wine.This is a simply delicious and elegant recipe for family meal or perfect for any special occassion.

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Pan Fried Homestyle Potatoes

Pan fried homestyle potatoes (жареная картошка) is very popular and simple comfort food in Russian,Ukrainian, and Belorussian cuisines.You can almost call it national dish.My mom would always prepare it for us when we were growing up.It’s quick,its easy and most of all it’s delicious.You can have it for breakfast with fried eggs,lunch with fresh tomato salad,or dinner with russian style meat patties(Kotleti) or sautéed mushrooms.

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Crepes with Three Cheeses

Crepes or “blinchiki”are very popular in Russian/Ukrainian cuisines.They are very versatile with variety of fillings and are perfect for breakfast,brunch or served as a dessert at parties or any type of gatherings.

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Mashed Potato Pancakes with Chives and Cheese

These potato pancakes are delicious! And with just few ingredients it’s really simple and easy to make.This recipe is perfect to use left over mashed potatoes or you can cook up fresh mashed potatoes.I like to make them with fresh chives and cheddar cheese, coated with breadcrumbs for crispiness,pan fried and served with a dollop of sour cream.

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Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with Lemon and Garlic

This is one of my all time favorite recipe for plank grilled wild salmon.The fillet is so tender,moist,seasoned and infused with smoky aroma.If you haven’t tried plank grilling salmon,I highly recommend to try it and experience the difference from plain grilled salmon.This recipe is very simple and the taste is amazing.

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Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

A Delightful,beautiful,healthy and refreshing salad especially when strawberries are in season.This salad can versatile by adding different variety of ingredients of your choice.Poppy seed dressing is so delicious that you can eat it with a spoon.You can also add this dressing to your fruit salad.[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:5]

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are very easy to make and all time favorite at gatherings.There are many ways you can make it, starting from just plain and to adding more flavor like with garlic,chives,cheese and so on.I usually use milk and lots of butter, and sometime I use cream or mascarpone cheese.

Ingredients:

8 potatoes peeled,cut in half
1 stick butter sliced (1 1/2 if not using mascarpone)
2/3 cup warm milk
1 tbsp Mascarpone cheese (optional)
salt
bay leaf
chopped chives (optional)
1 crushed garlic (optional)

Directions:

Place potatoes in a pot, and bring to a boil.

Add salt and bay leaf. Reduce to low.

Cook until potatoes are done.

Drain the water,discard bay leaf.

Using hand mixer,beat the potatoes for about 1 minute.

Add 3/4 butter and mascarpone.

Beat again for 1-2 minutes.

Add milk.

Beat again until well combined.

Throw in chives and garlic.

Add butter on top. Mix when serving.

P.F. Changs Mongolian Beef

This is a copycat recipe of P.F. Changs Mongolian beef that tastes as good if not better. It’s a super easy to make Chinese beef dish that is served over rice .

(Adapted from epicurios.com)

serves 4

Ingredients:

½ cup vegetable oil
1 pound flank steak sliced ¼ inch thick slices.( I also used tri-tip,filet mignon)
¼ cup cornstarch
1 large green onions cut in to 2 inch slices

Sauce:
2 teaspoon vegetable oil
½ teaspoon minced ginger ( I strain it, and use the juice)
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup water
¾ cup dark brown sugar
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:
Make the sauce by heating oil in medium sauce pan over med-low heat.Add ginger and garlic to the pan and quickly add the soy sauce and water. Before the garlic scorches Add sugar and raise up the heat to medium and boil the sauce for 3 minutes.Add red pepper flakes (optional).remove from heat.

Slice the meat against the grain into ¼ inch slices. Tilt the blade of your knife at about 45 degree angle to the top of the steak so that you get wider cuts.

Dip the steak pieces into the cornstarch to apply a very thin dusting to both sides of each piece. Let beef sit for about 10 min.

Heat up the oil in a wok or skillet.Add the beef to oil and saute for about 2-4 minutes or when it begins to darken.stir the meat around so that it cooks evenly.
Add the sauce and cook for another minute. add green onions and crushed red pepper(optional).
Serve over cooked rice

Eggplant Caviar Appetizers

Eggplant Caviar is a classic Russian appetizer. Its basically sauteed vegetables in tomato sauce. You can serve it as an appetizer on top of bread with butter or bake these in a puff pastry and sip your favorite tea with your girlfriends on a nice afternoon.

Ingredients:

1 eggplant diced

1 red bell pepper diced

1 green bell pepper diced

2-3 carrots coarsely shredded

1 big or 2 small onions diced

1 tomato diced

8 oz. Tomato sauce

3 bay leafs

1 clove garlic crushed

salt and pepper

½ cup light olive oil

2 puff pastry sheets

Directions:

Heat oil heavy pot like dutch oven. Add onions and saute for about 3 minutes on medium heat.Add carrots and peppers.saute another 3 minutes and throw in eggplants. Stir occasionally and simmer for 5 minutes on low heat. Add tomato sauce,bay leaf,salt and pepper.Simmer for another 15 minutes.add garlic. Let it cool.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.Cut the pastry sheet in to four squares. Add 1-2 tablespoons of caviar in the middle of the square. Using your fingers press two edges together. Bake until pastries are golden brown .[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:66]

Smoked Salmon Carpaccio

Smoked salmon carpaccio is a delicious and fancy appetizer.One of my favorites.

6-8 thin slices of smoked salmon

¼ onion finely chopped

Arugula and Baby Romaine lettuce ( or you can use spring mix)

Capers

Salt and fresh ground pepper

Grilled/ toasted slices of bread such as ciabatta or pugliese

1 tbsp. Champagne wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar)

2 tbsp. Cold pressed olive oil

sauce:

2 tbsp. Mayonnaise

1 tsp. Honey

Mix mayo with honey and pour the sauce in to squeezable bottle.

Drizzle sauce on the plate.

Arrange slices of salmon,drizzle with sauce.

In a bowl combine lettuces,onion,vinegar,salt,pepper and olive oil.

Mix and arrange the salad in the middle of a platter.

Add capers on top of the salad. Place sliced crusty bread slices or crackers on top of the salad.

Serve by starting with the bread, place salmon and salad on top of the bread and Enjoy!

Smoked Salmon Lettuce Rolls

Tasty and crisp smoked salmon lettuce rolls.A perfect appetizer if you’re cutting on carbs.

Ingredients:

Thin slices of smoked salmon

Romaine lettuce

Cucumber ( cut lenghtwise in to thick strips)

Cream cheese

Chives or green onion(green parts only) finely chopped

Directions:

Cut of the hard parts of lettuce.

Use only dark green leafy parts.

Spread cream cheese.

Sprinkle little bit of chives or green onions.

Add smoked salmon and 2 cucumber strips.

Roll it up and tie the roll with a chive string or green onion.

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Apple cinnamon French Toast

Once in a while I like to spoil myself for breakfast with my favorite French toast;apple cinnamon bread with a dollop of mascarpone on top and drizzled all over with homemade syrup. Its just so yummy!!!

Syrup:
3/4 cup water
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablsp. heavy whipping cream
½ teasp. ground cinnamon

French Toast:
8 slices of apple cinnamon bread cut into ¾ inch thick ( you can use any other bread, other one I like is raisin bread from panera bread)
4 eggs
¾ cup whipping cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon vanilla, rum or brandy (optional)
mascarpone
powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

For the syrup: pour in the water and brown sugar in to medium saucepan.bring to a boil on a high heat.boil for 8-10 minutes until the syrup reduces to approximately 1 cup.remove from heat and whisk in the cream and cinnamon if you like.
French toast:In a medium bowl,whisk the eggs. Add the cream,milk,sugar ,salt,and rum,brandy or vanilla and whisk until well combined.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter on a large nonstick griddle or a pan over medium heat. Dip slices of bread in to the mixture, turning allowing both sides to absorb the mixture. Griddle until they are golden brown.
Transfer the French toast to plates.put a dollop of mascarpone on top of each. Dust with powdered sugar if you like, and pour the syrup over and around the French toast.Serve with fresh berries and Enjoy!

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Berry cake

This is a divine and super delicious berry cake.Very fast and simple to make. The inside of the sponge cake is combined with cream;then the cake bowl is filled back with the creamy mixture. The top of the cake is topped with mix of fresh or frozen berries. I prefer to use frozen berries because it gives out the juice and gives the cake more berry flavor.

Cake:

6 large eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup sifted flour

Cream:

1 package cream cheese

1 can condensed milk

2 cups heavy whipping cream*

1 stick butter softened room temp.*

2 tablespoons vanilla*

1/4-1/2 cup powdered sugar (optional if you like sweeter cake)*

Fresh or frozen berries

*You can substitute these ingredients with 8 ozs cool whip. (I try to avoid using cool whip.)

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

On high speed beat eggs with sugar.When the batter is stiff and light, add flour and mix it gently and well on low . Pour the batter into 9” round baking pan and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Let the cake cool.

For the cream:

On high speed with electric mixer whip butter and cream cheese until well combined then gradually add condensed milk and vanilla.Slowly pour in heavy whipping cream while the mixer is running.Continue to whip until cream is stiff and fluffy.

To make the cake:

Take out the inside of cake leaving the bottom and sides as a frame.Spread a generous amount of cream to bottom and sides of the cake.

Add the rest of the cream to the cake that was taken out but reserve about 1/4 cup for the outside sides of the cake and mix it well until there is no dry pieces left. Fill the inside cake with a cake mixture and top with frozen berries.Place it in the fridge.

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