Strawberry Cheesecake Popsicles
OMG! Who loves cheesecake? I DO! And I found another recipe that would fit the bill for these EXTREMELY HOT summer days ahead. And here in the great state of Florida the summer never ends. LOL. So try this recipe on for size. I think that you might like it. I sure do. Hello Summer 🙂
Recipe & Photo courtesy of Divas Can Cook
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups strawberries, diced
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 1-3 Tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet the strawberries already are)
- 4-6 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ cup milk (I used almond milk)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a saucepan, over medium heat add water, strawberries, sugar.
- Cook until strawberries are soft enough to completely mash with a potato masher or fork.
- Taste and add more sugar if needed. It should be sweet yet still have a little natural tartness.
- Removed mashed strawberries from heat and let cool.
- Place strawberry mixture in a blender and blend until completely pureed.
- Refrigerate until cold.
- In a large bowl cream together cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, milk, lemon juice and vanilla extract (if using).
- Layer the mixture into popsicle molds. Starting with a little bit of the strawberry mixture or any way you desire.
- Use a wooden skewer to swirl the mixture if desired.
- Freeze overnight.
- Run popsicle mold under warm water to release the frozen popsicles.
- Enjoy!
*Chef’s Tip: This is a great recipe to BYOC (Be Your Own Chef). Try & experiment with different fruits like blueberry, cherry or better yet chocolate. The options are endless!
Raspberry Lemonade Yogurt Pops
Me love myself some popsicles. And with the warm weather upon us I am all in! So today I have a new recipe that I came across that I sooo had to share. RASPBERY LEMONADE YOGURT POPS, WHAT! Hope your taste buds are ready. Cause they are in for a cool, refreshing treat.
Recipe & Photo is courtesy of The Slow Roasted Italian
Ingredients
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoons lemon zest (zest of one lemon)
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons juiced)
- 1 ½ cups plain yogurt
- 6 ounces fresh raspberries, cleaned (large ones cut in half)
Instructions
- Evenly distribute raspberries between ice pop molds. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine lemon zest and sugar. Smash lemon zest with a fork until all sugar is coated in lemon. Add lemon juice and yogurt. Stir until well combined.
- Pour into molds. Cover with aluminum foil and add sticks. Freeze for 4-24 hours.
- Eat & Enjoy!!!
Our Daily Bread – Our Legacy
Read: Psalm 127
Children are a heritage from the Lord. — Psalm 127:3
A friend of mine wrote recently, “If we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family left behind would feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Why then do we invest so much in our work and so little in our children’s lives?”
Why do we sometimes exhaust ourselves rising up early and going late to rest, “eating the bread of anxious toil” (Ps. 127:1-2 esv), busying ourselves to make our mark on this world, and overlooking the one investment that matters beyond everything else—our children?
Solomon declared, “Children are a heritage from the Lord”—an invaluable legacy He has bequeathed us. “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth” (v.4) is his striking simile. Nothing is more worthy of our energy and time.
There is no need for “anxious toil,” working night and day, the wise man Solomon proclaimed, for the Lord does take care of us (Ps. 127:2). We can make time for our children and trust that the Lord will provide for all of our physical needs. Children, whether our own or those we disciple, are our lasting legacy—an investment we’ll never regret.
Our children are a heritage,
A blessing from the Lord;
They bring a richness to our lives—
In each, a treasure stored. —Fasick
The Good Days of Marriage
By: Marjorie Holmes
Read: Proverbs 5:15-23
May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. — Proverbs 5:18
Dear Lord, thank you for the good days of marriage. The days when we wake up pleased with each other, our jobs, our children, our home and ourselves. Thank you for our communication- the times when we can really talk to each other; and the times when we understand each other without so much as gesture or a word.
Thank you for our companionship– the times when we can work together at projects we both enjoy. Or work in our separate fields and yet have that sense of sharing that can only come when two persons’ lives have merged in so many others for so long. Thank you that we don’t feel cut off from each other, no matter how divergent the things we do. Thank you for our times of privacy. Our times of freedom. Our relaxed sense of personal trust.
Thank you that we don’t have to clutch and stifle each other, that we have learned to respect ourselves enough to respect the other’s individuality. Thank you, Lord, that despite the many storms of marriage we have reached these particular shores. Help us to remember them. Help us to hold fast to them, Lord. Be blessed!
Additional Scripture Readings: Ecclesiastes 9:9; Ephesians 5:25
Watch You Life or Shut Your Mouth!
Read: Matthew 7: 1-5 (NIV) 
Article reposted from Christian Marriage Today Facebook Page
CMT says, It’s Funny Mundy! A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside. That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap. Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.” The husband said: “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows!”
And so it is with life: “What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than looking for something in the person we are can judge.”
Fudge Brownie Pie
So you may ask, What is this recipe that I see on the screen? It’s Something Rich! Something Chocolatey! Something Oh So Divine! Yes! It is none other than “The Fudge Brownie Pie.” This is definitely a must if you love Chocolate like we do. So go ahead and get that tall, ice cold glass of milk ready. Cause this recipe is about to put you in a straight sugar shock.
Recipe & Photo Courtesy of The English Kitchen
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 cup caster/bakers sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 ounces butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
- 2 handfuls of mini marshmallows
for the frosting:
- 1/4 butter, melted
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350*F. Butter a 9 inch flan pan with a removable bottom. Set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl beat together the butter, eggs and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Stir in the toasted nuts. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake on a middle shelf of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Immediately sprinkle the marshmallows on top and return to the oven for a few minutes to melt the marshmallows. Remove from the oven and carefully spread the chocolate frosting over top.
- To make the chocolate frosting mix all ingredients together in a bowl, beating with an electric whisk until smooth and thick. Spread on the hot marshmallows.
- Let cool completely. Cut into wedges to serve.
Overnight French Toast Bake
Weekends in the Porter House are our days of indulgence. Our weekday mornings are soooo filled to the max with 5K’s, weight lifting, crunches, leg lifts, squats, push ups, laps in the pool, dance class, protein bars and green smoothies. Shew! Just saying all that made me tired. LOL. There is absolutely no time for a sit down breakfast. So every time the weekend rolls around we always pick a treat to reward ourselves. It must be quick & easy to make but most importantly it must be GOOD! After all who wants to be slaving in the kitchen all day. Not Me! So on the menu today is a dish you make ahead the night before and just bake in the morning. French Toast to the MAX. It’s like having the best of both worlds. Easy, No Sweat but Down Right Delish! Ummm, What day it is?
Recipe & Photo is courtesy of Our Best Bites
Ingredients
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups half and half (one pint)
- 1 cup milk (whatever kind you have on hand)
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (a little less if using table salt)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 lb loaf of french bread
- softened butter for greasing baking dish (2-3 tablespoons)
topping
- 4 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons cold butter
for serving
- melted butter
- maple syrup
- powdered sugar
- berries
- whipped cream
Instructions
- Crack eggs into large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk in half and half and milk. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Set aside.
- Use softened butter to butter bottom and sides of a 9×13 baking dish. Cut bread into 1 inch chunks and place in dish. Whisk egg mixture one more time and then pour evenly over bread. Use a rubber spatula to very gently toss bread, moving bread on bottom to top, and making sure all of the piece on top get dipped in egg mixture. Spread out evenly, cover dish, and place in fridge overnight.
- To make topping, place brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl and stir to combine. Cut cold butter into very small pieces and add to bowl. Use clean hands to break up butter and combine mixture until crumbly. Cover and place in fridge until morning.
- When ready to bake preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic from dish and sprinkle topping evenly over top. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until top is golden brown. You can stick a knife or skewer in the casserole to make sure the egg mixture is set on the bottom. *Note I have left a generous baking time window because it varies on ovens and the size of your bread cubes. I used to cook this closer to 60 minutes at my old house, but in my new convection ovens it’s done closer to 45. Keep an eye on it and let me know how long yours takes to bake!
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into squares. Drizzle with melted butter and syrup, top with berries, whipped cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar if desired.
Porter House Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Let me set the scene. It’s Valentine’s Day 2005 and I am hard at work turning our apartment into a restaurant before my Sweetie comes home from work. From the decor, to the lighting, to the music, the printed menus and made from scratch dinner I thought I had it going on. I was ALL IN & loving every minute of it. The night was magical, memorable and one for the record books. But who knew that the main course “Chicken Parmesan” would become a Porter House Original & Fave. 8 years later we are still in love with the original recipe but when we want to take it to the next level this Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe is our go to. It’s like having Chicken Parm and Stuffed Chicken Breasts all rolled up into one. Try it today! You’ll be so glad that you did.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast, pounded thin
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 large eggs, divided and beaten
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (4 ounce) jar of sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1 (4 ounce) jar of marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded fresh mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
- In a medium bowl mix the 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs together with 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese, set aside. Beat one egg in a small bowl, set aside.
- In another medium bowl, combine the ricotta, spinach, artichokes, garlic, one beaten egg, 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix well and set aside.
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to taste. Lay each chicken breast on a cutting board and spread with 1/4 of the ricotta mixture; Roll each chicken breast up and secure with toothpicks. Now dip the cutlets in the egg and then in the breadcrumb mixture. Place each breast seam side down in a lightly greased 9X13 baking dish. Bake in oven for about 25 minutes.
- Remove baking dish from oven and pour the spaghetti sauce over the chicken breasts. Top with the sliced mushrooms and remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve & Enjoy!
Simple Cream Cheese Danish
When I was a little girl we would periodically make these trips down home. Down home to Marion, AL to visit my Great-Grandma Annie Lou and Great-Grandpa Bose. Even though these trips were only a 2 1/2 hour drive one way; we would always stop in Historic Selma, AL for breakfast. And without fell I would always order a Ham & Cheese Omelet w/ Hash Browns, Cheese Danish and Orange Juice. It was something so simple but sooooo good. So when I came across this recipe I was like, “WOW! All this time I could have been making this delicacy at home.” It’s so easy peasy you wont even break a sweat. And that’s a Good Thing!
Recipe and Photo is courtesy of Food Lush
Ingredients
- 2 cans of crescent rolls
- 1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 3/4 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp sour cream
- Optional: pie filling or fruit preserves of your choice
for icing:
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp softened butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Open the crescent rolls carefully to avoid unrolling or tearing the dough. You’ll need to leave it in it’s cylindrical shape. Slice the dough into pieces about 1/4 inch thick (as though you’re slicing cookie dough). Place the slices on a cookie sheet and press the center in to make an indentation for the cream cheese filling.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and sour cream. Add a dollop of the mixture to the indentation you made in each circle of dough. I find that about a tbsp works well, but you can use as little or as much as you like. If you like fruit with your danish, you can also add it to the rolls before the cream cheese mixture. (I like cherry pie filling or blackberry preserves, personally.) Bake for 15 – 20 minutes.
- While the danishes are baking, make the icing to drizzle over the tops. Mix together the confectioner’s sugar, milk and butter in a small bowl. You can use a spoon to drizzle it over the tops of the danish, or you can put it into a small zip-top bag and snip of the corner for an easy “piping bag.”
- Take the danishes out of the oven and allow them to cool for 10-15 minutes before icing.
Southern Fried Okra
Fried Okra! Oh where, oh where do I begin? This born & breed southern comfort dish dates back well before I was even born. And In My Family We Love Ourselves Some Fried Okra. But who wouldn’t love this Southern delicacy? Well to be totally honest I don’t to much care for okra unless it’s FRIED! Yep, that’s the only way I’ll eat it. Fried and seasoned to perfection. I can just taste it now. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy!
Ingredients
- 6 cups oil, for frying
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 pounds frozen or fresh okra, sliced 1/2-inch thick
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- hot sauce
- salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder; to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F. (You may not need to use this much oil; do not fill the pan more than halfway up the sides with oil.)
- In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour and seasonings. Set aside.
- In another bowl mix buttermilk and a couple dashes of hot sauce. Set aside.
- Dip okra in buttermilk mixture and then dredge in cornmeal-flour mixture to coat well.
- Carefully add okra to the hot oil and cook until golden brown. (It may be necessary to fry the okra in batches. They are prone to stick together.)
- Remove from oil, drain on paper towels. Lightly season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and garlic powder. Serve immediately.
I Am Lady Fab 