Baked Basil Fries

We’ve got our sweets for St. Patrick’s Day. We have our Irish Soda Bread. But I feel like we are missing something. Maybe a potato recipe? Of course! These baked french fries have some basil for that touch of green that you can’t leave out on St. Patrick’s Day. Plus they are baked so they are better for you! Preheat that oven and let’s get to it!

Baked Basil Fries 

Ingredients

• 2 lb fresh russet potatoes (about 2 large)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line a cookie sheet with foil and set aside.
2. Cut potatoes into 1/4-inch-thick strips.
3. In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Toss potatoes with mixture.
4. Spray foil with cooking spray. Place potatoes on cookie sheet in single layer. Bake 15 minutes; turn potatoes, and bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until tender.

French fries are so easy, delicious and the perfect lunch or dinner side. Eat by themselves or your favorite dipping sauce.

ENJOY!

Keep Calm and Bake Pies

Whether apple,coconut, or savory Jamaican beef patty, I hope everyone had an AMAZING Pi(e) day!

Impossibly Easy Coconut Pie

Hope you aren’t too full. It’s coconut pie time! Coconut is great in baked goods and pie is no exception. This coconut pie is incredibly easy with only 10 minutes of preparation time!

Impossibly Easy Coconut Pie 

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups rice or coconut milk
• 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Bisquick Gluten Free mix

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch glass pie plate with shortening or cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, stir together all ingredients until blended. Pour into pie plate.
3. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown and knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Store any remaining pie covered in refrigerator.

HOW EASY IS THAT!?! Easy as…pie!

ENJOY!

Sugar-Kissed Apple Pie

A sugar-kissed apple pie is the PERFECT first pie recipe on this Pi(e) Day! Let’s get right to it!

Sugar Kissed Apple Pie 

Ingredients

For the Pastry:

• 2 cups all-purpose gluten free flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegan shortening
• 4 to 6 tablespoons cold water

For the Filling:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup all-purpose gluten free flour (Better Batter)
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Dash salt
• 6 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (6 medium)
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter

For the Topping:

• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon sugar

1. Heat oven to 425°F. In medium bowl, mix 2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).
2. Gather pastry into a ball. Divide pastry in half; shape each half into flattened round on lightly floured surface. Wrap flattened rounds of pastry in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until firm and cold, yet pliable.
3. On lightly floured surface, roll 1 round of pastry into circle 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate, using floured rolling pin. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side.
4. In large bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar,1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, the cinnamon, nutmeg and dash of salt. Stir in apples. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over apples. Trim overhanging edge of bottom pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate.
5. Roll other round of pastry. Fold pastry into fourths and cut slits so steam can escape; place over filling and unfold. Trim overhanging edge of top pastry 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute. Brush top crust with 1 tablespoon water; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
6. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust. Cool on cooling rack at least 2 hours.

mmmm classic apple pie slightly kissed with sugar. Delicious, simple and definitely my favorite pie!

ENJOY!

Kwegyirba Croffie is a freelance Associate Producer at News 12 Connecticut and a Special Events/Event Planning and Social Media Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Quinnipiac University alumni and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. She enjoy cupcakes,Broadway musicals, Forever 21 ,giraffes, peacock feathers, orchids, lillies and anything Disney.

Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate

Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate

This is perfect when serving a crowd for breakfast. You can bake this the night before and reheat in the morning for an easy and impressive breakfast. Replace strawberries with blueberries or other berry. If you do not have Chinese five spice, you can simply substitute with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, the flavor will be slightly different, but still delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 cups old fashioned gluten free rolled oats
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces, chopped (optional)
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet gluten free chocolate chips
• 2 cups almond or coconut milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons vegan butter, melted (Earth Balance)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and generously spray the inside of a 10-1/2 by 7 inch baking dish with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, orange zest, Chinese five spice, salt, half the walnuts (if you choose to add nuts), half the strawberries and half the chocolate. (Save the other half of strawberries, walnuts and chocolate for the top of the oatmeal).
3. In another large bowl, whisk together the almond milk, egg, vegan butter and vanilla extract.
4. Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries, walnuts and chocolate on top. Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture go throughout the oats.
5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar on top then place back in the oven under the broiler and broil for 20-30 seconds. Serve warm with an extra sprinkle of sugar or drizzle of maple syrup.

This can also be a great, healthy dessert? Oatmeal for dessert? Yes you can!

ENJOY!

 

Impossibly Easy Gluten-Free French Apple Pie

Apple pie is my all time favorite dessert. I’ve never been much of a cherry or blueberry girl and pumpkin and sweet potato aren’t really my taste either. There is something about a fresh homemade apple pie that always makes me smile. While I could have used a gluten-free pie crust for this recipe, I decided not to and it still turned out delicious! If you want, you can use a gluten-free pie crust and just follow the instructions for the pie crust.

Impossibly Easy Gluten-Free French Apple Pie

Ingredients

For the Filling

• 3 cups thinly sliced peeled Fuji apples (3 medium) (or your favorite baking apple – I also left the peels on this time for this pie but you can peel them if you’d like)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
• 1/2 cup Bisquick Gluten Free mix
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup rice milk
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted (I used Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread – so good)
• 3 eggs

For the Streusel

• 1/3 cup Bisquick Gluten Free mix
• 1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional) – I am not a fan of nuts in dessert and neither is anyone in my family really so I did not include any kinds of nut. But if you are nuts about nuts add your favorite!
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons firm butter or margarine (Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread)

1. Heat oven to 325ºF. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix apples, cinnamon and nutmeg; place in pie plate.
2. In medium bowl, stir remaining filling ingredients until well blended. Pour over apple mixture in pie plate. In small bowl, mix all streusel ingredients, using fork, until crumbly; sprinkle over filling.
3. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Store in refrigerator.

Such a quick and easy recipe! I hope it brings warmth to your kitchen and to your tummy.

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