Olive Oil-Lime Salad Dressing

The best recipes come from mothers. This one came from my friend's mother. I am so lucky to be joining them for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I first tried this at their home while they were on a raw foods diet. Most of the time I would find that disgusting, but I was very impressed with the diet and the meal we had! I could totally do a raw foods diet... ok maybe I'm getting too ahead of myself... anyways, here's the dressing that so gracefully adorned our yummy salads.

P.S. This is me trying to recreate the dressing. So as far as her exact measurements, I'm not sure, but this is what I now use.

Olive Oil-Lime Salad Dressing

1 c olive oil

juice of 3 small limes

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients. Let sit 10 minutes to fully infuse. Drizzle desired amount over your salad of choice.

Key Lime & Raspberry Tiramisu

So I saw this recipe on a blog recently and I think my mouth watered immediately! I haven't tried it yet, but you can bet I will in the next week! I think the best part of this is that its a form of Tiramisu and it has no coffee in it! Hooray! Also, you can make it parfait style! Yum! I highly recommend checking out the blog! Its so great and she has some of the greatest recipes. This one I couldn't resist sharing!

Key Lime-Raspberry Tiramisu

Raspberry Jam Sauce:
12 ounces frozen raspberries
6 TBSP sugar

Key Lime Simple Syrup:
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup water
zest of two key limes
3 4.40-ounce packages Champagne biscuits(or lady fingers)

Key Lime Filling:
3 cups heavy whipping cream
8 ounces Mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
½ cup powdered sugar
3 TBSP fresh key lime juice (if you can find)
1 cup fresh raspberries for garnish

Use a 8-x-8-inch pan.
Cook frozen raspberries and 6 TBSP sugar in saucepan over medium heat until mixture resembles a jam and is reduced to 1 cup, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Cool jam mixture. Push through a sieve to get a sauce-like consistency.

Combine sugar with ¼ cup water and lime zest in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature. Strain out the zest before using.Using and electric mixer, whip the cream until stiff peaks form.In a mixing bowl, fold 2/3’s of the whipped cream into the Mascarpone cheese, along with the powdered sugar, and key lime juice. Blend until cream is fully incorporated.

Lay the lady fingers at the bottom of dish. Brush the layer with Key Lime Simple (about 1/3 of it) followed by the Raspberry Jam Sauce.Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture over the lady fingers. Scatter 1/3 cup fresh raspberries on top of the cheese mixture. Repeat the procedure until all of the lady fingers and cheese mixture are used. Spread the reserved whip cream over the top of the tiramisu. Allow the cake to set, about an hour. Garnish with fresh berries. Makes 10 servings.

***To make Parfait style: Break up 4-5 lady fingers. Put about 5 pieces at the bottom of a clear glass of your choice. Brush with syrup. Add raspberry sauce. Pipe in Mascarpone filling. Top with a little more raspberry sauce. Add raspberry. Repeat till you hit the top of your glass.

Cupcakes and Loaves

So I am on a roll right now posting these blogs so I thought I'd include a few of my new favorites that I made from my Cooking Light cookbook I got for Christmas. These are way good. You gotta try them!

Lemon Scented Blueberry Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups (about 6 3/4 ounces) plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
10 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 large egg
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed

Frosting:
1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Fresh blueberries (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place 12 decorative paper muffin cup liners into muffin cups.

To prepare cupcakes, lightly spoon 1 1/2 cups flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Measure 1 tablespoon flour; level with a knife. Sift together 1 1/2 cups flour plus 1 tablespoon flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Combine melted butter and egg in another large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add buttermilk, milk, and 1 teaspoon rind to butter mixture; stir with a whisk. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Toss blueberries with remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Fold blueberries into batter. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, place cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon rind, vanilla, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed just until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar (do not overbeat). Stir in juice. Spread frosting evenly over cupcakes; garnish with blueberries, if desired. Store, covered, in refrigerator.

Yield: 1 dozen (serving size: 1 cupcake)

CALORIES 236 (29% from fat); FAT 7.7g (sat 4.6g,mono 2g,poly 0.4g); IRON 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 38mg; CALCIUM 71mg; CARBOHYDRATE 38.7g; SODIUM 230mg; PROTEIN 3.7g; FIBER 0.7g

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon flaked sweetened coconut

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.
Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and juice, stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool completely on wire rack.

Yield: 1 loaf, 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

CALORIES 193 (21% from fat); FAT 4.6g (sat 2.8g,mono 1.1g,poly 0.3g); IRON 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 35mg; CALCIUM 15mg; CARBOHYDRATE 35g; SODIUM 179mg; PROTEIN 2.9g; FIBER 1.1g