No-Bake Cherry Lemonade Cheesecake

• Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture into bottom of an 8” x 8”baking dish. Chill while preparing filling.
• Place cream cheese in a large bowl & beat at medium speed with an electricmixer until smooth. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk while continuing to mix. Beat in lime juice and vanilla. Stir in lime rind.
• Pour mixture onto chilled crust. Cover and refrigerate 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Cut into 6 portions and servetopped with cherry pie filling.

Roasted Veggies

• • Brussels sprouts, fresh green beans, or asparagus—trimmed and washed (amount can vary based on needs but it should still be able to fit in a single layer on a large sheet pan)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional toppings: chopped pecans or walnuts, parmesan cheese, chopped cooked bacon

• • Preheat oven to 425F degrees. Cover a large sheet pan with heavy-duty foil. 
  • Take prepped veggies and place them on the sheet pan with a good drizzle of olive oil for a light coating. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add other seasonings and spices as desired.
  • Place veggies in the oven and roast for about 20-25 minutes. 
  • Optional (if you’d like them to be even more browned): Before removing from the oven, turn the broiler on high and place on top rack for a minute or two. Watch closely as they turn even more spotty brown and caramelized. 
  • Top with any other optional toppings and serve immediately. 

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

• • 5 pounds of sweet potatoes (about 8 medium potatoes)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 ¾ teaspoon salt
  • Pepper, to taste

• • Peel potatoes (or scrub well) and trim ends. Cut into ¾ inch thick rounds. 
  • Toss potatoes in a large bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste until evenly coated. Line an 18- by 13-inch heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with nonstick cooking spray (my favorite is coconut oil spray). Arrange potatoes in a single layer on two baking sheets, dotting evenly with pieces of butter, and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Adjust oven racks to upper and lower middle positions and place potatoes in cold oven. Turn oven to 425 degrees and cook potatoes 30 minutes.
  • Remove baking sheets from oven and carefully remove top layer of foil. Return potatoes to oven and cook until bottom edges of potatoes are golden brown (reversing and rotating pans halfway through cooking time), 15 to 25 minutes. 
  • Remove baking sheets from oven and, using a thin metal spatula, flip slices over. Continue to roast until the bottom edges of the potatoes are golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let potatoes cool 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer to platter and serve.
  • Optional toppings: If desired, drizzle lightly with real maple syrup, chopped toasted pecans, or fresh/dried thyme leaves, to taste.

Five Cup Fruit Salad

• • 1 cup drained pineapple chunks
  • 1 cup grapes (any variety)
  • 1 cup mandarin orange segments, canned or fresh
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
  • 1 cup sour cream (regular or light) 

• • Mix together all ingredients and serve.

Pecan Pie with Maple Syrup and Brown Sugar

 

Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen “Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie”

• • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon regular molasses
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups toasted and chopped pecans
  • One 9-inch unbaked pie shell, chilled in the pie plate for 30 minutes

• • Make Filling: Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Heat sugar, syrup, cream, and molasses in saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves (about 3 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes. Whisk butter and salt into syrup mixture until combined. Whisk in egg yolks until incorporated.
  • Bake Pie: Scatter pecans in pie shell. Carefully pour filling over. Place pie in hot oven (on a sheet pan covered with foil in case of spills) and immediately reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake until filling is set and the center jiggles slightly when pie is gently shaken (45 to 60 minutes). Cool pie on rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate until set (about 3 hours and up to 1 day). Bring to room temperature before serving.
  • Serve: Serve with homemade whipped cream and go to dessert heaven.

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Angela Larson is a registered dietitian (RD) who works with Brookshire Brothers promoting real fresh, real delicious foods and nutrition education to the community. She is also a clinical dietitian representing Woodland Heights Medical Center in Lufkin where she does outreach education on food and nutrition. Food is her passion, so Angela loves trying new recipes and exploring the more holistic side of nutrition. Angela loves to cook, garden, and spend time outdoors. In addition to the Brookshire Brothers blog, look for Angela's monthly articles in Charm East Texas. 

 

 

 

Quick Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Parfaits

• • Crush vanilla wafers by hand or in a food processor.
  • Add melted butter or margarine and mix until it looks like damp sand.
  • Spoon the buttery cookies into the bottom of 4-6 serving dishes.
  • In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla bean paste with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
  • Divide the cheesecake mixture evenly into the serving dishes.
  • Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Amaretto Mascarpone Cheesecake with Almond Crust 

• • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Tightly wrap the outside of a 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 3 layers of heavy-duty foil.
  • Finely grind the almonds, graham cracker crumbs, and sugar in a food processor.
  • Add the butter and process until moist crumbs form.
  • Press the almond mixture onto the bottom and ½” up the sides of the prepared pan.
  • Bake the crust until it is set and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Cool completely.
  • Decrease the oven temperature to 325°F.
  • Add a roasting pan or baking dish of hot water to the bottom rack of the oven. The steam from this pan of water will help prevent the cheesecake from cracking when baked.

• • Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
  • Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
  • Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan, spreading evenly with the back of a spoon or spatula.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the center of the cheesecake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes (the cake will become firm when it is cold). Transfer the cake to a rack; cool for 15 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 450°F.
  • While the cheesecake is cooling, whisk the sour cream, sugar and amaretto together until smooth.
  • Once the cheesecake has cooled for approximately 15 minutes, pour the sour cream topping over top. Using a rubber spatula or spoon, smooth out the surface. Sprinkle the outside edge with the sliced almonds.
  • Place cheesecake back into the oven (remember the heat should have been increased to 450° F) and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching closely so that the almonds do not burn.
  • Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack to let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours, before serving.

Visit your local Brookshire Brothers for all your #NationalCheesecakeDay needs!

 

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View other recipes from Kate Rudasill, Coordinator for 1921 Catering by Brookshire Brothers.

Kate knows food. She grew up with the Southern tradition of good food with the hospitality to match.  A graduate of Texas A & M University, a student of The Texas Culinary Academy, and a Nacogdoches, Texas native, Kate’s greatest joy is bringing people together over a scrumptious meal.

 

• • Cowboy or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (see below for recipe!) with Homestyle Vanilla Ice Cream rolled in Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Snickerdoodle Cookies with Butter Pecan Ice Cream rolled in Chopped Pecans
  • Soft Peanut Butter Cookies (see below for recipe!) with Dutch Chocolate or Moose Tracks Ice Cream rolled in Chopped Peanut Butter Cup Candies
  • Sugar Cookies with Strawberries & Cream Ice Cream Rolled in Colorful Sprinkles

Quick 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

• • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, mix peanut butter, sugar, and egg until smooth and fully incorporated. Scoop tablespoons of dough onto the prepared sheets. Roll the scoops in your palms to smooth them out and then slightly flatten with a cup dipped in a little sugar (so they don’t stick). Use the tines of a fork to crosshatch mark the cookies.
  • Bake in the pre-heated oven for 7-9 minutes or until just lightly browned. Cool completely on wire racks.

William’s Family Oatmeal Cookies

• • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugars and beat until light and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Add egg and vanilla and continue mixing until blended. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix flour with baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and blend slightly. Add rolled oats and any of the optional additions and mix until fully incorporated.
  • Drop tablespoons of the dough 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Bake in preheated oven for 8-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Be careful not to overbake. Enjoy!

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View other recipes from Brookshire Brothers Catering Coordinator, Kate Rudasill. 

Kate Rudasill, Catering Coordinator for Brookshire Brothers, has been in the food-service industry for the past 14 years. As a graduate of Texas A&M University, a student of The Texas Culinary Academy, and a Nacogdoches, Texas native, Kate grew up with Southern tradition in her blood which caused her to have a deep love for bringing people together with food.

 

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is one of our favorite causes to support. Communities everywhere come together to build relationships and raise awareness for those at every step of the breast cancer journey, whether it’s a bake sale, luncheon party, or 10K run. As such, we’d like to help if you’re looking for easy ideas to “think pink” with these occasions. Courtesy of our vendor partners, we’ve compiled five fun recipes below, each of which are perfectly pink for Pink Ribbon awareness.

What we love about pink themed desserts in particular is that they’re not always all sweet. Usually, these recipes feature pink fruits (strawberries, raspberries, etc.) or pink lemonade to enhance the pink theme. As such, these focal ingredients tend to add some zest to the dessert, which to us makes these recipes even more appropriate to honor breast cancer awareness. While those affected embody a stirring hope, it’s not an all-sweet journey. Often it’s quite bittersweet.

So, raise a pinky and indulge yourself with one of these treats for this month’s cause. And even when the tart raspberries bite back in the cream cake, remember there’s nothing sweeter than hope.

 

Pink Together Cupcakes

Ingredients

Directions

Don't forget to check out these other pink themed dessert ideas:

• • Easy Strawberry Cream Dessert Squares
  • Hot Pink Raspberry and Cream Cake
  • Strawberry and Cream Cupcakes
  • Pretty In Pink Push-It-Up Cake Pops

Visit your local Brookshire Brothers to get started! 

Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Dip

 

Caramel S’more Cups

Ooey-Gooey Pancake S’mores

S’more Bark

Mini S’more Cookie Tacos

Find a store today to get started!

Mini Grasshopper Cheesecakes

Crushed cookie crumbs make up the base of these easy, tasty cheesecakes.

Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 3 hr 40 min
Ingredients: 7
Servings: 18

Ingredients:
Crust
1 roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies
3/4 cup butter, melted
Filling:
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
One teaspoon peppermint extract
4 to 6 drops green food color

Topping: Sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut cookies into slices as directed on roll. Place 2 inches apart on 2 ungreased large cookie sheets.
2. Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until cookies are deep golden brown and crispy. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 10 minutes. Crumble about half the cookies into fine crumbs to make 2 cups cookie crumbs.
3. In small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and melted butter. Place foil baking cup in each of 18 regular-size muffin cups. Press about 1 tablespoon cookie mixture in bottom of each baking cup. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Bake 5 minutes.
4. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl frequently, until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Stir peppermint extract and food coloring. Pour about 1/4 cup of the filling on top of each of the cookie crusts.
5. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until edges are set and centers are still slightly jiggly. Turn oven off, and open door slightly. Cool cheesecake in oven 30 minutes. Remove from oven to cooling rack; cool at room temperature 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until cheesecakes are chilled. Top with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

End-of-the-Rainbow Cookie Parfaits

Kids and adults will flip for these easy rainbow parfaits that are easy to make and over-the-top delicious!

Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 6
Servings: 12

Ingredients:
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies
2 eggs
Red, orange, yellow, green and blue gel food colors
1 pint whipping cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 10 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. 
2. In large bowl, break up cookie dough; add eggs. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and well combined. Divide dough evenly into 5 small bowls. Color dough with red, orange, yellow, green and blue food colors, stirring until well combined.
3. Scoop dough into muffin pans, making 2 cupcakes of each of the 5 colors, for a total of 10 cupcakes. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove cups from pan to cooling rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. 
4. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat whipping cream, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium high speed until stiff peaks form.
5. Crumble each of the cupcakes, keeping the colors separate. Sprinkle red cake crumbles into each of 12 glass parfait cups, glasses or small jars. Pipe whipped cream on top of each. Repeat process with orange, yellow, green and blue cake crumbles, finishing with the blue cake crumbles. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mini Whoopie Pies

It doesn't get much easier than these 5-ingredient whoopie pies made with Pillsbury® sugar cookie dough!

Prep time: 20 min 
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 5
Servings: 34

Ingredients:
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookie dough
2 eggs
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon green gel food color
1 cup cream cheese creamy ready-to-spread frosting (from 16-oz container)

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften.
2. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Add eggs, flour and green food color. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed about 30 seconds or until well blended. Place mixture in decorating bag fitted with tip, or place in resealable plastic food-storage bag and cut off 1 corner. Pipe batter into 1 1/4-inch circles 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are set and spring back when touched. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets. Remove to cooling racks to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. To make 1 whoopie pie, pipe frosting between 2 cookies.

Tips: Give these whoopie pies extra-special flavor by filling them with your favorite homemade cream cheese frosting!