Recipes: Pineapple Lemon Pudding Pie & Strawberry Jello Pie!

I wanted to share my two favorite summertime pie recipes from when I was a child...oh, the memories! Thanks to the invention of instant Jello and pudding, these recipes are so simple, yet so delicious (and pretty low calorie)!  These will be your new favorite desserts to serve your family & friends too!

Nana’s Pineapple Pudding Pie 

I remember my Nana Fannon making this when I was a little girl. I love the tangy-ness of the lemon and the pineapple with the sweetness of the Cool Whip...takes me back in time!

Prep: 10 min. + chilling

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups cold 2% milk

1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix

1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple (drained)

1 pre-made graham cracker crust (9 inches)

1-1/2 cups Cool Whip topping, thawed

1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted

Optional: 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

In a large bowl, whisk cold milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in pineapple. Pour into crust. Spread with whipped topping. Sprinkle with toasted coconut (and walnuts, if using). Cover and refrigerate. YUM!

Mom’s Strawberry Jello Pie

My mom used to make this every summer! I always loved it so much... and now I will be making it for my family & friends! So easy, light and delicious!

Prep: 10 min. + chilling

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients: 

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust 

1 small box strawberry jello mix 

1 (8 oz.) package of Cool Whip topping, thawed 

1 pint of fresh strawberries 

Optional: Fresh mint

Instructions:

If you use fresh strawberries, cut in half, put in bowl and sprinkle small amount of sugar over them. (If using frozen strawberries, thaw and add when jello has cooled.) Dissolve jello in 3/4 cup of hot water in large bowl. Let cool at room temperature. 

Fold whipped topping and strawberries into the jello. Mix well and pour into the crust. Refrigerate for a little while before cutting. Garnish with sliced strawberries,  dollup of Cool Whip and fresh mint. Enjoy! 

Recipes: Wolfgang Puck's Oscars Governor's Ball Party Menu!

Oscar Dish: Wolfgang Puck's Truffled Chicken Pot Pie

A Classic Dish With Even More Flavor

Courtesy Wolfgang Puck Catering

Servings:6

Difficulty: Easy

Cook Time: 30-60 min

This recipe uses a classic French chicken veloute scented deliciously with winter black truffles. You may substitute or add to the vegetables we've used below according to your taste, however, please do make sure anything added to the veloute mixture is as dry as possible. A vegetarian version of this can be made by substituting a vegetable or mushroom stock for chicken stock in the veloute recipe and by adding more vegetables in place of the chicken. This recipe is part of Wolfgang Puck's menu for the 2010 Governor's Ball on Oscar night.

Ingredients

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

1 quart enriched chicken stock 

1 cup creme fraiche

2 tablespoons black truffle oil

1/4 cup chopped black truffle

1 lemon

Salt (or truffle salt) to taste

White pepper to taste

2 cups cooked pearl onions (red and white)

2 cups cooked baby carrots (yellow and orange, cut into 1/2 " pieces)

2 cups cooked (or defrosted if frozen) green peas

18 slices black truffle

Meat from chicken cooked from enriched chicken stock (not fine shredded)

6 each approximately 10oz. ramekins or 4" wide soup vessel

Puff Pastry, cut into circles that overlap your ramekin or vessel by 1.5"

2 whole eggs +1 egg yolk for egg wash

Cooking Directions

Make a roux by melting the butter in a pot. Once completely melted, whisk in flour. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes while continually whisking. Slowly add enriched stock to roux. Bring veloute up to a boil and then turn heat down to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Veloute should be slightly thick. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Add truffle oil, creme fraiche, and chopped truffle. Whisk thoroughly, season to taste with salt and pepper and juice from lemon. Check for consistency. Make sure its not too thick, loosen with more stock if necessary.

Preheat a "still" or low fan oven to 350 degrees. Make sure veloute and all ingredients are completely cool before you begin. In a wide bowl or a wide pot, combine veloute, vegetables, and chicken and mix well with a rubber spatula. Spoon mixture into ramekins, leaving about 1/2" room from the top. Place 3 slices of shaved truffle on top of mixture in each ramekin. Prepare an egg wash by whisking whole eggs and egg yolks together in a separate bowl. Make sure puff pastry is cool enough to work with. (Leave in the freezer and take out 5 minutes before using). Brush outside edge of ramekins with egg wash about 1" from the top of the rim, all the way around. Cover each ramekin with puff pastry and secure the puff pastry by pressing around the outside of the ramekin. Brush puff pastry with egg wash and bake in the oven until golden brown (usually 20-23 minutes). Glaze again with egg wash halfway through cooking. 

(Source: Good Morning America)


ARTICLE reposted from ABCNews.Go.com

1,450 Pounds of Lobster?: Wolfgang Puck’s Governor’s Ball Menu and Shopping List
ABC News’ Sarah Kunin reports:

Wolfgang Puck, celebrity chef and owner of over 70 restaurants across the country, will be creating the Governor’s Ball Menu for this year’s Oscars  for his 18th consecutive year. Instead of the traditional seated dinner Puck was used to doing, he will prepare over fifty small dishes that will be passed throughout the evening to 1500 guests.  This undertaking required a culinary staff of 350 people along with 950 other staff members.

The Ultimate Movie-Themed Oscar Party Menu
At the event, guests will dine on some of Puck’s old classics like smoked salmon, as well as new dishes like Shanghai lobster with coconut curry.  The wait staff, decked out in four different uniforms, will pour 12,000 glasses and 1,000 bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne, roughly 200 bottles less than last year’s event.

The design of this year’s ball is more modern than in the past.  750 LED lighting fixtures will catch the light of 1,400 strands of Swarovski crystals and the ceiling will be covered in 21,000 square feet of fabric.  More than 2,000 yards of fabric were used to create 476 pieces of custom-made furniture.
Jonathan Jacobs, aka the “Vintage DJ,” will add to the event’s ambiance by spinning original 78′s, 45′s and 33′s on two Audiotronics Classroom record players.
Click here for full Oscars 2012 coverage.

Governor’s Ball Grocery List
How much food goes into planning such a large event?  Take a sneak peak at the some of the outrageous amounts of food required for such a grand event.
1300 Farmed Oysters
5 kilos of American Farm Raised Caviar
1450 pounds Maine Lobster
7500 Individual US Shrimp
30 gallons Cocktail Sauce
1250 Stone Crab Claws
10 pounds of Black Winter Truffles
20,000 pieces of California Grown Micro Greens
6000 pieces of Mini Brioche Buns
5000 Cage-Free Eggs
200 quarts Heavy Cream and 200 quarts Milk
800 pounds L’Etoile du Nord Bittersweet Chocolate
25 pounds Edible Gold Dust

84th Annual Academy Awards® Governors Ball Menu
Tray-Passed
Smoked Salmon on Oscar® Flatbread with Caviar and Crème Fraiche
Spicy Tuna Tartare in Sesame Miso Cones with Masago
Mini Kobe Cheeseburger with Remoulade and Aged Cheddar
Pork Belly Dumplings with Soy and Ginger
Crab Cakes with Remoulade
Arrancini with Tomato, Basil and Parmesan
Tempura Shrimp with Wasabi Glaze
Vegetable Spring Roll with Sweet Chili Sauce
Assorted Pizzas

Cold Appetizer Platter
Lobster Taco with Tomato and Pickled Shallots
Caprese Skewer with Bufala Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil
Potato Latke with Smoked Sturgeon and Horseradish
House Made Pretzel Bread with Beer Cheddar Fondue and Mustard Aioli
Prosciutto Grissini

Small Plates
Chicken Pot Pie with Shaved Black Truffles and Roasted Vegetables (RECIPE above!)
Fuji Apple Salad with Crumbled Blue Cheese, Arugula, Shaved Red Onion and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Beet Tortelloni with Goat Cheese and Toasted Hazelnuts
Gold Wrapped Baked Potato with Caviar and Crème Fraiche
Slow Braised Short Rib with Polenta and Romesco
Crab and Lobster Louie with Horseradish Panna Cotta and Marinated Tomatoes
Macaroni & Cheese with Aged Cheddar
Shanghai Lobster with Coconut Curry, Jasmine Rice and Pickled Ginger
Chinois Lamb with Cilantro Mint Vinaigrette
Beet Salad with Pistachio Butter, Burrata and Citrus Balsamic

Seafood and Sushi Buffets
Sushi with Wasabi, Soy and Ginger: Rolls, Nigiri and Sashimi
Shellfish with Mustard and Cocktail Sauce: Prawns, Lobster, Stone Crab and Oysters

Passed Dessert
Almond, Orange-Brown Butter Cake with Blood Orange
Date Cake with Sticky Toffee Pudding and Toffee Orange Sauce
Chocolate in 3D
Golden Candy Apple
Banana Cream Pie with Candied Popcorn
Tart Tatin with Pretzel Pastry and Caramel Gelato
Chocolate Mousse in Golden Egg Cups

Dessert Buffet
Raspberry Rose Eclairs
Strawberry Shortcake Push-Up Pops
Red Hot Macaroons
Star Shortbread with Silver Sugar
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pops
Brown Sugar Lemon Meringue Cones
Chocolate Pudding Push-up Pops
Long Stem Strawberries
Chocolate Buffet
Chocolate Fountains with Farmers Market Long Stem Strawberries
Chocolate Paninis
Triple Chocolate Cupcakes
Warm Coulent Souffle Cakes
Chocolate Dobos Torte
Earl Grey Tea Truffles
White Chocolate Coconut Rum Truffles
Milk Chocolate Caramel Truffles
Chocolate Dipped Pop Rock Cakes
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Triple Chocolate Toffee Crunch Cookies
Chocolate Coffee Cups
Chocolate Toffee Cups
24 Karat Chocolate Oscars

Fun, Family-Friendly Events in the Greater Boston area!

Spring is just around the corner, and I know we all can't wait to be able to let our kids run wild in the playground, go to the Zoo, play in the backyard and have picnics in the park again! There are so many wonderful events, kids play zones, museums and attractions in and around Boston! So, I wanted to put together some great resources for parents, that feature new and interesting ideas in addition to places we all know, such as the New England Aquarium, Children's Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, The Museum of Science, and the Public Gardens beautiful parks and swan boat rides.


EVENTS CALENDAR Websites:

• Meetup.com - I always suggest to new parents to join your local Meetup.com groups, as they are great way to find events in your area, meet new moms/parents and set up playdates for your kids. I have really enjoyed meeting new friends for me and my daughter in my Meetup groups, and encourage you find one in your town!
• Boston Central - Great, go-to resource for all kinds of kid-friendly events in the Boston area. Very comprehensive.
• Boston.com - The Boston Globe is another good place find things to do for the whole family.
• MomsEvents - Another good place to search for event in your area.
• Eventful.com - A good website to find events that interest you.

My Favorite FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS:

Franklin Park Zoo

I LOVE going to the Franklin Park Zoo once the weather is nice! It's such a wonderful place to spend the day to spend with your family. My daughter loves seeing all the different animals...and we love it too! There are lots of hands-on attractions like a petting zoo, mini carnival rides and other fun things to see, learn and do. You can bring your own picnic lunch, or buy lunch at one of the concession stands for typical "ball park food" like burgers, hotdogs, chicken fingers and fries. You can even buy a membership if you plan to go a lot with your children this spring/summer.

DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park

51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, MA

781-259-8355

Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Family Day at the DeCordova

11 am—3 pm

The wonderful thing about the DeCordova is the that is both an indoor museum filled with modern art & kid-friendly exhibits...and an outdoor Sculpture Park! We love going when the weather is nice and walking around to see all of the amazing and beautiful outdoor scuptures. Highly recommended! 

Monkey Joe's Indoor Playground

Monkey Joe's in North Attleboro, MA looks like a great place for kids to run around, play and work out their winter energy! It's for children under 12 only, and there is a separate Toddler Play Area for kids under 3, so you can be sure your little ones are safe in their own age group. You can have your kid's birthday party there, buy a membership, or just do the daily Walk-In ($9 per kid on weekdays and $10 on weekends and parents are always FREE.) There is a concession stand also. They highlight on their website that they are a safe & clean environment that is constantly cleaned and sanitized.


[NOTE: I will post more Fun Ideas & Places to Go as the weather gets nicer!]


STORY TIME for Babies & Kids:

Every week I bring my daughter to different story times around my hometown. These events are not only FREE, but educational...and a great way for your child to meet other kids, explorer reading, singing and being creative, playing musical instruments and having fun in a safe, warm environment. One time an African musician came to do an wonderful hands-on drumming class, while another time a Medeval Jester performed his "unusual" one man show for the audience. Also, I have met many great parents and caregivers...so it's a nice time for adults too! 


Here is a listing of libraries South of Boston...many which have special programs, musical guests, magicians or puppeteers! Be sure to check your local library for times and events in your town or state, as times and dates may have changed. 


Walpole Public Library
(The newly built Walpole Library will be opening on February 28th!)
Baby Book Time - Babies up to 2 1/2 yrs old. Monday mornings at 10:30 am
Preschool Story Time - Children 3-5 yrs. Thursday mornings at 10:30 am.
Music, Movement & Me - Children up to 4 yrs old. Tuesdays at 10:30 am.


Wrentham (Fiske) Public Library 
Baby/Toddler Playgroup - Birth to pre-walkers with Mom, Dad or caregiver meets on Fridays at 9:30. Toddlers (walkers) to age 2 1/2 with Mom, Dad or caregiver meets on Fridays at 10:30. Meet new friends, play with the new toys and gym equipment purchased with funds from the Friends of Fiske!!!  Come join the fun! No registration required just DROP IN. If arriving before 10AM please ring doorbell.




Foxboro (Boyden) Library
(All story times are being held at the Episcopal Church while the library is under renovation.)
Story Time - Tuesdays. Ages 3-5 yrs. 10:00 a.m.
Mother Goose on the Loose Story Time - Tuesdays and Thursdays. Infant - Age 3 11:00 a.m. 
Story Time -Wednesday Group Ages 3-5 1:30 p.m. 


Norfolk Library
Babygarten - Wednesdays at 10:30 am at Lafayette, Pretlow, Downing branches (or 11:00 am at Park Place and Janaf branches). Infant to 24 months. Spend the morning singing and playing with your baby! Babygarten features actions rhymes, movement activities, shared book reading, and playtime. This program is especially for babies and toddlers and their caregivers. No registration is necessary. 
Babygarten - Thursdays at 11:00 am. Check the website for locations.

Recipes: Decadent Chocolate Treats for your Valentine!

It's February, that devilish month that brings us freezing cold weather, terrible viruses & endless sniffles...but luckily, it also gives that oh-so-sweet holiday...Valentine's Day! When it's cold outside, I just love to bundle up at home, eat comfort food & treat myself and my family to some sinfully, sticky chocolate sweets! Let's face it, what girl doesn't love a big box of chocolates on Valentine's Day (or any day for that matter - hint hint! Godiva, Laughing Moon, Ghiradeli, heck...even a Whitman's Sampler will do!) Here are some of my favorite chocolate-y recipes from Family Circle to make and enjoy! (For more chocolate recipes...click here)

Ice Cream Chocolate Cake Roll 

(My mother-in-law Chris makes an amazing version of this at Christmas time called 'Boche du Noel’ that is so heavenly!)

Makes: 10  servings

Prep:   20 mins 

Freeze:  4 hrs 

Bake:   12 mins  350°F 

Servings Per Recipe 10

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt

4 eggs

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

3 cups mint chip ice cream, softened

Chocolate syrup, for serving

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with waxed paper. Spray paper.

2. Stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes, until very light yellow. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until smooth. Beat in vanilla extract.

3. Fold flour mixture into egg mixture until no lumps remain. Pour into prepared pan, spreading level. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.

4. Dust a clean kitchen towel with confectioners sugar. Turn cake out onto towel. Roll up towel and cake from short end; cool completely.

5. Unroll; spread with softened ice cream to within 1 inch of edges. Reroll cake without towel; wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight. If frozen overnight, let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving. To serve, carefully remove plastic wrap and drizzle cake with chocolate syrup.

Chocolate Pots de Creme with Sea Salt

Makes: 8  servings

Prep:   10 mins 

Chill:  6 hrs 

Cook:   15 mins 

Stand:   3 mins 

Servings Per Recipe 8

Ingredients

5 egg yolks

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 1/4 cups whole milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Sea salt flakes (such as Maldon) or coarse sea salt

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together yolks and sugar. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine cream, milk and salt; pour in yolk-sugar mixture. Stir continuously until the temperature registers 175 degrees to 180 degrees on an instant-read thermometer or it coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. (Do not overcook, as the eggs could scramble.)

2. Immediately pour hot mixture over chocolate in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand 3 minutes. Uncover, add vanilla and stir to completely combine.

3. Pour into 8 4-ounce ramekins and let cool. When room temperature, cover each with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.

4. Before serving, sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt flakes.

Recipes & Video: Superbowl Party Winners! (Go Patriots!)

This Sunday, I'll be cheering on my very own New England Patriots as they (hopefully!) win the Superbowl and defeat the New York Giants! Truth be told, my favorite part of the game (and I'm sure many of my family & friends will agree) is always the food (and waiting for Tom Brady to take his helmet off)! I always seem to get into the Tex-Mex vibe when making "game day" food. I always make a big pot of turkey or beef chili,  yummy guacamole & salsa with chips, some tangy lime or mango Margaritas, and a bucket of Corona beer ... So, here is one of my favorite TV chefs, Bobby Flay (a diehard New Yorker) preparing his favorite guacamole and nachos for your party.  So, whether you are rooting for the Pats or the Giants...you really can't "lose" with these recipes! YUM! 

Bobby Flay's Roasted Corn Guacamole with Cumin Scented Tortilla Chips

Here's the recipe:

Roasted Corn Guacamole with Cumin Scented Tortilla Chips

Total Time: 30 min

Prep: 20 min

Cook: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Easy

Ingredients

Cumin Scented Tortilla Chips:

6 white corn tortillas

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons ground cumin

Roasted Corn Guacamole:

3 avocados, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped

2 ears corn, grilled and kernels removed

1 jalapeno, finely chopped

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons creme fraiche

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the tortilla chips: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the tortillas with the oil on both sides and season one side with salt, pepper and cumin. Place on a baking sheet and bake until lightly golden brown, about 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut into eighths or break into chip-size pieces.

For the guacamole: Combine the avocados, corn, jalapeno, onions, cilantro, lime juice and creme fraiche in a bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the cumin scented tortilla chips.

Bobby Flay vs. Anne Burrell: A Tale of Two Nachos (Sausage Ragu vs. Chipotle Honey Glazed Chicken Nachos)

Find ALL the Recipes from "Game Day with Bobby Flay" HERE.