Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake

Your mom will love this Mother’s Day treat! So creamy and good - the strawberry flavor really comes through in the cheesecake and the chocolate crust and ganache work great with the strawberries.

Ingredients

Crust:

• cooking spray

• 1 (9 ounce) box chocolate wafer cookies

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Cheesecake:

• 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries

• 5 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 5 large eggs

• 2 large egg yolks

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 2 drops pink gel food coloring

Chocolate Ganache:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

• 1 (4 ounce) bar semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

• 1 (4 ounce) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

• 10 whole and halved strawberries, for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Wrap outside of a lightly greased (with cooking spray) 9-inch springform pan with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

2. Stir together cookies, melted butter, and granulated sugar in a bowl. Press onto bottom and 1-inch up sides of prepared pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until crust is set, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely, 30 minutes.

4. Preheat the oven again to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

5. Process chopped strawberries in a food processor until completely smooth, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Set strawberry puree aside.

6. Beat cream cheese with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar and flour, beating until smooth, about 1 minute. Add whole eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed just until blended after each addition (do not overbeat). Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until just blended after each addition.

7. Beat in reserved strawberry puree, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice on low speed just until combined. Gently stir in food coloring gel until desired shade is reached.

8. Pour batter into the prepared pan (pan will be full). Place cheesecake in a large roasting pan. Place roasting pan with cheesecake in preheated oven and pour very hot water into roasting pan half-way up sides of cheesecake.

9. Bake in the preheated oven until center is almost set but still wobbly, 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes. Turn oven off, and let cheesecake stand in oven, with door closed, 15 minutes.

10. Remove cheesecake from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides of pan.) Cool completely in pan on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Cover with aluminum foil; chill 8 to 24 hours.

11. Prepare Chocolate Ganache Topping: Bring cream to a light simmer in a small saucepan over medium. Place chopped chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate in bowl and let stand 1 minute. Whisk chocolate mixture until completely smooth. Let mixture cool until very slightly warm, whisking occasionally, about 20 minutes.

12. Assemble Cheesecake: Dip a few whole strawberries in ganache and chill until ready to top cheesecake. Remove sides of pan from cheesecake and place on a serving platter. Slowly pour ganache over top of cheesecake, spreading to edges with a small offset spatula. Chill for 1 hour.

13. Top cheesecake with whole and halved strawberries and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

This peanut butter banana smoothie is so refreshing, and it's sweet and tasty.

Ingredients

• 2 bananas, broken into chunks

• 2 cups milk

• ½ cup peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste

• 2 cups ice cubes

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. Place bananas, milk, peanut butter, honey, and ice cubes in a blender.

3. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Rhubarb Bread

This rhubarb bread recipe will turn one of the wonderful gifts of spring into a delicious treat for everyone.

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 ¾ cups brown sugar, divided

• ⅔ cup vegetable oil

• 1 large egg

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 ½ cups chopped rhubarb

• ½ cup chopped walnuts

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.

2. Stir together milk, lemon juice, and vanilla in a small bowl; let stand for 10 minutes.

3. Mix together 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, oil, and egg in a large bowl. Combine flour, salt, and baking soda, and stir into sugar mixture alternately with milk mixture just until combined. Fold in rhubarb and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.

4. Combine remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle this mixture over the unbaked loaves.

5. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

Greens and Beans Tartine

Bacon beans, garlic, and greens are combined in this delicious open-faced sandwich called a tartine.

Ingredients

Toast:

• 4 thick slices French bread

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Greens:

• 1 bunch Swiss chard, stems removed

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• zest from 1 lemon

• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• cayenne pepper to taste

Beans:

• 2 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

• ¼ cup sliced green onions

• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

• salt to taste

• 1 (12 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

• 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed

Tartine:

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 6 ounces pepper Jack cheese, grated

• 1 red Fresno chile, thinly sliced

• ¼ cup thinly sliced green onions

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Drizzle olive oil on both sides of the bread.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until light golden brown, about 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add Swiss chard and cook for 2 minutes. Transfer chard to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and squeeze out as much excess water from the chard as possible using your hands. Roughly chop.

5. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat and add garlic. Cook and stir until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add chard and stir to combine. Turn off heat, and season with lemon zest, salt, pepper, and cayenne; stir to combine. Remove from stove and set aside until needed.

6. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until well browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and remove bacon with a slotted spoon. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. Crumble once cool enough to handle.

7. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

8. Remove all but 1 to 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from the skillet. Heat skillet over medium-high heat and add green onions. Cook onions for 1 minute. Stir in cumin, oregano, and salt. Add beans, and stir to combine. Add water, and bring to a simmer. Once beans are simmering, use a potato masher to mash beans as smooth as you want. Add more water of you like to achieve desired texture. Taste and adjust for salt.

9. Spread bean mixture evenly amongst the 4 pieces of toast. Top with chard, followed by crumbled bacon. Drizzle with lemon juice, and top with freshly grated pepper Jack cheese.

10. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese starts to brown and the tartines are heated through, about 12 minutes.

11. Serve topped with Fresno chile pepper slices and green onions.

Spanakopita

This is an authentic Greek spanakopita pie recipe featuring layers of crispy, flaky phyllo dough and a rich spinach and feta cheese filling. Serve warm for an impressive but easy to make vegetarian main dish.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 1 bunch green onions, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 pounds spinach, rinsed and chopped

• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley

• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

• ½ cup ricotta cheese

• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

• 8 sheets phyllo dough

• ¼ cup olive oil, or as needed

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9-inch square baking pan.

3. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chopped onion, green onions, and garlic in the hot oil until soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

4. Stir in spinach and parsley, and continue to saute until spinach is limp, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

5. Mix feta cheese, ricotta cheese, and eggs in a medium bowl until well combined. Stir in spinach mixture.

6. Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in the prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top and brush with olive oil. Repeat the process with two more sheets of phyllo dough; the sheets will overlap the pan.

7. Spread spinach and cheese mixture into the pan. Fold any overhanging dough over the filling. Brush with oil.

8. Layer the remaining 4 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Tuck overhanging dough into the pan to seal the filling.

9. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.

10. Cut into squares and serve while hot.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Combining these two classic spring crops is the perfect way to bring in some refreshing, uplifting flavors as bright as a sunny spring day.

Ingredients

Dressing:

• ½ cup white sugar

• ½ cup olive oil

• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar

• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

• 1 tablespoon minced onion

• ¼ teaspoon paprika

• ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salad:

• 1 quart strawberries - cleaned, hulled and sliced

• 10 ounces fresh spinach - rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces

• ¼ cup almonds, blanched and slivered

Directions

1. Make dressing: Whisk together sugar, oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, paprika, and Worcestershire in a medium bowl. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

2. Make salad: Combine strawberries, spinach, and almonds in a large bowl.

3. Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.