Marti's Delicious Apple Cheesecake

Easy fruit cheesecake

1 pouch cookie mix (the recipe called for oatmeal, couldn't find it so I used sugar)

1/2 c butter

16 oz cream cheese, softened (I used the lightest one)

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp flour

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 21oz can fruit pie filling (I used apple)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350

Cut butter into cookie mix till crumbly.  Save 1 1/2 cup for topping, press remaining into a 13X 9 baking dish sprayed with Pam.  Bake 10 minutes, cool

Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla, and egg on medium till smooth.

Spread over baked crust.

Mix pie filling and cinnamon.  Spoon over cream cheese mixture.  Sprinkle the rest of the cookie mix on top.  Bake 35-40 min.  Cool for 30 Refrigerate to chill (overnight is best)

Shelly's Pao de Queijo (Cheese Balls)

1 cup water

1 cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

½ tsp salt

2 cups tapioca flour (also called tapioca starch or cassava flour)

2 eggs

1 cup grated parmesan cheese (I’ve done this and mixed it up by using ½ cup parmesan & ½ cup grated cheddar)

In medium sized saucepan bring water, milk, oil and salt to a boil. As soon as it comes to a boil, remove from heat and stir in tapioca flour until it comes together.  Let rest for 10-15 minutes.

Turn out into a large bowl and add the two eggs and cheese.  Bring it all together and let it rest in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.  I used a small melon baller to scoop out and place on baking sheet. You may need to wet your hands if you wish to shape these into round balls.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.  Serve warm.

MJ's Italian Macaroons

Amaretti Cookies: From Malgieri, Nick. Great Italian Desserts.

Preheat oven to 375 and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 

Ingredients:

8 oz can almond paste

1 cup sugar

2 large egg whites

Using Heavy duty Electric Mixer:

Break the almond paste into small pieces and place in bowl of electric mixer along with the sugar. Mix on low speed until very fine. Add the egg whites in three additions, mixing well after each addition. Continue mixing the dough until very smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Scoop out with small 1” ice cream scoop  onto the parchment paper, spacing about 1 inch apart.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cookies have risen, are a deep golden color and have tiny cracks. Remove from the oven and place baking pan on a rack to cool. When cool gently peel cookies from parchment. If they stick to parchment, turn the paper over, take a damp paper towel and gently wipe the bottom of the parchment paper to loosen the cookie.

Makes about 40 cookies.

Parmesan crisps

MAKES     15 CRISPS

This simplest of recipes -called frico- is one of the most elegant Italian delicacies you can serve with cocktails. It's nothing more than grated Parmesan cheese mixed with a little flour and fresh thyme and baked into crisps. Make a lot, because everyone will love them.

I (4-ounce) piece of Parmesan   Reggiano cheese (without the rind)

I tablespoon all-purpose flour

I teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.

Grate the Parmesan, using the large grating side of a box grater, as you might use to grate carrots.  Combine the Parmesan, flour, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix well. With a measuring   spoon, spoon level tablespoons of the mixture onto the prepared sheet pans, spreading each round into a 3-inch disk. Toss the mixture each time and scoop from the bottom of the bowl to be sure you get some flour in each spoonful.  Bake in the middle of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown.

Cool on the pans for 5 minutes, loosen with a metal spatula, and then cool completely on a baking rack. Serve at room temperature.

These can be made a few days in advance, cooled completely, and stored between layers of parchment paper at room temperature in a sealed container.

Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa cookbook: FOOLPROOF

Marti's Funeral Sandwiches

24 Hawaiian rolls
1 lb ham thin sliced
1 lb Swiss cheese sliced thin

Put these together as little sandwiches in a large glass pan. 
Mix together in a saucepan until melted and combined:

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
1 Tbsp dried minced onion.


Pour over the top.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Makes 24 little sandwiches