Top 11 of 2011

It's been another delicious year here at How the Cookies Crumble and just in time for the New Year here's a countdown of the Top 11 posts of 2011!

1. Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Brochette


2. Vegetarian Lasagna Soup


3. North Carolina Pulled Pork


4. Black Bean & Roasted Veggie Enchiladas


5. Banana Nugget Cookies


6. Prosciutto and Caramelized Onion Pizza


7. Chipotle Dark Chocolate Flourless Torte


8. Black Bean Boats


9. Chili Relleno with Black Bean and Corn


10. Sweet Potato Corn Chowder


11. Bacon and Caramelized Onion Dip


And a bonus for being such great readers Bacon Wrapped Dates!

Wishing you the best and lots more delicious eats in the New Year!

Enjoy!

Bacon Wrapped Medjool Dates stuffed with Blue Cheese and Almond

These are tasty! And surprisingly *relatively* healthy. Each date is about 3-4 awesome bites of deliciousness for your 111 calories. I also was amazed at how quick and easy they were to prepare. I thought making stuffed dates would be hours of preparation, however, these were done in matter of minutes.

Bacon Wrapped Medjool Dates stuffed with Blue Cheese and Almond

16-20 fresh Medjool dates
1 package thin center cut bacon, slices cut in half
3 oz crumbled blue cheese
16-20 almonds
1 cup balsamic vinegar for reduction

Slice each date lengthwise and remove pit. Fill date with one almond and a large pinch of cheese. Use half a slice of bacon and wrap around date securing with a toothpick. Continue with remaining dates.

Place dates on a foil lined cookie sheet with bacon seam down. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 375 on top rake. If you prefer more crispiness to your bacon, broil dates for last 2-mins of cook time. Allow dates to cool slightly and top with balsamic reduction.

To make balsamic reduction, in a sauce pan bring vinegar to a boil. Reduce vinegar to a simmer and whisk often to prevent burning. Continue simmering until reduction becomes desired consistency. If vinegar becomes frothy the temperature is too hot!

Nutrition Info: 1 date = 111 cal, 4.5 g fat, 18 g carb, 3 g fiber, 16 g sugar and 4 g fat.


Enjoy!

{Gluten Free} Banana Bread

I had a dream about banana bread the other night and so it had to be made. And it was delicious! I'm kind of timid when it comes to gluten free baking because the different types of flours tend to be drier then wheat flours. This recipe turned out great though and was plenty moist with the bananas and apple sauce.

Gluten Free Banana Bread from Taste of Home

• 1 cups gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• dash of salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cups mashed ripe bananas (2-3 medium)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3 tbs cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Yields: 1 loaf of bread

Preheat oven to 350. Peel the bananas (I used 3) and use a fork and gently mash the bananas on a dinner plate. In a small bowl combined GF flour (I use King Arther multipurpose), baking soda and salt. In a larger bowl mix together eggs, bananas, sugar, apple sauce, oil and vanilla. Once combined, slowly mix in dry ingredients until moist.

Pour mixture into a 8"x4" loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Cook for 45-55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

The BEST {Gluten Free} Pizza Crust Ever

Beau Monde Bakery impresses me once again! I've tried many gluten free pizza crust. They've all been pretty good. After all, you are topping them with cheese - how can they really be bad?!! However this pizza crust from Beau Monde Bakery was fabulous! If you like a thin crust, NY style pizza than this is the crust for you. There's not mixing, rising, or rolling involved - just defrost and you're ready to bake. Beau Monde has really perfected gluten free baking and I will definitely be a returning customer again and again!

For this simple meal I used a Beau Monde pizza crust that I allowed to defrost apprx 5-10 mins. I topped the pizza with red sauce, mozzarella, fresh mushroom, red onions, olives and anchovies. Bake at 500 until edges begin to brown, apprx 5-8 minutes. Pure pizza perfection!


Enjoy!

Roasted Eggplant Pasta with Gluten Free Bread

This is one of my favorite ways to eat pasta. I love the flavor and tenderness of roasted eggplant. But the best part of this meal was definitely gluten free Italian bread from Beau Monde Bakery in Las Vegas!

Ahhhh fluffy, light, white artisan bread how I've missed you!!!

The Italian bread was full of flavor baked with rosemary and topped with sea salt. It was like a little party in my mouth. All of Beau Monde Bakery's breads and pastries are baked in a strict gluten-free kitchen! In additions to artisan breads, they offer gluten free pizza crusts, hamburger buns, coffee cakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes and more! I also got some pizza crust and can't wait to give those a try. I will definitely be back at Beau Monde for more breaded goodies soon! Now just one request - can you please make me a gluten free everything bagel?

As for the pasta it was simple, effortless and delicious. I diced an eggplant, tossed in evoo, and roasted at 375 for 20-25 minutes till tender. Once the eggplant is tender, toss it in a pot with half a jar of pasta sauce and add a healthy dose of crushed red pepper and parmesan cheese. The sauce is enough to serve two. Since I was going to carb it up with my new delicious bread, I decided to serve the sauce over shiritake noodles instead of rice pasta.

Enjoy!

Chipotle Dark Chocolate Flourless Torte

I realize I have been MIA for the past couple weeks and I really have no excuse except other than I've been traveling lots and having fun. Having a good time is my full time job, after all!

I found this amazing recipe for Chipotle Dark Chocolate Flourless Torte and thought it would be just wrong for me not to share it with you. This stuff is amazing. Plus it also happens to be National Sacher Torte Day. And while this is not a Sacher Torte, it is a delicious torte. While I can't take credit for the recipe, I can do my part to share this amazing torte with the world [or the few people who read this blog]!

Chipotle Dark Chocolate Flourless Torte from Simply Recipes
10 oz bag dark chocolate chips - I used Ghiradelli 60% cacao chips
8 tbs butter
5 eggs, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp Chipotle chili powder (if you don't have Chi
dash of cayenne pepper
pinch of salt
powdered sugar for dusting

Heat oven to 350. Line a 9.5" round pan with parchment paper and spray the edges with cooking spray.

In a Pyrex or microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and butter in the microwave stirring occasionally until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar and spices. Feel free to add some extra Chipotle chili powder for a little kick. If you don't have Chipotle chili powder at home then bite the $10 bullet and buy some. You can thank me later. Then slowly begin to mix in chocolate a bit at a time.

Pour mixture into pan and bake for 22-25 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar and serve. Preferably with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.


Enjoy!